PlayStation VR has been out for nearly two months now and gamers on PS4 have been extremely impressed by the virtual reality gaming rig. The focus is now on device makers such as Sony to ensure there is enough content for users to interact with in VR. The great thing about virtual reality is that it can make us go through experiences we may otherwise have been unable to in real life, and with games, were no longer just playing them, – we’re part of them!
Some video game genres seem more suited to the technology than others however, and the number of the most successful VR games proves it. With that in mind, this post takes look at the most popular genres of games already ported to VR:
Shooters
Shooter games are amongst the most popular genre in video gaming because they are able to place players into the action more easily. On the PlayStation 4 console, blockbusters such as Destiny, Far Cry 4, and Overwatch are some of the biggest selling titles.
Either way, millions of gamers worldwide are avid fans of shooter games so it is only natural for the genre to be one of the first to make its way to VR. Whether they are first person shooters or Space Shooters such as Eve: Valkyrie, this genre is perfectly suited for the VR format.
Before, developers had to make sure the player was immersed in the action through viewing the game as if behind the camera. But now, virtual reality game developers can create games in which players are fully immersed and involved through sound, vision, and even bodily movements, which ultimately make for a better shooter experience.
Racing Games
One of the limitations to gaming in virtual reality is the space within which players can move around as they interact with the game. This may be the biggest reason why racing games are easily ported to VR. The other is their popularity of course but the simplicity of the genre is that players can sit in a chair and start racing. Paired with gaming chairs designed specifically for racing games then that perfect mixture of virtual reality and real life is a hard one to beat. On PS VR, the popular driving sim DriveClub VR is one game showing what’s possible with VR racing gaming.
Casino Games
Another genre of games that has taken like a duck to water in virtual reality gaming is casino games. The exponential growth of the casino games industry has been thanks to advances in technology and the mass availability of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
This means that new and existing players now have easier access to games through websites and apps that also offer more variety and clearer payout details.
Now, imagine replacing that app-based experience with a virtual reality one. As we’ve seen with what’s capable with other VR games, internet casino enthusiasts will soon be able to go beyond that and be fully immersed in a virtual reality casino environment as they play their favorite games. VR will certainly be another boost for the once struggling industry.
Horror Games
The one constant you get with VR is enhanced immersion into the content you’re interacting with, and that again works well in the horror genre. If you’re a fan of horror games then there is a lot to get excited about for the future of the category. The fact that it’s one thing to watch zombies attack your character on screen, and quite another to BE the protagonist under attack, shows the genre is not for the faint-hearted, – but still.
Titles such as Here they Lie and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood are capable of truly terrifying experiences as will Resident Evil 7 when it comes out on PS VR in January of 2017.
While there is no doubt that all video game genres will be ported to virtual reality eventually, the suitability to VR gaming of the above make them surefires for success on the platform. These are the foremost gaming genres that are easily able to provide the experiences that are closest to reality and unlike anything many gamers will have ever gone through before. As the medium evolves and more titles are released, gamers can be forgiven for perpetually getting more excited about the future.
