Highlights

• Immersive sim games immerse players in unique worlds, offering gameplay driven by player choice.
• E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy captures a dark, suspenseful atmosphere with arcade-style shooter mechanics.
• Thief 2: The Metal Age excels in stealth-oriented gameplay, with excellent level design and attention to detail.

Immersive sim games offer a fascinating level of escapism. Their foundation relies on engulfing you in a world that’s far different from your own. In other words, these games are designed to make you feel like you’re right there in the midst of everything. Rather than giving you a formulated playthrough, immersive sim games allow you to have your own unique gameplay experience with a great emphasis on player choice.

It isn’t always easy to pull off an immersive sim game, let alone one that can leave a lasting impact. When it comes to diving into this genre, several games give immersive sims a reputable name. From taking you through out-of-this-world environments to giving us stories that make us forget our reality, here are the best immersive sim video games, all ranked accordingly.

Updated by Nathan Round on 10th April 2024: We have updated this guide to include 5 new admirable games that deserve to be praised as some of the best immersive sims of all time!

15 E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy

A Flawed Yet Classic Gem

• Classic arcade-style shooter with endless action, limited customization, unique abilities, and more
• Features a dark and suspenseful atmosphere and expertly crafted level design, yet rather outdated mechanics

Often hailed as a flawed gem, E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy is a classic that captures the dark and suspenseful atmosphere reminiscent of the Warhammer 40k universe. In this game, players assume the role of a cybernetically enhanced monk, engaging in battles against rival agents, cyborgs, and demonic creatures while uncovering the secrets behind the elusive E.Y.E organization.

Gameplay-wise, E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy leans more toward an arcade-style experience, offering limited customization options alongside the ability to upgrade stats. Additionally, the game provides players with a variety of abilities that can be utilized on the fly. Despite its dated mechanics and apparent simplicity by modern standards, E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy remains a timeless classic in the immersive sim genre, boasting expertly crafted level designs, and an array of creatively unique weapons.

14 Arx Fatalis

Immersive RPG With An Intricate World & Mechanics

• A great roleplaying game with rich lore and none linear gameplay
• Features smartly crafted environments, an intricate spell system, and excellent stealth mechanics

Arkane Studios takes ahold of the immersive sim genre fantastically with this revival of Ultima Underworld. Arx Fatalis takes us on a wonderful journey into the world of Arx, an underground world full of murky temples and abandoned mines. Playing this game takes quite a bit of skill as it challenges you to defeat terrifying enemies to become the hero of Arx.

Ark Fatalis is amazing if you love immersive sims and dungeon-centric stories. The only downside revolves around its closed environments and painstaking controls, which make the game not feel as expansive as it could be. Regardless, it’s an ambitious old-school adventure with a fascinatingly intricate spell system.

13 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Dark & Immersive Vampiric RPG

• Deep and enriching roleplaying game with a great emphasis on player choice
• Features in-depth character customization, a reactive world, and excellent yet old-school gameplay

Based on the tabletop game of the same name, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is a gothic depiction of the real world. Except everyone around you is a vampire. Throughout the game, we assume the role of a human who’s been brought back to life as a vampire. Throughout our adventure in the modern-day vampire-filled town of Los Angeles, we attempt to uncover a mysterious truth.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines had the potential to become much more. But, as it was released in competition with Half-Life 2, it didn’t get the adoration it deserved. This was a huge shame, as the game offers a charmingly violent story, compelling RPG elements, and a reactive world that gives us all sorts of twists and turns.

12 Cruelty Squad

Dystopian First-Person Shooter With Unique & Unconventional Mechanics

• A classic tactical first-person shooter that makes use of open-ended sandbox gameplay
• Offers a dynamic environment, fast-paced combat, and tense gameplay that promotes thoughtful decision-making

This tactical first-person shooter is a vibrant and eye-straining journey. Set amid a capitalist society, Cruelty Squad is an iconic and surreal experience for many immersive sim fans. The graphics and gameplay are strange but in the best way possible, offering open-ended, sandbox gameplay that is fun to play around with.

Everything is so fast-paced that combat with enemies can go by in the blink of an eye. Because of this, it might seem overwhelming at times. But, with all the attention-grabbing elements woven into Cruelty Squad, there will rarely be a dull moment in sight. At the end of the day, the memories you’ll have from this game are seared in your brain forever.

11 Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss

Dungeon Crawling RPG With Immersive 2.5D Environments

• A charming and classic RPG that shaped the landscape for later immersive sims
• Features rather dated mechanics but retains retro, yet quality gameplay and a great story

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss was the inspiration for big-name immersive sims like Deus Ex and BioShock. Taking place in a mystical fantasy world, Ultima Underworld sets you on a journey to rescue a baron’s kidnapped daughter. However, this trek won’t be easy as you must navigate through the eerie ruins of a fallen utopian civilization.

The game is known for being more than just an influence on classic games. Cited as the first RPG to feature first-person action in a 2.5D perspective, the environments and mechanics were innovative for its time. Besides its gameplay alone, however, Ultima Underworld is a unique dungeon-centric adventure like no other.

10 Deathloop

Time-Looping FPS With A Compelling Concept

• A time-looping first-person-shooter with an intriguing premise and excellent gameplay
• Blends fast-paced shooter action with unique hero abilities, along with semi-explorative gameplay

Deathloop is an intriguing addition to the list of recent immersive sims, brought to you by the creative minds at both Arkane Studios and Bethesda. Deathloop blends elements of BioShock with the time-looping premise of Groundhog Day, making it slightly repetitive but rather unique. Players embarking on this journey will step into the role of Colt, a man trapped on Blackreef Island, condemned to endlessly repeat the same day over and over. What sets Deathloop apart from other games is its incorporation of the reset feature into the narrative, offering a purpose beyond the mere standard of gameplay mechanics.

Deathloop presents a straightforward yet compelling narrative centered around breaking the time loop, featuring four distinct levels that players will revisit time and time again. Embracing trial and error as an actual feature, the game incorporates traditional run-and-gun mechanics typical of other first-person shooters, whilst also offering players access to unique abilities (Slabs) that promote tactical gameplay. With its engaging mechanics and intriguing premise, Deathloop succeeds in being an enjoyable addition to the extensive lineup of immersive sim games.

A Timeless Stealth-Orientated Gem

• A timeless gem featuring primarily stealth-orientated gameplay
• Offers excellent level design that works in tangent with the player’s use of the environment to accomplish objectives

Thief 2: The Metal Age is a venerable classic that earns its place on this list. While suffering from a somewhat clunky interface and dated movement mechanics compared to modern standards, Thief 2 remains a timeless gem, establishing itself as one of the best stealth-oriented games within the genre. Building upon its predecessor’s foundation, Thief 2 once again continues the story of the master thief, Garrett.

This game places a significant emphasis on stealth, requiring players to carefully analyze a map to understand the environment’s layout, before putting their skills and wits to the test to achieve their objectives. Thief 2 boasts excellent level design for its time, along with thoughtful attention to detail, such as different surfaces affecting the sound of movement. Players can also make strategic decisions, such as using darkness to conceal their presence, and eliminating light sources to sneak up on unsuspecting guards. With uninterrupted gameplay and occasionally tense, unpredictable situations, Thief 2 is an absolute must-play for fans of the immersive sim genre.

8 Dishonored

Action-Packed & Engaging Supernatural Narrative

• A brutal and unique action-packed game with a brilliant narrative
• Features a flexible combat system that mixes classic first-person mechanics with supernatural abilities

A decade after its release, Dishonored still holds up as one of the greatest immersive sims of all time. It features a tale full of vengeance and assassinations that keep you constantly on the edge of your seat. Coupled with this, the game offers a flexible combat system that encourages you to uniquely think about how to take down enemies.

Dishonored’s story shows an underlying sadness amidst all the ruthlessness. After you’ve been framed for the murder of an empress you were sworn to protect, you’re forced to become an assassin to get revenge on those who’ve wronged you. And along your way to accomplishing this violent feat, you must also rescue the empress’ daughter. The story is beautiful, one which will have you hooked from the start.

7 Dishonored 2

An Immersive & High-Quality Sequel

• An immersive and quality sequel that offers a great emphasis on player choice right from the get-go
• Introduces new supernatural abilities, excellent combat that emphasizes strategy, and great first-person action

From prequel to sequel, Dishonored 2 emerges as a game more than worthy of the wait. Set 15 years after the events of the first Dishonored, players are immediately immersed in a rich and compelling narrative. Right off the bat, players are presented with the choice to play Emily Kaldwin or Corvo Attano, as they aim to reclaim the throne from antagonist Delilah Copperspoon. While the choice of the protagonist doesn’t drastically alter the narrative, it does subtly influence gameplay dynamics – making both playthroughs unique.

The abilities of each character differ between the two. If you are seeking a more familiar set of abilities, opt for Corvo, who retains the same abilities he possessed in the first game. However, choosing Emily introduces new abilities that inject a breath of fresh air into the sequel’s gameplay. Dishonored 2 excels in granting players the freedom to choose between a stealthy approach or charging in guns blazing, even more so than the first game. Combine this with using abilities in tandem with gunplay and the environment, and you have a stellar game that delivers some truly excellent moments.

6 Prey

Terrifyingly Good Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller

• A fantastic yet chilling first-person sci-fi thriller with a chilling atmosphere and an interesting premise
• Includes classic FPS action, creative weapons and puzzle-solving mechanics, and challenging combat encounters

Prey is a fantastic first-hand look into the immersive elements of sci-fi horror. It perfectly captures the terrifying atmosphere of an isolated environment littered with abnormal monsters. The game is beyond creepy and encapsulates a feeling of dread that we’d all be terrified to face.

The world of Prey is one-of-a-kind. Throughout the game, we slowly uncover futuristic secrets that reveal scientist’s plans to alter humanity forever. But, horrifyingly enough, we seem to be the only living being on a ship filled with enemies that stop at nothing to hunt us down. At its very core, Prey is one of the greatest modern examples that the video game world has of an immersive sim.

5 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl

Gritty Post-Apocalyptic Survival Horror

• A gritty first-person-shooter with a great emphasis on survival horror
• Features open-world exploration, immersive survival mechanics, and superb atmospheric design

Although there are debates on whether S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl is an immersive sim, the engaging nature of the game itself is enough to consider it as such. Based on the real-life Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the story takes place during a ruthless time in alternate history for the characters.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl is a special FPS that immerses us in a mix of action and horror. The game sets us into an alternate reality where a second disastrous event occurred twenty years after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. From the game’s incident, everything from the people to the plants has suffered from extreme radiation. And, in turn, we’re directly put in the face of danger everywhere we turn.

4 BioShock

Expertly Crafted & Immersive Sci-Fi Shooter

• Expertly crafted immersive sim with a great story and intriguing world
• Features action-packed gameplay, RPG elements, and superb FPS mechanics

BioShock is one of the greatest modern examples we have of an immersive sim executed magnificently. The entire series does a wonderful job of pulling us in, but the first game in the series does it the best. It was where it all started, and where it found its footing in conveying both utopian and dystopian thinking.

BioShock takes us through Rapture, an underwater city characterized by laissez-faire governance. The game includes elements of RPGs, but it’s more iconic for its use of biopunk survival horror. With its isolating aquatic atmosphere and frequent terrifying towering enemies hurling toward you, the environmental storytelling in this FPS is groundbreaking.

3 Deus Ex

Immersive Game Set In A Cyberpunk World

• Offers a richly layered narrative set in a diverse and futuristic environment
• Blends first-person-shooter and RPG elements seamlessly

The exhilarating energy in Deus Ex showcases the chaotic side of emergent technology. Set in the year 2052, the world has become a dangerous place for many. While it comments on healthcare and the economy, Deus Ex overall conveys an immersive sim experience that’s hard to beat.

Featuring rich character development and a strong storyline, this game relies heavily on authenticity. There are endless amounts of realism, which makes Deus Ex feel truly interactive rather than a formulated experience. The empathy that the story gives us is also nothing to scoff at, pulling us even further into this revolutionary work of art.

2 System Shock 2

Iconic & Terrifyingly Immersive Sci-Fi Horror

• A quality game that builds upon its predecessor, introducing a wider range of RPG elements and deeper progression
• Features improved gameplay mechanics, classic survival horror tropes, and an enhanced narrative

Among all the fantastic immersive sim games, there’s a classic that defined this genre for what it is today: System Shock. The first installment in the iconic sci-fi horror series was a huge breakthrough. However, its sequel achieved a greater deal of success and praise due to its improved gameplay mechanics and enhanced narrative depth.

System Shock 2 was ahead of its time. It’s known as one of the greatest games of all time and still gets endless love today. This is rightfully so, as the game combines elements of classic survival horror and fascinating action RPG abilities. Above all else, the utter love for System Shock 2 seemingly comes from effectively coupling its mechanics and storytelling built upon the original game’s story.

1 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

A Compelling & Expansive Sci-Fi RPG

• A compelling sequel that expands upon its predecessor
• Features new augments and abilities, unique character interactions, and snappy gunplay action

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is often regarded as one of the best games in the Deus Ex series, and is one of the most popular of the more recent immersive sim games. Set just two years after Deus Ex: Human Revolution, players are thrown into another futuristic world now plagued with terrorism and conspiracy. The game is pretty creative when it comes to player choice and expands on the features present in the earlier games in the series.

Gameplay-wise, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is excellent, featuring new augments and abilities notably absent in Human Revolution, along with extra special abilities that can be mapped and customized to your liking. Having an array of different abilities enhances how you tackle situations in the game, making each level unique. The gunplay is also quite snappy and smoother than the previous rendition. The ability to strategically interact with other characters to get mission-related info or alter your reputation further contributes to an immersive experience for fans to enjoy.