Background:　The　implementation　of　lateral　ventricle　puncture　(LVP)　operation　is　challenging　due　to　the　complex　anatomy　structure　of　human　brains.　Surgical　simulator　has　been　proved　to　be　effective　in　surgical　training.　However,　few　works　consider　the　integration　of　visual　and　haptic　feedback.　Methods:　Aim　at　achieving　a　realistic　haptic　interaction,　this　paper　proposes　a　haptic-based　virtual　reality　(VR)　simulator　for　the　LVP　operation.　In　this　simulator,　we　first　reconstruct　the　three-dimension　(3D)　model　of　human　brains　for　tissue/instrument　interaction.　Then　a　preoperative　planning　method　based　on　geometry　analysis　is　introduced　to　find　the　feasible　entry　point　of　LVP　operation.　A　hierarchical　bounding-box　collision　detection　approach　is　proposed　to　render　haptic　feedback　that　is　transferred　to　humans.　Finally,　a　set　of　experiments　on　the　proposed　simulator　and　3D　printed　models　of　human　brains　is　carried　out.　Results:　Two　sets　of　experiments　are　conducted　to　evaluate　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　haptic-based　simulator:　experiments　in　the　simulator　and　experiments　on　a　3D　printed　brain　model.　The　proposed　simulator　allows　neurosurgeons　to　train　the　LVP　operation　by　visualizing　the　3D　virtual　human　brain　and　feeling　realistic　haptic　feedback.　Conclusions:　We　demonstrated　that　the　proposed　haptic-based　VR　simulator　can　improve　the　performance　of　the　LVP　operation　effectively　and　reduce　the　operation　time.　©　2020　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.