Best VR Survival Games Review 2022

Are you enjoying your gaming for the escape it gives you from reality? Well, the more realistic it can be the better, right? Especially when you’re playing survival games like Subnautica or SUVIV3.

If it doesn’t feel real you won’t really feel that rush of adrenaline when you (your character) face a challenge or eve the possibility of game-death.

The more your senses can help immerse you in the experience, the more it will feel like you actually SURVIVED something.

And that’s partly why VR has become such a buzz word in the gaming world. With a more optimized visual and audio experience, your brush with death and the thrill of living on the edge is much more real.

And actions like crafting or building is more fun, more interesting and more engaging.

Of course, this relatively new genre—the first VR set was designed back in 2010—requires some additional gear.

Is it worth investing in? Which survival games should you try first? Here’s the advice we give all experienced and new VR gamers.

Introduction to Survival Games

After about a decade of being on the market, the popularity of VR has sparked many developments.

Developers are making quality games for use with VR headsets and you now have high end and budget friendly hardware to consider.

Most experts will agree the Oculus Rift leads the pack in terms of headsets but remember you need a PC with the proper specs as well.

Luckily you can now also enjoy VR with a headset that simply requires your mobile device, thanks to products like Google’s Cardboard.

You’ll also need a proper set of headphones so the audio helps you experience the game as your temporary reality.

And hand controllers help you perform all the actions you want to survive the adventure although it’s not necessary for all VR games.

There are VR focused game app stores and below we’ll discuss a few of the best games to check out.

At A Glance:

1. Into The Radius VR

2. Forest In VR

3. SURV1V3

4. Green Hell VR

5. Song In The Smoke VR

6. No Man’s Sky

7. Super Hot VR

8. The Solus Project

9. Subnautica

10. Fallout 4 VR

 

1. Into The Radius VR

Overview

With Into the Radius VR you must survive Russia in a post-apocalyptic environment. Interestingly, instead of tracking you on a map as is the case with many games, you need to use a map, held in your hands, to pinpoint your location yourself.

You’re sent to the area for study, but lose your memory, can’t leave the Radius and must figure out mysteries while surviving monster attacks.

Platform

Steam: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality

Released

20 July 2020

Key Features

  • Realistic ammo loading
  • Guide called ‘Katya’
  • Fairly difficult, resulting in a true ‘survival experience’

Game Modes

  • Single player

Selling Points

Most players, after playing Into the Radius, uses the word ‘atmosphere’. Even though it’s not the best quality game out there, you’ll WANT to come back for more, because the design keeps you intrigued and with the right audio you do FEEL you’re surviving an eery post-apocalyptic world.

Pros

  • Realism
  • Challenging play
  • Unique to other games
  • Excellent use of audio

Cons

  • Low quality graphics
  • Only one player
  • Bad tutorial

Overall Score: 86/100

2. Forest In VR

Overview

After a plane crash, you need to survive in a forest filled with cannibals. No wonder players keep looking over their shoulders when playing this in VR. With a headset the lighting and graphics are enough to make you think you’re really in that situation.

You need to do everything relevant to surviving, from chopping wood and building a shelter, to fighting against the cannibals.

Platform

Steam: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index

Released

30 April 2018

Key Features

  • Realistic display of actions
  • Tracked motion controllers used
  • Realism creates eery atmosphere
  • Smart display of stats

Game Modes

  • Single-player campaign
  • Co-op multiplayer

Selling Points

For anyone wanting to escape reality, this game is designed well enough to transport you elsewhere. You can have fun with friends thanks to peer-to-peer modes, even joining 8-player games.

Pros

  • Excellent realism in certain actions
  • Can play in Peaceful mode
  • Multi player possible

Cons

  • Some mechanics need work
  • Fighting should be more realistic—sometimes too easy

Overall Score: 88/100

3. SURV1V3

Overview

A bonus with SURV1V3 is that it was specifically designed for VR. This means you won’t be held back by some mechanics and other problems that often creep in when developers convert an existing PC game to VR.

This one covers the ever-popular zombie theme, but it’s unique, so worth a try. Candymakers, the development team, really put in effort to offer a realistic experience.

Platforms

Windows Mixed Reality, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, PCVR headsets

Released

20 June 2021

Key Features

  • Single or co-op play
  • Tracked motion controllers used
  • Zombie themed
  • 18 hours of gameplay in story mode

Game Modes

  • Single-player campaign
  • Co-op
  • Different modes: Story, Trials, Survival

Selling Points

It’s a realistic game play and the developers do work to enable users of all types of hardware to enjoy it. Even though it’s challenging at all times, there are different modes, so customize your play to your preferences.

Pros

  • Made for VR
  • Different enemy types and weapons
  • Can play with up to 3 friends
  • Excellent tutorial

Cons

  • Only for mature audiences
  • Tough game with challenging learning curve

Overall Score: 82/100

4. Green Hell VR

Overview

Stepping away from the zombie theme, are you ready to hide and run from Amazon creatures, learn survival techniques and hunt for your food? Even make fire! This is an existing game that you can now play on VR, but it’s still to be released this year.

While facing challenges—everything from getting sick to deteriorating mental health—you’re in search of a specific healing herb. Your tools and resources include a Smartwatch, a notebook and weapons like a bow and arrow.

Platform

HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index

Released:

2022

Key Features

  • Based on a popular PC game
  • Set in Amazon jungle
  • Playing as an anthropologist
  • You need to craft, build, heal and find food

Game Modes

  • Single-player campaign
  • Survival

Selling Points

This is something different than all the zombie themed games out there. Since the PC game was popular one can hope the VR aspect makes it even more enjoyable.

Pros

  • Interesting story
  • Trusted developer
  • VR makes experience better

Cons

  • 2022 release means there may still be bugs to sort out

Score Out Of 100

To be seen

5. Song In The Smoke VR

Overview

Here’s a fantasy prehistoric world to immerse yourself in and fight for survival against imaginative creatures. You’ll be hunted but can also hunt others. Your activities will include crafting and hunting.

Platform

PlayStation 4, with some features absent in PlayStation 5.

Steam: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality

Released

December 2021

Key Features

  • Smooth controls and great mechanics
  • Play in primordial world
  • Tracked motion controllers used
  • Good tutorial
  • Day and night cycle
  • Game tracks stats like hunger and fatigue

Game Modes

  • Single player
  • Campaign
  • Free exploration

Selling Points

The developers managed to provide smooth handling, giving you a fun and realistic experience. For example, you can easily pick up items to examine.

Pros

  • Realistic experience
  • Have fun simply exploring
  • Great mechanics

Cons

  • Some graphics can improve
  • Recently released – may still have bugs

Overall Score: 85/100

6. No Man’s Sky

Overview

To have VR support you need No Man’s Sky with the Beyond update.

You arrive on an unknown planet and you can explore and create to your heart’s content. The developers use a procedural generation system. You’re not limited to your planet—simply travel to another one and explore some more.

It may be more exploration than survival, but you do need to find ways to live in an unknown environment. You’ll also find some frightening creatures along the way.

Platform

PC Steam: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

PS4: PSVR

Released

August 2019

Key Features

  • Multiple environments to explore
  • Can play seated or standing
  • Use tracked motion controllers

Game Modes

  • Single-player
  • Online co-op

Selling Points

Players enjoy No Man’s Sky for the almost endless possibilities and exploration it offers.

Pros

  • Great exploration game
  • Good graphics
  • Intuitive controls
  • Good mechanics
  • Multiple patches released to solve issues

Cons

  • Not the scariest of survival games
  • Handles very different to PC, so past experience doesn’t help that much

Score Out Of 100

74/100

7. Super Hot VR

Overview

This game proves you don’t need the most realistic graphics to still have fun. In Super Hot, red colored enemies attack you in a very basic white environment. You have to fight back. But the faster you move, the faster they move. One hit and you’re dead.

If you freeze, they don’t move either or you can move slow and the bullets will slow too. So, it’s about keeping still and planning before you go into action, so you can dodge and fight back.

Fighting can happen with knives, fists, guns and even throwing objects at the enemy.

Platform

Steam: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality

PSVR

Released

25 May 2017

Key Features

  • Strategize
  • Use motion controllers
  • Standing game only
  • Hybrid puzzle shooter

Game Modes

  • Single-player
  • Story mode or endless survival mode

Selling Points

You feel like you’re in an action movie and learning how to control other aspects by controlling time and speed can be almost addictive.

Pros

  • Fun
  • Great workout
  • Rewarding once you get the hang of it

Cons

  • Hand tracking should be improved

Score Out Of 100

80/100

8. The Solus Project

Overview

Here’s another action-adventure game where you need to survive in space. Your character has crashed onto an unknown planet and you need to find food and face challenges from bad weather to meteor showers.

You can freely explore the planet while looking for other survivors and learning about the possibilities of an alien race.

Platform

Steam: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index

PSVR

Released

7 June 2016

Key Features

  • Free exploration
  • Can play with mouse/gamepad/tracked motion controllers
  • Play seated or standing

Game Modes

  • Single-player

Selling Points

Players enjoy the story line and the mystery of finding artefacts and more. The graphics and audio create an eery, enjoyable game play.

Pros

  • Good storyline
  • Quality graphics
  • Realistic design with day/night cycles
  • Immersive experience

Cons

  • Inventory management should be easier
  • Not much direction given – may be frustrating for newbies

Overall Score: 82/100

9. Subnautica

Overview

Subnautica is another existing game that’s been optimized for VR. Already playing? The experts advise you to start from scratch for a more stable game although the developers took their time in ironing out bugs.

The premise is exploring an underwater world of the alien kind. You can freely explore while trying to survive various dangers like attacking water creatures. You can craft, build and even use a submarine.

Platform

Steam:  HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index

Released

6 December 2016

Key Features

  • Internet connection not required
  • Use gamepad or keyboard/mouse, not hand controllers
  • Underwater exploration

Game Modes

  • Single-player campaign
  • Free exploration

Selling Points

Subnautica fans marvel at how the environment comes to life when you use VR, thanks to developers’ attention to detail.

Pros

  • Excellent graphics
  • Free exploration of an interesting environment

Cons

  • Direction could be better
  • VR support can still improve

Overall Score: 84/100

10. Fallout 4 VR

Overview

This well-known title is now available in VR so you can play this post-apocalyptic shooter and survival game with your headset and enjoy a more immersive play.

Platform

Steam: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality

Released:

12 December 2017

Key Features

  • Tracked motion controllers
  • Must play standing
  • Combat as well as crafting and building
  • Free exploration

Game Modes

  • Single-player
  • Shooting and survival

Selling Points

It’s exciting to get even more from an existing game, simply by using more of your senses.

Pros

  • Great graphics
  • 100s of hours of gametime possible
  • Good adaptation for fans

Cons

  • Existing PC games may not transfer to VR
  • Bugs on some of the headsets
  • Inventory management should be better

Overall Score: 89/100

How Do We See the Future Of VR Survival Progressing?

There’s no doubt of the excitement regarding VR gaming, so you’ll only see more and better VR survival games in future. And with tech improving faster and faster compared to a few years ago, who knows what your options will be within a few months?

Pros

  • Optimal experience using audio and visual impulses
  • Quality games
  • Tech improves rapidly
  • Excitement regarding the genre
  • Dedicated app stores
  • Many applications for the tech

Cons

  • High capital investment to get started
  • Fewer game options than on PC
  • May require upgrades and more expenses as tech improves
  • Still a developing field

Conclusion

You’ll definitely enjoy the gaming experience with VR and a survival game will push your adrenaline levels much higher than simply sitting in front of your PC. If you are budget conscious, try a lower end headset or you could wait a few months and see if the market settles so you don’t have to upgrade your gear too soon.

If you’ve played any of these games on VR, please give us your feedback. You may have found secrets the rest of us are still figuring out.