Valve’s Half-Life Alyx set the highest bar for me when I reviewed it – I looked far and wide to play a VR game that could meet that caliber, then Skydance announces Behemoth VR, —a grim, sprawling dark fantasy where you’re pitted against colossal foes that promises unmatched immersion. I had no choice but to venture out into the cursed Forsaken Lands. After a solid 12 hours hunting, climbing, and brawling my way through this brutal world, I can confidently say that Behemoth VR pushes VR boundaries in incredible ways, even if it stumbles in a few areas.
A World Gripped with Lore
You step into the shoes of Wren, a customizable hero plagued by a curse, tasked with slaying the gargantuan Behemoths that haunt the desolate Forsaken Lands. The game’s narrative—a desperate quest to save your mother and village while unraveling the curse’s mysteries—brings a compelling grimdark atmosphere. The world itself feels intuitive, from snowy tundras to marshy swamps. Every region brims with treacherous enemies, hidden secrets, and a deep sense of history. The devs clearly poured their passion into crafting a narrative that serves as more than just a backdrop for combat. Audio logs and environmental storytelling reveal the tragic fall of the Forsaken Lands, and the haunting soundtrack amplifies the tension as you traverse desolate landscapes. While it’s not Elden Ring-level intricate, the lore here is layered enough to reward exploration – which I find to be absent in most VR games generally.
At its core, Behemoth VR is about precision-based, physics-driven combat and traversal. Every encounter is a test of skill and patience. Unlike many VR titles that lean heavily on flash, Behemoth opts for a grounded approach. Every swing of your weapon, every grapple to scale a towering Behemoth, feels deliberate. You can’t just hack and slash your way through; timing and stamina management are crucial. Each Behemoth is essentially a living, dynamic dungeon, blending environmental puzzles with combat. The first time I scaled a Behemoth, gripping onto its decaying flesh as it roared and bucked to shake me off, was nothing short of exhilarating. These encounters are the game’s crowning achievement. Whether you’re dodging swipes from Shacklehide’s massive claws or navigating the rot-infested body of Dreddstag, every fight feels unique and intense. The game builds on the foundation of Saints & Sinners, but the combat feels more refined here. Each weapon has weight—both physically and strategically. Blocking and parrying are satisfying, though they require practice. My favorite weapon was the two-handed axe, which delivered devastating blows but required careful stamina management. Environmental kills, like dropping traps or grappling enemies into spikes, added a creative layer to encounters. However, melee combat isn’t perfect. Occasionally, weapon collision felt inconsistent, and grappling smaller enemies could lead to frustrating glitches. Still, these moments were outweighed by the thrill of well-executed takedowns.
It’s Virtually Physical!
Skydance’s “Virtual Physicality” philosophy shines here. Traversal is just as engaging as combat. The grappling hook helps with the sense of scale, allowing you to zip across chasms or swing around enemies mid-fight. Climbing Behemoths combines stamina management with puzzle-solving, which kept me on my toes (quite literally). There’s a real sense of accomplishment when you finally reach a Behemoth’s weak point after a tense ascent. The world design encourages exploration, and secrets like health and stamina upgrades are often tucked away in hard-to-reach places. The Forsaken Lands are bleak but stunning, with foggy marshlands, icy peaks, and decaying ruins rendered in impressive detail. The lighting is particularly striking, casting eerie shadows that enhance the world’s oppressive atmosphere. That said, the game isn’t without technical hiccups. Texture pop-ins were noticeable in some areas, and certain animations—like enemy death sequences—lacked polish – it’s typical for immersive perspective to have some hitches here and there, however. The Day 1 patch fixed many glaring issues, but occasional bugs still broke immersion a bit, like floating items or enemies clipping into the environment.
The immersion factor here is strong. Every swing of your weapon and every handhold while climbing feels tactile, thanks to the robust physics engine. The haptic feedback on the PS VR2 added another layer, making me flinch whenever a Behemoth’s attack connected. However, the audio design could use more fine-tuning. While the ambient sounds and music were excellent, there were moments when directional audio cues felt off, making it harder to locate enemies. Behemoth VR caters to a wide range of players with its adjustable difficulty modes. As someone who enjoys a challenge, I stuck with the Barbarian setting, which tested my patience and precision. For those new to VR or who prefer less intensity, the Tenderfoot mode offers a more forgiving experience without sacrificing the game’s core mechanics.
I played on a PS VR2, and performance was mostly smooth, with a stable frame rate and sharp visuals. The Day 1 patch addressed many pre-launch issues, including graphical glitches and weapon clipping. Still, a few bugs persist, like minor hand jitter during climbing or enemies occasionally getting stuck in the environment. Skydance has promised ongoing updates, so I’m optimistic about further refinements.
REVIEW SCORE 8.5/10
Behemoth VR is a love letter to dark fantasy and a significant step forward for VR gaming. Its innovative Behemoth encounters, tactile combat, and immersive world make it a standout title in the VR space. While it is not my next HL: Alyx, Skydance’s ambition shines through, and the game’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. If you’re looking for a challenging, atmospheric VR experience that pushes the limits of what virtual reality can achieve, Behemoth VR is well worth your time. Just be prepared for a few growing pains as the game continues to receive updates.
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