Steam is chocked full of free games that support HTC Vive, but it may be difficult with all that choice to know exactly which games to start out with, especially if all that holiday shopping blew your wallet to smithereens.
Also, don’t forget that as an HTC Vive owner, you can pop into Oculus exclusives, designed for the Oculus Rift, using the Revive software hack. Check out the bit near the bottom for the skinny on games worth a nod or two.
5 – Waltz of The Wizard
Synopsis: What’s Waltz of the Wizard doing on the list if it’s not a game? Well, it is and it isn’t. Not only an awesome showcase for VR object interaction, Waltz of the Wizard also has its own story to tell, albeit a short and sweet one. You mix potions, levitate objects and discover a world that is just begging for a more expansive game. It’s certainly worth a look, as the level of polish is pretty much through the roof.
Studio description: Waltz of the Wizard is a virtual reality experience that lets you feel what it’s like to have magical powers. Combine arcane ingredients into a boiling cauldron with the help of an ancient spirit trapped in a human skull. Unleash creative or destructive wizardry upon a fully interactive virtual world.
Developer: Aldin Dynamics
Released: 2016 – Steam
4 – Accounting (Legacy)
Synopsis: You don’t really play Accounting so much as Accounting plays you. Created by Justin Roiland (of Rick and Morty) and Crows Crows Crows, Accounting is a fever dream of comedy, imagination, and a healthy dose of WTF. It’s also a great appetizer to the much more expansive paid app Accounting+ (2018).
Studio description: The modern field of Accountancy is a serious and honorable profession. Many human beings have spent their lives toiling over the hard science of numbers. Thousands have died so that we may get to the level of understanding that we have today. Thousands have died.
Developer: Crows Crows Crows
3 – PokerStars VR
Synopsis: Steam doesn’t allow real cash gambling, but that hasn’t stopped the world-wide online poker site PokerStars from developing their own free-play VR poker casinos spanning locations such as Macau, a Monte-Carlo yacht, and a wild west saloon. So while you can’t play Texas Hold’em with this month’s rent, you’ll be able to polish your live poker game, replete with the ability to stack your chips and handle cards just like in Vegas. Just make sure to hide those tells.
Store description: Step into the future with this game-changing release from the biggest name in the business. Visually stunning environments; realistic chip and card movements; an endless supply of interactive toys, props and accessories; and the world’s best poker software powering multiplayer Texas Hold’em action.
Developer: Lucky VR Inc.
Released: 2018 – Steam
2 – The Lab
Synopsis: When Valve published The Lab on Steam back in 2016, it was basically the highest quality VR game/experience there was by default. Now two years running, it still holds up as a shinning achievement of what Valve is capable of when they release a game. Yes, we’re still waiting on their promised ‘three full VR games‘, but until then, we’ll just play Longbow.
Studio description: Welcome to The Lab, a compilation of Valve’s room-scale VR experiments set in a pocket universe within Aperture Science. Fix a robot, defend a castle, adopt a mechanical dog, and more. Still not sold? It’s free!
Developer: Valve
Released: 2016 – Steam
1 – Rec Room
Synopsis: Rec Room isn’t really a bespoke game, but rather a social VR app that contains a number of engaging and fun games within it. You’ll get swept up in the multiplayer adventures, casual sports, and the newest addition Rec Royale, a battle royale-style team shooter. Against Gravity are always updating too, so there’s typically always a fresh co-op Quest to conquer.
Store description: Rec Room is the best place to hang out with friends from all around the world! Play intense multiplayer games like Paintball, Laser Tag, Quest, and Rec Royale, or just chill with friends in the park. There are thousands of player-created game and event rooms for you to discover, with new ones added daily. You can even build your own rooms with your friends. Rec Room is cross platform and free, so come and join the fun!
Developer: Against Gravity
Released: 2016 – Steam
Free Games With Revive
If you’re looking for a portal to more free, awesome quality games, look no further than Revive, the tool that lets you play Oculus Store exclusives. Check out our top games to play with Revive below:
Echo VR
Store description: In Echo Combat, you will play as a futuristic battle-ready robot armed with an array of weapons and abilities as your team of three competes against the opposition in high-speed objective-based zero-gravity mayhem! Echo Arena now supports parties of 15 players and 5v5 private matches, with 5 more slots available for spectators! In the Arena, your team will face off against the competition in a zero-gravity clash of robotic glory as you glide, boost, and punch your way to scoring goals in a breathtaking virtual arena.
Developer: Ready at Dawn
Released: 2017 – Oculus Store
Lucky’s Tale
Store description: Lucky’s Tale is a delightful platforming adventure game designed exclusively for the Oculus Rift. Join Lucky as he runs, jumps, climbs and spins his way through a bright, colorful world filled with thrilling challenges, wacky creatures, and all the shiny things a little fox could ever want!
Developer: Playful Corp
Released: 2016 – Oculus Store (gamepad)
Brass Tactics Arena
Synopsis: Play head-to-head online or in Conquest story mode from your Oculus Rift, Gear VR, or Facebook Gameroom account on desktop. This immersive collectible card-battler mixes high fantasy with World War II on a 4×4 grid battlefield that is alive with rampaging giants, intimidating war-machines, and soaring projectiles.
Developer: Hidden Path Entertainment
Released: 2017 – Oculus Store
Update (December 28th, 2018): We’ll be updating this list periodically to reflect the newest and best free games for Vive.