While VR hasn't necessarily taken the world by storm (as some had hoped), it's certainly given us some of the most memorable gaming experiences of the last few years. VR is arguably at its best in the RPG genre, but that doesn't mean it has to be an isolating experience.

There are quite a few VR games out there with asymmetrical gameplay, meaning one player is wearing the VR headset, while everybody else is using the screen; and this can be a fantastic setup for some fun parties. Some of the most creative developers are taking a stab at this genre - here are some of the best VR games for your party, (in no particular order).

Updated February 20, 2024 By Matthew McKeown: If you’re looking for a great place to break out a VR headset then a party is the perfect spot. Though it’s usually thought of as a solo experience, there are tons of great VR games out now that’ll help you make a big splash at your next big shindig.

However, because so many have thrown together their own VR party games, it can be a little tricky to track down the most fun ones for your friends. To help you out, we’ve continued to keep you updated with some of the best VR games for parties that you can play right now.

Axe Party VR

A simple indie VR game from Zac Strong, Axe Party VR is ideal for groups that like to have a good time indoors. Instead of putting out your back and shoulder tossing a real axe in a relatively safe way, in Axe Party VR you can lob those weightless projectiles however you like.

There are three unique modes to keep things fresh and it can be incredibly satisfying to nail a particularly tricky shot in front of your friends. The main mode has three rounds, five tosses a round and the winner is the one with the most points. Simple and easy to set up and start running.

The other available modes of play are BreakRoom and Axe Hunt.

Rainbow Reactor

A visually overstimulating arcade VR game, Rainbow Reactor will test your reaction speed and your knowledge of color theory. Keep the reactor stable by tossing in balls of goop that are the right corresponding color. Take too long or get it wrong and it’s game over.

Gameplay is simple yet fast-paced with a surprising difficulty curve at times. There are nine levels of difficulty to tinker with, numerous Synthwave tunes banging away in the soundtrack, achievements, and different modes of play. It’s a frantic and funky fun time in Rainbow Reactor.

Meteoric VR

If you’re looking for a VR game for your next big bash that’s low maintenance and easy to get running then check out Meteoric VR. It’s a simple space-based shooter that has you blasting apart meteors and other alien threats that threaten the planet Earth.

Your hands are your blasters and through specific movements and gestures, you can perform bigger and more powerful attacks. There’s a high score to set and if you’re looking for a way to keep fit at home it’s also a great option as it really gets you moving.

There are 180 degrees of movement required whilst playing Meteoric VR. So make sure there’s plenty of room around you.

Smush. TV

Billed as a hyper-reactive arcade game, Smush.TV is a brilliant option for a lively night-in with your friends. Those in VR are rendered tiny and have to jump around a massive Tetris-style construction that’s slowly being built by the PC player to try and “smush them”. Those in VR can destroy blocks and teleport around, but it’s only a matter of time.

There are multiple modes including a custom setting for creating absolute chaos and plenty of weapons for the VR players to try and use to survive. To add to the excitement, those on PC can also watch the perspective of the VR headset wearer in real-time as they try to survive.

Local Paper Small Town

A two-player VR game with a difference, Local Paper Small Town definitely has a very unique take on what constitutes multiplayer gameplay. The goal is to spread happiness around a strange papercraft town by completing puzzles together both in VR and on a physical newspaper.

The peripheral in question is of course printed out by the players, but on it are various puzzles to fill in as well as clues to solving the in-game virtual mysteries as well. At about an hour long in length, it’s reminiscent of Everybody Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes but at a much lower and chilled out pace. If you’re looking for a unique VR party night then check out Local Paper Small Town.

The physical paper needs to be printed out in order to play, so make sure you have access to a printer or one full of ink at least.

Octo Raid VR

If you’re after something cheap, fun, and quick for your party then try out Octo Raid VR. This Early Access cross-platform multiplayer VR game from BLENS is your classic, group of players versus one big boss kind of fair and the resident monster this time around is a giant cartoonish Octopus called Octo.

The big squid's job is to wreck everything but standing in its way is a team of hunters playing on PC or Mobile. The octopus is massive and can mess with the environment but the Hunters have powerful weapons and unique gadgets to give them a winning edge. It’s bright, has a lot of arcade style and it’s always fun to grab and throw someone as the Octopus.

Octo can move around quite quickly as all the VR player has to do is reach out and grab a pylon. The arena is quite small so it can cover ground faster than you think.

Traffic Jams

A weird and rather wacky game from the Little Chicken Game Company, Traffic Jams is a chaotic game that has you playing as a crossing guard on a busy intersection. However, it’s not just traffic jams that you’ll be dealing with out there on those busy streets.

Unnatural events like zombies flooding the streets, falling meteorites, and more will start appearing and it’s up to you to toss them out of the way and keep that traffic flowing. Plus, up to four non-VR players can join in on their phones to toss more cars, monsters, and other hazards your way.

Astro Heist

Most asymmetrical VR games involve some form of pretending to be a walking NPC in a crowd, Astro Heist took that idea and gave it their own spacious spin. Here non-VR players play as pilots who need to navigate through busy space outposts whilst stealing certain objects.

The VR headset wearer plays the Watcher who has to observe the various ships and then send out Police Sqauds to catch and interrogate pilots. Or they can set up traps and other barriers to slow down the pesky pilots. It’s a gaze-oriented game, so it’s accessible to a lot of people and though it’s in Early Access, it’s making a lot of good moves.

Puppet Fever

Find out who the creative or chaotic ones are in your friend group with Puppet Fever from Coastalbyte Games. Perfect for passing around the VR headset, the goal of the game is to put on your own puppet production using a massive list of puppet characters, items, and all sorts of attachments and prompts to get you started.

Don’t let its Early Access badge fool you, Puppet Fever has over 500 prompts, two game modes to mess around with, 15 different categories of story ideas, and hundreds upon hundreds of items to customize your characters with. Referred to as a ‘Hot-Seat’ game, it doesn’t take long for the laughter to start when you play Puppet Fever.

Puppet Fever is very improv-heavy, but it does help with prompts for those who might be struggling to come up with ideas.

Potato Party: Hash It Out

Essentially Pictionary but in VR and scaled up somewhat, Potato Party: Has It Out is a good game for a large group that’s playing locally in a party or online. There are two roles, artist and audience with up to eight players at once being able to enjoy the artistic chaos in VR or on mobile.

The artist has to draw an object in three dimensions using reshapable models, standard shapes, or paint and an easel and it’s up to the audience to guess what’s being created. The first one to get it right wins a point, it’s that simple. There’s no end to the types of creative anarchy you can get up to in this game, so if you fancy something fun that will get people talking then try this one out.

The mobile app for Potato Party: Hash It Out is free to use, just make sure you’re connected to a wireless network as data charges may apply.

Panoptic

An asymmetrical game that's guaranteed to get some laughs. Panoptic is one of the ever-popular types of VR titles that puts one person in the shoes of the local giant Overseer, whilst the other players run around as nimble, tiny Challengers below. Developed by Team Panoptes, their approach is more streamlined than other games, but it's just as enjoyable.

The goal of the game is simple: Non-VR players control small puppet people, whilst the one in the headset has to find them. But it's not as easy as it sounds as there are plenty of ways for the puppet players to hide. Whether that's blending in with NPC crowds, or using the odd architecture as a hiding hole. It's a relatively low-cost game, so it's perfect for parties that are on a tight budget.

VR Giants

A charming local co-op VR game that’s perfect for two friends looking to try out their teamwork skills. In VR Giants, one person takes control of a tiny hero that has to progress through the level through platforming. But there’s a catch, they’re going to need a lot of help.

This is where the VR headset player comes in, they play as a massive stone giant. This towering titan can pick up and manipulate objects in the area to create bridges, help solve puzzles, or just carry their easily squashable friend through tough or tricky spots. There are unlockable cosmetics for the giant and there’s plenty of variety in the level design to keep things fresh as the two of you go on a grand adventure.

Don't be scared to use physical objects to fling the hero. Often it will help you solve tricky situations a lot easier.

Boss Fighters

Become the boss fight for your friends in Boss Fighters from Pixward Games. Channeling charming cartoon monster of the week energy, one player is the titular Boss, whilst the others run around as one of many zany hero characters. The monster has to smash the city and kill the heroes using its large limbs, odd attacks, and objects in the environment as make-shift projectiles.

The other team gets to utilize a bunch of characters called the Rowdies who have access to powerful weapons and jet packs to help them scoot around the small arena and avoid the big attacks of the resident monster. It’s still relatively early days for the game so there’s not a ton of variety, but it’s free to play and the developers are pretty active with their patches and road map.

Escape From Mandrilla

It's monkey madness aplenty in Escape From Mandrilla by German Bandera. It's an Early-Access game that’s a little rough around the edges, it still has a lot of charm. Teams are, of course, asymmetrical, but this time it's the VR headset wearer that's in for a tough and terrifying time. Those playing in virtual reality have to run around in a first-person POV, whilst the other team gets to rumble around in an over-the-shoulder view of a large, and very angry, Mandril.

The solo player will have to craft items, weapons, and survival gear whilst trying to escape the agitated ape-filled labs. The Mandril team has their own abilities, relatively high speed, and are able to quickly swarm the escapee with swiping, snarling simian fury. There’s a bucket load of customization options for matches and it's genuinely unsettling seeing those Mandrills burst out of the darkness. So if you enjoy a good VR scare then check this one out.

Escape From Mandrilla is a little rough around the edges, but it's still regularly updated with new mechanics and better models.

Carly And The Reaperman

A cute VR platformer that requires a lot of teamwork, Carly and The Reaperman: Escape From The Underworld from Odd Raven Studios is great for small groups that are looking for something that's fairly low-stakes yet still utterly charming. You and a friend play as the titular duo as you solve puzzles and cross dangerous obstacles on your way to escaping the dark and shadow-filled lands of the dead.

There are over 50 levels to clear so you’ll have plenty to sink your teeth into and though it’s mainly a local co-op game, it is compatible with Parsec so you can pull in an online friend. The resident Reaper comes with a lot of adorable cosmetics, which let you put your own style on that grinning skull of his. Plus, the game is low cost so you’re getting your money's worth for your fun.

The Diner Duo

Run a robotic diner with your friends in Diner Duo from Whirlybird Games. This chaotic co-op game brings out the best in parties as groups work together to manage a diner, finish orders, and send those paying customers home happy.

The local VR headset wearer sits behind the grill and it's their job to fulfill requests at this easy-to-spot eatery, and it can get quite tricky as orders start to ramp up in complexity and volume. To help you out, your friends take the role of waitstaff, zipping around the restaurant taking orders, then bringing the meals to their pleased patrons. It's a fun and high-energy game that relies heavily on your ability to work as a team. If you want to flex your culinary skills, try Diner Duo.

Communication is key in this game, so make sure your group is talking a lot otherwise, you'll get swamped with orders fast.

Late For Work

Show the world that King Kong has got nothing on you by tearing apart a tiny town in Late For Work from Salmi Games. This simple VR game is perfect for parties and no doubt it'll start some friendly and competitive arguments amongst your mates.

One player takes the role of a giant Gorilla stomping down the streets of a sleepy burg, whilst four others team up to take the oversized ape down. That's managed through the use of tanks, jets, and other military vehicles that are piloted around by the non-VR players. With additional modes such as Hide-and-Seek, Deathmatch, Ape Escape, and much more, there's a lot of cathartic co-op carnage you can cause in Late For Work.

Operation Armstrong

A VR party game you can play along with on your phone, Operation Armstrong from Fullbeans Studio is an asymmetric stealth game with a twist. Everyone is working together instead of teaming up to take down the resident big bad.

As part of an elite infiltration team, your goal is to infiltrate enemy outposts and eventually stop the moon from crashing into Earth. The VR headset wearer physically sneaks around each installation, whilst their cohorts on cellphones hack into the base's security systems. Overriding CCTV cameras, warning of guard patrols and generally helping the infiltrator get through the highly secure stations in one piece. With plenty of missions to grind through and no limit to the number of phone players that can join in, Operation Armstrong is a great party piece for big groups.

Because there is no limit on support crew members, you can breeze through some solid sections with a big enough group of friends messing with security systems.

Do U Copy?

Become a Master Thief and break into a highly secure Bank Vault in Do U Copy by Freaks United. This cutesy asymmetrical Indie game tasks you and your friends with the goal of ripping off big banks for even bigger rewards. But not every heist is going to be a walk in the park.

There are guards, cameras, laser grids, and more blocking your progress and only a communicative team is going to get through. Speaking of, VR players take control of the Thief, whilst mobile players using a special app take the role of the Hackers that can take down or interfere with the Vaults defenses. Puzzles and Banks are randomly generated, so you'll never encounter the same set of security countermeasures twice. Perfect for those looking for a long night of puzzle-solving and frantic yelling.

Wacktory

If you've ever wanted to experience how chaotic a delivery depot can be, then Wacktory is for you. This colorful and cartoonishly delightful VR indie game from a small group of devs is a godsend for parties that need some extra excitement.

This co-op game puts teamwork front and center as both VR and non-VR players need to work together to fulfill delivery orders and stack parcels in their corresponding vans. It can descend into anarchy fast, but the gameplay loop is simple and enjoyable enough to keep you pushing for those high scores and completed challenges. Plus, it's free to play.

Takelings House Party

Takelings House Party is the perfect VR game for your party. One person dons the headset while the others go on their phones – which lets be honest, everyone is already doing anyway. Those on mobile devices will take on the role of the Takelings and must do as much damage to their surroundings as possible. The headset user will play as Hal, and must use VR to get rid of these pesky pests.

Takelings House Party is the best kind of party VR game as it really includes as many people as possible. Up to eight players can control Takelings via their phones with an additional player controlling Hal. The fact that you’ll see the game play out from a range of different perspectives is incredibly fun and adds a lot of replay value too.

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard VR

While Resident Evil 7 Biohazard VR may not allow a whole group of people to play at one time – although imagine how fun that would be – it is nevertheless probably the best game to whip out during a party. Pop the headset on an unsuspecting friend – preferably without telling them what they’ll be playing – and watch as the terror sets in.

Really, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard VR is a great way to test how strong your friendships are. If you’re the one with the headset on and all your friends leave the room or tap you as you’re walking through that horrifyingly creepy house, then maybe look for new friends. In all seriousness though, there’s nothing quite like sharing in the painful yet thrilling experience of being scared.

It's highly recommended to check out the DLC of Resident Evil 7 as it's a great send-off to the game and expands on a few story beats that were left out in the main story.

Acron: Attack Of The Squirrels!

Like Takelings House Party, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! is played both via mobile devices and a VR headset. The person with the VR headset on controls a tree, and it’s their job to defend their sacred golden acorns at all costs. Meanwhile, those on their phones control a range of different squirrel-based characters from a third-person perspective and must steal those acorns.

Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! is just so much fun. Picking up squirrels as a tree simply never gets old, and the range of abilities that you can use as either side adds a lot of strategy. It’s essentially Capture the Flag, only in VR and as a squirrel. Seriously, what’s not to love?

Beat Saber

Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where players are tasked with slicing a series of blocks with a pair of colored sabers in time to the music. It was released for the PlayStation 4 and PC in 2019 and works across a variety of virtual reality headsets.

It scored a nomination for the Best VR/AR Game at The Game Awards in 2018 (while it was still in early access on Steam), an award it eventually won in 2019 after the full game's release.

The catalog of custom songs in Beat Saber is absolutely gigantic. So don't just stick to the song list in the base game, there's a lot of fantastic custom-made downloadable tracks to try out.

Werewolves Within

Developed by Red Storm Entertainment and published by Ubisoft, Werewolves Within is a multiplayer horror game released in 2016. It is loosely based on the popular hidden role game, Mafia, and as such, has a group of players trying to guess who amongst them is the titular werewolf in disguise.

The game was notably adapted into a film in 2021 starring Sam Richardson which was well received by critics and moviegoers alike.

Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes

In Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes. One player will wear the VR headset, putting themselves inside a room with a bomb in front of them. The timer counts down, and the job of the person in the VR headset is, obviously, to defuse the bomb. The only problem being they have no idea how to do that.

Everybody outside a VR headset has the 23-page bomb-defusing manual, but they can't see the bomb. The person facing the bomb has to describe what they see, and the players with the manual need to carefully guide the player in VR. Think of it like an action movie, where an average Joe has to defuse a bomb with over-the-phone directions from an expert, which in this case is your friends.

The defusing manual has to be printed out beforehand, so make sure you have enough ink or access to a printer.

The Playroom VR

Convince your friends to bring some extra PS4 controllers, because The Playroom VR is a title that has a wide variety of mini-games to play. Some support five players, others can have as many as you'd like.

There's a ghost problem that needs solving, there's a kitchen full of mice that need catching, there's a monster loose on the streets, and a lot more. There's a ton of potential with this game, a huge amount of replay value, and it would be an absolute blast with a roomful of friends.

Black Hat Cooperative

You're sitting in your cubicle when a call comes over the phone. “Hello, Neo,” says a voice... Okay, maybe not, but it's still pretty similar. In Black Hat Cooperative, you and a friend are tasked with escaping a building chock-full of robots with murder on the mind in this sci-fi horror indie game. The player in the VR headset is the one trying to escape, with the VR view actually putting them in the building. The player watching the television/monitor has a birds-eye view, like a map, where they can see the entire layout of the building, as well as any objects and enemies within.

The aim is to direct the player in VR out of the building safely. While this is only a two-player game, it's loads of fun to watch others play, and you can easily take turns each time someone succeeds or, possibly more likely, fails.

Ruckus Ridge

In Ruckus Ridge, the player wearing the VR headset has the delightful job of shooting their friends with some sort of alien blaster. The VR player is in the middle of the map while everybody else has a top-down view of the map and their character. They can see exactly where the VR player is looking, and they need to stay alive until the time runs out.

It's a simple premise, with some pretty fun results, especially if players get competitive.

Mass Exodus

If you haven't had enough of hunting down your friends after Ruckus Ridge, then give Mass Exodus a try. Set in a future android factory, the VR player plays as a giant android in the center of the factory. All around you are a ton of other small androids, going about their business working in the factory.

Or are they? It turns out, some of them are your friends trying to sabotage you. Pick your friends out of the general mess of other innocent androids, and your job is complete. If you can't take them out before they finish their own job, then it's time to update the resume.

Hide And Spook

A lonely alchemist goes about their work. Suddenly, a candle blows out beside them. A strange wisp passes through their vision... Too many fumes? No. Your laboratory seems to have a ghost problem.

In Hide and Spook, the VR wielder plays as the alchemist, while the other two players use the Vive motion controllers playing as the terrifying ghosts. The goal of the ghosts is to extinguish all the candles in the room. But if the alchemist gets a good look at you, you're finished. Keep moving and stay quiet, and you might stand a chance. The laboratory scales to the actual size of your play space, so no matter the size of your room, the game adjusts to your needs.

Because this game involves three people moving around each other, you're going to end up with accidents, so be careful.

Blue Effect VR

Blue Effect VR has more to offer than the local multiplayer Hide-and-Seek mode, but the Hide-and-Seek is definitely worth checking out. One player wears the VR headset and must simply survive against the enemies. One of those enemies? It's your friend standing next to you.

Surprisingly scary, the task of the VR player is not for the faint of heart. But if you can handle the pressure, it's definitely a fun experience worth having. That's not to say that the player outside of VR isn't having fun, too. Who doesn't love to scare their friends?

Eye In The Sky

Eye in the Sky is another two-player game, where the player in the VR headset and the player using a traditional screen are working together. Both players have different perspectives and need to work together to solve puzzles.

This game has a cool variety of aesthetics and can make for a fun night of problem-solving.

Schlocks

Schlocks has 100+ minigames for you and your friends to compete against each other in. With each and every game having a time limit of ten seconds, you'll need to work fast to get the hang of the game and beat your friend's score, lest you be subjected to some brutal smack-talk as you pull off the VR headset.

This game is still in early access, but it's continually adding more and more minigames. The current total is over 100, but they're still finding more Wario-Ware-esque activities to shove in there for VR party chaos.

Try not to overthink some of the games, they're a lot simpler and easier than you might think.

The Take

The Take is a hot-seat-style VR game, where two players take turns. Each player is a spy, and the first player's objective is to hide a folder of classified intel somewhere in a stronghold, as well as set up some traps. The second player is supposed to find the hidden intel while avoiding the traps.

There's a lot of replay value in this one, taking into consideration the size of the stronghold, the variety of traps, and the limits of your ingenuity.