Best Oculus Quest 3 SteamVR Games to Play with Oculus Link 2024

Quest 2 headset and controllers with Steam VR logo in background
(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

The Quest Store has a ton of fantastic games, but there are tons of great titles that Quest-only players will miss out on. Quest headsets just can't run games like Half-Life: Alyx and Star Wars Squadrons by themselves. Thankfully, you can still play those and more Steam VR games with your Quest 2 or Quest 3.

Once you know how to play SteamVR on the Oculus Quest and get your hands on an Oculus Link-compatible PC, you'll be ready to start buying gorgeous PC VR games on your Quest headset. These are the best SteamVR games that you can enjoy on your Quest 2 or Quest 3.

The Best SteamVR games to play on your Quest 3

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Half-Life: Alyx

Half-Life 3 in all but name, Half-Life: Alyx isn't just a huge game-changer to the classic franchise in visuals, gameplay, and story — it's also arguably the best VR game on any platform. There are a lot of ways in which the 15-hour campaign succeeds, but to scratch the surface here, its enemies are terrifying, the graphics and environmental storytelling will impress you, the controls and teleportation make your actions feel natural, and the world feels truly interactive across the entire campaign.

Half-Life: Alyx

Half-Life: Alyx

Half-Life: Alyx not only does justice to Valve's iconic FPS series, but perfectly showcases the incredible power of VR in every way. It's a must-play for fans of the series or those looking for a truly immersive VR FPS game.

Buy on: Steam

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

One of the most famous and acclaimed games of the last 10 years, Skyrim has hundreds of hours of gameplay to dive into, giving you far more bang for your buck proportionally than most VR games by far. In terms of this port, VR controls make Skyrim's basic combat feel far more dynamic and intense by making you blast or slash foes yourself while dodging attacks in room-scale mode — though you can also play with a controller. Like any Bethesda game, it's loaded with bugs (which some argue are features); look past those, and you can really dive into the world where there's always something else to do.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

Skyrim found its way onto yet another system with its VR version, but this time it's more immersive than ever — even if it still suffers from trademark Bethesda jank.

Buy on: Steam

Star Wars: Squadrons

A first-person flight sim set mostly after Return of the Jedi where you suit up for both the New Republic and Imperials, Squadrons has ten unique ship types, customizable loadouts, tricky-to-master controls, and both single-player and cross-platform multiplayer. You'll have fun with a gamepad but buy a joystick if you want the most authentic flight experience. Well-reviewed Star Wars games are hard to find these days. While we enjoyed Vader Immortal and Tales from the Galaxy's Edge, Squadrons is a far more in-depth, replayable experience.

Star Wars: Squadrons

Star Wars: Squadrons

While you can still satisfy your Star Wars cravings on the Quest store with Vader Immortal and Tales from the Galaxy's Edge, Star Wars: Squadrons offers a more exhilarating and unique Star Wars experience.

Buy on: Steam

Phasmophobia

A horror game that took YouTube and Twitch by storm, Phasmophobia lets you become a ghost hunter who actually encounters a variety of dangerous spirits — unlike the ones on TV. Using various tools and an optional squad of teammates, you must find a way to summon them and collect information on what type of ghosts they are. Just be careful: they listen and respond to your voice, and the jumpscares only get more frightening in VR.

Phasmophobia

Phasmophobia

A wildly popular favorite of horror fans (and overacting YouTubers), Phasmophobia puts you in the shoes of a real ghost hunter and VR makes the scares even more intense.

Buy on: Steam

Tabletop Simulator

Playable on PC without headsets but VR-enabled, Tabletop Simulator comes with classics like Chess and Poker, along with thousands of community-made games, options for homebrew role-playing campaigns like Dungeons & Dragons. There's also DLC for popular board games like Scythe and One Night Ultimate Werewolf that feature actual assets from the physical games. It's great to connect with friends living in other cities or while you're all stuck indoors.

Tabletop Simulator

Tabletop Simulator

Featuring tabletop classics like Chess and TTRPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, Tabletop Simulator does exactly what it says on the tin — but with VR, that simulation is even better.

Buy at: Steam

No Man's Sky

After launching in 2016 to negative reviews complaining that its world was empty and boring, No Man's Sky became the comeback story of our gaming generation after the developers kept adding incredible content to the world for free, including space pets and mech suits. The VR version, originally made for PSVR, is more visually stunning when powered by a PC and makes you feel like a true intrepid, galactic explorer.

No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky has endless worlds to explore, and its constant stream of free updates coupled with continued tweaks to its base-building and combat make it a VR must-have. Don't be put off by its initial launch reception; this is a different, fully realized game that's a joy to play in VR.

Buy on: Steam

STRIDE

Want to play Mirror's Edge, only designed specifically for virtual reality? STRIDE is the answer. You swing your arms to propel yourself forward, so you'll actually have to break a sweat while leaping from rooftops or wall-running. STRIDE has a variety of single player modes, including an endless running mode where you must survive while snipers aim at you and time trials, but there's also multiplayer staples like King of the Hill and Horde.

STRIDE

STRIDE

STRIDE lets you live out your parkour fantasy and scratches that itch for Mirror's Edge VR, and you'll work up a sweat while having fun whether it's by yourself or with other players in online multiplayer.

Buy on: Steam

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Using Bing Maps, cloud-based computing, photogrammetry, and tons of patches to add as many real-world locations as possible, Microsoft's developers have built a realistic, traversable environment spanning the globe for you to explore in a variety of faithfully recreated planes. Using your gamepad or HOTAS, you can fly literally anywhere, day or night, in any weather. As a simulator, you don't have any goals or missions beyond mastering your pilot training and enjoying the ambiance — whether that sounds blissful or boring will depend on the player.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator

A zen-like simulator using real-time photogrammetry that allows you to travel the skies anywhere in the world, Microsoft Flight Simulator becomes an even more immersive experience in VR.

Buy on: Steam

Kayak VR: Mirage

One of the biggest appeals of virtual reality is the ability to explore worlds you otherwise couldn't. That doesn't necessarily mean stepping into fictional places — sometimes you might just want to explore real life locations from the comfort of your own home. Kayak VR: Mirage does just that, putting you in a kayak as you explore vistas inspired by some of the most beautiful places on earth. Paddle through a tropical paradise inspired by Costa Rica, glide through Antarctica, brave a thunderstorm on the waves of the Nordic sea, and more. Kayak VR: Mirage features absolutely breathtaking graphics and realistic water physics. Best of all, it's extremely accessible even those prone to motion sickness.

Kayak VR: Mirage

Kayak VR: Mirage

Whether you want to race time attack trials on the stormy Nordic seas, marvel at local wildlife in a fully guided tour mode, or explore lush tropical environments at your own pace, Kayak VR: Mirage is a dream come true for those wanting to visit stunning locations in the comfort of their own house.

Buy on: Steam 

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice VR Edition

As a third-person game that you must play with a gamepad, Hellblade may not seem like a natural fit for VR, but the haunting story and impressive graphics make it more than work. In this combination action/horror/puzzle game, you play as an 8th-century warrior struggling with mental illness as she combats gods, humans, and personal demons — both real and psychological. Already a very intense game visually and thematically, Hellblade only becomes more so when experienced in VR.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice VR Edition

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice VR Edition

VR makes Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, an already intense game, feel truly frightening; it also makes your connection to Senua stronger, giving the carefully researched exploration of mental illness even more of an impact.

Buy on: Steam

Pavlov VR

Undoubtedly one of the most popular shooters for VR gamers, Pavlov technically has a Quest App Lab port already — Pavlov: Shack — but even still, the PC version has far superior graphics, mechanics that the Quest's processing can't handle, and a WWII update! With dedicated servers, multiple game modes, and shooting that requires fast reaction times and skillful aiming, Pavlov has a lot to offer for fans of multiplayer.

Pavlov VR

Pavlov VR

Set in both WWII and modern day, Pavlov VR puts you right in the middle of intense, multiplayer shootouts that fans of games like Counter Strike will love.

Buy on: Steam

DCS World Steam Edition

For those flight game fanatics who find Microsoft Flight Simulator too purposeless or dull, DCS World in VR may be a better fit — though it won't be "free." It comes with two planes and two maps, but beyond that, you'll pay about the cost of a full game for every new plane or helicopter, each from different wartime eras and sporting historically accurate tech that makes each feel unique. We include it here because its fans tend to spend hundreds of hours in this game, mastering the controls and completing the hundreds of available missions, or just having fun in its sandbox.

DCS World Steam Edition

DCS World Steam Edition

If the zen vibes of Microsoft Flight Simulator are a little too boring for you, DCS World Steam Edition brings high-flying aerial combat to your VR headset, along with a mission editor and hundreds of optional vehicles.

Buy on: Steam

The Lab

Still new to VR and looking for new content to enjoy? The Lab contains a few hours of free minigames that'll help you acclimate to touch controls. Made by Valve, The Lab has tons of cute and silly secrets that'll make you want to spend plenty of time exploring. It's not the most in-depth experience by any means, but it's honestly more fun for an afternoon than many paid VR games.

The Lab

The Lab

It may not be on par with the likes of Half-Life: Alyx, but The Lab is a great (and free!) collection of minigames straight from Valve that will get you acclimated to VR.

Buy on: Steam

BONEWORKS

BONEWORKS is designed for players who are comfortable with intense VR experiences, so those prone to motion sickness should hold off on this. If you're able to play it, though, you're in for a VR shooter with a heavy emphasis on realistic physics and some serious Half-Life vibes. And weapons. Lots of weapons.

BONEWORKS

BONEWORKS

Although it's likely too intense for those just getting their VR bearings, BONEWORKS is perfect for anyone clamoring for a similar gameplay experience to Half-Life: Alyx — or anyone who just likes causing physics-based chaos.

Buy on: Steam

Beat Saber

I know what you're thinking, but hear me out: Beat Saber is excellent on Quest, but playing on PC is a completely different ballgame. Sure, you could go through the trouble of installing SideQuest on your PC and modding Beat Saber on your headset, but modding games on PC is much easier. Plus, PC games have much more active modding communities, so you're much more likely to find that song you're looking for on PC. Beat Saber's already one of the all-time greatest VR games, but why not make it customizable?

Beat Saber

Beat Saber

Beat Saber might just be the greatest VR game ever made. Get your sweat on with the PC version by modding it to include your favorite artists.

Buy on: Steam

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil 4 VR on Quest is a great experience, but it's a remake of a much older game. While there's no arguing that Resident Evil 4 is one of the greatest games of all-time, it's not as good-looking (or as scary) as Resident Evil Village. Take on Village's iconic, viral rogues gallery as Ethan Hunt in this gorgeoud VR version of an already great game.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village is one of the best games of 2021. Boasting gorgeous visuals, a memorable cast, and plenty of thrills and chills, this is a premium VR experience through and through.

Buy it on: Steam

Oculus + Steam = the best of both worlds

Oculus Rift and SteamVR games both give you better graphics than Quest hedsets can offer, but generally speaking, the best Rift games are just like the best Meta Quest 3 games: They're built specifically for VR, which usually means they're interactive but tend to be smaller experiences. This can be true with some Steam and PC VR games, but Steam has an absolutely massive library of more traditional video games that happen to be ported to VR, which means they're more likely to last you for more than a few hours.

You get the best of both worlds with Half-Life: Alyx, which combines a decently long campaign with a virtual world that's fully controllable with impressive motion controls. And while it looks more visually impressive on Valve's own VR headset, Alyx can be even more immersive on the Quest 3 since you can play it wirelessly thanks to the Virtual Desk feature on Quest, allowing you to explore City 17 fully untethered.

Plus, SteamVR gives you VR-ified ports of popular PC titles like Resident Evil Village, and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, which is too graphically intensive for the Quest to handle natively. By buying one of the best Oculus Link Cable alternatives and getting the best Meta Quest 3 SteamVR games on your headset, you'll get access to tons of amazing games and experiences that you'd otherwise have to play on a flat-screen.

Michael L Hicks
Senior Editor, Wearables & AR/VR

Michael is Android Central's resident expert on wearables and fitness. Before joining Android Central, he freelanced for years at Techradar, Wareable, Windows Central, and Digital Trends. Channeling his love of running, he established himself as an expert on fitness watches, testing and reviewing models from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, COROS, Polar, Amazfit, Suunto, and more.