Immersive Sim
Ongoing coverage on Immersive Sim.
Latest coverage
Playing Deus Ex: Invisible War like it always should have been
This article revisits Deus Ex: Invisible War, arguing that with the Visible Upgrade mod, the game can be played as it was originally intended. It highlights the game's strengths in its immersive sim elements, side stories, and surprisingly prescient commentary on AI and parasocial relationships, despite its initial criticisms regarding loading screens and simplified mechanics.
The Thick as Thieves campaign will be 'at least four hours' in length, which is pretty short, but on the upside it's a whole lot cheaper than I ever would've guessed
Otherside Entertainment announced that their upcoming stealth heist game, Thick as Thieves, will launch on May 20 for PC at a price of $5. The initial campaign is expected to be at least four hours long and will serve as an introduction to the game's world. The developers, including industry veterans Paul Neurath and Warren Spector, aim to attract players with the low price point and gather feedback for future content development.
After ditching PvP for solo and co-op, legendary designer Warren Spector's stealthy Thick as Thieves reveals a price so low I thought it was a typo
The upcoming stealth game Thick as Thieves, designed by Warren Spector, will launch on May 20th for PC with a surprisingly low price of $4.99 USD. The game has shifted from its initial PvPvE concept to focus on solo and co-op play, featuring an introductory campaign with 16 missions across two replayable maps.
Thick as Thieves is cheap as chips, and it’s coming out in May
OtherSide Entertainment announced that their multiplayer stealth adventure, Thick as Thieves, will launch on PC via Steam on May 20th for $4.99. The initial release will feature a four-hour campaign set in an alternate history city, with future content to be influenced by community feedback.
Valor Mortis Could Redefine the Soulslike Genre
Valor Mortis, a first-person Soulslike from Ghostrunner developer One More Level, aims to innovate within the genre by blending its challenging combat with a supernatural Napoleonic setting. The article discusses the potential pitfalls of translating Soulslike mechanics to a first-person perspective, such as depth perception and readability, and how Valor Mortis attempts to overcome them through mechanics like parrying and adjustable field of view. While acknowledging the game's potential, the author notes that its success hinges on effectively managing perspective issues and delivering a satisfying, albeit potentially different, Soulslike experience.
Alpha Spectrum - A story-driven cyberpunk RPG news
Adam Ferenczi of InspiRational Games has announced Alpha Spectrum, a story-driven, isometric cyberpunk action RPG with immersive sim elements, set for release in 2026. The game features fully voice-acted dialogues, skill-based combat, optional stealth, and a 12-18 hour storyline with multiple endings. Ferenczi, a longtime Deus Ex fan, has been developing the game independently for eight years, financing it from his salary.
Retrospace announced for Nintendo Switch 2
Kwalee and The Wild Gentlemen have announced that the disco-punk sci-fi horror immersive sim Retrospace will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. Players will navigate a space station consumed by a black hole, facing mutated enemies and environmental hazards. The game emphasizes player choice in solving problems through stealth, combat, or environmental manipulation.
Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, will never uninstall Doom from his PC, and has over 488 hours in Fallout 76:…
New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry discusses his PC gaming habits, highlighting Doom as a game he'll never uninstall and Fallout 76 as the game he has the most hours in. He shares his passion for CRPGs and FPS games, and details upcoming updates for titles like Fallen Aces and Gloomwood.
"It's been an interesting year": the jailed creator of Fortune's Run has passed parole and is back working on her Deus Ex-style FPS
Dizzie, the lead developer of the immersive sim shooter Fortune's Run, has been released on parole after serving approximately one year of a three-year sentence. She is now eager to resume development on the game, which was put on hold due to her incarceration. Dizzie also mentioned working on a roguelike concept on paper while in prison.
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss Review – Clever, Varied, and Propulsive
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a puzzle game set in a Lovecraftian world, focusing on intricate puzzles with multiple solutions rather than combat. Players control an ocean investigator named Noah who is transported to another dimension. The game features a unique Corruption mechanic that affects endings based on puzzle choices and offers significant replay value, though it suffers from performance issues and bugs at launch.
What We Played – Pragmata, Dosa Divas & Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss
Several writers share their recent gaming experiences, including Pragmata on Nintendo Switch 2, Crimson Desert, Starfield, and Ghost Master. Other titles mentioned include Mouse PI for Hire, Spider-Man 2, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, Dosa Divas, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
I've found a Dark Messiah-inspired action sandbox where you can make banana spike traps and possess enemies to walk…
The Adventures of Sir Kicksalot, a sandbox action game inspired by Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, is set to release on May 15. Developed by solo developer Stéphane Le Roy, the game allows players to creatively interact with the environment and enemies, featuring mechanics like dismemberment and enemy possession. The demo showcases a robust sandbox with a sense of humor, though the melee combat could benefit from more impact.
Fortune's Run resumes development following creator's prison release: 'The parole board reviewed my case and instantly kicked my ass out of jail'
The immersive sim Fortune's Run has resumed development after its sole developer, Dizzie, was released from prison. Dizzie had been sentenced to three years in jail, pausing work on the early access Steam title. The game is described as a blend of immersive sim and boomer shooter elements.
Immersive sim boomer shooter Fortune's Run back in development as the developer is out of jail
The immersive sim boomer shooter Fortune's Run is back in development after its sole developer was released from prison early. The game, described as a classic FPS with RPG elements inspired by Deus Ex and EYE: Divine Cybermancy, had been put on hold in January 2025 due to the developer's sentencing. The developer announced on April 4th that they are now out of jail and resuming work on the project.
MandaloreGaming’s System Shock Remake Review Highlights the Remake Renaissance
Influential critic MandaloreGaming's review of System Shock Remake has reignited discussions about the quality of modern remakes and the importance of game preservation. The review highlights Nightdive Studios' careful approach to updating the classic immersive sim, balancing fidelity to the original with necessary modernizations.
Moves of the Diamond Hand is my favorite dice-rolling RPG since Disco Elysium, and it's somehow even weirder
Moves of the Diamond Hand is a unique and chaotic dice-rolling RPG that evolves on Cosmo D Studios' previous work, offering significant freedom and an off-beat sense of humor. The game features a deep dice-based combat system, a striking visual style, and a dense world filled with multiple quest paths, currently available in early access on PC.
Revisiting Redfall after its final update reveals the ghost of the game it wanted to be
This article revisits Redfall following its final update, version 1.4, which introduced a 'Community Standing' system and addressed numerous bugs and AI issues. While the update improves the game's engagement with its world and offers some new abilities, it ultimately highlights the potential of what Redfall could have been, rather than salvaging its core issues as a shooter. The author suggests that with continued support for Arkane Austin, the game might have achieved a level of quality that could have spared the studio from closure.
PowerWash, House Flipper Fans May Want to Pay Attention to This Intriguing Handyman Sim on PS5
The Lift, a new handyman simulation game developed by Fantastic Signals and published by tinyBuild, is coming to PlayStation 5. Players will repair a giant facility plagued by supernatural oddities, combining elements of PowerWash Simulator and House Flipper with immersive sim storytelling. The game is slated for release in 2027.
“Whoa, that looks cool!” or… upcoming indie games you may not have heard of – GTOGG’s picks – GTOGG
This article highlights several promising upcoming indie games that may have flown under the radar. Featured titles include Project Shadowglass, a love letter to immersive sims; Silver Pines, a survival horror metroidvania; and HABROMANIA, a quirky point & click adventure with a dark secret. Other notable mentions are Am I Nima, a psychological horror game with a unique premise, and The Bagman, a retro-style stealth horror adventure inspired by Clock Tower.
A Year Of Unmissable Games At The Triple-i Initiative Showcase - Full Recap Below
The Triple-i Initiative showcase featured announcements for over 40 games, including new reveals, DLC, and release dates. Many of the showcased titles are available as demos or playtests on Steam until April 16. The event highlighted a diverse range of indie games across various genres.