Immersive sims are the genre PC gaming quietly does better than anything else: systems-driven worlds where the "right" answer to any given room is whatever you can improvise. If you loved Deus Ex or Dishonored and assumed the genre stopped there, here are five that deserve a spot on your backlog.

1. Prey (2017)

Arkane's space-station immersive sim is routinely underrated because its name invited comparisons to an unrelated 2006 shooter. Ignore that entirely — this is a masterclass in environmental storytelling and the GLOO Cannon alone makes traversal a genuine puzzle system, not just movement.

2. Dishonored 2

If you only played the first Dishonored, the sequel's level design is a significant step up — particularly the Clockwork Mansion, a shape-shifting level built entirely around the immersive sim philosophy of multiple simultaneous solutions to the same space.

3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Still one of the most replayable entries in the genre. Every major encounter can be solved through stealth, combat, hacking, or social engineering, and the aug-upgrade system meaningfully changes which of those paths feel natural to you.

4. System Shock (2023 remake)

Nightdive's ground-up remake of the genre's foundational text modernizes the controls without softening the game's genuinely oppressive atmosphere. SHODAN remains one of gaming's best antagonists, and the remake makes the original's dense systems far more approachable.

5. Weird West

A top-down spin on immersive sim design principles, following multiple protagonists through interconnected stories in a supernatural Old West setting. Smaller-scale than the others on this list, but a great entry point if the genre's usual scope feels intimidating.

What's Good

  • Every game on this list rewards replaying with a completely different approach
  • None require twitch reflexes — problem-solving matters more than mechanical skill
  • Strong environmental storytelling across the board, even outside main questlines
  • Several are frequently deeply discounted during major sales — check current pricing before paying full price

What's Not

  • The genre has a real learning curve if you're used to more linear action games
  • Some systems-heavy design can feel overwhelming without embracing experimentation early
  • Weird West's smaller scope may disappoint players expecting Prey- or Dishonored-level production values
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BUY Start with Prey or Dishonored 2 if you're new to the genre

Both offer the clearest on-ramp into immersive sim design principles without assuming prior genre knowledge.