Summary
Immersive sims have become a bit of a nebulous topic in the video game world. Locking down a definition and then categorizing a game under it isn’t as straightforward as one might think, what with video games being the sum component of so many moving parts. It becomes even more complicated when one starts tocombine it with other genres.
For the purposes of the list,horror immersive simswill be defined as those titles that most emphasize the player’s choices when it comes to interacting with the game’s world during gameplay, while still being capable of scaring the pants off them. The games below are some of thebest examples of that combination of agency and horror.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylentered the gaming world to a rocky start, featuring a number of glitches and performance issues, which is understandable given the conditions Ukraine developer GSC Game World were working under. That being said, the studio managed to deliver a worthy successor to the originalS.T.A.L.K.E.R.games.
Players can easily lose themselves in the warped beauty of the zone, spending hours trudging through harsh environments and partaking in hardcore gameplay. The story also follows a non-linear structure, offering players the freedom to walk their own narrative paths.
Hyperstrange’sBlood Westbloodies a Western setting withall manner of eldritch horrors. Players assume the role of an undead gunslinger on a quest to rid the land of a curse in exchange for his soul. On their journey, players have the freedom to exploreBlood West’s numerous locations however they like, discovering secrets and progressing the story all at their own pace.
With limited resources and the threat enemies pose, stealth is often an approach encouraged for players to take. Yet, should players want to throw caution to the wind,Blood Westleaves the door open for gunslinger mayhem, too.
As brilliant as it is, James Cameron’s spin on theAlienfranchise withAliens,as well as the games it inspired, have diminished the physical threat the Xenomorph posed in the original film. With their emphasis on action, the biomechanical horror became canon fodder.
Alien: Isolation,on the other hand, returned the series to its roots by pitting players against an intelligent, physically imposing Xenomorph that they had no means of killing. Suddenly, the Xenomorph became a thing to be feared once again, with its thunderous footsteps as it chases the players permanently embedding themselves in many’s minds. Thoughplayers aren’t able to kill the alien,Isolationstill offers players a plethora of tools to distract or avoid it, keeping it inline with other immersive sims.
TheSystem Shockfranchiselaid the groundwork for countless other immersive sim horror games. The original duology was some of the first games to allow players toapproach situations from a number of anglesas well as simulate realistic physics in 3D environments.
2023’sSystem Shockis arguably the best way to enjoy the original game, providing a major uplift in visuals and a number of rehauled and more intuitive gameplay mechanics for players to get familiar with.
BioShock, as the name suggests, is the spiritual successor toSystem Shock,with both of the game’s development teams being led by Ken Levine. As a result, a lot ofSystem Shock’s DNA is baked intoBioShock.The game’s plasmids and armory of weapons, for example,allow players a similar amount of freedomwhen it comes to deciding their combat strategies.
Some fans preferBioShockover its elder sibling thanks to the game’s stellar setting of Rapture and its greater emphasis on storytelling, with the ‘Would You Kindly’ twist still standing out as one of gaming’s best.
Frictional Games shook up their usual ‘run and hide’ gameplay formula withthe release ofAmnesia: The Bunkerby incorporating more traditional survival horror mechanics. Assuming the role of a French soldier trapped in a WW1 bunker with a monster, players have access to a number of weapons and tools to fend off the creature and find a means to escape.
The Bunker’s non-linear design and lack of hand holding means that players have to figure out that escape for themselves, which, under constant pursuit of a monster, becomes a tense but ultimately more engaging experience.
Arkane translated their open-ended level design from theDishonoredfranchise toa sci-fi settingin spectacular fashion withPrey. The semi-open world of Talos 1, the space stationPreytakes place on, feels incredibly satisfying to explore, especially when one discovers and unlocks new areas.
Not only that, but the player’s ability to dip into the abilities of the aliens they’re facing (Typhon Neuromods) or go down a scientific route (Neuromods) allows them varying ways to approach situations depending on the abilities they’ve chosen.
Gloomwoodis a love letter to immersive sims of old like theThiefseries, emphasizing player interactivity and agency withinits cursed Victorian city setting. Running with the horror present in some of thoseThiefgames,Gloomwoodpits gamers against men and monsters alike, with players encountering monsters like the Crowmen in between their usual run-ins with the masked Huntsmen.
Like other great immersive sim horror games,Gloomwoodoffers players the freedom to tackle situations however they like, whether that be through stealth or getting loud.
