5 Oculus Quest Games We Need to Play in 2021

There's no denying the fact that 2020 brought us some truly outstanding works of art in the virtual-reality domain — which means our expectations for 2021 are now higher than ever. Evidently, VR is slowly but surely on the rise to becoming the cornerstone of futuristic gaming. Of course, there are still plenty of loose ends and a couple of missing pieces to the puzzle — but we're definitely on our way to something much greater.

We're only a couple of months in, but you can bet we've been keeping a close eye on the calendar for this year's launch dates. I mean, it's not like we have anything better to do these days, right? After all, we live and breathe video games around here — and VR plays an incredibly large part in our story. That's why we're pretty excited to share with you the five most anticipated games to release on VR this year. So, without further ado — here are some of the most anticipated Oculus Quest games of 2021.

5. Unplugged: Air Guitar

We've covered a lot of rhythm-based video games here on gaming.net, but nothing has quite piqued our interest as much as the intriguing Unplugged project. Unfortunately, as curious as we are over the details, the rock ‘n' roll simulator has yet to release any form of in-depth footage. Of course, we've scrubbed the single minute of gameplay from last May — but nothing else has really come to the surface since then. Our only guess is that developer Anotherway is occupied with compiling the perfect soundtrack for hair metal enthusiasts.

Unplugged: Air Guitar clashes the familiar strumming pattern with a button layout you'd catch on the likes of Guitar Hero. Only, with Unplugged, you'll be able to fill the shoes of rockstar without having to so much as lift a plastic microphone. In fact, you won't need anything to impersonate a guitar legend. Thanks to the sharp practice of the Oculus Quest hand-tracking design, players can perform to their heart's content without even having to know a single lick.

Unplugged: Air Guitar is slated for a Q3 2021 release on Oculus Quest.

4. Sniper Elite VR

Finally, the minds behind the BAFTA-nominated Sniper Elite series will be porting their explosive trick shots and scenic journeys to VR. Only, this Rebellion follow-up isn't just a rehash of old material for a new platform. Instead, Sniper Elite VR will receive its own story-driven campaign and all of the juicy extras you'd usually find in the Elite series.

It's also worth noting that this isn't intended to be your box-standard war cliche sort of game, either. Oh no, it just so happens that Rebellion has, in fact, recruited British author Tony Schumacher (best known for his World War II novels) to draft the new plotline for the VR game. So, not exactly your everyday run-of-the-mill shooter. Although, we are yet to witness any major details to the upcoming chapter — including the release date, unfortunately. That being said, Rebellion has mentioned in previous teasers that Sniper Elite VR will be in 2021's scope. We're just hoping that much is true.

Sniper Elite VR is due for a rough 2021 launch on Oculus Quest & PS VR.

3. Myst

After decades of absorbing fans over its shrouded mysteries and perplexing island wisdom, the nineties cult classic is finally being rendered for VR. Ever since the dawn of point-and-click puzzle gaming, Myst has stood at the apex of the cloaked steeple — and has inspired dozens to follow in the footsteps of its award-winning mechanics. Since then, fans of the game have been beckoning for a reboot for next-gen hardware. And, well — it turns out that Cyan Worlds has been working on that exact thing.

Again, we haven't been given a definite date as to when Myst will hit the shelves. We are, however, putting our chips on a late-2021 launch. Seeing as Cyan Worlds has been sharing some pretty interesting things these past couple of years, it's looking increasingly likely that the final stages of development are but a stone's throw away. But you'll have to take our word with a dash of salt, I'm afraid.

Step back into the myst with the remake of the 1993 puzzle game — listed for a late-2021 launch. Hopefully.

2. Assassin's Creed VR

Of course, we can't forget Ubisoft's previous attempt at creating a VR game for the Assassin's Creed series.

If you're hooked on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, or any portion of the Ubisoft timeline for that matter — then you're probably going to want to stick around for the upcoming VR segment. Only, we're not entirely sure what era the tale will revolve around, nor the characters that will be representing the experience. We do, however, understand that Ubisoft intends to take full advantage of the Oculus platform and its many components. We're also under the impression that Assassin's Creed will also be slotted for a 2021 release.

“Oculus’s state-of-the-art hardware will enable us to bring the worlds of Assassin's Creed [and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell] to life for fans in a new way,” said Elizabeth Loverso of Ubisoft's Red Storm Entertainment. “These games will take full advantage of Oculus’s technology to deliver immersive, visceral experiences that players won’t be able to find anywhere else.”

Assassin's Creed VR is expected to release later this year on Oculus Quest. We'll be keeping an eye on the Ubisoft boards for any future launch news.

1. The Climb 2

Touch the skies and breathe in the natural beauty of the surrounding world with the sequel to the highly-praised VR game, The Climb. As an adrenaline junkie hungering for the next awe-inspiring ascension, it is up to you to defy gravity and reach phenomenal heights like never before. By using a series of tools, tactics and talents —  you'll be able to kiss the clouds and set the benchmark to any opposing climbing fanatic.

Chalk up your hands and draw your eye to the apex of opportunity. Conquer the peaks and bask in eternal glory as either a solo climber or with an online community. Take the first leap and never take a moment to absorb the withering altitudes. Dominate your goals, and prove to the leaderboard that you're capable of mastering some of the most death-defying climbs ever produced in video game format. Just, uh — don't look down. You've got this one in the bag.

The Climb 2 is set to release on March 4th on Oculus Quest.