14 Of Our Favorite VR Flying Games On SideQuest
Our top picks for taking to the skies and experiencing the power of flight in VR
You know that dream that everyone’s had at some point…? The one where you FLY?
Well, it turns out that VR is a great way to bring your flying dreams to life!
Whether you’re in the mood for something technical, fantastical, or even action-packed(ical), we’ve got a whole squadron of flying and gliding-based apps and games ready to explore right here on SideQuest.
So, we thought we’d save you some time and get together our top picks:
- Warplanes: WWI Fighters
- Warplanes: Battles Over Pacific
- Vertical Shift
- Space Salvage
- Sky Squadron
- Somnia
- Omega Pilot
- Z-Race
- Flight 74
- Rogue Stargun
- Fly
- SimplePlanes VR
- World Flight
- Control Tower VR
1. Warplanes: WWI Fighters
Sharpen up your piloting skills and journey back to WWI for classic dogfighting action as a pioneer of early aviation. There are 14 different planes to experiment with, each boasting richly detailed cockpits and control quirks that really alter the feel of each machine. Plus, there’s a vast array of missions across two campaigns: one each for the Central Powers and Triple Entente to experience the skies of WWI from every angle.
[Buy it on the Official Store!]
2. Warplanes: Battles Over Pacific
If vintage WWI fighters aren’t your speed, this WWII sequel puts you in the cockpits of both US and Japanese Empire aircraft during the battle for the Pacific Ocean. Packed full with a narrative campaign, co-op mode, and even online multiplayer, Warplanes: Battle Over Pacific takes wartime dogfighting to the next level.
[Buy it on the Official Store!]
3. Vertical Shift
Vertical Shift takes inspiration from both Spider-Man and Iron Man, mixes their unique movement mechanics, and presents a competitive E-Sports title that’s sure to impress.
You’ll have to prove your skills to get onto the online leaderboards and climb the ranks across multiplayer game modes, or take on some missions in single-player and liberate the city of Orion!
And if you weren’t convinced enough: it’s free to play on App Lab.
[Get Vertical Shift]
4. Space Salvage
Sign up with the SSC (Space Salvage Corp.) and jet off to a cosmic adventure filled with 80s jams, salvage to snag, and enemies to evade—or blast away!
As an SSC trainee, you’ll be given your pod, taught to fly, and then left to tackle your new job as you like across 30 environments and 3 narrative strands. It’s a satisfying gameplay loop of arcade fun, salvage, combat, and money-making to upgrade your little vessel and make your job easier. There’s even a free demo to try it before you buy!
[Get Space Salavge]
5. Sky Squadron
A great flying-based choice if you suffer from motion sickness, Sky Squadron is an on-rails shooter that blends classic Starfox gameplay with VR intensity—and throws in an Australian twist for good measure! It’s action-packed, tons of fun, and great if you find other flying games a bit too much to handle in the queasiness department! Plus, the demo is currently free to play on App Lab!
[Play the Sky Squadron demo]
6. Somnia
We shouted out Somnia’s ambition and cool mechanics during our 2023 Indie Spotlight—and we’re still shouting about it! Somnia’s demo throws you into a gorgeous dreamscape, equips you with the power to spread your arms and glide, teaches you to generate fireballs and shields, then lets you loose!
Somnia is a free-to-play demo in early access right now, so that could change in the future—but we can’t wait to see what the team is cooking up! Be sure to leave some great feedback when you give this one a go!
[Try Somnia’s demo on App Lab]
7. Omega Pilot
If you’re a fan of Wipeout: Pure or the F-Zero series, you’ll feel right at home behind the controls of Omega Pilot. The controls are tricky to master, but well worth the effort as you take off and zoom around the detailed tracks at speed—set to a thumping soundtrack. If you’re prone to motion sickness, it’s a good idea to work your way up to this one, though…
[Get it on App Lab]
8. Z-Race
Intrigued by the Wipeout: Pure/F-Zero blend of Omega Pilot but want something more 3rd person? We got you. Z-Race is a high-speed, high-action racer built from the ground up to deliver intense motion without motion sickness! And if you fancy multiplayer, Z-Race’s asynchronous brand of ghost racing means you can take on your friends or strangers anytime!
[Buy it on App Lab!]
9. Flight 74
Part Narcos, part GTA in a plane, Flight 74 takes traditional flight sims and gives them a bit of an edge. Rich with detail, a fully interactive cockpit, and clever missions that’ll keep you on your toes, you’ll find a healthy dose of aerial action here. Grab your aviators and take off!
[Get it on App Lab]
10. Rogue Stargun
Rogue Stargun is a brand new title (as of writing) placing you in the detailed and highly interactive cockpits of 5 different starfighters as you punch it through the single-player campaign to save your sector of the galaxy. It’s immersive, adventurous, and exciting—and you should definitely seek it out, right here:
[Buy it on App Lab!]
11. Fly
A simple concept that makes so much sense, Fly takes 3D renders from Google Maps, and lets you soar around them in VR. While it’s not technically challenging, it is the ultimate global exploration app. From Paris to the Himalayas and everywhere in between, Fly brings the world to you.
[Buy it on App Lab!]
12. SimplePlanes VR
Tons of aircraft to fly? Check. A large map to explore? Check. Immersive controls? Check. SimplePlanes VR is growing all the time, with more and more vehicles making their way in—including boats and cars! Basically, if you’re into flying and love VR, add this to your wishlist.
[Buy it on App Lab!]
13. World Flight
With similar vibes to Fly (no.11 on this list) but more technical in terms of having an actual vehicle to control, World Flight is expansive, dynamic, fully interactive, and gives you a great sense of freedom as you explore famous global landmarks and procedurally-generated environments. If Fly is too casual for you, you’ll get a kick out of World Flight.
[Buy it on App Lab!]
14. Control Tower VR
A super fun twist on the flying genre, take the reins as an air traffic controller in Control Tower VR and safely guide incoming aircraft to the runways by drawing their flight paths in the environment. It can get a little hectic in the air—but that’s what makes it fun! It’s still in Alpha, so play the game, leave some feedback, and support those devs!
[Buy it on App Lab!]
About SideQuest
SideQuest represents the ultimate community in standalone VR. A place where developers and players around the globe can create, share, and get excited about the virtual reality apps they love.
Developers (like us) are free to experiment with mechanics and modes on their journey to official stores, while players can safely explore thousands of apps across the wonderful world of VR — the biggest collection all in one place, actually.
Because who needs limits, right?
[Download BANTER: our FREE Social VR game]
Let’s keep your SideQuest going…
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