The world has changed a lot since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But one thing, surprisingly, hasn't changed with social distancing: hanging out with friends. With the help of virtual reality technology, friends are still able to meet up and play games without being concerned about disrupting social distancing guidelines.
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There are a lot of different options available for VR headsets and even more games at the players' disposal. But when it comes to multiplayer VR experiences, not all games are created equal.
10 Onward
No matter if gamers are under the Call of Duty or Battlefield banner, everyone can come together under Onward as the most immersive military-sim experience to date. This VR experience puts the player right in the heat of battle with their closest friends as a deadly strike force against their opponents.
Onward is a relentlessly intense experience that has hooked players from all over the world in the same time-sink that the classic military simulation games have for decades with the increased feeling of actually living it. The cherry on top is that combat can be experienced in community-created content, meaning constant access to new, custom battlefields.
9 Stormland
Stormland is a charming game that captures the imagination from the beginning of the release trailer. Being able to experience the rich story and diverse landscapes with friends makes it even better. The player is a robot who has awoken in a world they no longer recognize, determined to take revenge on the faction that has destroyed it and attempted to eliminate him.
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Friends can help the player out no matter which part of the story both players are currently working through, and open exploration in the evolving environment is an option once the story is completed. Both the exploration and combat offer several hours of entertainment on the alien planet.
8 The Forest
The Forest is an amazing survival horror game that takes place on a remote island after a plane crash. Even though the player is the sole survivor of the plane crash, they are not alone on the island. This incredibly realistic simulation is just as frightening as it is addictive.
Scavenging, building, and planning during the day means survival from mutated cannibals at night. With the help of friends online, chances of survival can only increase. Hunkering down and simply surviving can turn to take the fight to the enemy once help arrives.
7 Star Trek: Bridge Crew
This game is every Star Trek fan's dream and yes, it is every bit as cool as one would hope it would be. Now, the player and three of their closest mates can form a real space fleet crew and experience all of the adventures and trials that have long since inhabited their dreams.
The roles to choose from include Captain, Helm, Tactical, and Engineer, but the game can be played solo as well. Thanks to procedural generation the fun can go on forever as players travel the stars, fight classic enemies, and command their vessel all from the heart of the U.S.S. Aegis.
6 Payday 2
This game was perfectly designed for players to experience the fast-paced, high-stakes thrill of the heist, all from the comfort of their living room. Work alone or with up to three other friends to cooperate in perfect synchrony to pull off a flawless heist mission.
Payday 2 plays like a thrilling first-person shooter with stealth elements in a fanciful and intense world with personal customization to make it feel all the more real. Some of their heists include bank robberies, narcotics production, and armored car hijacking. The only real question is if the player can get away with it.
5 Phasmophobia
Put simply: this game is not for the faint of heart. But that doesn't mean that it isn't an absolute blast. Honestly, even if the player is a notorious "scardy cat" they will still have worlds of fun playing with friends. There aren't many multiplayer scary games, but Phasmophobia certainly takes the cake of those out there.
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The player and their friends are a part of a ghost hunting team that is tasked with uncovering and collecting evidence of the supernatural. Not only are there over ten types of ghosts to encounter, but they can actually hear you through your microphone. This game features multiple sites and is cross-platform so everyone can join in on the unsettling fun.
4 Rec Room
Rec Room is the epitome of bringing people together no matter the distance or barrier. This game features more than 3 million rooms and boasts over 40 million monthly visits from gamers all around the world.
Rec Room is unique in the fact that it is so many different games and experiences, all wrapped up into one free title. The rooms are user-generated and can be crafted by anybody. This has become the hang-out spot for those looking to spend a few hours playing games, or just sitting in a gorgeous, fanciful virtual environment to catch up with their friends. Whatever the gamer's interest that day, there is certainly a spot in Rec Room for them.
3 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
If anyone has ever wondered how they and their friends will respond in an emergent situation, Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes is the best (and safest) way to find out. The player and their crew are tasked with defusing a bomb, but there's a catch: one player is alone with the bomb, and their friends have the manual explaining how to diffuse it, but they can't see the bomb.
Communication has to be on-point here, obviously, and tensions are high. This is not a game that can be played solo, and is worth noting that the bomb changes each round along with a brand new manual.
2 Arizona Sunshine
Arizona Sunshine is a delightfully crafted open-world zombie survival game that can be played solo or with friends. For those looking to live out some Walking Dead experiences, this is certainly a game to do so.
This game was built specifically for VR and can be enjoyed in free play or story mode. Players must manage scarce ammo and consumables while trying to find other survivors and surviving themselves. There is a wide range of weapons that handle almost as well as they do in real life and exploration without restrains to fully immerse into.
1 Population: One
The argument between PUBG and Fortnite can finally come to a close with the creation of the most immersive battle royale experience—in VR. This game allows players to fight from anywhere with unparalleled freedom of movement in a colorful, familiar feeling world.
This fluid, immersive experience boasts a wide array of weapons, multiple maps, and the ability to climb anything and glide anywhere. Players may also build shelters and shields on the spot to protect from bullets raining from above. Whether new to the battle royale scene or a seasoned vet, this game is worth the entry fee.