So, you’ve either got your hands on an Oculus Rift or an Oculus Quest with the help of Link, and now you want to know what to download first (besides the free stuff). Here’s our breakdown of the top 10 Rift platform games that you should definitely play. Like right now.

Before we start, don’t forget that your Rift (and Quest with Link) also works with compatible games purchased through Steam. Thanks to Valve’s open SteamVR platform and OpenVR APIs, Steam supports HTC Vive, Windows VR, Valve Index, and Oculus Rift equally, so you can shop around for even more titles that aren’t published on the Oculus Store provided the developer enabled support.

HTC Vive owners can play all of these too with the help of Revive, a software hack that hooks Vive into Oculus Store exclusives. Without further ado, these are our top 10 Rift games in no particular order.

The 10 Best Oculus Rift Games

Stormland

From Insomniac Games comes the open-world adventure Stormland, a real study in good shooting mechanics, excellent locomotion schemes, and not to mention a two-player co-op mode so you and a Rift/Quest-owning buddy can battle all the evil robots the cloud-filled world has to offer. Half of the fun is picking your combat tactics; are you a silent killer, ripping out an unsuspecting enemy’s heath pack and skitter away to safety, or are you the ‘jump from a 200-foot tower like Deadpool’ kind of person with reckless abandon? It’s up to you!

‘Stormland’ on Rift

Check out why we gave Stormland a [9/10] in our review.

Asgard’s Wrath

I don’t know about you, but being a Viking god was always on my list of things to do before leaving this world for Valhalla. It just so happens that Sanzaru Games has produced one of the best VR games to date, as this melee combat adventure has so much story, combat, dungeon crawling, and looting that you’ll easily invest 20 hours on the low side, but come back for at least 40 to get everything out of what has turned out to be one of the funnest and most well-realized VR titles to date

‘Asgard’s Wrath’ on Rift

Read our review of Asgard’s Wrath to find out why we gave it an [8.8/10].

Lone Echo & Echo VR

Here we have two halves of the same zero-G coin: first-person action-adventure game Lone Echo (2017) and it’s multiplayer counterpart Echo Arena (2017). As impressive feats of engineering in their own rights, both games feature an undoubtedly comfortable zero-G locomotion system that lets you fly through the air without the slightest hint of motion sickness.

Lone Echo is the sort of cinematic sci-fi narrative that engages the player with its excellent voice acting, impressive visuals, and a deep and memorable story. Combined with its innovative locomotion system, it’s truly a gem of a game worth playing—if only to say you’ve been to the edge of the Universe and back. Check out why we gave Lone Echo a solid [9/10] in our review.

‘Lone Echo’ on Rift ‘Echo VR’ on Rift

Where Lone Echo is plodding and tactful in its storytelling, Echo VR amps up the speed, throwing you in an online team sport that’s a fun mix of soccer and ultimate Frisbee… in space. The best part? It’s free to own permanently. Echo Combat, the first-person shooter expansion to Echo VR, isn’t here yet, but it’s also shown that the high-flying, zero-G locomotion mechanic is definitely suited to other game genres.

Vader Immortal: A Star Wars Series

This three-part Star Wars cinematic experience arrives from ILMxLabs, Lucas Films’ skunkworks which is known for having churned out some of the highest-quality immersive content to date.

‘Vader Immortal’ Series on Rift

Vader Immortal is more of a VR ‘experience’ than it is a outright game, presenting the user with a 45-minute adventure for each episode, however each comes with its own game area that lets you practice all of your Jedi skills in what’s called the ‘Lightsaber Dojo’. In other, less capable hands, this would be a hokey add-on, but here it actually works and makes sense. All in all, it definitely deserves to be on the list however you slice it.

Beat Saber

Created by Prague-based indie team Beat Studio, Beat Saber (2018) is a funky and incredibly stylish rhythm game that will have you slicing blocks to the beat of high-BPM dance music. While the idea is simple, the execution is magnificent. Beat Saber gives you a mess of songs to play, each with four difficulty levels to master, the highest being expert which will have you feeling like a 21st century techno-Jedi.

‘Beat Saber’ on Rift

Check out our review of Beat Saber on PSVR to find out why we gave it a [8.9/10].

SUPERHOT VR

If you haven’t played the PC or console version of SUPERHOT (2016) before, get ready for a new take on the FPS genre with its strategy-based shooting missions. Designed from the ground-up for VR headsets, SUPERHOT VR (2016) is an entirely separate game in the same vein as its flatscreen counterpart. The iconic red baddies (and their bullets) move only when you do, so you can line up your shot, punch a guy in the face, dodge a bullet, and toss a bottle across the room, shattering their red-glass heads in what feels intensely immersive and satisfying—because you’re doing it all with your own two hands. That and you’ll feel like a badass no matter whose basement you live in.

‘Superhot VR’ on Rift

Find out why we gave Superhot VR [9.1/10] in our review.

Robo Recall

People used to think that fast-paced, high-action games would be too disorienting for new virtual reality users, but in Epic Games’ Robo Recall (2017)you can teleport around at full speed as you blast away at the game’s evil (and hilarious) robot army. If being able to tear your enemies literally limb from limb and beat a robot over the head with their own dismembered arm isn’t astounding enough, the level of detail and polish put into this game will make you reassess what’s possible in VR.

‘Robo Recall’ on Rift

Find out why we gave Robo Recall [8.5/10] in our review.

Trover Saves the Universe

From the co-creator of Rick and Morty comes the 3D platformer Trover Saves the Universe. Your dogs have been dognapped by a beaked lunatic who stuffed them into his eye holes and is using their life essence to destroy the universe. You’re partnered with Trover, a little purple eye-hole monster who isn’t a huge fan of working or being put in the position of having to save the universe.

‘Trover Saves the Universe’ on Rift

We haven’t had a chance to review Trover Saves the Universe, although it’s currently sitting at a very respectable [4.76/5] on the Oculus Store.

I Expect You to Die

Schell Games has only just pushed out the last DLC installment of the hit spy-themed puzzler I Expect You to Die (2016). It’s on basically every platform now, and for good reason: it’s incredibly clever, well-built, and easy enough to pick up while being hard enough not to want to put down.

‘I Expect You to Die’ on Rift

I Expect You to Die is currently sitting at a good [4.66/5] on the Oculus Store.

Moss

Once a PSVR exclusive, Moss (2017) has now made its way to PC VR headsets, letting you control your cute little mouse buddy, Quill, on your adventures through a large and dangerous world. Stylistically, Moss hits a home run with its impressive diorama-style visuals and interactive elements that lets you, the player (aka ‘The Reader’) move puzzle pieces around and also take over the minds of enemies as Quill slashes through the world to recover her lost uncle. Puzzles may not be the most difficult, but Moss has effectively set up a universe begging for more sequels to further flesh out the enticing world Polyarc Games has created.

‘Moss’ on Rift

See why we gave it a [7.9/10] in our review on PSVR.

Honorable Mentions

  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR: While not an Oculus Store game, Bethesda’s Steam version of Skyrim VR fully supports Oculus Rift, letting you engage in multiple tens of hours of exploring the beautifully realized open world environment. What else is there to say? It’s Skyrim in VR.
  • No Man’s Sky: Unlike Skyrim VR, this is a free update to the game, which you can grab on Steam. It’s a bit flawed, but it’s an infinite galaxy of opportunities, so it always has that going for it.
  • Job Simulator: Tongue in cheek madness as you enter a far off future where robots rule the world, and consequently also have no idea how the past actually was. Smash stuff. Silly Robots. Hilarity ensues.
  • Vacation Simulator: Owlchemy Labs’s followup to Job Simulator. More story, a more open environment to traverse (albeit node teleportation) and a ton of vacation-style activities to explore and play. Arguably better than the first.
  • Arizona Sunshine: Offering you a chance to explore, collect real-world guns and indiscriminately shoot them at every moving thing (in this case zombies), Arizona Sunshine fills a very special place in many people’s hearts. The story mode does offer some thrills, but isn’t really groundbreaking as such.
  • Onward – A fan favorite with a hardcore playerbase, the OD green of mil-sim shooters Onward gives you that VR battle you’ve always wanted, including tactical team-based gameplay and plenty of guns.
  • The Mage’s Tale:  Touch – Crafting elemental magic, exploring foreboding dungeons, battling giants and stealing their treasure. There’s all of this and more in The Mage’s Tale. Although story-wise the game comes too close to campy and played out for its own good, it’s still a solid investment for the enterprising young wizard among you.
  • DiRT RallyGamepad/steering wheel – Driving through the forest with a beer in your hand isn’t ok…in reality. But in DiRT Rally you’ll need all the soothing ethanol you can get as you stomach the twists and turns of an exciting car simulator, that while rated ‘intense’ on the Oculus Store, is ultimately a fun and exciting way to burn some time perfecting your Initial D drifting skills. Ok. Better leave out the alcohol anyway.
  • Edge of Nowhere (2016) Gamepad – A third-person VR survival horror game created by Insomniac Games that strands you in the icy wasteland of Antarctica, Edge of Nowhere leaves you with only a pick-axe, a shotgun, and some rocks to defend yourself against a bloodthirsty ancient species that lurk inside the snowy caverns.
  • Chronos (2016): Gamepad – A third-person adventure by Gunfire Games, Chronos will have you slashing at enemies with the long-trained penchant for beat-em-ups will get you exactly nowhere in this Zelda-inspired, Dark Souls-ish-level of difficulty game where dying in the game physically ages your character.

If the list doesn’t have the game you’ve been eyeing for months, definitely check out our reviews for some more gaming greats on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PSVR.

Update (November 19th, 2019): We’ve done a long-due overhaul of the list, expanding it from five to 10 games. We’ve also done away with the ranking system. If you’re looking for a more quantified list by user review rankings, check out The Top 20 Best & Most Rated Rift Games & Apps.

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Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • Firestorm185

    I was surprised that Echo Arena wasn’t on this list…

    Then I remembered it’s not out yet. xD

  • jlschmugge

    No Elite Dangerous? I can understand it’s a niche taste, but the hours I spent in that game more than triples all the time I’ve spent in all the other short-lived experiences put together, except for Dirt Rally.

    • nebošlo

      I find my eyes straining too much looking at what’s mostly a dark background with points of light in them. I think maybe with better resolution HMDs i’ll be able to get into ED a lot more.

      • jlschmugge

        I agree that a clearer star field makes the game more immersive. I turn the hmd resolution up to 125% just to achieve this effect even though I suffer fps.

      • Asaku

        Check out Pimax 8k
        Edit: sorry for late response

    • Kris Bunch

      I have been hesitant to get Elite Dangerous. I can’t shorten it to ED.. (erectile dysfunction…) I have been hesitant because I kno wI could lose myself in a game like that.

      • jlschmugge

        It took me 8 months of this game sitting in my library before I played it. If you choose to be an explorer, you can take two weeks at a time out of your life.

        • MosBen

          I tried it very briefly, and it was just too complicated for my taste.

          • victor

            really you call that complicated? wow

          • MosBen

            Yes, I do. I’ve tried to work my way through the tutorials a few times, and it’s just a drag.

          • CMcD

            MosBen I’m with you. I know there are people that love this level of complexity and find it “simple” I just simply don’t care to spend time FULLY learning something that just isn’t sucking me in, I’ve got a business to run, a family and kids, and this game feels like work and just doesn’t grab me. Alright time to play more Vader Immortal ;)

          • MosBen

            I wouldn’t necessarily mind if the learning curve was less steep, but from my attempts there’s just this significant amount of information that you need to absorb and master before you even get into the game. It also seems like a game that wasn’t designed for VR (I know that it wasn’t, but it shows), so none of it feels natural to me in VR. I suspect that people who play in VR already got good playing flat first, and I don’t really have much interest in that.

    • Joey G

      Bought into VR specifically to play Elite: Dangerous. Been playing that since I got a DK2. That said, this list is Touch and Gamepad games. Elite is best played with a HOTAS.

  • Luca Rini

    Arizona sunshine is the best game I’ve played on Oculus bar none

    • NooYawker

      It’s the only vr game I played multiple times after finishing it.

    • impurekind

      It runs way too unsteady for me to every fully enjoy if, unfortunately, but I think with a rock solid framerate it would definitely be a lot of fun.

  • CURTROCK

    What a bounty of games! What a difference a year makes, since CV1 was released.

  • NooYawker

    I play edge of nowhere, chronos and wilsons heart on my vive. All great games especially if you don’t want feel like running around the room.

    • Rayza

      Edge Of Nowhere has really glitchy graphics though, ruins it

      • adrian

        the best of the best edge of k

  • crazysapertonight

    Where is Raw Data?

  • Blair Renaud

    *cough* Technolust *cough*
    :P

  • Kris Bunch

    Where is Mage’s Tale? What about Space Pirate Trainer!? I guess technically that isn’t out, it is in early release but deserves a mention in a top 5.

    • impurekind

      From what I’ve seen, I don’t think basically a simple alien gallery shooter (Space Pirate Trainer) is in the same league as the other titles on that list. It looks fun and all, but isn’t it really just a pretty standard arcade gun game when all is said and done?

  • Ted Joseph

    Arizona Sunshine the best so far. Wilsons Heart is also fun (and scary), and so is The Mages Tale. I am currently playing Star Trek, and The Mages Tale

  • Greylock3491

    I have Rift and Touch, and while your list is really good, Elite Dangerous is a huge omission and better than Eve imho (I have both)

  • Adil Hadri

    Arizona sunshine, Robo recall, Dirt Rally, Mage’s Tale and Elite Dangerous are so far the best actual games on Oculus.

  • care package

    Chronos is def #1 for gamepad IMO. Edge Of Nowhere tried to borrow from Tomb Raider and Dead Space yet it still ends up a pretty shallow game as far as gameplay. Story was ok. I was pissed I bought it after beating it.

  • Charles Phelps

    “an undoubtedly comfortable zero-G locomotion system that lets you fly
    through the air without the slightest hint of motion sickness”

    Uh, it made me *very* motion sick, and I have no issue with the other Touch games on the list.

    • benz145

      In Lone Echo specifically or another VR game?

      • Charles Phelps

        LE specifically

    • Evan Wade

      Same here. For me it was the lateral motion when putting out my hands to stop and when pushing off to start. Put me in a cold sweat with nausea. Couldn’t play more than 10 minutes. Guess my brain rebelled against having no real resistance.

  • Bryan Ischo

    Am I mistaken, or aren’t all of the top 5 games also available natively on the Vive? This is not a Rift vs. Vive post, I’m just happy that I can play these great games too. Except, I haven’t touched my Vive in 6 months due to a variety of issues, hoping to get it set up again soon …

    • benz145

      Not Lone Echo / Echo Arena or Robo Recall, but they can all be played via Revive (which is mentioned in the article).

  • impurekind

    I played Blaze Rush and honestly thought it was garbage. It felt like a shallow iOS game built on slightly insidious OCD collection based mechanics or something like that–I think it was just the way it progresses and opens up or something–than a truly satisfying videogame. And the gameplay never ever felt truly satisfying or rewarding. I’m not quite sure what people see it in to be honest.

    • Danilo

      Fast gameplay, a car toy feeling and requires real “oldschool” skill on controllers. That’s what i saw on the game.

    • Danilo

      And about OCD collection based mechanics, you got the wrong impression. You can win all races with the “default” car.

  • care package

    If Dead Space, Tomb Raider, and The Last Of Us had a baby, that was a runt and good at nothing it’s parents were, that would be Edge Of Nowhere. Great if you like doing 3 things over and over. 1. running across collapsing platforms, 2. climbing ice walls 3. Sneaking past enemies to advance. Chronos should be #1 IMO of course.

  • Danilo

    Why Arktica.1 isn’t in the list?

  • Aaron

    Not sure why Rick and Morty would be on here it was just dumb.
    Robo Recall might have been great if it gave you more locomotion options. Teleporting only still feels like cheating.

  • Luke

    Echo VR <3

  • LowRezSkyline

    I’m amazed how few people have heard of In-Death. Easily the best game on Vive right now. Very Dark-Souls-like rogue-like bow game. Nuff said.

  • Ombra Alberto

    If these are the first 5 best games for Oculus.

    Oculus is very bad compared to Steam.

    • JJ

      Right the list is just bad, most games work on both systems

    • D-_-RAiL

      now the current top 5 original games are better than anything on Steam.

  • NooYawker

    Roborecall pushed out skyrim??

    • benz145

      This list is specific to the Rift’s default content store (Oculus Home), on which Skyrim VR isn’t available. Of course, Rift users can access it on Steam.

    • D-_-RAiL

      Robo Recall is a superior VR title. Built from the ground up and still looks better than any other game.

  • Bernard Cozier

    I really liked the EVE Valkyrie engine and flying/fighting mechanics, but it needs a real Wing Commander or Freespace style campaign, or better yet like Wing Commander: Privateer

  • oompah

    10/10 to skyrim vr

  • Gonzalo Novoa

    My favorite VR game so far is without a doubt InDeath, over 300 hours played. Lone Echo is great as well, there are many great games already.

  • Dark Norse

    It is HELLA ghetto that the “related articles’ to this link to an ‘Eve Valkyrie” free weekend for Rift that is from fn FEBRUARY… jenky as f clickbait garbage

  • Diya Jariwala

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  • Kyokushin

    And where is No Man’s Sky and Elite Dangerous?

  • BlacksheepAries

    There is a hidden gem and its called Aces High III. Made by hightechcreations.com. World war 2 massive multiplayer world war 2. Fly planes, drive tanks, man guns on battleships.. It is the best integration of vr and touch controller support i have seen yet. I play 4 to 6 hours a day.

  • impurekind

    I dunno about some of the choices these days. I mean, Trover is okay but it really feels like a very generic and lazy implementation of VR to be honest. And I honestly think Job Simulator is still better than Vacation Simulator, precisely because it doesn’t try to force in a little bit of artificial movement that just feels more restricted now rather than more free. And I really do think Vader Mortal is greatly overrated. I mean, seriously, you’re ranking that basically very limited 2 hour demo higher than Edge of Nowhere–that’s just not right.