Advancements in technology have helped the gaming industry become one of the most lucrative sectors on the planet over the past couple of decades.
Previously viewed as an activity conducted solely by teenagers in darkened bedrooms, gaming is now enjoyed by people across the age spectrum.
Its popularity is unlikely to diminish any time soon, with emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR) tipped to fire gaming into another stratosphere.
With that in mind, we take a closer look at some of the most exciting VR games on the market right now.
Beat Saber
A recent study by Betway Insider highlighted that a 90-minute gaming session on Fortnite can burn as many calories as performing more than 350 squats.
Given the physical nature of Beat Saber, it probably blows Fortnite out of the water in terms of its calorie-burning potential.
The VR rhythm game sees you swinging your arms while dodging the blocks that fly your way – all while listening to some groovy tunes.
Artists featured in Beat Saber include Billie Eilish, Linkin Park and LMFAO – if they do not get you hot and sweaty, nothing will.
Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is not only one of the best VR games around, it is unquestionably one of the finest video games money can buy.
From the head-scratching scientific puzzles you played on desktop or laptop to tense trips through zombie-infested death pits, this is a truly magnificent game.
The immersive nature of Half-Life: Alyx overrides those annoying feelings of motion sickness delivered by many other VR games.
The attention to detail in the game is truly staggering, while the ways you can interact with the world around you will blow your mind.
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission
If you have a PlayStation 4 and a compatible VR headset, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is THE number one game for you.
Players take control of a tiny robot who must rescue its friends that have been fired into different parts of space by the enemy.
This results in you visiting various planets, each with their own minions and platforming challenge to navigate your way through.
As with any good platformer the difficulty increases the further into the game you go, but never crosses the line of feeling impossible to complete.
Minecraft VR
This multiple award-winning game is one of the most successful titles released over the past couple of decades – a global phenomenon, if you will.
The introduction of fully-supported VR play caused plenty of excitement amongst Minecraft fans and it certainly does not disappoint.
One of the biggest attractions of the original version was its thoroughly immersive nature, and those feelings are significantly heightened in VR mode.
The best way to play Minecraft VR is in Living Room Mode, which provides players with an engaging yet comfortable way to enjoy the VR experience.