There are many video game genres out there, but none provide the same amount of intrigue and immersion as a proper immersive sim. A label usually provided by fans rather than the developers, most fans consider an immersive sim to be any game that emphasizes player choice while also ensuring its players are fully immersed in their role, regardless of who the game's player character may be.

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In immersive sim games, players should feel realistically involved in the world around them. There's usually a main questline for players to follow that builds up the world and its characters, but players are free to approach this questline however they see fit. Most immersive sims have at least two endings, letting players to feel like they've truly impacted the world.

10 Every Small Action Matters In Pathologic Classic HD

The Executor from Pathologic HD Classic

Considered one of the most immersive video games, Pathologic Classic HD is a cult classic that returned to Steam in 2015. While players note it can feel like a walking simulator, every single action affects how well one can survive, what their role in the town is, and how quickly the Plague consumes the town.

There are three unique characters for players to choose from, each with their own unique storyline that connects with the other characters, providing an intensely satisfying experience for those who go play all three. Pathologic Classic HD isn't just a survival game, but one that will have players analyzing and questioning their own morality by the end.

9 Dark Messiah Of Might And Magic Provides Ample Possibilities For Players

An enemy running at the player in Dark Messiah of Might and Magic

Fans describe Dark Messiah Of Might And Magic as The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion played on Half Life 2's engine, while giving the player Deus Ex levels of choice. Players can approach combat however they wish, with many stating that even after a handful of playthroughs, each run makes combat feel like a completely different experience.

Dark Messiah includes four endings players can receive, all based on the choices they make throughout the final third of the game. Some cite the game's levels as feeling linear, but the world encourages more than enough creative exploration.

8 The Attention To Detail In Red Dead Redemption 2 Is Unrivaled

Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay - man on a horse

Red Dead Redemption 2 may not be a first-person game, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the most immersive gaming experiences in recent memory. Players take on the role of Arthur Morgan, as he's caught between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang that raised him.

Every single action players take affects how others respond to them, or what sorts of situations they may end up in. Every action features believable and immersive animation. If a character is hammering nails into a board, it feels real, and Arthur believably interacts with objects in the world rather than having them simply disappear into his pocket like in most games.

7 Thief II Is A Must-Play For Stealth Fans

Official art for Thief II The Metal Age

For fans of thrilling, stealth-based FPS gameplay, Thief II is the definitive immersive sim to check out. The game comprises fifteen complex and non-linear levels that emphasize player choice, giving them no shortage of creative ways to sneak about and hunt for loot.

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For a title that's over two decades old, the enemy AI in Thief II is surprisingly advanced, forcing players to use their creative quick-thinking skills in order to outsmart them. There aren't long cutscenes to sit through or walls of text to read, either. Instead, the game's story is drip-fed to the player as they navigate the campaign in a natural and satisfying way.

6 The Original Bioshock Is Dark, Atmospheric, And Engaging

A Big Daddy attacking the player from Bioshock

The original Bioshock takes players through the story of Rapture, an underwater utopia that fell into complete chaos. The game brilliantly accomplishes this through visual clues, audio logs, and many other details scattered throughout Bioshock's carefully crafted world.

While some debate whether it counts as an immersive sim, others believe Bioshock qualifies because of its creative, open-ended gameplay, as well as how the player can affect the ending. There are three total endings for Bioshock that act as a sort of morality check for the player, making their actions feel especially meaningful.

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

A mutated enemy from S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow Of Chernobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow Of Chernobyl certainly isn't for everyone, but it's a must-play for those that want to be immersed in a highly chilling environment. In the game's narrative, a second explosion hits the Chernobyl nuclear reactor two decades after the original tragedy.

While the government attempts to keep people out of The Zone, rumors about treasure and riches buried within begin to spread, and curiosity naturally gets the best of many. The world truly feels like a living, breathing depiction of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, making for a haunting and unforgettable experience.

4 Alien: Isolation Constantly Reminds Players Of Their Own Mortality

The Xenomorph from Alien Isolation.

Players have called Alien: Isolation one of the scariest, most nerve-wracking games of all time, thanks to how well it immerses players into their role. Playing as Amanda Ripley, players must evade a highly intelligent xenomorph while trying to piece together the mystery of her mother's disappearance.

The xenomorph is designed in such a way that players can't use one strategy to brute-force their way through the game. If they try, the xenomorph will pick up the pattern and take them out. Alien: Isolation's systems not only encourage creative quick-thinking from players but essentially requires it.

3 Dishonored Makes Every Player Choice Feel Impactful

The protagonist of Dishonored

Regardless of whether players are a fan of stealth, Dishonored's capacity for open-ended approaches to various scenarios makes it worth checking out. Players are free to stick to the shadows and evade their enemies if they wish, but they're equally free to throw caution to the wind and rush their opponents down head-on.

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Whatever players decide to do, the Dishonored team makes sure it impacts the outcome of whatever mission they're on in a meaningful way, making players feel invested. No matter what role players take, Dishonored's world adapts to their choice.

2 Deus Ex Is A Truly Unforgettable Immersive Cyberpunk Story

Deus Ex Game Of The Year Edition

Every facet of Deus Ex is built to immerse the player as much as possible. Built off of real-life conspiracy theories, with many of its locations being built from actual real-life blueprints before being given a futuristic twist, the world of Deus Ex feels grimly realistic.

Players genuinely feel like they affect the world and other characters with their choices, and each level has multiple paths that require specific items, skills, or weapons for completion, encouraging gamers to replay the title. Deus Ex adapts to the way each individual plays, creating a truly unforgettable experience.

1 Prey Is An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Immersive Thriller

Monsters jumping at the player, Prey

Prey is a space-station themed, immersive thriller where players must scavenge, hide, and survive in a space station overrun with monsters. They'll also need to piece together story clues about who they really are and what went down aboard the ship.

As players explore the Talos I space station, they'll discover non-linear opportunities to explore hidden passages and find secrets around every corner. They'll also need to cover their tracks and remain vigilant at all times, lest they become yet another victim of the creatures lurking in the shadows.

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