If the dregs of everyday life have got you sinking down a hole of sorrow, the perfect cure is a few dozen hours in an immersive sim! Taking the effort to change one’s life for the better takes time so in the meanwhile, why not play an immersive sim and pretend to be someone else? A once and prosperous genre (hold that thought) that ran dry until recently, is finally seeing a resurgence. Before moving on, it’s important to first make sure everyone’s on the same board when it comes to what exactly an immersive sim is.  The results of this list will be hard enough as is to swallow without getting confused on what exactly an immersive sim is. 

Surprisingly, describing what exactly an immersive sim is is shockingly difficult and divisive enough of a task in its own right. It’s easy to know when a game falls into immersive sim territory but what exactly is it ? When the average person tries to define an immersive sim they might say something like: “any game that lets you get into the role of a character and make your own choices” . The problem with this is that it just describes role playing and sandbox survival games. Yet, games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls are not immersive sims despite sharing many of the same qualities. Survival Sandbox titles like Minecraft and Project Zomboid are close but aren’t necessarily immersive sims either.  Also, just because the word simulator is involved doesn’t mean that every simulator is an immersive sim. Finally, there is the last school of thought shared by those on a higher wavelength. 

From the Mouth of a Prophet

Immersive sims are not a genre, but a design philosophy, as gaming legend Raphael Colantonio explained in an interview with youtuber MinnMax. Understanding his words is the closest one can get to understanding what an immersive sim truly is. Games under this umbrella follow the philosophy of letting players solve whatever task or problem placed in front of them in whatever way they see fit and seeing the consequences of solving it that way. Furthermore, these games succeed in immersing the player in whatever role they’re in. That’s why it’s so easy to mistake some RPGs and sandbox survival games as immersive sims.  In order to make things a little more difficult, iconic games like Thief, Deus Ex as well as System Shock will not be on this list. 

9. Bioshock

Things are off to a slightly bad start with this “cheat” entry. Considered as the spiritual successor to System Shock, Bioshock has some of the same magic that composes System Shock (primarily the sequel). The issue is that most people won’t really understand just how good of an immersive sim Bioshock can be unless they play on the hardest difficulty. The gameplay system works fairly well when played on normal with players being able to “splice” their genes and limiting gameplay only to what players could imagine. Once played on the highest difficulty, these systems gain much more weight enhancing the entire experience and forcing players to actually immerse themselves. 

On the lower difficulties, certain power ups or genes were either overpowered or useless compared to others. Suddenly, players are forced to learn the intricacies of every feature. Hacking existed as a mechanic but most would never see it as a genuine playstyle unless playing on the hardest difficulty.

8. Dead Rising

It was a toss up between this particular zombie gem and Dying Light 2. Capcom’s Dead Rising, however, inches forward. The original entry is unironically a wonderful way of learning time management  . The underappreciated zombie classic expects players to prioritize in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Not many people would consider it an immersive sim which is understandable yet still a travesty.  As a war covering journalist Frank West, players have three days to uncover the mystery surrounding the sudden zombie outbreak in the sleepy Colorado town of Willamette. 

After a casual playthrough, players may still feel doubtful about this game being a bona fide immersive sim due to the perceived lack of player freedom. Afterall, if players dilly dally for too long or “accidentally” kill a major character then they’ll get hit with the dreaded “The Truth Has Vanished”. While most players will feel tempted to start again from a recent save, the magic happens when they accept their fate. As Frank West, surviving the zombie apocalypse is hard enough, but players can also choose to save survivors… or not. Players can take pictures at any time of the events unfolding around them for “PP”. The imaginative (and less morally bound) player will set up scenarios to get the perfect shot and get incredible PP at the cost of innocent lives. Then again, players can wander around the zombie crowded mall with 8 other survivors like an army of angry Black Friday shoppers.

7. Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain

This entry should be easier to justify than the last considering the freedom players have in the way they play. Despite being considered a masterclass in stealth, players are typically free to tackle situations in whatever way they see fit. They can just sneak on by and take enemies down stealthily or go in guns blazing. Players can even forgo weapons entirely and just take down the opposition with cqc. Phantom Pain in particular, is a prime example of how well this series works as an immersive sim.

While known for having an unfinished story and being Hideo Kojima’s last game with Konami before their divorce, this game is an immersive sim as only Hideo Kojima can make. Players can employ an endless number of ways to complete objectives which in turn will not go unnoticed by the game. The world will react to how players complete objectives. Players prone to violence and death will see the game’s enemies wear more armor. Sabotaging communication arrays will either make outposts vulnerable or cause enemies to investigate. In game characters will even comment on the player’s performance. The legend of “Big Boss” is up to the player to shape.

6. Fallen Aces

What if Cuphead were an immersive sim? This is the best way of describing Fallen Aces. While easy to mistake for a simple boomer shooter (another sort of genre receiving a resurgence) this game actually feels at home on this list. Players follow a hopeless gumshoe investigating a case involving an ex-vigilante group. With an outstanding art style and impressive voice cast straight out of a Three Stooges episode, this is certainly one of the most stylistic entries on this list. Of course, players have the classic choice of stealth or “guns blazing” but players can also find hidden entrances and shortcuts allowing for smoother end results still. Characters will also react to players actions like failing to stay nonlethal during a mission which will see players reprimanded but not receive a game over outright. The level design in this game also takes center stage with it being on the same level as System Shock and Deus ex.