Here we find ourselves again, delving deeper into the ever-evolving realm of virtual reality. This isn’t a medium that stands still; nearly a decade in, VR has only grown, transforming gaming, creativity, and how we connect with one another.
The year 2024 has seen incredible milestones. It’s proof that the once elusive promise of VR is now a reality. While the release of more top-tier games is certainly a highlight, we’ve also embraced some unique indie projects. Together, these showcase that VR is not a mere niche market but a thriving arena offering substantial gains for both developers and players.
This year shines with its focus on polishing the VR experience. Developers are drawing from a decade’s worth of insights to usher VR into a future rich with comfort, deep immersion, and broader accessibility. Whether through innovative game mechanics or stories that linger in your mind, 2024 has offered plenty to cheer about—and even more to anticipate.
Let’s dig into Road to VR’s 2024 Game of the Year Awards:
Skydance’s Behemoth
Skydance Games’ latest, Behemoth, is a testament to what makes PC VR a playground for the enthusiasts who love to push their hardware to its limits. While Quest and PSVR 2 optimize accessibility, Skydance uses the PC platform’s raw power to deliver a visually and experientially rich game.
Behemoth epitomizes the VR experience—not just visually—but through a world crafted with meaningful interactions, convincing NPCs, and soundscapes that immerse you fully. There are few in the VR timeline that reach the immersive peaks of Behemoth. We’ve got Skydance Games’ experience with The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners to thank for Behemoth’s physics-driven melee and its riveting world-building.
From the initial encounters to your first Behemoth battle, the game seamlessly inspires players to harness and combine various skills—be it climbing, swinging action, or precise shooting with your trusted bow. You choose how to conquer foes, whether with one of the three Legendary weapons, or perhaps, with your enemy’s own gear.
Behemoth encapsulates so much of what VR gaming aspires to be, making it a no-brainer for 2024’s top PC VR award, and a must-play on any VR enthusiast’s list. Dive into our comprehensive, spoiler-free review for more.
Batman: Arkham Shadow
The mere idea of Batman: Arkham Shadow seemed improbable, resurrecting a franchise that lay dormant for years and stemming from developers not originally tied to its beloved predecessors. Yet, Camouflaj managed not only to create the game but also to merit the title of Quest Game of the Year for 2024.
Camouflaj’s understanding of the assignment shines through; this wasn’t just a VR port but a reimagining that captured the Arkham essence while revamping its core mechanics. VR brings an entirely different approach, with challenges that include translating the Arkham series’ trademark combat, where Batman dances through enemies, blending agility and power.
The solution? A clever system blending movement and attack. As you grow proficient in combat, you start feeling like you could face any number of foes.
There’s so much to admire about Camouflaj’s journey in bringing Arkham to life in VR. Batman: Arkham Shadow stands as one of the Quest’s finest—and for good reason.
Metro Awakening
For ages, enthusiasts of the Metro series have imagined its rich, post-apocalyptic world in VR. This year, those dreams were finally realized.
Choosing to enter a grim world like Metro Awakening might seem unlikely, but thanks to Vertigo Games, it becomes compelling in VR. Their profound grasp of what made Metro special translates beautifully. This is evident in the meticulous reimagining of familiar elements for VR, like the array of inventive weapons.
Crafted with VR in mind, the crossbow and shotgun enhance interactions and amplify the stakes; their designs stay true to the series’ aesthetic and are satisfying to use against adversaries. The challenge lies in their responsiveness, making each encounter feel vital.
Metro Awakening’s diegetic inventory system stands out, eliminating virtual menus for a more organic, backpack-based approach. This simplicity heightens the sense of reality, making gameplay all the more engaging.
Recognized with our Excellence in Immersion award, Metro Awakening’s design choices—from weapons to inventory—create a truly captivating VR experience.
Starship Home
We’re far from VR headsets fully grasping our spaces, which has hindered mixed reality’s potential. But Starship Home by Creature changes that perception, diving headfirst into mixed reality’s possibilities and standing as a testament to what can be achieved.
This game cleverly utilizes Quest’s room-sensing capabilities, pioneering a new journey for MR experiences. Starship Home’s blend of ship management and sci-fi gardening crafts a distinct VR/MR symphony that feels complete.
Modules placed around your room transform it, seamlessly integrating this reality with your own, and charmingly challenging traditional VR experiences. Starship Home sets the standard for mixed reality—an essential experience, not just an intriguing add-on.
UNDERDOGS
Both the Excellence in Locomotion and Excellence in Indie Development awards go to UNDERDOGS from One Hamsa. They build new frontiers, with a keen understanding of player movement right at the heart of their designs.
Harnessing arm-based locomotion, players control mechs, experiencing a dance between movement and combat. This dual purpose is cleverly woven into gameplay, deepening immersion as players begin to feel the mech’s form as their own. UNDERDOGS innovates both in movement and battle, earning its accolades.
Blade & Sorcery
Warpfrog’s Blade & Sorcery has transformed from a modder’s playground to a completed, story-driven experience with its 1.0 update. What started as a deeply engaging physics-based combat sandbox has matured, captivating players anew with its Crystal Hunt mode and consistent updates over the years.
KospY and team maintain the core combat allure while elevating the title to new narrative heights. With plans for the future already in motion, their commitment is nothing short of commendable.
Trombone Champ: Unflattened!
Trombone Champ, a viral rhythm game, finds new life in VR, thanks to Flat2VR Studios. Originally, a flat-screen game, it stands as a testament to the possibilities of VR adaptations. The mechanics adapt smoothly, simulating the trombone play with intuitive VR controls, marking the start of what promises to be a series of official ports by Flat2VR.
The game has been met with praise, and if their future ventures match this quality, Flat2VR is set to influence more traditional developers with its adept porting expertise.
This year’s awards highlight the very best VR has to offer. Here’s to the innovative developers and experiences that continue to elevate virtual reality to unprecedented heights!
