This paper aims to explore the method framework and key design factors of the application of virtual reality technology in the digital protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, so as to facilitate the digital innovation of intangible cultural heritage. By combining the living characteristic of intangible cultural heritage, independence of material culture, with the immersive, imaginative and interactive characteristics of virtual reality technology, a digital innovation path for the dissemination of skills, experience and spiritual values centered on intangible cultural heritage was proposed with virtual reality games as the carrier. Depending on the quartet of game elements method, the design process and method framework were explored on the basis of the existing game design models and the user experience element model. Furthermore, the experiment was carried out through the evaluation method, and the key factors on the virtual reality game experience were extracted by factor analysis. From such four aspects as early cultural survey, intangible cultural heritage game positioning, content and mechanism design, and interface design, the design process and method framework of intangible cultural heritage virtual reality game were constructed therefrom. Such factors on the user experience of virtual reality games as authenticity, playability, usability and emotion were summarized with corresponding design strategies. Under the guidance of the design strategies, i.e. method framework and key factors, the virtual reality game design and development of Daur hockey, an intangible cultural heritage of Inner Mongolia, was carried out, and the feasibility of the method was verified hence. Virtual reality games bring immersion, imagination and interactive experience to the digitization of intangible cultural heritage, which is one of the important paths to protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage.