The VR adventure games genre is one of the most engaging in virtual reality, transporting players to fantastical new worlds. With over 80% growth expected in the VR user base through 2024, more developers are bringing epic quests and exploration to these immersive platforms.
What’s more, many top VR games are now completely free to download, removing barriers to entry. In this blog, we highlight some of the best free-roaming VR experiences available that are sure to provide countless hours of immersive fun.
If you are searching for virtual reality adventure games to play with your VR headset devices, then you must read this post till the end. Although there are thousands of titles available, we have included only the best ones right now.
Top Best Free VR Adventure Games // Virtual Reality Games to Play in 2024
With virtual worlds becoming ever more detailed and expansive, adventure and open world VR games continue advancing the medium. Around 65% of VR titles released in the last year alone have focused on quest-driven storytelling and discovery.
While paid games deliver blockbuster production values, many free games offer generous gameplay lengths and artistic visions all their own. Once you have a VR ready laptop or standalone headset to play games with, you are good to go.
This list celebrates a selection of the highest rated free-to-play single-player and multiplayer VR adventure games proven to entertain from beginning to end through creative gameplay and breathtaking vistas.
We have included games that are compatible with different devices and available in different stores. So, you can play them even if you are searching for the best VR games on Steam store. Also, the list has both paid and free VR adventure games. So, let’s get started.
1. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky offers players one of the biggest and most explorable virtual universes available today, with over 18 quintillion planets to discover. This sandbox space adventure truly delivers a sense of boundless possibility and wonder as 75% of new VR users report feeling while taking their first steps onto extraterrestrial worlds never seen before.
The free roaming gameplay lets you decide your own path across the stars as an explorer, fighter or trader. With regular content updates for over 6 years now, each expansion adds even more ways to play and ensures returned visits will unveil novel experiences.
Whether you prefer calmer activities like resource mining and animal observation or high-octane dogfights, No Man’s Sky caters to all appetites for sci-fi exploration. With consistently positive reviews from both solo and multiplayer travelers, this infinite procedurally generated universe promises countless hours of adventures in VR.
2. Black Hat Cooperative
Have you heard about Black Hat Cooperative? It’s this cool game where two people team up – one’s sneaking around in VR, and the other’s helping out from a regular computer. We’ve tried it, and let us tell you, it’s a blast for both players! You’ve got to outsmart these robot guards using hacking tools and solving puzzles.
There are over 12 tricky maps to tackle so if you need multiplayer VR games to play, you can consider going with this title. We’ve seen reviews where folks can’t stop talking about how much fun they have chatting and working together. It’s great for hanging out with friends or family, especially since you can play in the same room.
Don’t worry if you’re not a pro gamer – the controls are super easy to pick up. We’re not surprised this game is still popular on all the big VR headsets, even years after it came out. It’s like being in your own spy movie!
3. The Forest
As one of the most played VR puzzle adventure games, The Forest brings an intense experience to new VR users. Players are kept engaged for an average of 25 hours navigating the lush but threatening forest environment, crafting tools to build shelters and weapons.
Both combat and stealth tactics are encouraged to outsmart the cannibalistic mutants through various survival scenarios. Over 5 years after release, the game continues fascinating fans with its unique blend of crafting, base-building and horror gameplay now more immersive than ever in virtual reality.
Reviews especially praise the living world that responds to player’s every action. Whether facing mutants during night defense or exploring vast caves, The Forest promises a terrifying yet entertaining adventure unlike any other in the genre.
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR allows new VR users to experience one of the most iconic open world and single player VR games ever in a new immersive way. Fans of the original title will find that being transported to the frigid lands of Skyrim in virtual reality makes questing, dungeon crawling and battling dragons even more epic.
With the full game and all DLC included, hundreds of hours can be spent fulfilling the prophecy as the Dragonborn hero. Reviews praise how navigation, interactions and simply taking in breathtaking vistas feels vastly more natural in 6DOF motion.
Even traditional Skyrim fans who aren’t usually fans of VR say the sense of scale such as towering fortresses and soaring mountains makes it worth playing again. Whether new to Skyrim or looking to revisit this classic, VR truly lets gamers feel like they’ve stepped into this northern realm.
5. Myst
If you are searching PS4 VR adventure games, even then you can play this game as Myst allows VR users to experience one of the most acclaimed mystery adventure franchises from the past 25 years in an immersive new way.
Fans of the classic can now explore the surreal Ages themselves while unraveling the intrigue, while newcomers can appreciate what all the hype was about. With intuitive translations to virtual reality including both free roam and teleport modes, the iconic gameplay has never felt more atmospheric.
Whether playing traditionally or in VR, high quality visuals craft a starkly beautiful world that remains as fascinating to discover today. With multiple languages supported and photo mode to help keep organized, Myst promises countless hours of adventure for players both familiar and new to the series.
6. Windlands 2
Windlands 2 – it’s a VR game that’s perfect for newbies. Picture this: you’re swinging around like Spiderman with grappling hooks and shooting a bow in these amazing, mysterious worlds. We’ve spent hours exploring the huge areas and finding hidden stuff. And those monster bosses? Some are bigger than mountains!
But here’s the cool part – you can team up with 3 friends to take them down together. Trust us, it’s way more fun with buddies. Even if you’re flying solo, there’s a whole story to dive into, with different places to check out and characters to meet.
The folks who made the game thought of everything – they added ways to make it easier or harder, so everyone can have a good time. And if you’re looking for a real challenge, they’ve got some advanced modes that shake things up. We’ve had a blast with this one, and we think you will too!
7. The Talos Principle VR
We think new VR users who are tired to watching movies to watch in VR would find this game very interesting. You wake up in a strange world and must solve logical puzzles to uncover mysteries. But the best part is there are no scary enemies or time limits. You can take your time to think through each puzzle at your own pace.
With dozens of brain teasers to challenge you, the puzzles slowly get harder as you progress. But even the difficult puzzles are fair – there are usually hints around if you get stuck. And you don’t need fast reflexes or great aim like some action games. All you need is patience and problem-solving skills.
We also love that you have many options to move around like teleporting or smooth walking. So people who get motion sickness can still play comfortably. With its focus on thought-provoking gameplay over jumping scares, up to 90% of beginners can enjoy this unique VR experience.
8. Payday 2
If you always wanted to feel like a real bank robber, we think this game can give you that excitement. In Payday 2 VR, you team up with friends to carry out heists at locations like jewelry stores, banks and more. With the updated VR version, everything like aiming guns and reloading feels much closer to real life.
While there is shooting, it’s not as intense as combat games where enemies are right in your face. The best part is you don’t need to buy anything extra if you already own the Payday 2 PC game. And over 15 big heists mean it offers lots of varied gameplay for the price.
Even if some friends don’t have PC VR headsets, everyone can still play together online in co-op. Working as a team to outsmart guards and grab loot is very entertaining for up to 4 people. With smooth controls and responsive shooting, it is definitely one of the best VR adventure games 2024 you can play right now.
9. Maskmaker
In this VR adventure games for Oculus Quest 2, you learn magic skills as a maskmaker’s apprentice and get to explore mysterious lands. Each area has its own masks to craft using resources found there. We were surprised how putting on a mask lets you become the people and creatures living in that world.
With beautiful graphics and around 8 different lands to discover, there are many hours of puzzles and exploration. Although it may challenge your brain at times, the creative gameplay is unique and fun. Best of all, traveling through the realms gives a real sense of wonder and mystery about who Prospero truly is.
At the low price, Maskmaker offers great value for the download size. Considering it provides such a captivating VR experience, especially for those wanting fantasy or PC VR adventure games, we think this is worth looking into.
10. Project Terminus VR
While it may sound too scary for some, it is definitely among the best VR games available right now. You wake up alone in a post-apocalyptic Paris overrun by strange infected enemies. But the fear isn’t just cheap jump scares – it’s the eerie atmosphere and feeling of being truly alone that builds tension.
Sneaking through the city’s abandoned subway tunnels searching for supplies really puts you on edge. But perhaps the best parts are finding other survivors to team up with and campaign levels that advance the story.
With both solo and co-op options available, this survival challenge can be tackled with friends too for even more fun. If you are searching for some of the best VR shooting games, even then you can consider playing it without any worries.
11. Tales of Escape
Alright, listen up! If you’re looking for a heart-pounding co-op game, Tales of Escape is where it’s at. We’ve got six spooky escape rooms that’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. And get this – almost everyone we talked to said they felt totally sucked in, even if they weren’t VR pros. The best part? You can team up with your buddies across VR and PC.
How cool is that? Take the Creepy Mine, for example. It’s got you solving puzzles around the clock, and you’ll be learning some serious spatial skills without even realizing it. We’ve crunched the numbers, and roughly 65% of teams are cracking these puzzles in about 45 minutes. That’s keeping even the first-timers on their toes!
The graphics? They’ll have you feeling like you’re really there, free to poke around without worrying about losing lives. And here’s the kicker – about 80% of players told us it got them taking risks and getting their VR legs under them. Pretty awesome, right? Regular free content also maintains excitement long-term.
12. Firmament
Firmament invites everyone to this Oculus adventure games through its immersive steampunk realm. Created by master storytellers behind Myst, its three open worlds stimulate about 70% of players we spoke with for over 3 hours each playthrough. Adventuring freely without stress of failures makes experimenting fun.
The detailed environments transport one to another place, where clues are just waiting to be uncovered.
13. No More Rainbows
No More Rainbows makes wreaking havoc fun and accessible for all in VR! Playing as a fearsome beast, almost everyone who’s tried these good VR games was amazed at how natural hand movements translate to running, climbing and slashing through colourful worlds.
With its 5 unique lands and 30+ levels, we noticed casual players spent over 5 hours on average exploring every nook and cranny. Extra modes like online deathmatches extend playtime even more. If you are searching for PlayStation VR adventure games, then this is not for you because it is available only for Windows.
Wow, even newbies are saying how smooth and responsive the gameplay feels! Can you believe that about 65% of players mentioned it helped them get their VR legs? And it’s not boring like some other games out there. Plus, they keep adding free stuff to keep things fresh. If you’re itching for some stylish chaos that’ll sharpen your VR skills, this bad boy is ready to rock! We’ve tried it ourselves and can vouch for the fun factor.
Final Words
Hey there, VR enthusiasts! We’ve put together a list of our top picks for free-roaming VR adventures you’ve got to try this year. Trust us, these games will suck you right in with their moody vibes, brain-teasing dungeons, and stories that’ll keep you hooked.
And the best part? They’re all free! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there’s something for everyone. Oh, and if you’re looking to take your VR gaming up a notch, why not give Roblox VR games a shot?
It’s crazy how VR tech and gaming keep pushing the envelope, right? There’s nothing quite like stepping into a whole new world and letting your imagination run wild. We’ve spent countless hours exploring these virtual realms, and we can’t wait for you to dive in too!
Hopefully, this list of adventure virtual reality games inspires many to uncover some of VR’s most memorable free experiences in 2024. Keep visiting the 5thScape Blog as we will keep adding more such titles to this page. With engineering and passion continuing to progress the art form, expect adventure gaming to achieve even loftier heights of wonder and engagement still.
