The Best Open-World VR Games

Key Takeaways

• Large VR open-world games offer immersive experiences on Meta Quest and PC VR.
• Games like Medieval Dynasty and Thief Simulator VR provide hands-on exploration and unique experiences.
• VR versions of popular games like Fallout 4, The Forest, and Skyrim add depth and realism to the open-world experience.

Virtual reality has only increased in interest throughout the past few years; however, there are already large open worlds for you to explore while wearing one of these immersive VR headsets. Some open-world games are now available in VR, and game developers created a few specifically for virtual reality platforms.

Large landscapes become massive as the true scale of each world becomes almost unfathomably more relative to your own self. If you want to explore large worlds up close and hands-on, here are the best VR games with large open-world areas to explore.

The Meta Quest headsets can be used to play PC VR games using Quest Link or Air Link. So even if a game doesn’t list Quest as a platform, you can still play the PC games with a Quest headset.

Updated November 15, 2024, by Branden Lizardi: Open-world games are a fan favorite for a reason. It’s immersive, fun to explore, and offers countless hours of content (depending on the game, of course). That makes them fantastic gifts for the holiday season. With that in mind, we’ve revisited and updated the information here. So whether you’re looking to gift a game to your VR-fanatic friend, or you were just given your first VR headset, here are all of the best open-world VR game options!

22

Medieval Dynasty New Settlement

The Best Medieval Survival Sandbox Game

Most open-world games will still offer a certain degree of guidance. Not Medieval Dynasty New Settlement. This VR remake of the popular indie survival game drops you in the middle of the Middle Ages with not even a single gold coin to your name. From the very get go, you have access to the entire map, and you’re free to establish a house almost anywhere you want. From there, you can follow the story or craft, gather, and hunt to your heart’s content.

It doesn’t stop there, either. That house can expand to become a settlement. You can recruit NPCs to join your land, fulfilling jobs with an automation system. Before you know it, you’ve built up an entire village by hand. It’s a fantastic game for people who want to really lose yourself in VR.

Not to be confused with Medieval Dynasty, the non-VR game that this one is based on. While the gameplay is extremely similar, the flatscreen game is larger, more complex, and offers better graphics.

21

American/Euro Truck Simulator

The Most Immersive Way To Experience The Thrills Of Long Haul Trucking

When it comes to simulator games, few sit as comfortably on the throne as American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator. As it says on the tin, these games are gamified renditions of the classic capitalist pastime of cargo hauling. Take on jobs transporting goods across state or country lines, make money, buy your own truck, and even hire NPC truckers to work under you. It’s a bizarre mix of casual and complex, creating an oddly engaging experience.

While not commonly advertised, it even has a VR mode. Pair that with a controller (or even a driving wheel) to create the most immersive artificial trucking experience possible. Unfortunately, getting VR set up can be a hassle, and there are some limitations to the game mode, which is why a game of this caliber sits so low on the list.

20

Thief Simulator VR

Crime Is Cooler When It’s Just Virtual

Thief Simulator VR may not have as expansive of a world as something like Skyrim, but it’s still a solid game with a lot of open land to explore. You can travel from house to house, stealing from them to try to become the best thief possible.

You can avoid the police and drive a getaway vehicle to make your grand escape. If you want to play a stealth game mixed with an open world, then Thief Simulator VR is a good option. Thief Simulator VR is only available on PCVR Headsets.

Unsure? There is a separate free demo of sorts on Quest and PSVR2 called Thief Simulator VR: Prologue.

19

Universe Sandbox

Open World Several Times Over

Multiple galaxies count as ‘open-world,’ right? Universe Sandbox is an open-world sandbox game where you are given control of all of space, creating, modifying, and deleting various aspects of planets. Let your creativity flow as you watch various physics calculations take place, creating new gravitational pulls, trajectories, and more.

VR mode offers a sense of scale you’ll never find on a 2D monitor. Being able to see the depth and dimensions of each celestial body makes for a remarkably more fascinating experience, only further tickling the sense of scientific curiosity about what happens when you chuck an entire Pluto into the sun.

18

Elite Dangerous

Like Truck Simulator, But In Space

Elite Dangerous features a vast Universe, but that’s not all. You can pilot your own starship, flying around space to earn your place among other accomplished pilots in the grander Universe.

There’s a lot to explore in Elite Dangerous, so it’s a great game to play if you like discovering new things around every turn. Elite Dangerous includes VR support for PSVR Headsets, so it’s a fantastic offering if you use SteamVR and want to play a game set in space.

This is a game best played in extended sessions. To ensure VR stays comfortable, set your PD settings accordingly. This stands for Pupillary Distance, the distance between the center of both eyes. This can vary from person to person, and having it set to your eyes helps prevent discomfort.

17

L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files

Virtual Crime Doesn’t Pay

If you love detective games but yearn for a more realistic option, L.A. Noire may be exactly what you’re searching for among the sea of crime-related games. You can solve crimes in L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files and it’s one of the most immersive VR games available.

Outside of the plot, there’s also an open world to explore. You’ll find NPCs interacting with the world and other immersive qualities that’ll make you forget you’re even inside a game. L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is available on the PSVR, PCVR Headsets, and the Oculus Quest.

16

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Aruba, Jamaica, VR Is Gonna Take Ya

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most realistic games ever. You can pilot a plane around the entire Earth with startling accuracy; it’s even possible to visit your own neighborhood. In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft Flight Simulator was also released on PCVR Headsets, so it’s fully playable in virtual reality.

Although Microsoft Flight Simulator was already immersive as a regular video game, its realism is at an even higher level with a VR headset. If you’ve always dreamed of traveling the world, then Microsoft Flight Simulator is a legitimate option for exploring some of the landmarks that Earth has to offer.

15

The Solus Project

Alone Among The Stars

The Solus Project is another game set on a planet far from Earth, but this isn’t an ordinary space game. Within The Solus Project, survival is brutal. You need to survive on an alien planet alone after your crewmates die upon entering the planet.

There’s a whole world for you to explore with a compelling narrative. The Solus Project doesn’t disappoint if you’re a fan of either space or survival games, and it’s one of the best games available that blends these two genres, especially in virtual reality. You can experience The Solus Project on the PSVR and PC VR headsets.

14

Minecraft VR

The King Of Sandbox Gaming, More Immersive Than Ever

Minecraft VR is a more immersive version of the original building sandbox. Throughout Minecraft, you explore a randomly generated world with many biomes to discover and structures to craft. Take any block from the world and use it in a handful of ways, creating nearly endless possibilities for spending your time. It’s one of the greatest games of all time for a reason.

You’ve probably already played Minecraft at one point or another since it’s such a popular video game. However, Minecraft in virtual reality feels so much more unique because you’re seeing your creations up close. Minecraft VR is available on PSVR and PCVR headsets.

This function is on Bedrock Edition. Do you own Minecraft Java Edition? Then you’ll need to install a popular VR mod called Vivecraft.

13

CyubeVR

Minecraft If It Was MADE For VR

At first glance, you might think that CyubeVR is just another Minecraft clone. And while that might have been true when it came out in 2018, it’s since grown into an expansive and impressive open-world survival game of it’s own merit. Developed specifically for VR, it offers a more visually stunning and intuitive control scheme that feels natural in a virtual reality environment.

As you can guess, CyubeVR drops you into nature, where you have to gather resources, build a home, and advance toward better tools. All the while, you can explore different areas, craft elaborate structures, and so on. It’s the classic sandbox experience.

12

No Man’s Sky

Countless Planets To Experience With Your Own Two Eyes

What makes No Man’s Sky unique is its seemingly endless planets and unique organisms to discover throughout space. This is an even more fascinating experience when playing the game through a VR headset.

Flying your spaceship in VR is especially exciting; however, exploring a world on foot is just as fun. No Man’s Sky has a much larger universe to explore than other open-world video games, so it’s a great option if you enjoy large open worlds. No Man’s Sky VR is available on PSVR and PC VR headsets.

When playing on PlayStation, consider having both a regular controller and the move wands connected and nearby. The move wants are better on foot, but the controller is better for piloting vehicles. And if both are connected, they will automatically switch focus when you press a button on the one you want to use.

11

Population: One

The ‘One’ Is You, By The Way

A few open-world battle royale games are set in VR, but Population: One captures a certain kind of magic because of its unique gameplay, including flying with wingsuits and motion-control climbing.

There’s a large map to traverse in Population: One, and even though it’s a battle royale, it still has one of the best open environments out of any VR game because of how much you can explore and experience on the map. The combat mechanics are also great. Population: One is a game available on the Oculus Quest and PCVR headsets.

10

Fallout 4 VR

You Don’t Want To Set Your Eyes On Fire

Fallout 4 is the best post-apocalyptic RPG video game in VR because of its expansive mechanics, such as dialogue choices and the VATS combat system. These features are even more fun in virtual reality than in the regular game.

Exploring the Commonwealth has never been more immersive, and you can even turn Fallout 4 into a survival game by turning on Survival Mode. You won’t be disappointed by Fallout 4’s detailed world and terrifying enemies. Be advised, though, Fallout 4 VR is a separate game from the standard Fallout 4. So if you want to play it virtually, it’s a separate purchase.

9

Subnautica

The Deep Ocean Has Never Looked So Terrifying

Underwater gameplay is hard to create realistically; however, Subnautica delivered on immersion. Subnautica is a survival game where you can explore the ocean on an alien planet and survive long enough to eventually leave the unique world.

Subnautica received a virtual reality feature, and it’s now one of the most realistic VR games ever because there aren’t very many survival games set in virtual reality environments. If you want a great survival game or just a swim underwater in VR, then Subnautica is an amazing experience where you can explore an entire ocean. You can experience Subnautica VR on PCVR headsets.

8

Skyrim VR

I Used To Be A Flatscreen Gamer Like You

Like Fallout 4, Skyrim is another game that Bethesda released a VR version of. Skyrim is a fantasy open-world game with over a dozen cities and towns to explore, not to mention the other dungeons scattered throughout the snowy region.

You can approach decisions and combat in Skyrim in many ways, so it’s a video game with a lot of replayability. Skyrim VR is available on PSVR and PCVR headsets.

7

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Web Swing Like You Always Wanted To

Spider-Man: Far From Home is more of an experience than a complete game; however, you can enjoy hours of fun that you can’t experience in other VR games. After launching Spider-Man: Far From Home, you’ll become Spider-Man and gain the ability to swing across a city with webs in first-person.

Although the web mechanics in Spider-Man: Far From Home aren’t perfect, you’ll still have lots of fun swinging through the air past skyscrapers and completing the story mode, which consists of a battle with a giant robot. You can also explore the city full of skyscrapers to your heart’s extent and even complete special challenges. Spider-Man: Far From Home is available for free on the PSVR and PC VR headsets.

6

The Forest

You’re Not Alone In These Woods

The Forest is another survival game incorporating base-building as a core component, similar to Minecraft. However, The Forest has terrifying enemies and environments for you to explore. Survive in a temperate forest while cannibalistic mutants stalk you through the night.

If you want a more challenging open-world experience in virtual reality, then The Forest is a great option, and you won’t regret experiencing one of the best base-building games of the last generation. The Forest is available on PSVR and PC VR headsets.

5

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Do Whatever You Can To Survive The Zombie Infested Waters

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead TV show, then you’ll probably know just how interesting it would be to explore the franchise’s world in virtual reality, and now you can in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.

Saints & Sinners features up-close zombie action and a variety of weapons for you to use to defeat zombies. There’s the main story, and you can also explore the world while scavenging and fighting zombies, which is a dream come true if you enjoy this genre. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is available on the PSVR, PCVR headsets, and the Oculus Quest.

4

Green Hell VR

It’s A Jungle Out There

Green Hell’s VR version is somehow both a more and less terrifying take on what The Forest offers. Taking place in a jungle setting, you need to utilize all sorts of skills to survive the harsh climate. While it doesn’t have mutants hunting you down, you have to contend with all of the more severe and dangerous aspects of surviving in the wilderness, including infection, diseases, and hostile wild animals and insects.

Green Hell lets us live out the fantasy we all have of whether we could survive out in the wild. Offering one of the most authentic takes on the survival genre, the difficult and sometimes gruesome process will both humble and excite any VR users who like a good survival game. Green Hell VR is available on PC, Meta Quest 2, and PSVR2.

3

Stormland

Fast Paced Action In A Beautiful Sci-Fi Setting

Stormland is an open-world action game where you are a lone android who has been attacked by another robot group. Now you must traverse a lush jungle landscape, utilizing guerrilla warfare to take out outposts and save others.

The gameplay is not entirely unlike Far Cry, where you collect weapons and resources to improve yourself and tackle concentrated bases of enemies. Gunplay is as important as maneuverability, though. You’ll need special skills and lots of awareness to traverse the varied terrain. It all combines to make for one of the most immersive open-world VR games.