Now that E3 2017 has officially come and gone it’s time to take a moment and look back to reflect. While this was definitely a good show for gamers of all types, it’s hard to argue that it was actually overall better than last year’s show. Last year at E3 we were just a few months removed from the launch hype of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive and the anticipation surrounding Sony’s PlayStation VR and the Oculus Touch controllers were both at all-time highs. Big title announcements like Farpoint, Resident Evil 7, and Batman Arkham VR paved the way for one of the most exciting weeks in VR’s short life thus far. E3 2017 was good, but it wasn’t quite E3 2016 good.
That being said there were still some solid announcements made and the games we already knew about coming into the week are starting to look even better. We’ve put together a list of the five best PSVR games we saw and played at the show this year. This list only includes games that were playable on the PSVR platform and does not include games that are coming to PSVR but were demoed on other devices.
Runner-Up: Moss
While attending E3 it’s easy, as a journalist, to feel jaded. The lights, glitz, and glamour of it all can feel like a cacophony of sound and colors that bleed together while you’re trying to shove your way through endless crowds of people. It’s a lot to take in and honestly has very little to do with what I love about games and VR specifically. But every now and then a game will blindside you with a special type of adventure that makes you smile and exhale a sigh of relief in the confidence that, despite it all, some developers are still making charming stories like Moss that just so happen to be about a cute little mouse on a grand journey.
You can read more about our time with Moss here and learn why, even though it’s a third-person action adventure game, we couldn’t imagine ever playing it outside of VR.
Runner-Up: Star Child
When Playful, the developer that created Lucky’s Tale, announces a new VR game it’s time that you pay attention. Lucky was one of the first recognizable faces of the VR industry and his cheerful demeanor was representative of the youthful vigor and excitement that infused the entirety of our young industry back when the Rift and Vive first launched. Now with Star Child Playful is taking a more thoughtful and cinematic approach to VR storytelling with this PSVR-exclusive. It’s a game about mystery, discovery, and uncovering secrets and we can’t wait to see more.
You can read more about why we were so enamored with Star Child at E3 2017 right here.
Runner-Up: The Inpatient
I’m a sucker for horror, branching narratives, and interesting characters. When Supermassive Games combined all of those things together to create Until Dawn, a choose-your-own adventure-style slasher flick that took the form of a video game, I was a big fan. The VR spin-off didn’t hit the same notes, but was a capable on-rails horror game in its own right. Now with The Inpatient, Supermassive is telling another story in the Until Dawn universe, but this time it’s a prequel over 60 years in the past and it’s full of slow-building tension, creepy doctors, and plenty of ominous imagery to keep you up at night.
You can read more about what we thought of The Inpatient from Supermassive Games later this week.
Runner-Up: Sparc
We’ve played and written about Sparc a few times in the past. You might remember hearing about it first as Project Arena, but that original premise has now been reimainged with lit up orbs instead of discs and it’s just so much fun. You stand on opposite sides of a long hallway and are tasked with throwing and punching the orbs back and forth in an attempt to hit your opponent and score points. That’s about it, but it’s so much more nuanced and intense when you see it in action. At E3 last week we learned it will be coming out first on PSVR, which is a big get for the next VR title from he creators of EVE Online and EVE: Valkyrie.
You can read more about what we thought of Sparc running on PSVR later this week.
Best PSVR Game of E3 2017 – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
Prior to last week if you asked me what my dream VR game would be I’d have told you a brand new Elder Scrolls title built from the ground up to utilize the power of virtual reality as a transportive medium. While The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR isn’t quite that brand new game, it’s about as close as we’re gonna get for now. I was skeptical during the Sony press conference when the trailer played showing the game running on PSVR, but after trying it for myself I’m optimistic about the execution. The whole game was running well, combat felt good, and the world looks beautiful (albeit a bit pixelated when compared to the non-VR version, naturally) so we’re excited to see more. This is huge news and was easily the most exciting prospect we saw running on Sony’s PSVR headset.
You can read more about our exploits in the world of Skyrim VR right here.
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Which PSVR games are you most excited about from E3 2017? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check our lists for the best Oculus Rift games at E3 and best HTC Vive games at E3 from this year.
