Star Wars: Squadrons

Star Wars: Squadrons brought the iconic space battles of the Star Wars universe into virtual reality, offering one of the most convincing piloting experiences PC VR had seen up to that point, thanks to a maximum emphasis on detailed cockpits and controls that are approachable yet complex. The player sits in the cockpit of a New Republic or Imperial starfighter and, with full head and hand tracking, operates onboard systems, redistributes power between weapons, shields, and engines, and tracks opponents by looking around the cabin, creating a sense of genuine presence in combat that flat flight simulators can barely replicate.

The game combines a short single-player campaign told from the perspective of pilots on both sides of the conflict with a full multiplayer mode, where teams clash in team battles and large-scale fleet engagements. Detailed cockpit models, reworked control panels, and the need to physically watch the displays inside the cabin make the VR mode a far more intense experience than playing on a flat monitor, even though the game was designed to work equally well in both modes.

The sound design of engines, blaster fire, and pilot voice communication, together with music continuing the film series' tradition, rounds out an atmosphere that appealed both to Star Wars fans and fans of aerial action. Transitions between starfields, damaged ships, and laserfire in the dark of space also stand out especially well in VR thanks to the natural perception of depth and distance, which is crucial for judging distance to a target. Star Wars: Squadrons is still cited today as one of the best proofs that a major licensed game can fully and equally support virtual reality rather than treating it as a mere add-on, and many players consider it the most convincing starfighter piloting simulation they could try within the Star Wars universe.

Why play: For Star Wars fans and aerial action fans alike, it offers one of the most convincing starfighter piloting simulations the universe has ever gotten, thanks to the natural perception of depth in VR space.