Pavlov

Pavlov VR is a must-have among Sony’s current roster of PSVR2 launch titles. With a variety of modes to try, and impressive gun mechanics to mess around with, it proves what’s possible when you get VR controls right. And with a killer mode in TTT, the Pavlov experience is elevated to hysterical levels as you lie and manipulate your way to victory. This is the gun-toting VR Among Us experience we've been waiting for.

90%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

stability, grinding

91% User Score Based on 61,176 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Pavlov is a single player and multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Vankrupt Games and was released on December 4, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Pavlov is a multiplayer shooter for the HTC Vive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+14

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 61,176 reviews

gameplay1.1k positive mentions

stability389 negative mentions

gameplay
2,416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
Pavlov VR offers engaging and immersive gameplay that combines elements of classic shooters like Counter-Strike with the unique mechanics of virtual reality. Players appreciate the realistic gun mechanics, including manual reloading and weapon handling, which enhance the overall experience, although some find the gameplay clunky and the community toxic at times. The game features a variety of modes and extensive mod support, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences, but it also faces criticism for occasional bugs and a lack of content updates.
- “Amazing gameplay and community, and the amount of goofiness and chaos and also competitiveness is unmatched.”
- “The gunplay is simply outstanding - the weapons feel authentic, and the meticulous attention to detail in their handling and mechanics is commendable.”
- “With its realistic gunplay mechanics, diverse game modes, and dedicated community, Pavlov VR stands as a captivating title in the VR gaming landscape.”
- “At the end of the day this game just isn't it, between the boring gameplay and the bad NPCs the game falls short on all the grounds that make a fun VR title.”
- “The gameplay feels rather clunky and poorly polished.”
- “The overall gameplay experience is frustrating and not enjoyable in the slightest.”
humor
1,184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilarious interactions and chaotic moments that arise during gameplay. The community is described as a mix of funny and toxic, often leading to laugh-out-loud situations, especially in modes like Trouble in Terrorist Town (TTT) and during casual matches. While some players note the presence of immature or offensive behavior, the overall sentiment is that the game provides a consistently entertaining and comedic experience, particularly when played with friends or in lively lobbies.
- “Dark, quirky, and absolutely hilarious!”
- “This game is the best fucking vr game you could buy (in my opinion) staying up till 2am just playing zombies with my friends is just fun and funny as hell.”
- “The community is filled with fucking hilarious people and funny moments.”
- “And the game is forever tainted by unfunny people who watched YouTubers play and constantly ask people, 'Wanna play Russian roulette?!'”
- “This game is fun, but most people in servers consist of unfunny racist manbabies, so be wary of that. If you want to make them angry, just say you support Joe Biden or that you're using the wrong pronouns.”
- “But with more unfunny players.”
story
1,184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
78%
10%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with many users noting that it primarily focuses on multiplayer gameplay rather than a structured story. Players engage in various game modes, such as team deathmatch and zombies, but there is no overarching plot or campaign. While some express a desire for a story mode, the consensus is that the game is more about the experience of shooting and gameplay mechanics than storytelling.
- “Probably the most fleshed out VR shooter that doesn't compromise on content and presentation by having quest parity.”
- “I love how I can choose different game modes – from intense shootouts to exciting missions.”
- “To start off this review I want to tell a story, we all played Halo growing up but personally I really loved Halo 3 ODST the soundtrack and going around New Mumbasa back when I was a kid I was in that game now I found a map where it's New Mumbasa with Halo guns ODST armor and the flood, me and about seven friends were all playing as ODST trying to fight through the streets of New Mumbasa with hundreds of floods coming at us from all angles...”
- “☑ no story”
- “There doesn't appear to be a story or anything, just sandbox with co-op or pvp.”
- “The game is kind of fun but honestly the devs sold out to the quest and meta hype train and haven't updated the game since the end of jan 2022, really sad to see them leave behind the people who made their game popular and gave them the money in the first place.”
graphics
1,132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The graphics in Pavlov VR receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality and immersive design, particularly in comparison to other VR titles. While some users highlight the game's impressive visuals and detail, others note performance issues, especially on lower-end hardware, and mention graphical glitches that can detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good for a VR game, but optimization and consistency remain areas for improvement.
- “The graphics are amazing, far better than most of the other VR games and leaps and bounds better than contractors, for example.”
- “Graphics and performance are incredibly optimized at least, so you don't have lag really interrupting you that often like a lot of VR games on cheaper headsets.”
- “The graphics are solid, and the sound design really enhances the experience.”
- “Dog crap does not run. I have a 3060 and ran this very poorly on lowest graphics. I tried every fix, nothing worked.”
- “Runs like dog shit, glitching visuals all over.”
- “Despite running the game on a powerful 3090 graphics card, the visuals have not improved, and the game struggles to maintain a satisfactory frame rate.”
optimization
459 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
51%
20%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, particularly following the transition to Unreal Engine 5, which has led to significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates even on high-end systems. Many players report that the latest updates have exacerbated these problems, making the game nearly unplayable, especially for those using Meta headsets or playing on custom maps. While some users note improvements in specific areas, the overall sentiment is that the game is poorly optimized and requires urgent attention from the developers.
- “The optimization is amazing and much more!”
- “This game is most likely the best optimized shooter (in VR) & has a ton of mod support.”
- “Great game and amazing community, all sorts of game types and one of the most optimized VR shooters you could get.”
- “The game is horribly optimized and doesn't cooperate well with the Valve Index controllers; I was constantly dropping my weapon anytime I turned or tried to do anything in the world.”
- “Update 29 absolutely destroyed the game's performance to a point where it is borderline unplayable.”
- “The switch to Unreal Engine 5 has caused massive performance issues.”
stability
439 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly following recent updates. Players have experienced frequent crashes, screen shaking, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration and refunds. While some users note improvements and enjoyable gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess," making it difficult to recommend for new players.
- “But my goodness, this game feels great and runs great.”
- “The physics of the game are not buggy, connection is always good, the live voice chat is amazing when it comes to communicating with teammates, and I always get a chuckle from the TTT servers.”
- “Runs great, mostly bug free, looks good... developer seems dedicated (he plays the game a lot himself).”
- “Game played great at first had one update now every time I try to play the screen glitches and is twitching and moving everywhere. If it was fixed, I would recommend the game, but it's garbage now, a waste of money. Wish I could get a refund.”
- “This game was really good up until the latest updates for the Quest 2. Now the game is too laggy and buggy to enjoy.”
- “The game is buggy; the screen is shaking like an earthquake.”
replayability
187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
Pavlov VR is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, largely due to its extensive variety of maps, game modes, and a thriving modding community that continuously creates new content. Players appreciate the ability to customize experiences and engage in multiplayer scenarios, which significantly enhances the game's longevity. However, some users have expressed concerns about recent updates affecting access to community content, which could impact replay value for certain players.
- “The variety of maps and game modes adds to the game's replayability, offering diverse scenarios for players to explore.”
- “The modding community surrounding Pavlov is thriving, constantly creating new maps, game modes, and content that extends the game's longevity and replayability.”
- “Whether you're downloading custom maps, creating your own game modes, or participating in community events, Pavlov VR offers a level of replayability and longevity that's unmatched in the VR shooter genre.”
- “Good game, I'm not that much into it because it lost its replayability for me, but you'd probably like it more.”
- “But that's not it, they made it so that PlayStation users cannot access community content... so now we are left with the boring vanilla maps that serve no replay value.”
- “All in all, this is one of the better games to play with friends and is cheap when looking at the price of other VR games, but unfortunately there isn't much replayability.”
grinding
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
81%
15%
The grinding aspect of Pavlov is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many users expressing that it feels like a significant commitment, often requiring "a second life" to fully engage with the game. While some players find the immersive gun handling enjoyable, others note that the repetitive nature of certain tasks can detract from the overall experience, leading to a mix of frustration and satisfaction. Overall, the game presents a blend of enjoyable mechanics and monotonous grinding that can polarize player opinions.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “Community patches, tedious workarounds, all to save a game that killed the modding community. Had I not spent so many hours in this game, I would be refunding it.”
- “So the game introduces the concept of fun in some quite extravagant ways, which inclines the user into consuming hours of their existence in a loop of monotonous grinding, although in relatively similar games this would be seen as extremely boring.”
- “Unfortunately, it can get a little tedious in the deathmatch modes as the spawning is completely random. My next step is to try some proper competitive, but I'm yet to find a server/group.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
79%
9%
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying nostalgic soundtracks that enhance their gaming experience, particularly in custom maps inspired by titles like Halo. However, many users express frustration with the prevalence of annoying or inappropriate music played by other players, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some maps feature well-curated soundtracks, others suffer from poor audio choices, leading to a varied and sometimes chaotic auditory experience.
- “To start off this review, I want to tell a story. We all played Halo growing up, but personally, I really loved Halo 3: ODST. The soundtrack and going around New Mumbasa back when I was a kid made me feel like I was in that game. Now I found a map where it's New Mumbasa with Halo guns, ODST armor, and the Flood. Me and about seven friends were all playing as ODST, trying to fight through the streets of New Mumbasa with hundreds of Flood coming at us from all angles. After about thirty minutes of pushing through the Flood, saving each other time and time again, we finally got to our destination, a safe zone where the Flood can't get us. That's when it happened: the Halo 3: ODST theme started playing, and I truly felt like I was back in the game. I felt the sadness of the loss of my friends, the joy of surviving, and the anger towards the Flood. I felt it all. Now buy this game and feel emotions again.”
- “Custom maps are awesome; the community was able to make some cool stuff from maps straight out of Counter-Strike to happy maps with cheery music.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
- “The music is repetitive and annoying, adding to the overall frustration of playing Pavlov VR.”
- “It's always some moron blasting his horrible rap music in the mic or some over-competitive loser who screams 'gotcha b***h' on every kill or 'bull sh*t' on every death.”
- “Some infrequently played user maps can vary from poorly conceived to literal cancer complete with an eardrum rupturing soundtrack.”
emotional
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, highlighting its ability to foster a wholesome and supportive community that contrasts sharply with the toxicity found in other games. Many users report feeling a deep sense of connection and joy, often laughing until they cry, while also acknowledging moments of frustration and motion sickness. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a blend of camaraderie, nostalgia, and occasional disappointment, making it a uniquely immersive and heartfelt gaming experience.
- “The community in this game is so wholesome and playing this game made me realize how toxic my other favorite games can be.”
- “I never told them about my issues because it's impossible to explain a bad depression with words, and it seems a little silly that a girl I met online gave me depression, but just being with people who I enjoy talking to made me feel a lot better and a lot less lonely.”
- “I almost shed a tear playing Nacht der Untoten with my friends.”
monetization
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
10%
82%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the absence of microtransactions and the accessibility of all maps and game modes through a single download. However, others criticize the developers for perceived cash grab tactics and a shift in aesthetic that caters to a younger audience, detracting from the original experience. Overall, while some players appreciate the lack of in-app purchases, concerns about the game's direction and stability remain prevalent.
- “There are no in-app purchases, and all of the maps and game modes are easily accessible with one short download.”
- “No microtransactions.”
- “VR Call of Duty without the microtransactions.”
- “Shame on the developers for ruining a great game with a cheap cash grab from some PS5 children.”
- “One singular update followed by a cash grab buyout and this once amazing game is now a waste of space for anybody looking for a fun, stable and dynamic VR shooter... they should have kept it how it was which was stable and fun.”
- “A total cash grab including TTT game modes.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The game's atmosphere is described as a blend of intense and engaging, reminiscent of classic shooters like Counter-Strike, with a strong community that enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and artistic elements brought by workshop content, others feel the game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, leaning towards a more colorful and cartoonish aesthetic. Overall, the atmosphere is rated highly by many, with suggestions for improvements like animated NPCs in game lobbies.
- “The game has a strong player base that fosters a positive and friendly atmosphere.”
- “Workshop content will always be hit or miss when it comes to aesthetic appeal, but when done correctly, they bring a very interesting breath of life to the game in terms of atmosphere and art style, or in the case of well-done Modern Warfare 2 Rust/Terminal map ports, just plain nostalgia.”
- “An actual shooter that you can play tactically, with working guns, aiming, and an intense atmosphere.”
- “The game lacks any kind of atmosphere (colorful and cartoony).”
- “Doesn't have the best gunplay: Onward is definitely a more realistic shooter, among many more, but this is solid for the community atmosphere.”
- “Workshop content will always be hit or miss when it comes to aesthetic appeal, but when done correctly they bring a very interesting breath of life to the game in terms of atmosphere and art style, or, in the case of well-done Modern Warfare 2 Rust/Terminal map ports, just plain nostalgia.”