Best VR Horror Games For The Meta Quest 2
Horror video games tend to be scarier than movies, and that goes double for horror games in virtual reality. With the Meta Quest 2, players will feel as though they are really there in the thick of the story rather than in the safety of their living rooms. Formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2, the recent rebranding of its parent company has led to the Oculus moniker being dropped as well.
For those with the guts to play VR horror, there are plenty of options out there. Of course, VR is still in its baby stage, so players cannot expect titles comparable to survival horror giants like Silent Hill,Resident Evil, and Fatal Frame. However, the competent and well-reviewed horror games already available on the VR store shelves may surprise players. Gamers just need to make sure they really know what they’re getting into with these terrifying VR titles.
Updated on November 27, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: The Meta Quest 2 represents just how far VR has come since its inception. Headsets used to be extremely expensive and cumbersome to wear with wires and whatnot, but the Meta Quest 2 has mitigated a ton of these issues while also allowing for a wire-free VR experience that is genuinely incredible. The Quest Store is also populated with its fair share of amazing VR titles, including those that span the horror genre. Here are some of the scariest titles players can check out for the Meta Quest 2 to test their mettle in one of the most immersive forms of gaming around.
20/20 Blair Witch
On its own, Blair Witch is a fairly unremarkable horror title that didn’t really tread on any new ground. However, with the addition of VR, it easily becomes one of the most horrifying titles anyone can experience in this genre.
The enhanced immersion of the Meta Quest 2 makes each and every step a tough one to take, with players trying their hardest to avoid the horrors that haunt them in this game. It’s easily one of the best virtual reality horror games by a country mile.
19/20 Jurassic World Aftermath
Out of all the horror titles on the Meta Quest 2, there’s no doubt that Jurassic World Aftermath is one of the more unique titles on this list. The first thing players will notice about this game is the cel-shaded art style and how it looks so striking in VR.
Of course, it’s the unending horror of the dinosaurs chasing players all over the map that makes Jurassic World Aftermath an excellent title in its own right. Fans of horror games will have plenty to enjoy with this short yet sweet experience.
18/20 Resident Evil 4
It was a bold move to port Resident Evil 4 to VR, and Capcom has done a brilliant job of the same. Some of the challenge from the original game might be gone in VR, but that tradeoff is worth it for players to experience one of the best VR horror games around.
With the remake of Resident Evil 4 officially in the works, many people might not find many reasons to check out the first version of this game. However, this experience turns into something completely different in VR that is worth checking out indeed.
17/20 The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is easily one of the most unique horror games out there. This game has a tendency to unnerve the player with its unique mechanics, which makes it such a fun game to check out in VR.
Players need only check out The Twilight Zone for themselves to understand why it’s one of the best Meta Quest 2 horror games. The mind-bending plot will keep gamers engaged till the very end, and fans will lament the fact that this title ends just when the story was getting so good.
16/20 Project Terminus VR
Project Terminus VR feels like a game inspired by Half-Life with the horror dialed up all the way to the max. Players will be jumping at the slightest of sounds and be absolutely terrified by the intensely oppressive atmosphere this game creates.
While the game does have its fair share of combat, don’t be mistaken — Project Terminus VR prioritizes horror above everything else. The game wastes no time in letting players know that they’re anything but safe in this world, and survival is not going to be easy in the slightest.
15/20 Layers Of Fear
While not just available in VR, Layers of Fear feels like it was meant to be experienced with the Meta Quest 2. However, it is a port, so it won’t have a lot of VR tricks to its mechanics.
The game’s horror element is psychological, with the player taking on the role of a hallucinating painter exploring his own home. There are no monsters to shoot or places to hide. It is purely an explorative experience full of scares.
14/20 Face Your Fears 2
Face Your Fears 2 has players explore the creepy and abandoned Harvest House as they unravel the story of the history of the Harvest family. The game is rated T for teens, which makes it unique because most horror titles are rated M for mature. However, that does not mean the game is not scary. It is filled with jump-scares and a creepy atmosphere.
Fans enjoyed the game enough that they want the original title ported to the Meta Quest 2 as well. The original game is available on Gear VR.
13/20 The Exorcist: Legion
This adventure horror game comes in five chapters and has received rave reviews from publishers like Kotaku and GameCrate. The player takes the role of an exorcist and has to investigate demons and possessed people.
The game has everything horror, from jump scares to sudden darkness to upsetting sounds. The only complaints some players have put forward are a low frame rate and a couple of glitches. Some players on Steam even claimed to have returned the game for a refund because it was too scary for them to play.
12/20 Cosmodread
Cosmodread is a must-play title for fans of science fiction horror. The story takes place on a dying spaceship that is filled with monsters. In true survival horror game fashion, the player has a weapon, but scarce ammo.
The game was released in March 2021 and has had an overwhelmingly positive reception on the online game store. Reviews have praised the game for its graphics, scares, and atmosphere, which has been compared to Dead Space, Alien: Isolation, and Silent Hill.
11/20 Lies Beneath
Released in March 2020, Lies Beneath is a survival horror VR game that has been rained on with near-perfect review scores. Unlike Layers of Fear and The Exorcist: Legion, this horror game is full of action. The game takes place in the fictional town of Slumber, Alaska, and players play as a returning college student. They find the town is filled with monsters and go on a quest to save their father.
Reviews have praised the game for its soundtrack and graphics. Fans have compared it to a comic book rendition of The Thing, mixed with elements from Silent Hill.
10/20 Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife
A unique aspect of this VR game is that the player is not in the role of a human, but a wraith attempting to figure out how they died. Players can move through walls, move objects at will from a distance, and track how other spirits move.
Despite being undead, there still is much to fear in this game such as hostile spirits to avoid. The game avoids cheap jump scares and delves more into thick tension and long senses of dread.
9/20 Arizona Sunshine
Originally released in 2016, Arizona Sunshine is a typical zombie survival horror game. Many have called this title the VR game of its genre. It is a little heavier on the action than the horror, but it definitely can get the heart racing due to its intensity. Unlike other horror titles, this VR game does have a co-op mode as well.
Many players suggest getting the game at a discount since it’s a pretty generic zombie shooter. Still, it boasts great VR capabilities and the ability to play with friends.
8/20 Kobold
Kobold is more of an experience than a game, but such is the nature of certain VR titles. Players are on a quest to find a missing boy, exploring an abandoned German mansion in a creepy forest. While the game is mostly cinematic, players can pick up clues and take their time to see as much as possible.
The game is short, taking up to an hour at most, and its beauty is in its atmosphere. It may be worth the journey for horror and mystery fans, but definitely not all gamers.
7/20 Dreadhalls
In this title, the player is trapped in a dungeon and must find a way to escape. All reviews of the game admitted to having a terrifying experience and warned that the game is not for the faint of heart. There are scary sounds and monsters such as hellhounds, floating heads, shadow people, and devils.
True to its name, this VR title does give its players a sense of dread as they explore the massive dungeon. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, as the game is a great deal at only 10 dollars.
6/20 Five Nights At Freddy’s: Help Wanted
All gamers know of the Five Nights at Freddy’s series. It is one of those indie video games that went mainstream and got a ton of games since its first release in 2014. In 2019, it entered the world of VR. The Help Wanted collection includes the original classics of the series, as well as various mini-games.
While players do not have to use a VR headset to enjoy this game, it is worth the frightening experience. Even though most players go into the game knowing what to expect, the VR experience is unfailingly terrifying.
5/20 Edge Of Nowhere
Unlike many other VR horror titles, Edge of Nowhere uses a third-person perspective instead of first. Players take on the role of a man searching for his missing fiancee in the harsh land of Antarctica. However, the world shifts into a place of monsters and madness fairly quickly.
The game is a must-play for H.P. Lovecraft fans, as the game was inspired by his work, Mountains of Madness. Besides being a scary adventure, the game is gorgeous. Some reviews have criticized the game for poor controls but have still admitted it is one of their favorite VR titles.
4/20 Affected: The Manor
Affected: The Manor is not for gamers looking to play for a story, but more for those who just want to get scared. The gameplay is a walking simulator focused on exploration and atmosphere. The end goal is to escape the manor.
The game has been updated with two gameplay modes. One is called The Gauntlet, which ranks players based on their speedrun times, and another is called The Darkness, which makes the manor have zero lights on and gives the player only a candle to see.
3/20 In Death
For another combat-heavy horror VR game, look no further than In Death. The setting and story are pretty interesting, as the player explores a ruined and abandoned heaven that has been taken over by lost souls and monsters. It is up to the player to restore peace as they navigate a medieval setting and combat enemies.
It has many positive reviews, and some claim that In Death is their favorite VR game of all time. The one negative is that it is not very scary compared to the many other horror titles the Meta Quest 2 has to offer.
2/20 Red Matter
This puzzle adventure game has a pretty interesting setting, taking place in a dystopian sci-fi Cold War. The player takes the role of an astronaut on a moon base to investigate a secret research project. While the game is short (under about three hours), players have showered this title with positive reviews.
Like In Death, the horror elements in this game are mild. Some players wouldn’t even call it a horror game, but many still admit to feeling unsettled and a little spooked at certain parts. Players love the game for its graphics, challenging puzzles, as well as its voice acting, and suspenseful music.
1/20 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
The Walking Dead is sometimes more of a drama than a horror franchise, but in VR the horror elements really come out to play in this video game title. There are scares from having little light and exploring in the dark and there are also jump-scares when a zombie suddenly appears around a corner.
While gamers love the game for its action and horror, they have noted in their reviews that the AI behind enemies is sometimes not the best. Still, it’s highly worth playing for fans of zombie titles.