Sony's excellent PlayStation VR headset is finally available to buy in the UK – you can read my full PSVR review right here– so to help you get the best out of your brand-new headset, I've put together a list of the best PSVR launch games and my favourite VR experiences. I've only played about a dozen PSVR games so far, but I'll be updating this list with more top games as and when they come out, so be sure to check back regularly to see what's made the list.
I've included a range of titles on this list, from fast-paced action games to more sedate puzzle titles, so you should be able to find something that fits your preferred play style, not to mention your own tolerance for motion sickness. I've also included a variety of games with different prices so you can find something to fit your budget, as not everyone wants to spend another £50 on top of a £350 headset.
1. Rez Infinite (£25)
The undisputed king of PSVR launch games, Rez Infinite is a masterclass in immersion. It's a virtual-reality remake of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's original Dreamcast and PS2 classic, Rez, but playing this on-rails music game in VR is simply divine. A big part of its appeal comes from its simple controls. As your wireframe hacker avatar flies through psychedelic computer networks, you simply hold down X on the controller, move your head to tag enemies, and then release to fire, adding to its stunning, electronic soundtrack with every fired bullet.
So far, so Rez, but where Infinite rises above its non-VR source material is the total sense of immersion it creates as you move your head in time with the music. As the soundtrack builds through each level, its infectious electronic music pumping through your ears on your pair of headphones, the game's all-encompassing sound simply takes over. Every move you make becomes synced with the game's soundtrack, and you feel completely at one with the music.
That's never happened to me before in a music game, and the experience is made all the sweeter thanks to the PSVR's super-smooth visuals and complete lack of motion sickness. It really is the perfect game for VR and definitely one of PSVR's must-buy titles, regardless of whether you've played it before or not. It might be 14 years old, but this is Rez like you've never experienced it before.
Buy Rez Infinite now from the PlayStation Store
2. EVE: Valkyrie (£50)
If VR isn't made for 360-degree space battles, I don't know what is, and EVE: Valkyrie is by far one of the best space games to emerge so far. It's already available on Oculus Rift, with Vive support coming later this year, but that by no means diminishes its importance on PSVR's slate of launch games.
It can be quite overwhelming the first time you play it, but if you can stomach the feeling of careering through space in a high-speed fighter ship, then EVE: Valkyrie has plenty to offer. The single-player story mode is admittedly rather slight, but with offline and online play against other players around the world, Valkyrie definitely has the legs to keep you entertained once you've completed the main campaign.
Buy EVE: Valkyrie now from the PlayStation Store
3. Battlezone (£50)
If you're after an action game that's a little less stomach-turning, then Battlezone should be your next port of call. This is a remake of the Atari classic of the same name, but Oxford-based devs Rebellion have rebuilt it from the ground up for PSVR, placing you deep instead the confines of a futuristic tank.
Using your head to aim and the DualShock 4 controller to fire in first-person, Battlezone is wonderfully frenetic, and you can even team up with up to three other players to take on its lengthy campaigns in co-op. Everything is procedurally generated, so no two campaigns are ever the same, and its plethora of enemy types coming from all directions provide plenty of challenge.
The best thing about Battlezone, though, is that it simply keeps on giving, as it continues to scale in difficulty with each successfully completed campaign, giving you plenty of opportunity to try out your brand-new tank and weapon upgrades.
Buy Battlezone now from the PlayStation Store
4. RIGS: Mechanized Combat League (£50)
If you're sensing a theme here, you'd be right. RIGS may be another first-person action game that ultimately boils down to destroying lots of enemy robots, but this competitive online arena shooter is almost better described as a mechanised kind of basketball.
Each team has three dedicated RIGS pilots, and you'll need to work together to score enough points to win your respective match. Demolishing the opposite team only gets you so far, though, as you'll also need to use those kills to store up Overdrive energy. Once your Overdrive bar is full, it's time to sprint down to the central goal and hurl yourself through it before you get obliterated, as this will earn your squad a double-dose of points to (hopefully) take you into the lead.
Moving around the arena can be a little head-spinning, but unless you're constantly hammering your RIGS' dash button, your overall pace is actually fairly sedate, helping to keep motion sickness at bay. It also has two different control schemes – one that uses the DualShock 4 to move your field of view from side to side, and one that uses your head movements. Since you also need to move your head to aim, I found the DualShock 4 controls were the most comfortable, but at least you have the option to go for full head-tracking if you so desire. Throw in multiple RIGS to unlock, challenges and both online and offline play, and RIGS is an absolutely fantastic PSVR launch title that's well worth the price of admission.
Buy RIGS: Mechanized Combat League now from the PlayStation Store
5. Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (£15)
A spin-off from the PS4 exclusive Until Dawn, this on-rails horror game is pretty damn frightening. You'll need two Move controllers to get the best out of Rush of Blood– playing with a DualShock 4 was nigh on unplayable due to its dodgy calibration – but if you want something to scare yourself silly with, then look no further.
It relies a little too heavily on jump scares to deliver its thrills, but it makes great use of the PSVR's head-tracking capabilities. As you move from one terrifying train ride to the next, you'll need to duck, dive and dodge everything from blood-stained buzzsaws to the yawning, open maws of giant, squealing pigs. Your two Move controllers, meanwhile, double up as both your gun and your torch, so you'll need to keep your wits about you if you're going to stave off its circus of homicidal maniacs. Short but sweet, Rush of Blood is £15 well-spent if you have a couple of spare Move controllers.
Buy Until Dawn: Rush of Blood now from the PlayStation Store
