The gaming industry boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year the gaming industry was valued at 162 billion USD and is predicted to reach 300 billion by 2026 which means it will almost double in size in just 5 years.

Virtual reality is a real-life escape game that offers an interactive experience in a virtual way.

Old to New

Gaming is evolved so far. In the old days, it was limited to those physical consoles (think Nintendo, PlayStation, or PC), but now encompasses a huge array of experiences from those traditional physical consoles to more casual experiences on smartphones and sometimes even based on social platforms too.

•  Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming all the rage.
•  A recent report showed that the VR & AR market is estimated to have generated combined revenues of 22.1 billion USD in 2020. The growth is expected to continue in the next few years, with the report predicting that the VR market can reach 160 billion USD by 2025.
• This transition offers a more realistic visual experience. The combination of cloud and 5G means the real-time processing of data-intensive AR will be faster and smoother for users which help in bringing more complex and immersive AR-based mobile gaming experiences.

VR as a Reign

To create the strongest effect, virtual reality should engage all the human senses.VR headsets, which engage the eyes, and motion-controlled systems that use gestures and selection of movement patterns are the only available options.

• Now there are changes in VR technology where the gamer is strapped into a frame. In this, they can jump, duck, walk and even run. It is all possible in 360 degrees.
• It would be more fascinating to touch, smell, and even taste what is experienced in games. It can trigger other sensations like wind, vibrations, water mist, hot air, and much more.
• It’s also great news for everyone who wants to lose themselves in a world of virtual entertainment and then VR act as a reign itself.
• Virtual reality technology is widely used for various purposes i.e video games, engineering, entertainment, education, design, films, media, medicine, and many more.

Best VR games

These are the games that drew us in, made us want to play all the way through, and kept us coming back for more.VR is just a cool, advanced, and fun way to play with a sense of actually being there. Some famous and best-rated VR games are-

• Beat Saber
• Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality
• Cloudlands VR Minigolf
• Moss
• Wipeout Omega Collection
• Catan 
• Tetris Effect
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 
• Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
• No Man’s Sky 
• Resident Evil 4 VR

Pros

Virtual reality helps in exploring and discovering new places without actually being there. Also, the old text-based learning is now replaced by virtual study in which a teacher teaches the student with the help of virtual reality equipment. Other advantages are-

Relieves social anxiety-By creating avatars with different clothes, dialogs, and facial expressions, it creates a reality that feels real while keeping the patient calm knowing that it is virtual and not reality.

Promotes circulation-VR gaming is a great way to promote blood flow and circulation as it gets you up and moving.

Healthcare – It is changing the world of healthcare due to its realism. It’s not only useful for those who are working in the healthcare field, but it’s also great for patients. Realistic simulations can be used to train and teach students about things such as surgery, and it is only growing and developing more day by day.

Grow Intellect– It allows you to increase your intellect. It can train the player’s brain and skills. For instance, if we play puzzles in VR games, it increases intelligence. Moreover, shooting games increase battle skills. Adventure VR games increase cognitive abilities, intellectual abilities, and so on. 

Cons

Implementation of Virtual Reality is an expensive procedure. Although technical skills get developed there is no place for interaction with a mentor. There are some other –

User addiction to the virtual world- In VR gaming, however users get addicted and navigate to a non-virtual environment. It doesn’t give real-life solutions. Moreover, teenagers and a few adults become addicted to Virtual Reality and get affected physiologically and mentally.

Affects the real human body- Some people face physical problems like eye strain, dizziness, and nausea issues. It is because of the illusion made by Virtual Reality and the excessive use of VR headsets and screens.

Complexity-Virtual Reality technology has to be learned to gain skills and it is not easy for everyone to understand the technology i.e how to use it. Therefore, to learn complex technology, training is needed.

Far away from the real world- People and students don’t want to engage themselves with the real world. Altogether, the virtual world becomes their actual world and they don’t want to live in the real world.