Another year has passed, and virtual reality (VR), that incredibly immersive medium, shows no signs of slowing down. In nearly a decade, it has transformed our expectations in games, creativity, and even in how we connect with one another. As we step into 2024, it’s evident that this year is packed with milestones where the potential of VR isn’t just a distant promise—it’s a thriving reality.
What’s remarkable about this year isn’t just the release of popular ‘AAA’ games, though they contribute significantly. We’ve also witnessed the emergence of highly anticipated indie projects that prove VR isn’t merely a small corner of the broader gaming world. Instead, it’s becoming both a profitable venture for developers and an exciting arena for gamers.
This year stands out for its emphasis on refining the VR experience. Developers have taken lessons learned over the past decade to launch VR into a new era that values comfort, immersion, and accessibility. With groundbreaking mechanics and unforgettable storylines paired with visuals that make you feel genuinely present, 2024 brings much to celebrate and anticipate.
Here at Road to VR, we’re excited to present the 2024 Game of the Year Awards:
Skydance’s Behemoth
- Developer: Skydance Games
- Available On: Quest, PSVR 2, PC VR
- Release Date: December 5th, 2024
PC VR games provide a unique playground, unlike the widely popular standalone Quest or the cleverly optimized PSVR 2, made possible by the PS5. PC VR empowers hardcore gamers to push their systems to the limits, fully exploiting the visual capabilities.
Immersion extends beyond graphics. It’s about building a coherent world players naturally grasp, bringing NPCs to life, designing soundscapes that envelop, and crafting set pieces that evoke awe. Few games have reached the immersive peak of Skydance’s Behemoth—a notable achievement considering the studio’s history with The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners. This legacy informed Behemoth’s physics-based melee combat and immersive world-building.
Before you even face the mighty Behemoth, you’re challenged to wield all the skills you’ve learned, from climbing to wielding a trusty bow. Players have the freedom to fight with one of the game’s three upgradeable Legendary weapons or take on adversaries with their own gear, like katanas, throwables, or a massive buster sword.
Behemoth captures what makes VR gaming exceptional, earning it the top pick for our PC VR award and a prominent spot on our must-play list. For more on this immersive journey, check out our spoiler-free review.
Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Developer: Camouflaj
- Publisher: Oculus Studios / Meta
- Available On: Quest 3/S (exclusive)
- Release Date: October 21st, 2024
Batman: Arkham Shadow was a gamble—a revisit of a beloved franchise not touched in nearly a decade, not developed by its original studios, and requiring VR-specific gameplay redesigns.
Yet, defying expectations, Camouflaj delivered a title deserving of our 2024 Quest Game of the Year accolade. They didn’t merely port another Arkham game into VR. The developers distilled the essence of what makes an Arkham game engaging and redefined those mechanics for a VR landscape.
VR forced a total reevaluation of gameplay, especially the iconic Arkham combat. Their innovative system allowed players to engage enemies not just with physical strikes but through clever locomotion, creating a thrilling and complex combat experience.
The challenges were immense, but Batman: Arkham Shadow stands out as one of Quest’s finest offerings to date.
Metro Awakening
- Developer: Vertigo Games
- Available On: PSVR 2, Quest, PC VR
- Release Date: November 7th, 2024
For years, fans said the Metro series, known for its immersive, post-apocalyptic ambiance, would shine in VR. In 2024, their wishes were rewarded with Metro Awakening.
Why step into a gritty world instead of something lighthearted like “Puppy Sim 2079”? The answer lies in Vertigo Games’ knack for transforming the bleakness into an engaging experience. This isn’t mere VR adaptation; it’s a careful reimagining of Metro’s spirit in a fresh medium.
The game boasts new, intricately designed weapons that feel incredible to manipulate in VR, such as interactive crossbows and shotguns, capturing the series’ makeshift aesthetic. Shooting these weapons feels particularly rewarding due to enemies that are both intimidating and vulnerable.
The ingenious, diegetic inventory system enhances the experience. Realistic item retrieval from backpacks instead of conventional menus adds depth to gameplay realism.
Awarded for Excellence in Immersion, Metro Awakening excels with an engaging atmosphere and design choices that elevate VR representation. It’s an experience that sticks.
Starship Home
- Developer: Creature
- Available On: Quest 3/S (exclusive)
- Release Date: September 26th, 2024
Mixed Reality (MR) games often feel underwhelming, constrained by current technology’s limitations. However, Creature’s Starship Home challenges this perception by pushing what’s possible in today’s MR landscape—a title worthy of any VR game.
Starship Home, a blend of ship management and sci-fi gardening, treats MR as more than an enhancement. Modules you place in your real world amplify immersion, transforming your space into a personal escape pod. This innovative use foreshadows future MR gaming, proving it’s indispensable.
UNDERDOGS
- Developer: One Hamsa
- Available On: Quest, PC VR
- Release Date: January 25th, 2024
UNDERDOGS captures the awards for Excellence in Locomotion and Indie Development. The studio behind Racket: Nx, where player movement was central, continues this trend with their newest title.
Using arm-based locomotion, players maneuver stubby mechs, embodying the experience to the point where virtual limbs feel real. The inventive use of movement and combat puts UNDERDOGS on the map for both excellence and innovation.
Blade & Sorcery
- Developer: Warpfrog
- Available On: PC VR, Quest
- Release Date: June 17th, 2024
Blade & Sorcery, initially praised for its physics-based combat, has leveled up. Warpfrog spent years enhancing the game with story-driven content, taking the experience up several notches with the significant 1.0 update—Blade & Sorcery: Crystal Hunt. New storylines add depth, carrying the game into new realms. As Warpfrog looks to the future with fresh projects, their commitment to quality remains steadfast.
Trombone Champ: Unflattened!
- Developer: Flat2VR Studios, Holy Wow Studios
- Publisher: Flat2VR Studios
- Available On: Quest, PC VR, PSVR 2
- Release Date: November 26th, 2024
Taking the viral fun of Trombone Champ into VR was no easy feat. Flat2VR, a studio known for converting ‘flat’ games into VR masterpieces, embraced the challenge. Trombone Champ: Unflattened! is a testament not only to their skill but also to the potential of VR ports. The PR feedback is impressive, setting a standard for future adaptations. Flat2VR’s journey is one to follow closely.
Conclusion
Every game nominated for Road to VR’s Game of the Year Award had to be publicly accessible by December 20th, 2024, and fully operational on its respective platform.
These highlights reflect the strides VR has made in refining and expanding its reach in 2024, showcasing creativity, dedication, and a commitment to delivering top-notch immersive experiences.
