PAYDAY: Aces High Review Summary

Strong VR gunplay and handling make this solid, fun Payday adaptation, but missing heist restart, overly difficult stealth, and problematic AI teammates hold it back.

Strong VR gunplay and handling: Gunplay controls, weapon handling, shooting feel, and recoil are repeatedly praised as satisfying and well implemented. Reviewers highlight good trigger breaks, two-handed recoil, and solid shot feedback.

Fun and engaging gameplay: Numerous reviewers describe the game as fun, enjoyable, and engaging, especially once players get into its flow. Overall sentiment toward the core experience is strongly positive.

Solid Payday VR adaptation: Reviewers consider this a proper Payday VR game that captures the series' skeleton and formula well. Many note it is better than Payday 2 VR and an improvement over Payday 3.

Well-crafted VR interactions: Manual interactions such as drills, safes, reloading, bag carrying, watch hacking, and hand repositioning make good use of VR. These immersive mechanics are widely considered enjoyable and well implemented.

Fun heists with good variety: Heists are described as fun, replayable, and varied in layout and design, with distinct locations and interesting challenges. Successful stealth runs and scoring add further replay value.

Missing restart heist option: Players complain there is no restart heist button, forcing manual setup each time. They want a quick restart or return to lobby option.

Stealth too difficult: Stealth mechanics are seen as too hard or impossible, especially solo. Players find stealth frustrating and underdeveloped.

AI teammates problematic: AI teammates block shots, get in the way, and are ineffective on higher difficulties. They also lag behind and do little damage.

Underwhelming gameplay: Players find the game unoriginal and not fun. It is considered a step down from previous titles.

DLC masks criticized: Classic masks from previous games are sold as separate DLC, which players find greedy. Four base-game masks are each sold as DLC.

Stealth and loud heist gameplay: Players highlight the core structure of executing heists either stealthily or loudly. This dual approach is a defining feature of the game.

VR game optimized for standalone: The game is built from the ground up for VR, with comfort options and physics-based interactions. It is particularly optimized for standalone VR devices.

Gunplay with recoil and customization: Gunplay is a core mechanic featuring recoil, bullet spread, and weapon customization. Players can manually reload and handle weapons with two or one hand.

Heists with objectives and loot: Heists involve objectives, loot drop-off points, and escape points. Players must defend the escape point and manage loot throughout the mission.

Stealth mechanics with gadgets: Stealth gameplay includes guard patrols, cameras, silent takedowns, and gadgets. Suppressors and jammers can be used, with automatic attachment and detachment.

Severe motion sickness from movement: Players report significant motion sickness, especially from joystick-based locomotion. This can make the game unplayable for some.

Persistent stutters and frame drops: Some players experience ongoing stuttering and frame rate drops during gameplay. Performance is described as inconsistent.

Smooth performance on Frame: The game runs very well on Frame hardware, which it is optimized for. Another player also reports smooth performance.

Frequent game crashes: One player reports the game crashes every two sessions.

Menu fails on Vive: The menu does not open on Vive headsets, blocking access to game options.

Compare to Payday 2 VR: Many reviewers suggest playing Payday 2 VR instead, especially with improvement mods, as it offers a better experience. Some even advise against buying this game and to stick with Payday 2 VR.

Recommended for Payday fans: Fans of the Payday series find this game worthwhile and recommend it, often noting it is worth the price for those already invested in the franchise.

Wait for updates and polish: Several reviewers recommend waiting for the game to be updated and polished before purchasing, or to hold off entirely. They hope the developers address criticism and improve the core experience.

Not recommended currently: Some reviewers do not recommend the game in its current bug-ridden state, with one even refunding it and others advising against purchase.

Mixed but hopeful reviews: Some reviewers give qualified recommendations, noting the game has great potential but is far from perfect and hope others give it another chance as it improves.

Community fair range: $12.00 - $20.00.

Game completion: 3.0h.

Session length: 3.0h.

Early tutorial and first-heist play is enjoyable for some players, but enjoyment commonly falls once missing stealth mechanics, shallow progression, and tedious pacing become apparent.

Friction: Unclear tutorial objectives and missing guidance; Height calibration problems in the tutorial heist; Stop-and-go pacing from loose valuables and interactions; Shallow perks and skill progression; Ammo scarcity and weak enemy ammo drops; Restart and lobby friction in multiplayer heists.

Unlock drivers: Playing co-op with friends; Stacking team skills with friends; Interactive drill and heist interactions; Multiplayer and shop replay value.

VR Co-op Heist Enthusiast: Team-based multiplayer heists, with solo play as an option; prefers co-op over PVP shooters. Motivation: Cooperative PVE heisting with friends and replayable VR missions. Stance: buy.

Payday Veteran Build Analyst: Compares mechanics to Payday 2, grinds skills and weapons, and evaluates difficulty and combat design. Motivation: Familiar Payday-style co-op heisting with deeper builds and better enemy balance. Stance: buy.

Solo Stealth Pacesetter: Solo runs with bots, stealth attempts, and tactical objective timing. Motivation: Mastering heists solo and controlling stealth and tension pacing. Stance: sale.

Across the returned Windows cohorts, reports are generally positive: most included snippets say the game runs well or without issues, with only isolated mentions of performance complaints from other users.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. The included review reports that the game runs really well on Steam Frame.

Windows 16GB+ VRAM: positive. The sole included review is recommended but only asks for higher-quality graphics and finger tracking, without reporting a performance problem.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. Reviews are mostly positive: performance is described as okay on Steam Frame, playable on Quest 3S and Steam Frame, and fine on a 4070 despite complaints about other setups.

Steam Deck: The dataset contains no explicit Steam Deck-specific evidence such as Proton toggles, external launchers, or small text. The main friction is VR-side: finicky and overlapping trackpad controls, always-online and bugged heists, and Quest 3 battery drain. Users can run the game across multiple VR configurations and call it fun, so it is playable after tinkering rather than broken.

Monetization: The reviews provide direct evidence of launch-day paid DLC, core franchise masks sold as separate DLC purchases, and an in-game shop that redirects players to Steam to buy DLC. This supports an aggressive DLC monetization finding. The reviews do not provide evidence of pay-to-win, real-money gacha, loot boxes, battle passes, paid convenience, or currency obfuscation.

Frequent Payday Series Comparisons: Reviewers consistently compare the game to entries in the Payday series, especially Payday 2 VR, Payday 3 at launch, and Payday: The Heist. These comparisons drive both favorable notes on VR adaptation and unfavorable notes on content and depth.

Less Content and Depth: Several reviews describe the game as a scaled-back, simplified Payday experience with fewer heists and less equipment variety than earlier titles. Some call it more indie-sized than a full mainstream Payday release.

Unfavorable Launch Payday 3 Comparison: Reviewers compare the game unfavorably to Payday 3 at launch, citing similar weaknesses in guidance, flow, content, mechanics, and pricing. This comparison is used to criticize the game's current state.

Responsive Developer Communication: Reviewers repeatedly praise the developers for responding quickly to feedback and criticism on Steam Forums and YouTube. This responsiveness is seen as positive damage control.

VR-Native Design Advantages: Compared to Payday 2 VR, this game has a minimalist style but environments better adapted for VR, and it feels built for VR despite fewer missions. It is noted as the second VR game in the Payday IP.