Immersive Sim
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You can get the System Shock 2 remaster for free on the Epic Games store, as well as a murder mystery puzzler
The Epic Games Store is offering System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and Buried Stars for free. System Shock 2 is a remastered version of the classic immersive sim, while Buried Stars is a narrative-driven murder mystery puzzler. Both titles are available for PC players to claim until October 8.
"We want people to try and outsmart the game": No Law aims for Arkane-style reactivity within a dangerous walled city
No Law, an immersive sim from Neon Giant, features a densely detailed, systemic sci-fi world reminiscent of Arkane's best work. Creative directors Tor Frick and Arcade Berg highlight the game's reactive gameplay, where player choices significantly alter narrative and systemic elements within the lawless city of Port Desire. Despite the small team size, the game shows promise for deep player agency and emergent gameplay.
No Law might be the open-world Deus Ex that Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't
While Cyberpunk 2077 has been significantly improved, it doesn't fully deliver on its initial promise of an immersive sim experience. The new game No Law from Neon Giant, creators of The Ascent, shows potential to be the open-world Deus Ex-like game that Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't, with a focus on player choice and dense world design.
Games Inbox: Is The Last Of Us Part 3 really happening?
Readers discuss the likelihood of The Last of Us Part 3 entering development, with some speculating Naughty Dog has already begun work on it. Other topics include Rockstar's reasoning for delaying Grand Theft Auto 6 on PC, the merits of awarding remasters, and the perceived homogenization of Sony's first-party titles.
This week in PC games: new Ace Combat, Transport Fever 3, and a System Shock-alike set on a disco space station
This week in PC games sees a variety of new releases including the pixelart horror RPG Camp Whittlewood, the cyberpunk restaurant sim Nivalis Nights, and the infrastructure management title Transport Fever 3. Other notable launches include the retro-styled immersive sim RetroSpace and the tactical shooter prologue Intravenous 3: Borderline.
I need more retro-style sci-fi shooters like Derelikt
Derelikt is a retro-style sci-fi shooter that blends Dead Space and System Shock elements with PlayStation 1-era visuals and a Lovecraftian theme. Developed by solo developer Visuwyg, the game emphasizes exploration, puzzle-solving, and deliberate combat, with a planned release in 2026.
An Uneasy Two-Act Ordeal: Roman Sands Re:Build Review
Roman Sands RE:Build is an abrasive two-act experience that blends vaporwave-glitchcore immersive sim elements with oppressive survival horror. The game's two distinct halves, focusing on resort busywork and isolation respectively, are designed to be gruelling and thematically linked, offering a challenging and experimental journey for players drawn to discomfort-driven experiences.
Roman Sands Re:Build review - a fiendish immersive sim drenched in a vaporwave glitchcore palette
Roman Sands Re:Build is a challenging and unclassifiable immersive sim that blends vaporwave aesthetics with survival and time loop mechanics. The game is split into two acts: the first is a fiendish optimization puzzle set in a resort, and the second is a bleak survival experience in a research station. While the game's demanding nature and oppressive atmosphere are praised for their unique execution, the second act is noted as being particularly difficult and less engaging.
My first MMO character #2: Joshua Wolens
Joshua Wolens recounts his first MMORPG character, Karokan, a half-elf in EverQuest created in 1999. Despite being terrified of getting lost, he spent his early in-game days fighting orcs and rats just outside the city gates, finding happiness in a simple, safe existence.
Tokyo Walled City ser ut att vara en immersive sim med potential
Tokyo Walled City is an upcoming immersive sim featuring stealth gameplay as the assassin Reiko Kimura in the retro-styled Neo-Tokyo. The game emphasizes vertical exploration, advanced visibility and sound mechanics, and a mix of human and android enemies. It is set to launch on Steam in early access soon.
Thief: The Dark Project Remastered Showcases Gameplay, Radial Menu in Latest Trailer
Nightdive Studios released a new trailer for Thief: The Dark Project Remastered, showcasing gameplay, the radial item wheel for tools, and controller support including rumble and gyro. The remaster will include the original campaign and a fan-made campaign, The Tarnished Mirror, and is slated for a Winter 2026 release across PC and multiple consoles.
We just saw a big chunk of Thief Remastered gameplay, and I'm more desperate than ever to play
A new gameplay trailer for Nightdive Studios' remaster of the classic immersive sim Thief showcases Garrett navigating dark environments and utilizing stealth mechanics. The remaster aims to preserve the original art style while improving visuals and controller support, drawing inspiration from existing PC mods.
Tokyo Walled City looks set to fill the Deus Ex-shaped hole in my life
Tokyo Walled City, an upcoming immersive sim from developer Grim Ronin, shows promise for fans of the Deus Ex series. The game features stealth action, RPG elements, and survival horror in a cyberpunk setting inspired by Kowloon Walled City and Blade Runner. While a release date is not set, it will launch in early access.
In the absence of a new Deus Ex, indie imsim Tokyo Walled City may scratch that stealth 'n' stolen passwords itch
Tokyo Walled City is an upcoming indie immersive sim from Grim Ronin, blending stealth action, retro-cyberpunk aesthetics, survival horror, and RPG elements. The game draws inspiration from titles like Dishonored 2, featuring parkour, hacking, and assassination mechanics within a walled-off district of a cyberized Tokyo. While a release date is not yet set, it is planned for early access.
Dishonored's Harvey Smith named his new studio Black Pony Immersive so people would stop asking him to work on other genres: 'Specialising on what you love is not a bad path'
Dishonored director Harvey Smith has launched a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, with fellow Arkane alumnus Ben Horne. The studio's name explicitly signals its focus on immersive sims, a genre Smith believes in specializing in to avoid the pitfalls of projects like Redfall, which he feels Arkane should not have worked on. Smith aims to leverage his reputation in the genre to build a successful independent studio.
Former Redfall devs discuss lessons and failings from the multiplayer game’s creation
Former Arkane Austin developers, including creative director Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, reflect on the failings of the multiplayer shooter Redfall. They acknowledge that the game was outside their expertise, citing issues like its $70 price tag and lack of performance modes, and express regret over developing a games-as-a-service title. Both are now part of a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, focusing on immersive sims.
Dishonored director Harvey Smith thinks there's still room for big-budget immersive sims: 'When it really comes together and it has the budget behind it and the team, you end up with Deus Ex or Dishonored'
Dishonored director Harvey Smith believes there is still a place for big-budget immersive sims, contrasting with Randy Smith Evergreen's view that such games should have smaller budgets. Harvey Smith argues that when executed with sufficient resources and talent, immersive sims can result in acclaimed titles like Deus Ex and Dishonored, though he acknowledges the need to right-size budgets and avoid overly conservative design.
Redfall co-director Harvey Smith thinks Arkane 'never should have been working on a games-as-a-service game'
Former Arkane Austin creative director Harvey Smith believes the studio should never have worked on Redfall, a games-as-a-service title. He reflects on the game's failure, the closure of Arkane Austin, and the team's efforts to salvage the game. Smith and other former Arkane developers are now focusing on creating immersive sims with their new company, Black Pony.
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen refused to work for Xbox because it would be like 'walking past some stakes with human skulls on them' and pretending 'it's probably fine in this direction'
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen explains his decision to refuse an opportunity to work for an Xbox-funded studio due to Microsoft's history of studio closures, likening it to ignoring obvious danger. He discusses the challenges of AAA development for immersive sims and his preference for smaller, more focused indie projects.
Thief designer thinks the graphics arms race should have ended with 2010's Alan Wake: 'The fidelity curve has…
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen believes the graphics arms race in video games should have concluded with 2010's Alan Wake, arguing that current fidelity levels are excessive and serve little practical purpose. He suggests that games like Alan Wake achieved sufficient photorealism, and further advancements are costly without significantly enhancing the player experience, particularly for immersive sims.
