I’m like the cat lady of Skyrim VR tech.
You’ll find VR headsets scattered around my house, right from the Kickstarter funded Oculus Rift to the latest HP Reverb G2,
With hours and days spent on each of these headsets, I’ve come to know which VRs can blow your eyes visually, which ones are the most comfortable, and which ones have the best tracking.
You may also be wondering if the VR feature does justice to Skyrim – the 10-year-old gaming masterpiece?
And the answer is a HELL YES! Right from shooting magic spells from your fingertips to nocking and releasing arrows, everything about Skyrim VR is virtual reality porn at its finest. (With the right mods, you can make it literal porn. But wait, I don’t know why I’m giving you this information!)
Want to experience the infamous ‘arrow to the knee’ in virtual reality? Here are the top 8 best VR headsets for Skyrim.
What is Skryim VR?
The Skryrim franchise first debuted on November 11, 2011 (11-11-11). Skyrim is thought of as an “Open World” game, involving a medieval universe containing dragons, warriors and magic. Thanks to constant updates and addons to the game, creator Bethesda Game Studios has been able to keep the game’s ultra-massive fanbase entertained all this time.
Skyrim VR was introduced on November 17, 2017 (11-17-17). Virtual Reality has successfully brought the game to a new level of immersion. The game is available on both the PlayStation VR (PSVR) and SteamVR for PC platforms.
Best VR Headsets for Skyrim At A Glance
- Oculus Quest 2 (Best Value)
- Valve Index (Best Overall High-end)
- HP Reverb G2 (Best Visuals)
- HTC Vive Cosmos
- HTC Vive Pro (Best Audio)
- Oculus Rift S (Most Comfortable for Extended Game Play)
- PlayStation VR
- Samsung HMD Odyssey
1. Oculus Quest 2
This is the crazy Skyrim Cat Lady’s favorite VR headset by a mile, at least in terms of value. It’s so good and so DAMN CHEAP.
The resolution is damn near LIFELIKE: You can play Skyrim with an incredible resolution of 1,832 by 1,920 (per eye). The LCD display is gorgeous, and the world of Skyrim looks like the real world you live in (Just not depressing and girlfriend-less).
The Oculus 2 is widely hailed as one of the best VRs out there. In Amazon, you’ll find most people have rated the headset a 5/5 (4-star and below reviews are by folk who hate the mandatory Facebook login, a thing which I personally feel isn’t a big deal).
A jack of all VR trades, the Quest 2 has fantastic motion sensors (for realistic sword-swinging action) and is comfortable to wear (It weighs 503 g, making it the lightest headset on the list. No more carrying rocks on your head!).
And it costs $299, a disgustingly cheap price for a VR headset!
2. Valve Index
The Valve Index has THE BEST FOV among the 3 headsets (30% better). Who gives a skeever’s ass about FOV you say?
Well, a wider FOV = seeing more of the game world around you. No more sneaky hidden enemies outside your field of vision. Just zap them with a good ole thunderbolt!
Another feather in this headset’s cap is its unique speakers. They fall just a few inches over your ear, delivering realistic surround-sound audio.
The sound effect adds to the realism, making enemy encounters a scary yet thrilling experience.
An ugly-looking Draugr chasing you in Skyrim feels like a real-life version trying to kill you.
The motion tracking in Valve Index is the best among its peers. It tracks sword swings and magic attacks precisely. This makes the Index a must buy headset. You wouldn’t want to miss your shot and become the laughingstock of the Whiterun townsfolk, would you?
The Valve Index is a comfortable headset, with the only downside being its expensive price tag of $999. But if you have the money, definitely buy this piece.
Things We Like:
- Fantastic resolution.
- Outstanding 3D audio.
- Incredibly comfortable to wear.
Things We Don’t Like:
- Setting up the headphones can be more than a bit frustrating.
Overall, the Valve Index is a highly recommended VR headset because it has a fantastic responsiveness to it. Sure, you need to use the room-scale sensors instead of the inside-out tracking like some other models, but once the setup is completed, you’ll never look back.
Is the Valve Index perfect? Nope. Does it have a great price? That depends on your budget. When all is said and done, the Valve Index has proven for years what a highly capable VR headset can do. With great graphics, and superior built-in audio, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better alternative to the Valve Index for now.
3. HP Reverb G2
The HP Reverb G2 is incredible for the resolution-philes among you (is that even a word? I don’t care, it is now!).
It has a hi-res of 2160×2160 making it the best VR in terms of visuals. Reality becomes totally indistinguishable from fantasy.
The screen door effect is almost non-existent on the G2. You can only notice the grids if you go looking for them.
In terms of the audio setup, it is similar to the Index, making the ambiance in Skyrim feel hyper-real.
The only minor nitpick of Reverb G2 is its motion-sensing accuracy – which isn’t the best. While still fantastic, it is not as good as the Index’s precision (what’s a review without some inane nitpick, right?). However, the G2’s visuals more than make up for it.
The G2 is 2/3rd the price of the Index, but matches it in terms of quality (and surpasses it in terms of resolution). Get this piece if visuals are important to you.
4. HTC Vive Cosmos
The Vive Cosmos headset first came out in early October of 2013. The headset comes in three different variations:
- Cosmos Play – featuring four camera inside-out tracking.
- Cosmos – comes with six cameras.
- Cosmos Elite – an outside-in device with base stations.
What We Like:
- Modular style allows for upgrades through the switching out of the headset’s faceplate. Great value for the money.
- Excellent resolution of 2880 X 1700 is higher than some of the other VR headsets, offering excellent viewing angles.
What We Don’t Like:
- The lenses are not adjustable, which leads to a bit of distraction when looking to the right or left field of view.
What makes the Vive Cosmos range of VR headsets special is that the range uses a modular approach. If you need to upgrade, you can easily purchase a new faceplate and keep on going.
All three headsets share the same design body and specifications. Even the headband and displays are the same. That’s a big advantage if you want to experience the same “feel” when upgrading.
The main disadvantage of shared body styles is that the lenses cannot be moved or upgraded. Some might find this frustrating, but should not be much of a problem if you like the comfort and design of the device.
The display on the Cosmos is nice and clear. It uses a 3.4-inch 2880 x 1700 resolution LCD display. The refresh rate is 90Hz, which is much higher than its competition in some cases, even in the high end range.
There is barely any light leakage, even at the nose area, so you shouldn’t become distracted while you are conquering your Skyrim enemy. Because of the fixed lenses, the 110-degree field of view does not fill every part of the screen. You might see black edges to the far left and right as you shift your eyes.
You definitely get your bang for the buck with this headset.
5. HTC Vive Pro (Best Audio)
The Vive Pro is HTC’s high end offering. It has extremely good tracking at a room scale and is extremely precise. Audio is high-contrast and easily stomps the competition, and the unit is very comfortable to wear for long periods.
What we like:
- Fantastic AMOLED screens pumping out 2880×1600 resolution.
- Very precise tracking (utilizing the (SteamVR tracking system).
- Excellent 3D spatial audio immersion.
- Optional wireless adapter.
What we don’t like:
- Initial setup can be a nightmare.
With the Vive Pro, HTC has proven itself to be a viable contender for best headset. We love the ergonomics of the unit, and found it to be extremely comfortable to wear. One big plus about the Vive Pro is that it doesn’t make your forehead terribly sweaty like some other headsets.
Glass wearers will immediately notice how much room the Vive Pro offers. We’d guess that nearly any type of eyeglass frames will work inside the Pro.
The 3D spatial audio is more than up to the task of keeping you immersed in the game. The built-in headphones also come with active noise cancellation, allowing for as much or as little external noise as you need.
The pair of controllers that come with the unit feel very natural in your hands and the dial and button positions are some of the best we’ve ever used. You can still hook up your PlayStation or even Xbox controllers if you’re more comfortable using them.
While there’s much to like about the Vive Pro, one major thing we weren’t too crazy about was the setup. Don’t be frustrated if it takes you a while to get your headset ready to use.
It took us more than an hour to get our unit connected properly to our test computer, as we had to unplug and replug the sensors a few times to get the unit to cooperate.
The HTC Vive Pro turned out to be a competent and powerful headset that is relatively easy to use and provides a fun VR experience for all.
6. Oculus Rift S (Most Comfortable for Extended Game Play)
The Rift S has been around since late 2016. Since then the unit has undergone massive refinements and has become a serious VR headset to be respected.
Customers who have purchased this headset, ourselves included, rave about how easy it is to set up. No trauma, no drama, just an excellent no-stress setup.
Although you will need to be hooked to your PC, you’ll find that working with the Oculus Rift S to be a generally satisfying experience.
Things We Like:
- Very easy setup procedure.
- Great display with clear images.
- Extremely comfortable to use.
Things We Don’t Like:
- DisplayPort only, no HDMI.
- Offered as a tethered unit only.
The Rift S has proven to be an incredibly competent headset. Although it is a tethered device, the cable is 16 feet long, which provides plenty of space for moving around. Yes, we hear you and we admit that any type of tethered device can be frustrating after a while. There are now third-party adaptors available to provide a wireless experience, but double check them to see if they are compatible.
The display on the Rift S is crisp and clear. The LCD display provides a resolution of 1280×1440 per eye. Setup is a breeze once you have connected the headset to your PC and connect to the Oculus website to create your account. Once your account is good to go, the Oculus site will start the initial setup for you.
Once the setup is complete, you’ll be ready to go. In general, we found that playing a game like SKYRIM is quite good as long as your PC can handle the loads. You need to remember that you should go with the recommended PC specs of a modern PC; use Intel, AMD or a Ryzen dedicated graphics card, a good CPU and 8GB of RAM at a minimum.
The controllers for the Rift S are small and lighter than you might expect, making for a comfortable experience. You’ll only need one AA battery per controller to keep them powered. The triggers and buttons are in the right place on the controllers and feel very natural to use. You can play all day long with the comfy headset.
We think the Rift S does exactly what it’s supposed to do, no more, no less. It’s a great headset for those wanting to get into the VR world, and with its easy setup will delight you time and again.
7. PS5 VR
Every PlayStation 5 owner already knows how capable their games console is. This is a seriously powerful gaming system to say the least. The PSVR headset, which debuted in 2016 has taken the VR world by storm. It is considered to be the best-selling headset by far.
Users say the PSVR offers a strong set of functionality and high end features.
Things We Like:
- Games load extremely fast when using the PS5.
- Great library of available VR games.
Things We Don’t Like:
- Setup can be a bit clunky with all the cabling.
- You may need to buy a few accessories to take full advantage of the headset.
- The PSVR is getting a bit long in the tooth.
The PSVR plays great with the PlayStation 4, but when paired with a PlayStation 5, the headset displays nearly magical powers. 4K resolution playing at 60 FPS is something to behold while playing SKYRIM with the headset. Some buyers of the unit report that the 1080p screen can sometimes get a bit blurry, but we had no problems with our unit.
What we can share with you is the fact that SKYRIM looks extremely realistic while using the PSVR. Colors pop, textures render quickly and the headset just has an all around stunning game experience.
The 3D audio support works well, as long as you have earphones that can take advantage of the technology. A lot of gamers have reported great results using the PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset in conjunction with the PSVR. Sound output is extremely clear and immersive.
We need to mention that the fit of the headset is something that you’ll have to get used to. The headset more or less rests on the top of the head, almost floating.
It adjusts easily by using the supplied straps, but might feel a little weird at first.
Although the current PSVR is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, it is still very capable, especially when connected to the PlayStation 5.
8. Samsung HMD Odyssey
The Odyssey was first introduced in late 2017. This headset takes full advantage of the Windows Mixed Reality technology that is built into many PCs.
It’s the little touches that count with this headset, like adjustable lenses and an AMOLED display that gives the headset its greatest characteristics. The headset also has decent 360 degree built-in audio, which is a nice touch.
Things We Like:
- Dual 3.5” AMOLED displays provide very good visuals.
- 2880×1600 resolution.
- Very comfortable nose guard and eye padding.
- Easy to set up.
Things We Don’t Like:
- Doesn’t fit all eyeglass types, a bit cramped.
- The headset can feel quite bulky and large over long uses.
- WindowsMR interface can be clunky at times.
The Odyssey is an interesting mix of hardware and software. We like the fact that it has dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays. It also has a 90Hz refresh rate and 1440×1660 resolution in each eye,
The headset also features a wide 110-degree field-of-view that greatly reduces the “barn door” effect that a lot of VR headsets experience. The built-in 360 degree spatial audio is nice, eliminating the need for a separate set of earphones.
The Odyssey has a comfortable fit, with an adjustable headband and plenty of padding.
The Odyssey also comes with two motion controllers with custom grips. Some customers swear by these grips, feeling that they are superior to other standard controllers.
Setup of the unit is a no-brainer, taking maybe five minutes to complete. On the other hand, the WindowsVR software could use a bit more refining in our opinion. Thankfully, the SteamVR software helps to keep everything under control while playing games.
Value Guide
What is the best VR Headset for Skyrim VR if I want great motion tracking but don’t want to have any base stations?
That would be the HTC Vive Pro. The headset has many similar features when compared to the Valve Index. The Vive Pro also has the audio system to beat. It sounds fantastic. Another plus is that ergonomics and ventilation are in line with a high end headset.
What is the best VR Headset for SKYRIM VR if I’m most concerned with comfort?
The Oculus Rift S easily wins the comfort battle. You can play your favorite level of SKYRIM over and over hour after hour with little fatigue. The headset’s padding prevents you from getting that sweaty forehead feeling and the lenses don’t fog up.
What is the best VR Headset for Skyrim VR that has OLED?
The Valve Index’s 1440×1600 per eye resolution OLED screen is currently the best VR headset money can buy. It offers a super-crisp visual experience that simply can’t be beat. The headset’s internals make sure your playing will be top-notch, to say the least.
Conclusion
You will not go wrong with any of the headsets we reviewed. VR depends mainly on your set-up and your budget. With the proper modern PC or games console you will enjoy your VR games no matter which headset you pick.
So far, the Valve Index remains king of the VR headsets. It has the most powerful offering, including killer graphics, responsiveness and great spatial audio.
Honorable mention goes to the HTC Vive Pro, another great VR headset that really gives the Valve Index a run for top headset. It has the best audio of the group.
Happy SKYRIM VR playing.