F2P and Buy-to-Play Each Claim Half the Market, Operating by Different Rules

By Welkin, VR Gyro

The annual year-end review is here again. In 2025, the VR gaming scene appeared calm on the surface but was actually full of undercurrents. Several major IPs and big-budget productions stumbled, while some small-budget indie games broke through and became new hits. Changes in market response are also significantly influencing the development logic of VR creators.

Here are the selection criteria for this list:

Only VR-exclusive games are considered. Non-exclusive games supporting VR mode, such as F1 25, The Midnight Walk, and Lumines Arise, though of high quality, are excluded. Only games with their initial release in 2025 are considered. For example, I Am a Cat, while launching on PICO in July 2025, had its initial release in 2024 and is thus excluded. Games that entered Early Access or offered free testing before 2025 but had their full release in 2025 are still considered 2025 new releases. Selection is based on game quality, post-launch sales and user ratings across platforms, and overall impact. References include the PS VR2 game download charts, Steam's annual best-sellers list, and data from various platform stores. The following ranking is in alphabetical order by English title, with no particular ranking among them.

 01 

Airport Security Guard

Initial Release: June 24, 2025
Platforms: Quest
Genre: Casual
Developer: etermax XR Studio (Argentina, 200+ employees)
Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.9/5 (59,197 reviews)

The core gameplay is inspired by the 2013 indie classic Papers, Please, but incorporates VR-specific interactive elements. In Airport Security Guard, players must thoroughly scan each airport passenger, verify their identification, detect disguises, and apprehend those carrying contraband. Letting a dangerous individual through could lead to a catastrophic plane explosion.

The game supports multiplayer, but instead of cooperation, players hinder each other by slowing down opponents' security checks. As an Early Access F2P title, paid content includes special-effect items, expansion packs with themes like zombies and Christmas, and custom skin decorations, with ample room for future expansion.

Key Platform Data

 02 

Arken Age

Initial Release: January 16, 2025
Platforms: PS VR2, Quest, Steam
Genre: Action
Developer: VitruviusVR (UK & Canada, 2-10 employees)
Latest Data: PS Store Rating 4.79/5 (1,225 reviews); Quest Store Rating 4.8/5 (281 reviews); Steam Positive Rating 91% (562 reviews)

A dark horse of 2025, developed by the small team VitruviusVR using the Unity engine. The game creates a unique world crafted by the 'Great Tree Artisan,' blending fantasy and sci-fi elements. Enemies feature dual mechanical and plant attributes, resulting in a highly distinctive artistic style and impressive visuals (enhanced by foveated rendering on PS VR2).

Arken Age's combat system is unique, featuring melee slashes, shield blocks, gunfire, mechanical pickaxe climbing, and swimming. Three weapon types offer 30 modules, plus customization, granting players significant tactical freedom. The fast-paced combat may not suit VR beginners but will immerse hardcore players.

Key Platform Data

 ※Awards: TGA 2025 'Best VR/AR Game' Nominee; New York Game Awards 'Best VR/AR Game' Nominee

 03 

Devil's Roulette

Initial Release: May 8, 2025
Platforms: Quest
Genre: Casual
Developer: MyDearest (Japan, 51-200 employees)
Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.8/5 (48,095 reviews)

A standout title from veteran Japanese VR developer MyDearest, inspired by the 2023 PC hit Buckshot Roulette, supporting 1-4 players. Based on Russian roulette mechanics, players take turns pulling the trigger. Introducing items adds strategy, such as using a stun gun to paralyze opponents or drinking to boost reflexes and dodge bullets.

Transplanting a proven successful traditional gameplay mechanic to VR is a safe approach, but operation is equally vital. As an F2P title, Devil's Roulette's microtransactions focus on skins, accessories, weapon skins, and emotes. Free updates have added 2v2 team modes, 'Lucky Wheel,' and other new elements, expanding beyond the original framework.

Key Platform Data

 04 

Forefront

Initial Release: November 6, 2025
Platforms: PICO, Quest, Steam
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Triangle Factory (Belgium, 11-50 employees)
Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.6/5 (1,443 reviews); Steam Positive Rating 89% (1,068 reviews)

Triangle Factory specializes in VR shooters, having previously released Hyper Dash and Breachers, the latter dubbed 'VR's Rainbow Six Siege.' This year's Forefront breaks from their signature 5v5 mode, tackling larger-scale battles akin to 'VR's Battlefield'.

This large-scale shooter accommodates 32 players simultaneously, with 16 players per side divided into four 4-player squads (Assault, Engineer, Medic, Recon). Players can also drive 10 different vehicles across land, sea, and air, with destructible map environments adding variability. Still in Early Access, with Quest and Steam versions at 0.19 and 0.18 respectively, the game has significant potential for expansion.

Key Platform Data

 ※Awards: PICO STORE 'Most Anticipated Game of the Year' Nominee

 05 

Ghost Town

Initial Release: April 24, 2025
Platforms: PS VR2, Quest, Steam
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Fireproof Games (UK, 11-50 employees)
Latest Data: PS Store Rating 4.85/5 (237 reviews); Quest Store Rating 4.8/5 (1,494 reviews); Steam Positive Rating 95% (378 reviews)

Created by the team behind the renowned The Room series, this original title maintains their high standards, emerging as a major winner among native VR games this year with numerous nominations and awards.

Ghost Town places greater emphasis on narrative than previous The Room titles, with strong motion capture and voice acting enhancing the story. The supernatural theme adds a touch of horror, balanced appropriately. Puzzle design integrates seamlessly with scenes, plots, and related items, drawing players in effortlessly. The ending leaves room for a sequel and potential franchising.

Key Platform Data

 ※Awards: UK TIGA Game Industry Awards 'Game of the Year' Winner; Unity Awards 2025 'Best AR/VR Game' Winner; Raindance Immersive 'Best Game' Winner; XR Awards 2025 'XR Game of the Year' Nominee; TGA 2025 'Best VR/AR Game' Nominee; New York Game Awards 'Best VR/AR Game' Nominee; 29th D.I.C.E. Awards 'Immersive Reality Technical Achievement' Nominee, 'Immersive Reality Game of the Year' Nominee

 06 

GORN 2

Initial Release: April 17, 2025
Platforms: PS VR2, Quest, Steam
Genre: Action
Developer: Cortopia (Sweden, 11-50 employees)
Latest Data: PS Store Rating 4.72/5 (290 reviews); Quest Store Rating 4.6/5 (993 reviews); Steam Positive Rating 85% (580 reviews)

The original GORN was a major early VR arena action game success, selling 1.5 million copies as a model for small studios. Eight years later, GORN 2 was developed by Cortopia Studio (the original team, Free Lives, has since shifted away from VR).

Despite the team change, GORN 2 retains the core appeal of its predecessor, including combat feel, violence, and dark humor, while adding boss battles, power-ups, environmental hazards, and customization and survival modes. While lacking groundbreaking evolution, the sequel excels in solid execution and smooth performance on standalone VR, setting standards in many areas. Subsequent updates have introduced new weapons, zombie battles, dungeon exploration, and other modes, suggesting it may become a long-term seller like the original.

Key Platform Data

 07 

Grand Theft Animal

Initial Release: June 12, 2025
Platforms: Quest
Genre: Action
Developer: 15008107 Canada (Canada, 11-50 employees)
Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.7/5 (12,047 reviews)

"Grand Theft Auto" is a classic series in the gaming world, renowned for its AAA open-world and highly immersive gameplay. At this stage, creating a game of this scale in VR is unrealistic. "Grand Theft Animal" not only pays tribute to "GTA" in its name but also recreates its core gameplay fun within the limited capabilities of VR.

This game features anthropomorphic animals as character avatars, creating a sandbox city. Players can freely graffiti, rob, carjack, and rob banks, but of course, criminal activities will lead to wanted status; alternatively, they can follow a structured path by driving taxis, making pizzas, or finding legitimate jobs to earn money. Whether to abide by the law or not is entirely up to personal preference. The game is currently in its Early Access (EA) phase, version 0.6.5, and has already updated with multiplayer functionality, generating revenue through in-game purchases of rich skin sets. This approach of retaining traditional game core fun while proportionally scaling down the scale and cost has proven effective.

Main Platform Data

08

Marvel's Deadpool VR

Release Date: November 18, 2025, Platform: Quest, Game Type: Action, Developer: Twisted Pixel Games (USA, 11-50 employees), Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.6/5 (1,181 reviews)

This exclusive title for the Quest 3 platform in 2025, developed by a Meta-owned studio, continues the practice of "comic adaptation IP + high investment" but does not bundle with headset promotions like "Asgard's Wrath 2" or "Batman: Arkham Shadow," resulting in less impressive data.

"Marvel's Deadpool VR" effectively showcases Deadpool's "mouthy" personality, with a combat style focused on exhilaration. It provides a positive feedback mechanism through a real-time evaluation system—the cooler and more thrilling the combat, the better. The game also hides numerous Easter eggs and fourth-wall-breaking jokes, offering great sincerity to fans of the original work. Although there are issues with the disconnect between stationary narrative dialogue and VR immersion, as well as slightly lacking melee impact, it still ranks among top-tier VR works.

Main Platform Data

※Awards: Nominated for TGA 2025 "Best VR/AR Game"; New York Game Awards "Best VR/AR Game"; 29th D.I.C.E. Awards "Immersive Reality Technical Achievement" and "Immersive Reality Game of the Year" nominations.

09

Ruffnauts

Release Date: August 16, 2025, Platform: Quest, Game Type: Action, Developer: Vinci Games (USA, 2-10 employees), Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.6/5 (55,518 reviews)

"Ruffnauts" was released around the same time as "UG" (introduced later), with some similarities in gameplay elements—it can be said that great minds think alike. This game can be seen as a "VR version of Pokémon," with a cartoonish art style that is very cute.

Each planet in the game serves as a sandbox space, allowing players to freely explore, capture, and train wild pets, leading to their evolution. The EA version currently features over 100 types of creatures, and players can ride them to explore the chaotic world, offering more interactivity than traditional pet-capturing games. The multiplayer lobby supports interactions among 10 players, allowing them to battle or fool around in their preferred ways. In addition to skins and decorations, there are creatures obtainable only through payment, and even eggs that hatch into different subspecies at varying probabilities, reminiscent of mobile game gacha mechanics.

Main Platform Data

10

UG

Release Date: August 15, 2025, Platform: Quest, Game Type: Action, Developer: Continuum XR (USA, 11-50 employees), Latest Data: Quest Store Rating 4.9/5 (236,231 reviews)

Released less than half a year ago, this game has already surpassed "Gorilla Tag," "Animal Company," and "Yeeps" in review data on the Quest Store, frequently topping the bestseller list and becoming the undisputed VR hit of 2025 (without exception).

"UG" is clearly influenced by "Gorilla Tag," also using "gorilla" as the player avatar and adopting a hand-supported movement style. The core gameplay revolves around dinosaur breeding and combat mechanics. In multiplayer, players can team up to defeat bosses or battle and exchange desired dinosaurs to complete their collections. As a world-class IP, "Pokémon" focuses on collecting, battling, and trading—three elements that remain globally popular and enduring even after 30 years. Both of these works have learned from "Pokémon" and achieved success, indicating that traditional games still have ample room for exploration in the VR field.

Main Platform Data

Conclusion

Renowned IPs such as "Sid Meier's Civilization," "World War Z," and "Star Wars" have released VR adaptations in 2025, but unfortunately, they have all fallen short. The strategy of attracting fans through big IP VR adaptations seems to have lost its effectiveness, as users increasingly focus on gameplay essence. Buy-to-play VR games can only rely on quality. Just as an unknown work from a small team like "Arken Age" can achieve long-term sales through word-of-mouth among players due to its exceptional quality.

New Folder Games, which rose to fame with "I Am Cat," has continued to generate significant revenue by releasing "I Am Monkey" and "I Am Bird" in the same series last year. Conversely, Another Axiom's F2P new title "Orion Drift" failed to replicate the success of "Gorilla Tag." This shows that successful paths already taken cannot be easily replicated, as user tastes in the young VR market continue to evolve rapidly.

On the other hand, the pattern of "one hit per year" for F2P VR games since "Gorilla Tag" has continued with "UG." While F2P games, with their zero-barrier entry and strong social attributes, easily attract large numbers of users quickly, there is also a phenomenon of user migration among these works, with some playing multiple games simultaneously. With the emergence of new F2P games, many players are drawn by new gameplay mechanics and collective shifts in social circles. "How to retain players" has become a common challenge for such works.

In 2025, the wave of layoffs in the global gaming industry slightly slowed down, but over 9,000 people still lost their jobs. According to VR top statistics, about 20 VR game-related studios announced layoffs this year, roughly on par with 2024. As 2026 began, Meta announced a 10% layoff in its Reality Labs division and successively closed three leading studios—Twisted Pixel, Armature Studio, and Sanzaru Games—indicating that the overall situation remains severe (severe).

Looking ahead to 2026, Valve's new headset, Steam Frame, will undoubtedly be a focal point. Additionally, IPs such as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Star Trek," and "The Boys" will attempt VR adaptations, along with highly anticipated titles like "Postal 2."

The new year still holds promise, though the overall activity in VR content development may decline, especially with a new round of reshuffling expected in the buy-to-play game sector. It can be said that challenges and opportunities coexist.