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Review: Marvel’s Deadpool VR
Marvel’s Deadpool VR is the major Meta exclusive game of this year, building on the superhero theme and the previous year’s triumph of Batman Arkham Shadow. This time, the responsibility of developing a game centred around such an iconic character has been given to Twisted Pixel Games, known for their outstanding virtual reality titles like Wilson’s Heart and Defector. I was eager to discover what they would create with the Deadpool licence.
Game Details
Release Date: November 18th 2025
Developer: Twisted Pixel Games
Publisher: Oculus Studios
Price: £38.99 / US $49.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
A Contract For Fame
Unsurprisingly, you find yourself stepping into the shoes of Deadpool, having been abducted by Mojo, an intergalactic television producer known for his talent in converting violence into viewership (and his clear disdain for Twitch). You will enter into a contract with him to track down and capture Marvel villains to feature on the show, as well as to participate in some of his Death Battle Arena games – but, as is typical, who actually reads the fine print? However, have you committed to more than you anticipated?
Violence, Profanity And Dick Jokes
In terms of gameplay, you can anticipate precisely what you’d expect from Deadpool: an abundance of violence, killing, profanity, and dick jokes. The game features a variety of weapons and a distinct flair. You’ll wield Deadpool’s iconic katanas and pistols, along with a selection of other weapons that you can grab and utilise to your benefit.
The combat serves as the core aspect of the gameplay, but it wouldn’t truly be Deadpool without a plethora of foes to eliminate, all while the ‘Merc with a Mouth’ delivers his inner monologues filled with inappropriate remarks and humor. However, as your adventures unfold on Mojo TV, you must eliminate enemies in classic Deadpool style… with flair, which translates to a larger audience, ultimately leading to better rewards and more cash for upgrades and new equipment.
Taking down waves of henchmen, ninjas, robots, and demons in various ways, while mixing in weapons, grenades, and your grappling gun, will also fill a special meter that boosts your viewers and subsequent rewards. This will grant you a Mojo version of Gambit’s throwing cards or Thor’s hammer, both of which can efficiently take out enemies. Personally, I favoured the throwing cards, but both options are enjoyable to incorporate into the combat – if you prefer to choose just one, you can do so back at the base.
Nonetheless, Twisted Pixel has excelled in ensuring that each location adds a unique twist to the gameplay, whether it’s through a fetch quest, platforming, immersing yourself in a retro game, or even driving a tank. This variety provides a refreshing change from the standard combat. I believe this is beneficial, as some players may begin to find the combat somewhat repetitive if that’s all they engage in – yet, on the flip side, others may prefer to just to have the stylish combat.
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In addition to the fundamental combat mechanics, the game features a couple of high-octane action sequences, accompanied by a caution that they may be overly intense for certain players. If you experience motion sickness while using VR, this alert is particularly relevant for you. However, there’s no need to be concerned, as the team has provided a solution: simply hold down the A button to bypass these sequences. But if you are not affected by motion sickness and feel at ease in VR, be sure to experience these moments, as they truly shine in the game.
Additionally, as anticipated, the Marvel villains you are pursuing won’t be easy to persuade to join Mojo TV, which means that at the conclusion of each mission, you’ll engage in a boss fight against these villains. These boss battles are crafted to feel unique, featuring various attacks and strategies until you deplete their health sufficiently to initiate a quick-time event – I understand this might lead you to think, “What? Quick-time events in VR?” but trust me, it functions remarkably well. When it comes to the ‘Death Game Arenas’ ‘Death Game Arenas’, you engage in a blend of well-known online shooter modes (with a unique twist) while battling against bots. Although they may appear to be mere filler, these modes will grant you access to various iterations of Deadpool, including Lady Deadpool. You will conclude by heading to ‘Mojodome’, where you will face off against all the captured Marvel villains in a series of challenges.
After completing your first playthrough, the team provides incentives to revisit the game. You can replay the capture of the Marvel villains, explore the arenas, or challenge yourself in the Mojodome. This means you can earn more money and tackle challenges to unlock extra weapons and cosmetic items for use in the game.
One important point I want to emphasise is that while the game can be enjoyed while seated, I highly recommend playing it while standing if you have the option. This recommendation stems from the way weapons are positioned; for instance, the grappling gun requires you to reach around your back. You might find it useful in combat to escape from or gain a higher vantage point over your enemies, or even to toss the smaller grunt-like foes for a stylish kill. However, when I tested playing seated, I often ended up grabbing the pistol on that side instead, which was never an issue when I played standing.
As Stylish As Deadpool’s Kills
The team has perfected the visuals, creating a cell-shaded appearance that not only suits Deadpool and its over-the-top violence but also embodies the ‘Borderlands’ style and comic book feel, making it ideal for the source material. This approach not only enhances the Deadpool vibe but also ensures that everything appears exceptionally sharp and clear on the mobile processor driving the stand-alone device – and I would personally argue that this is one of the most visually impressive games I’ve experienced that utilises cell-shading in virtual reality.
As previously stated, this style perfectly complements the exaggerated violence, which I applaud the team for embracing. If the visuals were more realistic, it might have drawn some criticism. The comic aesthetic also aligns well with the profanity and inappropriate comments from everyone’s favourite antihero, truly embodying the title ‘Merc with a mouth.’
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One minor concern is that while the visuals are stunning and the team fully embraces this style, I did notice some frame drops during missions. However, these were minimal and didn’t detract from the overall gaming experience. That said, they did occur more frequently in the Mojodome, likely due to the sheer number of enemies that appear at times.
In Deadpool, the audio holds equal significance to the visuals. As we all know, this character is notorious for his incessant chatter and for breaking rules that other superheroes wouldn’t dare to. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that he continues to talk even beyond the story dialogue audio. The sheer volume of dialogue in this game is astonishing; during my six to seven hours of gameplay, I can hardly recall hearing the same line repeated.
Twisted Pixel Games has ensured that all the classic Deadpool rule-breaking elements are intact, featuring fourth wall breaks, crude language, inappropriate subjects, and Am abundance of dick jokes. Some of these lines might poke fun at you, such as the quips about the game forcing you into fetch quests – which could be irritating for some players. But don’t fret; you’re not the only target of his humour. He also throws in jabs at the game developers, budget limitations, and plenty of remarks aimed at Disney. On top of that, his clever use of pop culture references makes him feel like the genuine Deadpool, boasting about his movie successes while also referencing films like Aliens and Back to the Future, TV shows such as Red Dwarf and The Kardashians, as well as video games like Rez and Metal Gear Solid – just to name a few.
The game’s atmosphere is primarily shaped by the environmental sounds that correspond to each location you explore. There isn’t a continuous musical score for two main reasons. First, Deadpool’s ongoing inner monologues and witty remarks keep your attention occupied. Second, when you activate your special ability, you are treated to licensed background music featuring popular tracks from renowned artists, giving that Deadpool & Wolverine scene vibe. To highlight a few, you can get songs from artists such as Amy Winehouse, Paramore, and Drowning Pool.
I want to commend the team again for two additional features: they have provided an option to eliminate vulgar language. Personally, even as someone who isn’t particularly fond of excessive swearing, I find it hard to envision the authentic Deadpool vibe without it – yet I understand that some may prefer to disable it. Furthermore, they offer the ability to turn off those licenced tracks for those who wish to create content without being hindered by copyright issues – a feature that I am certain content creators will greatly value.
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The concluding segment of the audio features the voice acting, and it was made clear from the outset that Ryan Reynolds would not be voicing Deadpool. Instead, Neil Patrick Harris takes on the role, and he does an outstanding job embodying Deadpool, perfectly capturing his authentic attitude. But the impressive voice talent doesn’t end there; the cast also includes notable names like John Leguizamo (Mojo), Jeffrey Combs (Major Domo), Dolph Lundgren (Ultimo), and Kelly Hu (Lady Deathstrike), among others. This ensures that the voice acting is of the highest quality, with each character vividly brought to life, showcasing their enthusiasm for being part of the game. Once again, hats off to NPH for recording such an extensive amount of dialogue for the game; it must amount to countless hours of just his lines alone.
While the audio excels in many areas, it isn’t flawless. One aspect I observed was the object interactions, which I attempted to test during quiet, non-combat moments to ensure that I wasn’t missing it amidst the focus on combat. When you bring your guns and katanas together, they don’t make a clinking sound; instead, they simply pass through one another. Although this can often be overlooked when crossing your katanas to deflect incoming strikes, it can occasionally disrupt the immersion a bit.
Comfort
The Verdict
Twisted Pixel Games has kept Meta’s recent trend of releasing an outstanding exclusive title each year with Marvel’s Deadpool VR. The team has genuinely captured the spirit of what makes Deadpool live up to his ‘Merc with a mouth’ moniker. His unquenchable thirst for blood and violence is perfectly matched by his crude language, inappropriate themes, fourth wall breaks, pop culture references, and a plethora of dick jokes, all contributing to an authentic Deadpool experience. The combat is fluid, enjoyable, and gory, with the team emphasising style, variety, and special moves, as the narrative unfolds on Mojo TV, where drawing in viewers is crucial for earning top rewards, money, and fame. While the combat is entertaining, the team has also integrated some additional elements to provide a breather, which helps prevent the combat from becoming too repetitive. However, personally, I would have liked to see a few more of the over-the-top action sequences, as those were some of my favourite moments in the game. With a star-studded cast bringing the characters to life, Neil Patrick Harris excels in his role as Deadpool. If you’re a Deadpool fan, you’re going to love this game, and even if you’re not a fan, don’t worry—you’ll still love this game; it truly deserves a place in everyone’s collection.
Copyright / The VR Realm / 2016 -
