Best VR Party Games

By far, the biggest development in gaming technology in the past few years has been VR. It’s one of the best ways to fully immerse yourself in a solo gaming experience, or to enjoy it with others.

VR had its modest beginnings with a handful of simplistic games but there are now hundreds of really cool, multiplayer games to choose from.

If you’re thinking about putting some VR games at the center of your party, we’ve got a list of some of the top games on the market you NEED to try out!

OUR TOP PICK

[amazon fields=”B07BTQFLHB” value=”thumb”]

OUR TOP PICK

[amazon fields=”B07BTQFLHB” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]

This is one of the most iconic mobile games of the 2010s, with over 1 billion downloads in its first 5 years!

Now, the classic cartoon-style game is available for VR, too. The premise is that your character has various fruits and obstacles thrown at them and a couple of swords to slice through them to earn points.

Where before, you could only swipe your screen to slice through the fruits, you can now feel like you’re really taking hold of a samurai sword and executing your targets!

The VR version comes with all the well-known game modes from the original game, like classic mode where you can try to rack up as high a score as possible.

However, exclusively for VR, is a new survival mode which has you take on some fruit-firing helicopters to survive for as long as possible.

Whatever mode you choose, this is the sort of game that’s sure to liven up any party.

The person wearing the headset will be fully immersed in the fruity universe and really feel the pressure from everyone else in the room watching on and laughing.

Not to mention, this is the sort of game absolutely anyone can get involved in, regardless of age or ability. Just be careful no one’s standing too close to the ninja wearing the headset!

Pros

  • Suitable for everyone - This game is rated ‘E’, meaning literally anyone can get involved
  • Easy to play - You don’t even need to have played this game before, the controls and gameplay are so simple
  • Exclusive survival mode - Enjoy this exclusive gamemode to get the party started
  • Great graphics - The vivid colors in the world around you are beautiful to look at

Cons

  • Lacks depth - Other than the fruit-slicing game modes, there isn’t much else you can do in this game

EDITORS CHOICE

Cook-Out

This is another VR game that gives nostalgic vibes of classics like Cooking Mama that millions of people enjoyed growing up.

In this game, you step into the chaotic world of a cartoon robot’s kitchen and restaurant. Your task is to cater for all the hungry animals that arrive at your window.

Tasks include taking their order, prepping the ingredients, cooking and serving meals- all within a time limit. When we said this game was chaotic, we weren’t kidding!

Unlike most childish cartoon-style games, this one actually has an interesting campaign mode that you can work through together on your own or with a group of friends.

In fact, one of the best things about Cook-Out VR is that you can play simultaneously with up to 4 players. This provides one of the best and most immersive VR experiences you could ever want!

The game has won a number of awards, including Best Cooperative Multiplayer game at the Upload Awards 2020 and has received countless positive reviews from customers and critics.

You can have full customization over your character’s appearance, interact with your fellow chefs with unique emotes and create your own fantasy world within the space of this kitchen.

Because the game is so heavily designed with multiplayer in mind, it’s a fantastic choice for a party. The only issue you might find is having 4 people playing in the same room at the same time.

This isn’t advisable because there probably won’t be enough space for everyone to move around freely, without hitting each other. However, you can easily enjoy playing with only a couple of people at a time or with friends online.

Pros

  • Character customization - You’ll have a great range of options to alter your character’s appearance and emotes
  • Award winning multiplayer - Customer and critics know just how great this game is for playing with others
  • Detailed campaign - Play through a whimsical story mode for an even more immersive experience
  • Endless mode - You don’t just have to stick to the predetermined story missions, enjoy playing endless mode to see how far you can go

Cons

  • Difficult for multiplayer at the same location - It would be difficult to have multiple people playing in the same room, simultaneously

BEST VALUE

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

There’s a reason this was one of the first big successes in VR gaming. It’s a fantastically intense game that puts you right in the shoes of a bomb defusal expert.

The premise is that one player (wearing the VR headset) is in a dark room with a complicated looking bomb and the other players (not wearing a headset) have to provide the detailed instructions needed to defuse it before it explodes in their face.

This game lends itself perfectly to a party atmosphere and can’t really be played at all without some friends in the room.

Take it in turns to switch roles throughout the party and watch the tension rise as the bomb’s timer ticks down menacingly.

The beauty of playing this game with a VR headset is that it makes you feel the palpable tension of having a live bomb in front of you but as soon as it goes off, you remember that it’s not real.

The game does support online, remote play so you can enjoy it even if your friends aren’t in the room with you.

It also uses a randomizer to make every bomb different and present a new challenge each time you play.

There are a set number of missions you can try that get increasingly more difficult or you can just enjoy freeplay mode to see what challenges come your way.

Pros

  • Perfect for parties - You have to play this game with other people so it’s a great way of encouraging between everyone involved
  • Randomized challenges - The randomized bombs ensure no two games will ever be the same
  • One headset required - Only one person needs to wear the VR headset for this game to work so you don’t have to worry about having more than one to hand

Cons

  • Might not be suitable for children - Because the game requires some complex thinking and communication, younger children might not enjoy it as much as others

RUNNER UP

Beat Saber

Another of the pioneers of VR gaming, Beat Saber is a simple, musical game that absolutely anyone can play.

It uses a similar mechanical system to Fruit Ninja, giving players a long saber in each hand and prompts them to swipe at blocks flying towards them in coordination with whatever song is playing.

Music is an important element of any party and that’s one of things that makes Beat Saber such a fun choice for gatherings.

You can invite your party guests to play this game and blare out the music to the rest of the party. 

They’ve got some pretty unknown songs, as well as some from famous artists like Green Day and Panic! at the Disco.

In terms of the game modes for Beat Saber, there is a fairly decent selection. The campaign mode features sets of levels that get progressively harder as you improve your skills at the game.

However, there isn’t any presence of a story between levels so the focus really is just on gameplay. You can even compete against your friends online with points to be earned and leaderboards to be climbed.

Like a lot of VR games of this variety, Beat Saber is also a great way to exercise as it forces you to perform rhythmic movements with your whole body in order to do well.

If you’re really into gaming and PCs, you can even delve into modding this game.

Users have created plenty of custom levels with their own songs that you can add to your game if you run out of things to do. The possibilities are pretty much endless!

Pros

  • Simple mechanics - Anyone can grasp the mechanical controls of this game and start having fun straight away
  • Supports mods - Find lists of hundreds of custom made levels by users to mix things up a bit
  • Based on music - This game is one of the best in the business for creating a fun party atmosphere
  • Campaign mode - Progress through levels to get the top of the Beat Saber throne
  • Simultaneous multiplayer - You can play this with multiple players in the same room or online

Cons

  • Limited game modes - The lack of story and other game modes leaves this game somewhat one dimensional

RUNNER UP

The Take

Put yourself in the shoes of a super secret spy in a Golden Age comic book and compete against your friends in this party game.

One thing to note is that this game is only designed for two players but that doesn’t stop everyone else in the room getting a kick out of watching along!

The first player puts on the VR headset and hides intel somewhere in the beautifully colorful, comic book style room.

The second player then wears the headset and has a set amount of time to try and find the intel and avoid any traps left by their opponent.

This game is perfect for creating a friendly, competitive atmosphere among a group of friends and has so many possible ways to play that you can go over and over for days and not get bored!

There are 3 different rooms to choose from, more than 8 traps to use and dozens of hidden compartments.

The best feature of this game has to be the visual and audio elements, though. The worlds are designed to look like you’re inside a comic book and they’ve done a fantastic job of it.

Also, the cool jazz soundtrack is created by award winning composer, Zac Zinger, keeping the atmosphere upbeat and snazzy every time.

The only thing holding this game back is a lack of online playability. It currently requires two players to be in the same room, sharing one headset.

However, a feature that allows players to compete from different locations in the same game is something that could definitely be added in the future.

Pros

  • Graphics - Some of the coolest comic book style graphics you’ll ever get in a VR game
  • Soundtrack - Using an award winning composer means this soundtrack keeps the atmosphere fun and engaging throughout every game
  • Replayability - There are plenty of different possibilities you can explore while playing this game
  • One headset needed - Both players share a headset so only one is needed to play

Cons

  • Lack of online multiplayer - There’s currently no way to play online against a friend in a different location
  • Requires exactly 2 players - This game is all well and good for two people but there’s no way for more people to get involved or to just play it on your own

RUNNER UP

Dance Central

This is one of the best games on our list for creating a party atmosphere within the confines of a VR headset. You’ll be transported to a groovy nightclub and offered a great selection of songs to dance the night away to.

As you can imagine, this game lends itself very well to party vibes. It allows you to dance online with other players in the same room or a different location.

Players gain points for executing the moves shown in front of them and can compete to see who follows the routine best.

The game also includes a fitness tracker so you can use it as a workout on your own or to get the people at your party moving.

The soundtrack features songs from some very well known artists like Lady Gaga and DNCE, meaning you won’t have to put up with any boring tunes that might kill the vibe.

A dance game like this isn’t exactly something we’ve never seen before.

Since the release of the Nintendo Wii back in 2006, we’ve seen games like Just Dance which use an almost identical premise and don’t run the risk of players bumping into each other while wearing immersive headsets.

However, part of the charm of this game is the world created around it. The cool nightclub environment will make you feel like you’re in two parties at once: one in the game and the one in real life.

Pros

  • Great party vibes - Because it’s based around music and dancing, there’s no way this game won’t go down well at a party
  • Fitness tracker - Use this game as a fun way to stay in shape and get your friends moving
  • Great soundtrack - They’ve pulled out all the stops by getting big name artists for this soundtrack

Cons

  • Similar to other games - There’s a good chance you will have played a game on another console very similar to this one already
  • Difficult to have simultaneous multiplayer - Having more than one person wearing a headset and playing this game in the same room could be dangerous

Best VR Party Games Buying Guide

Here are some things you should consider when deciding which VR party game to purchase:

  • Number of players - Think about how many people you’ll have at your party and check each game to see if it will support that number. With most VR party games, it’ll be a case of people taking turns to play and this isn’t always a bad idea.
  • Available space - One of the biggest issues with VR games is the limitations of the room you’re playing in. Make sure you don’t get a game that needs lots of space if you don’t have it.
  • Age of players - Some of the more complex puzzle games like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes might be a bit too challenging for younger children.
Best VR Party Games

What Is VR?

VR stands for virtual reality, and it’s the latest trend in gaming technology. Commonly, you play games while wearing a headset, which covers your eyes and ears to fully immerse you in the gameplay experience.

The type of controller you might use with your hands can vary from console to console but commonly it will consist of two handheld remote controllers with a few buttons around them.

By far, one of the most popular VR sets is the Oculus Quest 2, which is compatible with absolutely any PC. However, there are plenty of other companies out there that also make their own VR headsets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VR Good For Parties?

VR is all about creating an immersive gaming experience and that can be difficult to achieve with more than one person in the room.

However, there are some really good games that can get a group of people playing together and many of them only require one headset to be played properly

Final Thoughts

That was our guide to the top 5 VR party games you can get on the market. There are obviously plenty of other games out there that you might want to try out on your own or with some friends.

However, if you choose one from this list for your next party, it’s sure to be the center of attention! 

Richard Jones
Latest posts by Richard Jones (see all)