Synapse has burst onto the virtual reality gaming scene as the latest sensation, and it’s got some impressive companions like Half-Life: Alyx and Resident Evil 4. In this guide, we share with you the best VR shooters like Synapse.
PlayStation unveiled Synapse, their brand-new VR shooter, in the summer of 2023. This eagerly awaited addition to the PSVR 2 lineup, created by nDreams, transports players into the hostile depths of an enemy’s mind. Armed with a mix of weapons and telekinetic abilities, gamers must navigate the treacherous terrain of the subconscious, battling against the most violent thoughts of their foes.
Synapse now stands proudly alongside a thriving collection of immersive VR shooter games available on both PSVR and Oculus platforms. These titles are a must-try for any dedicated fan of the genre. Whether you crave heart-pounding sci-fi adventures, spine-tingling survival horror experiences, realistic military action, or epic journeys to distant galaxies, the best VR shooters, including Synapse, have something to satisfy every gamer’s taste.
1. *Resident Evil 4 VR*
When it comes to the finest single-player FPS VR games to dive into in 2023, look no further than Resident Evil 4 VR. This horror game takes the classic Resident Evil 4 and gives it a full VR makeover, allowing you to step into the shoes of Leon Kennedy as he embarks on a mission to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter during a hyper-violent zombie apocalypse.
This VR gem not only scooped up the Best VR/AR Game award at The Game Awards 2021 but also bagged the title of Best VR Game of the Year at the 2022 SXSW Gaming Awards. Resident Evil 4 VR stands as the epitome of VR technology, blending FPS gameplay, gripping storytelling, and stunning 3D graphics. For fans of Synapse, this game offers a level of immersion that makes you truly believe you’re battling through a real zombie outbreak. You can reload guns, toss explosives, wield knives in any direction, and explore a 360-degree world with absolute freedom. It’s a virtual zombie experience like no other.
2. *The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners*
Skydance has given us something truly remarkable – The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, a VR shooter that’s both impressive and deeply satisfying. In this single-player FPS, you step into the shoes of a tourist in New Orleans during a terrifying zombie outbreak. Your mission? Make the most of a stash of weapons tucked away in an old military hideout to take down as many walkers as you can.
While Saints & Sinners might not be as surreal or abstract as Synapse, there’s no denying the sheer terror it instills as you navigate a gruesome zombie apocalypse. What sets it apart, though, is how the choices you make in the game shape your journey directly. It compels you to grapple with moral dilemmas every step of the way. While Synapse lets you delve into your enemies’ minds, Saints & Sinners pushes you to confront your own ethical boundaries in pursuit of success.
3. *Phantom: Covert Ops*
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Synapse’s very own nDreams has crafted something extraordinary – Phantom: Covert Ops, a VR shooter you simply can’t miss. Fueled by the incredible Unreal Engine 4, this game is all about stealth. Picture yourself as a top-notch soldier, silently navigating a treacherous military facility, eliminating foes without a whisper.
But what sets this apart is the remarkable military kayak in Phantom: Covert Ops. It elevates the VR experience, especially when you’re exploring the waterways. Just like Synapse, Phantom: Covert Ops is a single-player FPS, and it also runs on a familiar game engine (Synapse goes with Unreal Engine 5), making it the perfect gaming companion for 2023.
4. *Pistol Whip*
Crafted by Cloudhead Games, Pistol Whip emerges as a vibrant and distinctive single-player FPS that adds a rhythmic twist to its gameplay. This VR gem proves perfect for newcomers to the genre, as players synchronize their trigger pulls with the beat of the background music, defeating foes in rhythm. When it comes to pairing up with Synapse, Pistol Whip seems like a natural companion, thanks in part to its acclaimed auto-aim feature.
Beyond its eye-catching neon color palette, which beautifully echoes Synapse’s vivid aesthetics, Pistol Whip boasts an intriguing cinematic tie-in. Movie posters within the game correspond to specific songs and offer various modifiers like dual-wielding or expanded magazine capacity. This ingenious approach immerses players in a John Wick-like experience as they mow down waves of heavily armed adversaries.
5. *Robo Recall Unplugged*
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Crafted by Epic Games, Robo Recall Unplugged proves to be an irresistible VR shooter that should be on every Synapse enthusiast’s radar. In this game, you step into the shoes of Agent 34, an employee in the field of robotics tasked with quelling a robot uprising caused by a viral outbreak. Your mission: track down and eliminate these rogue robots, armed with a vast array of customizable weapons, all while unraveling the mystery behind the virus.
Robo Recall Unplugged delivers a pure, unfiltered dose of first-person shooter action. Its unique scoring system rewards precise kills and unbroken kill streaks, ensuring players stay hooked throughout the gaming experience. Additionally, the game’s teleportation mechanic for moving around the virtual world adds a surreal twist that sets it apart from its peers. Combining all these elements makes it evident why Robo Recall earned a nomination for Best VR Game of the Year at the 2017 Golden Joystick Awards.
6. *Half-Life: Alyx*
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When it comes to the top VR shooter of 2023, Half-Life: Alyx still stands out. The game follows the adventures of Alyx Vance, a brave woman on a mission to navigate a dangerous world and acquire a powerful alien weapon held by the Combine.
It’s not just your typical VR first-person shooter. Half-Life: Alyx combines elements of puzzle-solving, exploration, and combat. To progress through the story, you need to interact with the environment in clever ways.
One of the game’s coolest features is the Gravity Gloves, an upgrade from Half-Life 2’s Gravity Gun. These gloves enhance the interaction level by letting Alyx manipulate objects in her surroundings. She uses them to protect her father, Eli, from the menacing Combine forces.
What sets Half-Life: Alyx apart from the crowd is its dedication to immersive VR gameplay. You won’t just press buttons to reload guns; you’ll physically do it with motion controls. This level of immersion has earned the game a remarkable Metascore of 93 and the title of Game of the Year at the 2020 VR Awards.
7. *Lies Beneath*
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Lies Beneath stands as a spine-chilling survival horror VR shooter, a perfect companion for Synapse enthusiasts. In this single-player adventure, you step into a woman’s shoes armed with a mystical lighter, guns, and blades as she navigates an eerie town infested with grotesque ghouls determined to halt her progress.
Lies Beneath offers a linear, narrative-driven experience that seamlessly melds shooter elements with survival horror gameplay. It’s an atmospheric, unsettling journey filled with unpredictable twists and turns, with the game’s captivating story at its core. The nightmarish backdrop and otherworldly monsters create a surreal atmosphere, thanks to its distinctive art style and smooth VR mechanics.
8. *Bonelab*
Stress Level Zero brings us Bonelab, an inventive and experimental VR shooter that’s bound to captivate Synapse enthusiasts. Serving as the sequel to Boneworks, this game immerses players in a mysterious science lab teeming with peculiar weaponry and even stranger adversaries. Players wield a wristwatch capable of altering their avatar and physical attributes to navigate this world.
Bonelab offers a sandbox experience with a somewhat intricate story campaign. Yet, it’s hard to overlook the allure of its physics-based mechanics, which build upon the foundation laid by Boneworks. Here, players can truly sense the heft and equilibrium of their two-handed firearms, enhancing the overall immersion. While it may not claim the title of the ultimate VR shooter, Bonelab strikes a harmonious chord, particularly as a companion for Synapse aficionados.
9. *Superhot VR*
Superhot VR stands out as a celebrated blend of virtual reality and puzzling shooting action, much like Synapse. In this game, the fabric of time itself only moves when you do, creating a unique gameplay experience.
Its abstract and minimalist art style adds to the surreal atmosphere, making it easy for players to question what’s real and what’s not. There are no health bars or random ammo drops to lend a hand. Instead, players must put in the effort to tackle puzzles and take down hordes of armed foes.
Superhot VR has earned numerous VR Game of the Year awards, and it draws inspiration from The Matrix by incorporating the mesmerizing bullet time mechanic, further enhancing the game’s reality-altering allure.
10. *Into The Radius*
Crafted by CM Games, Into the Radius stands as a strong contender for the title of the ultimate survival VR shooter, spanning across all platforms. Drawing inspiration from the novel ‘Roadside Picnic,’ this game thrusts players into the shoes of a soldier navigating the perilous Pechorsk Zone—a place teeming with bizarre landscapes and enigmatic creatures reminiscent of those found in Synapse’s cerebral escapades.
Beyond its role as a solo shooter, Into the Radius incorporates the intriguing elements of artifact hunting and scavenging for loot. These aspects are pivotal in unraveling the core enigma surrounding the Pechorsk Zone and its enigmatic inhabitants, constructed from dark matter. As challenges mount, players can enhance their arsenal with much upgradeable weaponry, making Into the Radius a deeply immersive and mentally stimulating experience, tinged with a surreal atmosphere that ensures players remain captivated throughout their journey.
