VR games can also be expensive, as they require a VR headset and a compatible device to run them. However, there are many free VR games and experiences available on various platforms, such as Steam and Oculus/Meta, that you can enjoy without spending a dime.

In this article, I will give you a list of 10 of the best free VR games and/or demos that you can try right now. Whether you are a fan of adventure, action, simulation, or puzzle games, you will find something that suits your taste and interest.

Key Takeaways

• To find free VR games on Steam, you can use the filters and tags on the Steam store, or browse the VR category and sort by price.
• To find free VR games on Oculus/Meta, you can use the filters and categories on the Oculus store, or browse the Quest or Rift sections and sort by price.
• Some of the best free VR games that you can play are Waltz of the Wizard, Runes: The Forgotten Path, Vertigo 2 Demo, DCS World, The Lab, Google Earth, Echo VR, Farlands, Blade Runner 2049: Memory Lab, and Heart of the Emberstone: Coliseum

How to Find Free VR Games on Steam

Steam is one of the most popular platforms for PC gaming, and it also has a large collection of VR games. To find free VR games on Steam, you can use the following methods:

• Using the Categories Tab: After clicking the Categories tab, select Free to Play under the “Special Selections” Column, scroll down until you see the Narrow By column, then click the “Visuals and Viewpoint” dropdown menu, and select “VR”. There you will find a list of free to play VR games. From there you narrow your search down a variety of ways such as genres and sub-genres, themes and moods, features, etc
• Sort by Price: You can also access the VR category from the Steam store page, by clicking on the “Categories” tab and selecting “Virtual Reality” from the Special Selections column. This will show you all the VR games available on Steam. You can then sort the games by price, by clicking on the “Price” drop-down and selecting “Zero” on the sliding scale. This will show you the free VR games first, followed by the paid ones.
• Demos: From the “Categories” tab, select “Demos” under the “Special Selections” column, and click on the “VR” button. From there you will find all of the available VR demos. You can also narrow down your search in a variety of ways using the “Narrow By” column

How to Find Free VR Games on Oculus/Meta

Oculus/Meta is another popular platform for VR gaming, Oculus/Meta has three main types of VR headsets: the Oculus Rift S, Quest 2, and Quest 3. The Quest 2 and Quest 3 are standalone headset that does not require a PC or a phone to run, and the Oculus Rift S is a PC-tethered headset that requires a PC to run. To find free VR games on Oculus/Meta, you can Use the “Top Free” category on the Oculus store. You can access the Oculus store from your browser or the Oculus app on your device. On the store page, you can use the Top Free category under the Featured tab.

10 of the Best Free VR games

Vertigo 2 Demo

Vertigo 2 Demo is a free VR shooting game that is the sequel to the original Vertigo released in 2016. Vertigo 2 throws you headfirst into a world of pulsating alien threats, futuristic technology, and gravity-defying action.

This demo is about 45 minutes, providing a glimpse into the complete game. True to the Vertigo style, the demo challenges you to navigate hazardous environments and engage in combat with otherworldly creatures.

Here’s what you can expect from the Vertigo 2 Demo:

1. Intense Combat: Confront menacing alien adversaries using an array of futuristic weaponry and tools to conquer them.
2. Introduction to the Story: The demo introduces you with the main characters and establishes the foundation for the narrative that unfolds in the full game, leading up to the events in the full game.
3. Immersive VR Experience: Stunning graphics and a captivating soundtrack bring the world of Vertigo 2 to life, enhancing your sense of presence and immersion in the virtual environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned VR enthusiast or a curious newcomer, the Vertigo 2 Demo is an essential experience. It showcases the potential of VR storytelling and action-adventure gameplay, offering a glimpse into the full game. Available for SteamVR.

Click HERE for more info about VR FPS games

Runes: The Forgotten Path

This demo allows players to assume the role of Leth, a formidable wizard awakening from a prolonged slumber with fragmented memories, seeking answers and to escape oblivion. Throughout your journey, you will navigate a world enveloped in mystery, rich with ancient secrets and fraught with perilous challenges.

“Runes: The Forgotten Path” incorporates distinctive features that contribute to its uniqueness and engaging nature:

• Mastery of the Arcane Arts: Develop proficiency in the arcane arts by wielding potent spells and incantations through intuitive hand gestures and motion controls. Engage in magic battles and overcome challenging obstacles.
• Exploration of Diverse Environments: Explore a world with varied landscapes, including towering castles, forests, hidden dungeons, and ruins. Each location invites exploration, offering captivating scenery, concealed secrets, and unforeseen encounters.
• Engagement of Analytical Skills: Encounter a spectrum of puzzles that test cognitive acuity and ingenuity. Whether manipulating magical artifacts or deciphering cryptic riddles, participants must think creatively to unlock the world’s secrets and advance through their journey.

Available for SteamVR

Waltz of the Wizard Demo

Waltz of the Wizard: Legacy Demo is a free VR experience that lets you embrace your inner sorcerer. The demo contains a glimpse into the world of VR wizardry.

In this demo, you’ll find yourself in a quaint wizard’s den, complete with a bubbling cauldron, mystical ingredients, and an ancient skull housing a helpful spirit guide. Through intuitive hand gestures and motion controls, you’ll manipulate magical elements, brew potent concoctions, and unleash a variety of spells.

Here’s what you can expect to experience:

• Unleash the elements: Conjure fireballs, manipulate water, and harness the power of magic with simple hand gestures.
• Brew magical concoctions: Combine mystical ingredients in your cauldron, following ancient recipes to create spells with unique effects.
• Interact with a vibrant world: Explore your cozy wizard’s den, discover hidden secrets, and engage with the quirky skull spirit guide.
• Embrace the freedom of VR: Reach out and touch objects, levitate items, and feel the power of magic at your fingertips.

While the Legacy Demo offers a limited experience compared to the full game, it’s a fantastic introduction to the world of VR wizardry. It’s perfect for anyone curious about the potential of VR or simply looking for a magical escape. Available for Oculus/Meta store

DCS World

For flight simulation enthusiasts, the Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) World has long been considered the gold standard. This free-to-play platform offers an unparalleled level of realism and detail, allowing players to experience the thrill of piloting a vast array of military aircraft. Whether you’re a seasoned virtual aviator or a curious newcomer, DCS World offers something for everyone.

Here’s what you can enjoy in the free-to-play version of DCS World:

• 2 highly detailed and accurate aircraft: The free-to-play version grants access to two high-fidelity aircraft – the Su-25T Frogfoot ground attack aircraft and the TF-51D Mustang propeller fighter. These aircraft offer distinct gameplay experiences, allowing you to engage in a variety of missions and challenges.
• Detailed and Immersive Environment: DCS World features a stunning recreation of the real-world location known as the Caucasus Region, with meticulously crafted landscapes, cities, and military installations. The dynamic weather system and time of day add an extra layer of immersion, making each flight feel unique and unpredictable.
• Multiplayer Missions: Team up with other players in a variety of online missions. You can participate in cooperative combat operations, engage in thrilling dogfights, or even take on challenging air-defense scenarios.
• Free Training Resources: DCS World offers a comprehensive set of training resources, including interactive tutorials, video guides, and a dedicated community forum. These resources are invaluable for new players who want to learn the ropes and improve their piloting skills.
• Modular Expansion: While the free-to-play version offers a substantial experience, you can expand your horizons by purchasing additional aircraft, maps, and modules. This allows you to customize your experience and explore specific areas of interest, such as modern combat jets, historical aircraft, or carrier operations.

While the free-to-play version offers two aircraft, additional modules can be purchased individually or through bundles. Available for SteamVR and at their website

The Lab

One of the original SteamVR experiences that showcases the power, potential and wonders of VR. The game is set in the universe of Portal, and features the humor and style of the popular series. The game also has a high level of interactivity and polish, and is easy to pick up and play.

The Lab boasts a diverse array of mini-games that cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Whether you yearn for thrilling action or contemplative moments, there’s something for everyone:

• Sling Shot: By utilizing the Core Calibration slingshot, aim for targets and blow up everything in the Aperture Storage Annex
• Archery: Hone your precision and aim in a medieval-themed archery range, where you’ll test your skills against moving targets.
• Robot Repair: Play the role of a robotic technician, solving puzzles and completing tasks to fix malfunctioning robots.
• Xortex: Embark on a thrilling space adventure where you’ll battle waves of enemies and navigate through a vibrant neon environment.
• Destinations: Explore stunning real-world locations through 360° videos, offering a glimpse into diverse landscapes and cultures.
• Secret Shop: fantastical realm of Dota’s Secret Shop, where the mystical counterpart to a 24-hour convenience store awaits your exploration! Discover a trove of artifacts, browse through a selection of familiars, and perhaps weave a spell or two.

Available only for SteamVR

Automobilista 2 Demo

For racing enthusiasts, the Automobilista 2 Demo offers a thrilling taste of what awaits in the full game. This free-to-play experience throws you into the cockpit of a selection of powerful cars, allowing you to tear around iconic tracks and experience the exhilarating sensation of virtual motorsport.

Here’s what you’ll discover in the Automobilista 2 Demo:

• High-Performance Vehicles: Get behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Polo & Virtus, each with unique handling characteristics and exhilarating performance.
• World-Famous Tracks: Feel the adrenaline rush as you race around meticulously recreated versions of real-world tracks. The demo includes iconic locations like Autódromo Velo Città (3 layouts), challenging your driving skills and pushing you to the limit.
• Immersive Racing Experience: Automobilista 2 offers an unparalleled immersive racing experience, combining stunning graphics, realistic physics, and highly detailed cars and tracks to deliver a true-to-life simulation for racing enthusiasts.
• Time Trial and Test Day Modes: Hone your skills and explore the limits of the car in the Time Trial mode. Alternatively, take a relaxed approach and explore the track in the Test Day mode, enjoying the beauty of the environment without the pressure of competition.
• Customizable Settings: Fine-tune the game to your preferences with a range of customizable settings. Adjust the difficulty level, weather conditions, and car setup to create the perfect racing experience for you.

Whether you’re a seasoned racing sim veteran or a curious newcomer, the Automobilista 2 Demo offers an opportunity to experience the thrill of virtual motorsport. With its high-quality graphics, realistic physics, adjustable weather, and different racing modes, it’s a perfect way to test drive the full game and whether or not the full game is for you.

Available for SteamVR

Google Earth VR

Google Earth VR transcends virtual maps to deliver a groundbreaking exploration of our planet. This free-to-use experience propels you into stunningly detailed environments, blurring the lines between reality and digital simulation.

Unleash the Explorer Within:

• Traverse the globe with unparalleled freedom: Soar over mountain ranges, navigate bustling cityscapes, or dive into coral reefs – the world is your oyster.
• Experience photorealistic immersion: Google Earth VR renders landscapes with exceptional detail, from valleys to bustling cityscapes, creating a immense sense of presence.
• Journey through time and space: Explore our planet’s historical landscapes, embark on virtual Martian expeditions, or glimpse into the future with projected cityscapes.

Google Earth VR transcends mere map exploration; it’s a gateway to boundless discovery, limitless learning, and awe-inspiring immersion.

Only Available for SteamVR and META/Oculus

Farlands

One of the original Oculus Rift launch titles, Farlands is a VR game that lets you explore and interact with an alien planet, where you can discover and befriend various creatures and plants. You can feed, pet, and play with the animals, and watch them grow and change over time. You can also collect and scan the plants, and learn more about the ecosystem and the lore of the planet.

Available for Oculus/Meta

Blade Runner 2049: Memory Lab

Step into the neon-drenched world of Blade Runner 2049 once more with Memory Lab, a VR experience that takes you inside the minds of replicants. Memory Lab offers a unique blend of narrative exploration, puzzle-solving, and environmental storytelling through the lens of the Memory Blade technology.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Replicants:

• Become a Blade Runner: Don the iconic Voight-Kampff machine and slip into the role of Officer K, tasked with interrogating replicants through their implanted memories.
• Immerse Yourself in Fragmented Memories: Explore meticulously crafted and fragmented dreamscapes, piecing together the emotional core and hidden truths within each replicant’s mind.
• Use the Memory Blade with Precision: Manipulate and analyze memories, uncovering inconsistencies and subtle clues that reveal the replicants’ true nature.
• Face Moral Dilemmas: As you delve deeper into the replicants’ pasts, grapple with complex ethical questions about life, consciousness, and humanity.

Whether you’re a sci-fi enthusiast, a VR aficionado, or simply intrigued by the psychological depths of Blade Runner, Memory Lab offers a compelling and unforgettable experience. Prepare to dive into the memories of replicants, where truth and deception blur, and your empathy will be put to the test.

Available for Oculus/Meta

Heart of the Emberstone: Coliseum

A demo and sandbox version of the Coliseum Level in The Gallery: Heart of the Emberstone which itself a sequel to The Gallery: Call of the Starseed. A fantasy world reminiscent of 80’s classics like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. The demo features hand-tracking for telekinetic interactions, and an energy slingshot called the Arbalest. While free to play, it offers a substantial gameplay experience, lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Embrace the Power of Telekinesis:

• Become a Master of the Arcane: Feel the arcane energy coursing through your veins as you manipulate objects with the flick of your wrist. Lift boulders, hurl debris, and redirect beams of light with intuitive hand gestures and motion controls.
• Craft Creative Solutions: Think outside the box as you utilize your telekinetic abilities to solve a variety of environmental puzzles. Activate ancient mechanisms, bridge gaps, and navigate treacherous pathways, using your wit and skill to overcome each challenge.
• Embrace Experimentation: The open-ended nature of the Coliseum encourages playful experimentation. Explore the sandbox environment, try different approaches to the puzzles, and revel in the satisfying feeling of wielding arcane power.

Available on both SteamVR and Meta Store

Conclusion

These are just a few of the thousands of Free VR Games and Experiences available across the SteamVR and Oculus/Meta Platforms. From racing simulators, FPS games, flight sim games, to exploration and magic games, these something for nearly anyone, and its all free to download and play right now. I hope you’re able to find one or more that you enjoy. If so, please feel free to comment which is your favorite!

The Secrets of Ultimate Immersion using Virtual Reality

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