VR Gaming: an Oasis of Quality Games and Mods
After seven years of consumer VR, it seems that there still aren’t enough high-quality titles to keep gamers engaged. Fortunately, the VR modding community has never been stronger, offering a plethora of mods for existing VR games and adding VR support to games that don’t have it out of the box. This article will delve into the wide range of games and mods available to keep VR gamers entertained.
Two of the biggest VR games on the market are Skyrim VR and Fallout VR. Bethesda, the developer of these games, was an early supporter of VR, regularly releasing VR versions of their games. Even today, Skyrim and Fallout remain the biggest VR games in terms of playtime. However, the VR ports themselves are somewhat basic, lacking in certain gameplay elements and balance. But fear not, both games have a robust modding community that has transformed them over the years. Some notable Skyrim mods include vrik, which adds full body and arm presence, and immersive blacksmithing, which allows players to craft and enhance weapons with their own hands instead of using menus. The mods make these games feel like entirely new experiences.
Pavlov is another early VR game that owes much of its success to the modding community. Initially light on content, the game became popular thanks to modders who imported maps from other games, including Counter-Strike. Today, Pavlov offers a variety of mods, from Call of Duty maps to role-playing levels with servers full of players assuming different roles. Contractors, another VR shooter, followed suit, struggling with a low player base until mod support was added. Now, players can import maps and enjoy complete overhauls of the game, such as Team Fortress 2 and Star Wars Battlefront loadouts.
Half-Life Alyx, a highly acclaimed VR game, also supports mods. The game’s editing tools enable modders to create their own levels using Valve’s pre-existing assets. These mods offer an impressive level of quality and often exceed players’ expectations. Half-Life Alyx’s modding community has produced a diverse array of levels, including extensions of the main game and unique gameplay experiences. Bonelab and Blade and Sorcery have also embraced mods, allowing players to access new weapons and gameplay tweaks. These sandbox games offer endless opportunities for players who simply want to have fun in VR.
Rhythm games have also greatly benefited from mods, particularly Beat Saber. Modding tools were quickly developed to enable players to create and share their own beat maps, expanding the game’s music library. Other rhythm games such as Audica and Pistol Whip have similarly thriving modding communities, offering players additional levels and gameplay options.
Another notable category of mods is those that add VR support to games that were not designed for VR. These mods have continually grown in number, expanding players’ choices. For survival game enthusiasts, mods for Valheim, 7 Days to Die, and Raft offer unique VR experiences complete with full body and arm presence. Other notable mods include Outer Wilds, which allows players to explore different planets and experience a mystery-filled adventure, and the Resident Evil series mods, enabling players to play all of the remakes in VR with motion controls and other quality of life improvements.
Shooters also receive substantial modding support. Mods for Half-Life 2, the Resident Evil series, and Left 4 Dead 2 transform these games into fully functional VR experiences with native feeling controls and impressive AI. Other games, such as MechWarrior 5, Kerbal Space Program, and GTFO, offer cockpit-based gameplay with varying degrees of modded VR support. These mods provide an immersive experience, allowing players to control mechs, explore space, and participate in team-based tactical shooter gameplay.
The list of games with mod support continues to grow, with modders constantly working on new projects. Portal 2 and Ready or Not are two highly anticipated mods currently in development. The Universal Unreal 3D Injector, another upcoming mod, will allow players to inject VR support into hundreds of games using the Unreal Engine. These mods promise to elevate the VR gaming experience to new heights.
It is clear that the VR modding community plays a critical role in enhancing the quality of VR gaming. Without these dedicated modders and their incredible contributions, the VR landscape would be significantly different. As more and more mods are released, gamers can look forward to a continually evolving VR gaming experience that is rich with content and innovation.
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