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VTOL VR — the cockpit lives in your hands
VTOL VR is a near-future combat flight simulator that was built from the ground up for virtual reality. There's no HOTAS and no wall of keyboard binds here: you put on a headset, climb into the cockpit and literally grab the stick and throttle with your tracked controllers, flip switches, turn dials and tap the buttons on the instrument panel. That's why VTOL VR feels less like a game about planes and more like genuinely wrangling a combat jet — with all the complexity and payoff that brings.
The game is made by Boundless Dynamics (the project comes from a developer known as BahamutoD). VTOL VR hit Steam Early Access on August 7, 2017, and the full 1.0 release landed exactly three years later, on August 7, 2020. It has kept growing with content and updates ever since. Buy from us and you get the full base VTOL VR game delivered as a Steam gift straight to your account.
What's in the base game
The base VTOL VR gives you three aircraft right away, each flying differently:
- AV-42C — a tilt-jet with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL/STOL), a versatile workhorse for transport and support.
- F/A-26B — a classic fighter/attack jet, the easiest way to get a feel for dogfighting and ground attack.
- F-45A — a low-observable multi-role STOVL jet for those who want modern stealth tactics.
On top of that you get story campaigns, co-op and PvP multiplayer, plus built-in mission and scenario editors — so the content doesn't stop at the preset missions, you can build your own.
Why VTOL VR clicks
The big draw is how tactile it is. Vertical takeoffs and landings, carrier operations, mid-air refueling, navigation and engaging targets — you do all of it by hand, not with hotkeys. The learning curve is steep and rewarding: at first you fumble around the cockpit, then you find the flow and start setting the jet down on the deck like you've done it your whole life. For sim and VR fans, it's one of the most authentic ways to feel like you're in a fighter cockpit without filling half your desk with hardware.
What hardware you need
VTOL VR is VR-only — you can't play it without a headset. It runs through SteamVR, Meta Quest Link and OpenXR, so HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus/Meta Quest and Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets all work. You don't need to buy a joystick or HOTAS — everything is mapped to the touch controllers.
How we deliver VTOL VR
This is a Steam gift. At checkout you provide your Steam friend invite link (grab it in your profile → “Add Friend” → copy the s.team/p/... link) and your account region. Then our bot adds itself as your friend, sends the gift, and leaves your friends list after delivery — you don't need to accept anything. Delivery usually takes a couple of minutes from the time you order. Steam Guard isn't required to receive it.
Region and library — important
Steam will only accept the gift under two conditions: your account region matches the gift region and you don't already own VTOL VR. If the game is already on your account, Steam won't let you accept the gift — that's the most common failure. So pick the variant for your region and send the gift to an account that doesn't have the game yet. If the bot couldn't add you, it's usually because friend requests are blocked in your profile or the link expired; fix your privacy settings, refresh the link and message us.
Who this game is for
VTOL VR isn't a five-minute casual arcade game. It's for people who are happy to dig in: read takeoff checklists, understand why a given switch exists, and enjoy watching a complex system slowly become legible and obedient. If you love sims, machinery and the process of mastering a vehicle rather than just shooting things, this is for you. If you want an easy entry with no learning curve, be aware that the first hours are very much about training — but the payoff afterwards is huge. Built-in campaigns and tutorial missions ease you in, while multiplayer and the editors give the game a long life after the story.
Steam Deck and unusual setups
Because VTOL VR is VR-only, you need an actual VR headset and a PC that can drive VR. You can't play it on a flat monitor without a headset, and using a Steam Deck as a standalone device doesn't work for VTOL VR — you need a proper VR setup (PCVR via SteamVR/Quest Link or a compatible OpenXR headset). Before buying, make sure you have a working VR rig and that the game isn't already on your account.
What to check out nearby
If sims and machinery are your thing, take a look at DCS World and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 — flat-screen aviation with their own depth. And if you'd rather have combat vehicles geared toward large battles, check out War Thunder. Next to them, VTOL VR is the most hands-on, most VR-native option.