PPG Game Of The Year 2024 - 27 - The Best Immersive Sims
Ahh, the immersive simulation. The perennial genre that is both under-served and yet never breaks out of containment enough for it to not be a struggling genre. One thing is for sure though, this type of systems focused genre of games are often some of the most compelling, ripe for designed experimentation and outside the box thinkers.
Ad Infernum
Horror Exploration
Be hunted by an unkillable creature while exploring a small map and interacting with its various systems. I kinda wish there was a no monster mode so I could just vibe and explore.
Zofia
First Person Grapple Magic
ImSim might be a bit of a stretch for this one, but the cool magic, grapple hook and melee put it in the Dark Messiah of Might and Magic category for me. Really cool hidden gem RPG that deserves more attention.
Chambers: The Outlaw
FPS With Simmy Elements
This was a free game that is no longer available, I'm thinking as there is a larger game on the way simply titled "Chambers", but the ideas here are really cool. For those that managed to snag it while it was available, it's pretty fun.
Sonar Shock
Soviet Submarine Slavic Lovecraft
Taking up the System Shock mantle with an ecletic mix of under the sea submarine exploration, Lovecraft and Slavic folklore, set amid the decay of the Soviet Union.
Fallen Aces (EA)
Mafia Beat Up Sim
Already exceedingly popular with only a few levels already out, this ImSim lite is a crime noir with graphics that pop off the screen and good old fashion Mafia thug beatings.
CORPUS EDAX
First Person Melee
RPG style character building allows the classic approaching of situations your way - sneaking, smashing or speaking your way through each situation you find yourself in.
ZERO PROTOCOL
First Person PS1 Atmosphere
A horror focused ImSim that riffs on System Shock but is wholly its own thing. It's an FPS with puzzles and a non linear story approach, a solo project that can be seen through in a few hours.
Monomyth (EA)
Classic ImSim Dungeon Crawler
Folks, I've been waiting on this one for years at this point. I still don't know if I want to fully dive in just yet being EA, but the aim to be a true spiritual successor to Ultima Underworld and Arx Fatalis is strong with this one.
And The Best Immersive Sim Of 2024 Is…
Shadows of Doubt
Procedural Detective Sandbox
One of the most impressive games ever made. It's procedural generation is an incredible feat, generating entire city blocks with apartment buildings, corporate offices, diners and more where every person is a proper NPC with a life of their own. The detective side of the game makes great use of this procgen to give you a focus, but honestly just living in this environment and watching the world go by is a joy in itself. I really hope some clever modders get into the nuts and bolts of this and create all sorts of other life sim elements to make it almost a first person Sims style game one day. It has jank, for sure - it’s so complex that it’s inevitable that the systems sometimes push against the boundaries - but that’s what makes it great. It goes for it. I’d prefer that over a squeaky clean, ultra polished, all-its-edges-shaved-off game 10 times out 10.