RELATED: VR Games To Play With Friends
While still a developing industry, the Meta Quest 2 has definitively enhanced their overall experience, granting players co-op compatibility, the chance to meet new people, and even a plethora of accessories to intensify their immersive adventures. Formerly known as Facebook, this rebranded company’s headset holds an extensive list of content, immensely spoiling fans for choice, however, these select party titles are a thrill to play, whether accompanied by friends, or journeyed solo.
7 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
Nothing screams cooperation more than defusing a time-sensitive bomb, so in 2015, Steel Crate Games unleashed Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes, a nerveracking title, bound to enthrall those who love a danger aspect. Although a remarkably stressful game, players are tasked with the dubious defusing of a detonating device, in which coordination and communication is critical.
RELATED: Best Puzzle VR Games Playable On Meta Quest 2
Whether sat in the deactivation seat or holding the manual needed to shut down the time-ticking explosive, fans of this tense title are thrust into a chaotic position, further heightened by the realm of VR. Despite this puzzle party game seeming exciting, it has a shocking catch, as only the player defusing is able to view the bomb, restricting those communicating the given guidebook. Having players on the edge of their seat, anxious, and downright filled with adrenaline summarizes this pressure-filled title perfectly, ultimately posing for hours of incessant fun with friends on the Meta Quest 2.
6 Pistol Whip
With its initial release in 2019, Cloudhead Games set out to tackle the more physical side of VR, basing their beloved title Pistol Whip on maneuverability in order to succeed. Taking inspiration from the film industry, such as the fighting sequences and shoot-outs from the John Wick franchise, Pistol Whip prizes itself on rhythmic missions, oftentimes having the player shoot to the beat of an exceptionally catchy soundtrack.
RELATED: Best VR Shooters For The Meta Quest 2
Although the difficulty increases as fans progress through the title, Cloudhead Games’ uniquely mesmerizing setting totally envelops the player into an immersive VR experience, further aided by the offering of numerous game modes. Whether challenging your skills with friends, listening to the vast array of EDM (electronic dance music) artists, or testing out the dual-wielding mode, Pistol Whip certifies its position as a party classic on the Meta Quest 2.
5 Acron: Attack Of The Squirrels!
Boasting a prosperous debut in 2019, Resolution Games’ Acron: Attack Of The Squirrels utilizes elements from both VR and mobile gaming, consequently resulting in a hilariously amusing title. While one player is poised to defend the golden acorns as an ancient tree, up to eight other friends are able to hop on their smartphones as rebelliously devious squirrels, viciously tasked with stealing the sacred nuts.
This multiplayer VR experience is battled out across seven exclusive maps, all of which depict an incredibly pleasing forest aesthetic, however, with the numerous special abilities the evasive squirrels retain, it is no wonder this party game could become highly competitive. Despite its relatively simple intention, Acron: Attack Of The Squirrels poses for a brilliant time with friends, competitive or not, inevitably solidifying Resolution Games’ title as a must-have for Meta Quest 2 owners.
4 Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale
Continuing on with their innovative nature, and looking to revive this seemingly underappreciated genre, Resolution Games’ 2020 release of Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale brought joy to those with a passion for the culinary arts. Brandishing an open multiplayer experience of up to four players, fans of this cherished title find themselves within a whimsically enchanted forest, entrusted to complete various food orders for distinctly unique customers.
RELATED: Most Immersive Cooking Games
While most other culinary games solely base their title on cooking, Resolution Games’ approach is that of a completely uncommon one, as players are not only tasked with preparing, managing, and completing meal requests, but also fending off their beloved kitchen from angry creatures, of which are set on disrupting your dinner service. Hectic, wacky, and heavily reliant on cooperation, Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale can be seen as an exemplar for not only the VR industry, but also the cooking genre, cementing their place as a party necessity for those with a Meta Quest 2.
3 ForVR Bowl
Sports can be argued as a fundamental aspect within the party genre, allowing ForeVR Games to take center stage in 2021 through the release of their highly acclaimed ForeVR Bowl. With the increased demand for simulation games on the horizon, ForeVR Bowl stands out from the crowd, teaming friends up for competitive, or even casual rounds of bowling in breathtakingly creative lanes.
RELATED: Best Sports VR Games For The Meta Quest 2
Detaching themselves from similar titles, ForeVR Games opted for a grippingly immersive experience, pinpointing all their focus on placing the player in a real-world scenario. Elements such as a YouTube-powered jukebox allowing players to listen to their favorite songs, alongside the ability to take a selfie with an in-game camera, ultimately showcase their ingeniously inventive attempt at blurring the line between reality and fantasy. Although the core basis of the game poses for an enthralling experience, ForeVR Bowl grants an insight into the future for the VR industry, inevitably confirming themselves as an essential to those on the hunt for Meta Quest 2 party games.
2 PokerStars VR
Dealt to the gaming community in 2018, Lucky VR’s title PokerStars VR filled a major gap within the VR industry, being that of a real-life gambling experience. Arguably seen as a rather controversial area in terms of video game development, PokerStars VR manages to keep a light-hearted tone to its gameplay, despite its ferociously competitive and exhilarating play style.
Fanatics of the renowned betting sector are able to demonstrate their skillful techniques against other players, all while sat in a highly-immersive poker table, fascinatingly similar to that of a real-life one. While other VR experiences don’t require such technology, Lucky VR has gone far and beyond to make this title as enticing as possible, cunningly showcased through their unprecedented realism in characters. Fans are not only able to have rivetingly challenging matches but are also able to see their opponents’ body language, strategically delegating their truthful tongue or bluffing nature. Whether a gambling devotee or not, this social experience poses for an extremely alluring time with friends or strangers, approving PokerStarsVR as a party exemplar for the Meta Quest 2.
1 Beat Saber
Similar to that of Pistol Whip, Beat Saber’s 2018 release saw players take on a rhythmic title, tasked with following the soundtrack’s audio ques. Prominently rooted within the exclusive Meta industry, Beat Games’ overall success has inevitably secured themselves a spot among the majority of Meta Quest 2 game rotations, oftentimes sold to fans as a bundle with the headset itself.
Equipped with two lightsabers, the player is taken on a uniquely-paced journey, with the only chance of moving forward is by slicing their way through blockades. Although a relatively simple objective on paper, Beat Saber requires its fans to utilize their whole body, frequently forcing them to maneuver left or right, up or down, all the while adhering to the angle in which the blocks should be slashed. In terms of a truly immersive VR experience, Beat Games’ Beat Saber is a dominating contender within the market, as its sometimes disorientating gameplay fuels an eager sense of competitiveness in its players, ultimately sealing its place as a party classic among Meta Quest 2 owners.
MORE: Best VR Simulation Games For The Meta Quest 2