Apart from the RPG genre, one other video game category that seeks to immerse its players seamlessly in the digital playground would beimmersive simulation games. They do lack the complexity and refinement of RPGs, but they can be a more relatable experience; some players might even find themselves lulled in a trance much quickerwith simulation games.
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Because it turns out, even something as mundane as driving a truck, flying a plane, or breaking and entering (more on that later), can be so immersive that the players can almost feel like they’re the ones in the hot seat. Thesesimulation gamesare proof that a good story isn’t necessary to absorb the players' attention.
10Cooking Simulator
Are family members complaining too much about burnt food or that medium-rare chicken parm that keeps sending everyone to the toilet? Well, worry no more becauseCooking Simulatorisone of the most consequence-free ways to practice being a chef without feeling a Gordon Ramsay-worth of judgment and criticism.
Cooking Simulatorgives its players a lovely kitchen that would make even the scrupulous of iron chefs giggle with excitement. The best part is that it also helps players with slicing, dicing, timings, and measurements so they can apply what they learnedin real life.
9Microsoft Flight Simulator
It might be borderline unplayable to a major chunk of PC builds due to the system requirements, but if one has the hardware for it, thenMicrosoft Flight Simulatorwill surely blow away its beholder. It’s by far the most cutting-edge version of the game and Microsoft spared no expense in development.
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It has a game world so huge and accurate, one can even visit their favorite cities and also see some popular skyscrapers. Sure enough, there’s a cockpit mode or view for the ultimate flight experience along with the controls which were made as faithful as possible to the real thing.
8Farming Simulator Series
For the most immersive title in the series, graphically speaking,Farming Simulator 22naturally takes the cake.It’s the latest one after all and thus has the prettiest graphics. It’s a game about farming in a first-world country setting. Players have tons of modern farming tools at their disposal.
They manage nearly all aspects of farming from growing the crops to animal husbandry. Players can easily sink in hundreds of hours of gameplay in justonetitle alone. Compared to other genres or evenother farming games,Farming Simulatorgames have their own tranquility as the lack of pressure ensures more relaxing gameplay.
7Truck Simulator Series
Speaking of placid and peaceful gameplay, theTruck Simulatorseries has always been a respite for players looking to clear their heads. Turns out driving trucks through countrysides and cities has a certain charm to it. For one of the best in the franchise, one can’t go wrong withAmerican Truck Simulator.
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That one is commonly praised for its production value and sophistication despite appearing like a simple game. The handling is superb and the North American scenery keeps players invested in their long truck journey. It’s certainly not as stressful as driving a truck on real roads.
6F1 2021
For driving fans looking for something a little more adrenaline-pumping, then a racing game will more than suffice. Out of allthe sim-racer types,F1 2021gets the trophy here for having the most believable racing environment in the genre. Because driving a tuned car on an empty urban street isn’t really immersive.
In any case,F1 2021has the prettiest visuals in the series and if one doesn’t squint closely, they might even mistake it for a live broadcast of an actual F1 race. More importantly, there’s a cockpit mode or first-person view in case players want to improve their spatial awareness and expert turns.
5Car Mechanic Simulator Series
While on the topic of cars, there might be some driving fans here who prefer to customize and tweak their vehicles down to the nut or bolt before test driving them.Car Mechanic Simulatoris the perfect title for that preference. The latest one isCar Mechanic Simulator 2021and again, sports the best visuals and some of the most generous game systems.
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Players can get their hands dirty (digitally, at least) by tuning, repairing, restoring, or just beautifying their chosen vehicles. It’s also a chill way to learn about car parts and car repair as the game has intricately detailed most car parts and lets players tinker with them. Finally, there’s also a test drive mode with scoring complete with a cockpit view.
4Arma 3
Sure enough, one won’t findCall of Dutyor evenBattlefieldon this list. They’re neither immersive nor simulations.Arma 3, on the other hand, excels in both categories. This military simulator doesn’t joke around with recoil values or bullet physics. It’s close to the real thing, to a fault.
What does set it apart is that on its own,Arma 3feels like a blank slate. It might as well be a digital firing range or digital airsoft due to its realism. If players have friends or find a good group to play with, however,Arma 3can be even more rewarding.
3Thief Simulator
Thief Simulatorwill surely steal players' attention as it’s one of the more bizarre premises for a simulator game. It also doubles as a stealth game because getting caught thieving in an American suburb means the homeowners can kill the burglar legally. Well, it depends on the state. So in that sense, one can also treat it like a horror game.
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Regardless,Thief Simulatoris all about planning out a petty urban heist in a largeopen-world suburbsandbox. Players need to waltz inside the house unseen, pick locks, memorize floor plans, and ultimately escape with the loot, preferably unseen.
2PC Building Simulator
PC Building Simulatoris the perfect consolation for anyone who can’t afford inflated graphics card prices these days. It’s likeCar Mechanic Simulatorbut with much more affordable hardware. This game is all about building one’s dream PC using a plethora of parts both aesthetic and performance-focused.
Want to put RGB lighting to boost FPS? Check. Afraid of ruining the CPU and need practice? Check. Want an RTX 3080? Check, but only digitally. Thus,PC Building Simulatoris that wet dream every PC gamer has except they can actually control this one and their beast rigs won’t disappear when they wake up.
1Reentry - An Orbital Simulator
No need to be a billionaire in order to flex a short space travel adventure.Reentry - An Orbital Simulatoris all aboutbeing an astronaut. To that end, it’s the game one players after being hungover on the concept peddled by films likeGravity.
In this early access title, players get to facilitate a space shuttle launch and landing. It’s more complex than movies make it out, of course. The visuals are stunning and while the game’s production status is still ongoing, it offers plenty of content and an astounding production value for its price.
