Cloud data centers do not completely use their resources, resulting in resource underutilization. Cloud computing companies primarily leverage virtualization technologies to supply cost-effective service provision. In order to optimize cloud performance, virtual machines (VMs) must be placed among physical machines (PMs). When it comes to concentrating on the issues in the cloud computing environment, effective VM placement (VMP) is one of the primary difficulties that might cost suppliers money. VMP may be applied in a variety of ways in cloud computing. In terms of lowering related processing overhead, consolidating the cloud environment to become a highly on-demand method, balancing the load among PMs, power usage, and refining performance, VMP techniques still require improvement in the computing environment. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of VMP approaches. This article provides an up-to-date survey of the most related VMP literature to highlight study possibilities in cloud settings utilizing nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms. The findings suggest that placing VMs in the most efficient place saves power usage substantially. The key problem is to minimize data center energy usage without compromising performance or breaking service level agreements. Finally, we will discuss and look at what further may be accomplished in this line of science.