The immersive sim genre has seen several ups and downs since its initial conception with pioneers such asThief,System Shock, andDeus Ex. Nowadays, there are significantly fewer new releases in this genre than there once were, though light immersive simsdeveloped by Arkane Studioshave still managed to find a place.
Many players miss out on the fun of immersive sims due to their inaccessible nature; complex mechanics, clunky user-interface, or simply being a product of their time can quickly turn prospective players away. This list features more accessible, modernized immersive sim gameplay that still manages to retain the abundance of player agency and sandbox approach that makes the genre so distinct and beloved.
Featuringfully-destructible environmentsand a simulated, voxel-based world,Teardownis a sandbox playground. Within this sandbox, players are tasked with pulling off a variety of heists, using the tools at their disposal to go about their objective in whatever way they see fit. WhileTeardownisn’t the most complex or in-depth immersive sim on the market, this gameplay loop and its simulated world allow players to approach the game from a variety of angles.
What makesTeardownso great for newcomers is its straightforward mechanics and its mission-based structure, allowing players to learn at their own pace. However, the fully-destructible, heavily simulated world allows players to still experience the fun of immersive sim gameplay.
This highly immersive,stealth-focused detective gametakes the immersive sim genre in a new and highly replayable direction by simulating an entire city to explore. These cities are created with procedural generation in a voxel-based art-style, drenched in rain and moody neon lights to create a cyberpunk, neo-noir atmosphere that’s perfect for sleuthing.
The fully simulated open-world allowsShadow Of Doubtto be an incredibly immersive game, featuring plenty of tools and mechanics that allow players to investigate a variety of crimes.Shadow Of Doubt’sslower pace won’t be for everyone, but its simple and intuitive user-interface, as well as its easy-to-learn mechanics, make it easy to pick up.
Published by New Blood Interactive (publishers of games such asDUSKandULTRAKILL),Gloomwoodis a unique combination of the immersive sim and survival horror genres,taking influence from classics such asResident Evil 4andThief.Gloomwoodcombines mechanics from both genres, including resource management, horrifying enemies, designated save rooms, and stealth mechanics.
As with all immersive sims,Gloomwoodallows players to approach each of its challenges in a variety of ways, making use of the tools available to them. However,Gloomwoodis heavily focused on stealth, rarely rewarding players for attempting a frontal assault. Despite being challenging in places,Gloomwood’smechanics are intuitive and easy to learn. For example, players can tell whether or not a guard can see them through the traffic lights that shine from their head; red, yellow, and green display the state of these enemies at all times.
The originalSystem Shockis an iconic immersive sim and one of the pioneers of the genre — though today, the game is generally inaccessible due to extremely old-school gameplay that lacks modern quality-of-life features. While not the most accessible immersive sim, Nightdive Studios' remake ofSystem Shockbrings the classic sci-fi game into the modern age, improving its combat system and visuals to offer an experience that’s friendlier to newcomers.
System Shocktasks players with battlingthrough a space stationoverrun by cyborgs and mutants, run by a rogue AI known as SHODAN. The abundance of weapons and tools, along with a non-linear story and hacking mechanics, allow for a great deal of player freedom while remaining accessible. However, it could be argued thatSystem Shockisn’t the best game for those that have never played an immersive sim before, as it can be challenging in places.
Thissteampunk adventurefeatures a twisting narrative and a handful of strong moral choices throughout its runtime. As a result,Dishonoredis relatively linear when compared to heavier immersive sims, but this allows it to be a more accessible game.
Dishonoredallows options for both stealth and violence, though the former is required for players to get the “good” ending.Dishonoredalso features a variety of powerful abilities, weapons, and open environments that allow players to approach each mission in all manner of ways.
The originalDeus Exis a hallmark of the immersive sim genre and remains one of its greatest titles today. However, the original game is beginning to show its age, predominantly in its lack of accessibility. By comparison,Deus Ex: Human Revolution— while a wildly different experience — is the perfect entry point to the series, both in terms of its story and its gameplay accessibility.
Deus Ex: Human Revolutionfeatures a slick combination of third-person and first-person shooter combat, complete with mechanics for full stealth. This allows players to engage in classic immersive sim gameplay, approaching enemy encounters from a variety of angles and exploring the environment to take advantage of blind-spots. The game’s smooth combat and user-friendly skills makeHuman Revolutiona remarkably accessible entry to both the immersive sim genre andtheDeus Exfranchise.
