Meta Quest 2 has some of the best shooting VR games out there. Moreover, shooting is a genre that seems to fit the whole setup of virtual reality quite well. These Quest 2 shooting games are a must-have gaming experience that any fan of the genre must try on a VR headset.
Updated January 26, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Virtual reality continues to evolve with each passing month, and this holds true for the medium’s first-person scene. This article has been expanded to highlight a few more of the best VR shooting games on the Meta Quest 2.
Into The Radius
Into the Radius should satisfy VR owners searching for a slower-paced shooter that emphasizes preparation above everything else. The survival game is set in post-apocalyptic Russia, which means a lot of eerie nothingness punctuated by shattered remnants of a dead society. Unsurprisingly, this setting inspires the worst of humanity to come forward, as people do what they can to see another day.
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Provided a player does not mind lackluster visuals and punishing difficulty, Into the Radius is a stellar experience that nails its environmental storytelling. The gameplay forces players to really own their weapons, as they have to maintain them or risk a technical malfunction in the middle of a firefight.
Pavlov: Shack (Beta)
One of the more popular multiplayer VR games, Pavlov: Shack is the free-to-play version of Pavlov VR. Focusing on 5v5 matches, Pavlov has realistic weapons along with decent visuals for the medium. The former feature is the game’s strongest asset, and the gun’s handling is among the most immersive in the VR scene.
As this is a multiplayer-only title, Pavlov: Shack matches vary significantly in quality depending on who is taking part. Still, due to its free status, the game is nevertheless worth a download.
Arizona Sunshine
Arizona Sunshine is one of the better-known VR games, serving as something of a technology seller. A zombie-themed shooter is hardly a novel concept, and the game does not offer much originality when it comes to its story or presentation. However, the controls are great, and ultimately, that is the most important thing.
Arizona Sunshine emphasizes VR’s potential for immersion, both in terms of its world and, more importantly, gunplay. The latter has an arcade feel to it, offering a simplistic but satisfying experience that leads to plenty of exhilarating sequences.
Blaston
Virtual reality has proven to be a great medium for projects that emphasize brief play sessions. Blaston has a simple concept: two players spawn in a bright room filled with floating guns. Once the timer runs down, they have to quickly pick a weapon and shoot their enemy first. Easy to grasp but difficult to master, Blaston has a stellar gameplay loop that motivates players to always go for one more match.
While mainly a multiplayer experience, Blaston also offers the option to face AI opponents. This can be useful for beginners who are looking to get some practice before they jump into the leagues.
Bonelab
Bonelab is a physics-based shooter that promotes players to use mods. Although the package includes a short campaign, the game’s main reason for existing is its sandbox maps, which give players the foundations they need to build their own unique experiences.
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As a single-player VR shooter, Bonelab is not that impressive; however, as an immersive project with endless potential for expansion, it is among the best options on the Meta Quest 2.
Population: One
VR battle royales are in relatively short supply, at least compared to consoles and PC. Population: One comes arguably the closest to capturing the thrill of PUBG, and it even adds a touch of Apex Legends by focusing on squads rather than solo runs.
Along with the standard battle royale mode, the game comes with Team Deathmatch and a few other options to spice things up. On Steam, Population: One does not have that active of a community, but the game’s publisher was purchased by Meta in 2021.
Zero Caliber: Reloaded
The Oculus Quest 2 has plenty of first-person shooters, but most of the games have rather limited scope. There is nothing wrong with that since it is better to do one thing well than five things poorly, however, that also means there aren’t many games that feel like complete projects. Zero Caliber: Reloaded is an exception.
Originally, the game launched with a single-player campaign that also supported co-op. This mode has a good selection of missions, fun weapons, and a few enjoyable set pieces. The visuals are not incredible, but they are passable as well. Recently, Zero Caliber introduced a PvP mode, adding a whole new dimension to the package. While somewhat rough around the edges, this VR shooter is worth keeping an eye on.
Space Pirate Trainer DX
Space Pirate Trainer DX is a first-person shooter standalone version of the popular Oculus Rift/Valve Index title. It’s a shooter that focuses on giving players a retro yet sci-fi feel they can’t get anywhere else.
The reviews are a testament to how good Space Pirate Trainer DX is, as the game stands at a staggering five stars with over 3,000 reviews on the Oculus store. Moreover, the game came out in 2019, making it relatively new compared to other games on the list. Anyone looking to find a good shooter should pick this one up.
Phantom: Covert Ops
Phantom: Covert Ops might sound like a Call of Duty title, but it is not. This game is a stealth game that is all about keeping cover and being a silent predator. In-game players assume control of an operative who can engage with enemies lethally or infiltrate unnoticed right from a military kayak.
Popular virtual reality channel VR Oasis has described the game as “The most unique stealth action game I’ve ever played,” which is an excellent review to sum this game up. Phantom: Covert Ops is a must-play for Quest 2 owners as it is one of the most comfortable games on the platform.
Robo Recall Unplugged
Similar to Space Pirate Trainer DX, Robo Recall Unplugged is a standalone version of the popular Rift shooter by the same name. In this game, players have to take on hordes of robots as they try to stop their uprising from succeeding.
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This game offers tons of weapons and customization options that are enough to keep players engaged for a long time. With a $30 price tag, Robo Recall Unplugged stands at an astounding five stars with over 4,000 verified reviews. It is certainly one of the high-quality Quest 2 games that everyone should try out.
Larcenauts
Larcenauts is a virtual reality title for those who are looking for a sturdy action-packed multiplayer game. In this shooter, players can compete in brutal 6v6 matches and pick from nine different Specialists who each have their own abilities.
Larcenauts is a top-notch shooter for virtual reality, as it provides complete movement of freedom for the players and a decent-sized play area. The best part about Larcenauts is its deep progression system and upgrades, which are extremely useful in multiple modes such as Refuel, Uplink, TDM, and Heist. The game also offers five unique maps to keep players busy.
Superhot VR
Superhot is a popular PC and console game that originally came out in 2016. While the game went viral at the time, its true form didn’t come out until 2019. Superhot VR is a Meta Quest 2 standalone version of the original game, and it enhances every aspect of the classic game in various ways.
First, this game works exceptionally well in virtual reality. Second, it is a great shooter with a fairly minimal art style, resulting in basically no major graphical downgrades. Superhot VR is one of the must-own Quest 2 titles, and it’s all thanks to its movement-based gameplay.
Resident Evil 4 VR
Who would have thought that the 2005 classic game would get remade for one of the best virtual reality headsets in 2021? For many, Resident Evil 4 VR is a dream come true for its stellar gameplay and incredibly well-optimized gunplay mechanics. While the old game does feel outdated, the virtual reality version feels like a brand-new experience.
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The story of Resident Evil 4 is pretty decent, which largely stays the same in the VR version. However, the gameplay is completely revamped, making it an unbelievable experience. In RE4VR, players can do whatever they could in the original, but with much more intractability. They can manually reload, knife in any direction, throw grenades precisely, and explore the scary village in first-person view.
Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip is one of the ideal Quest 2 shooters, as it offers gameplay that works extremely well in virtual reality. Players who have already played Thumper or Beat Saber will easily connect to this game for its rhythm-based shooting gameplay that is wholly satisfying for various reasons.
Pistol Whip can make a player feel like John Wick or the guy from Equilibrium since the game is extremely stylish and quick-paced. The shooter offers a variety of hand-crafted scenes, which are from situations like an uprising or heist, and is guaranteed to make everyone feel like a superhuman.
Sniper Elite VR
Anyone who has played a Sniper Elite game knows that it is all about taking the perfect shot and watching the bullet crush through enemies one by one. Sniper Elite VR captures the same feel through and through, and it doesn’t let it get lost in the virtual reality gameplay design.
In this game, players can precisely aim with their snipers, throw grenades, fight enemies, and fulfill their duty as war veteran sniper solider. The game is available as a standalone on the Oculus store or as the PCVR version on Steam.
Onward
While still in early access, Onward is the perfect shooter for people who are looking for something like Battlefield. This game has everything that makes it a good military sim, be it gunplay or realistic combat mechanics.
The players who want to try it out can do so at a relatively low price and enjoy modes such as solo, co-op, and multiplayer. The online of this game supports up to ten players in various modes and allows players to use a wide variety of weapons. The game also offers community-created content, which expands the playability even further.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners isn’t just a shooter, but a full-blown action-RPG game. This game encapsulates the best parts of a zombie game and mixes them up with virtual reality gameplay that is extremely satisfying.
In Saints & Sinners, players will have to fight the horrors of the zombie invasion as they make hard decisions and see them play out. The game offers a variety of weapons, both melee and ranged, and is a pretty solid shooter on the whole. This game is also a VR-only title, which means there is complete freedom.
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