recently, at my local game store, a fellow patron asked the question, what game had a good immersive single player experience. that got me thinking. what really would be the most immersive single player experience! after much consideration I compiled a list? before I get to that list, though I think we need to clarify some terms. Immersion is the ability of an activity to consume an individual's attention. This incidentally, is what psychologists consider to be the definition of "fun." Having established the definition, let's discuss the list, and why each earns it's place.

First, and most immersive are driving/racing games, though not necessarily arcade racers. Driving is something almost everyone int the world has some experience of, even if it just riding in a car. When the game includes a competitive aspect, the player is tempted to focus more on driving, to obtain the best position, and avoid other drivers. Combat vehicle driving is just as immersive in some cases, but not all.

Second, depending on personal experience are either flying or Science fiction FPS games. If the individual has experience with flying an aircraft of some sort, that real world experience will inform their experience of the flying game. In the case of an air combat game, the competitive nature of the simulation adds to the experience. If the player has no experience of flying an aircraft, or other flight simulators, the Science Fiction FPS is the next most immersive. This is because in a Sci-Fi FPS, the player relies entirely on the game to provide information about the world, everything is removed from their day to day experience. Gamers with previous flight experience will likely consider this their third most.

Third, for the non pilots are the historic military shooters. Historic shooters edge out the MMS, slightly, because the weapons used and the environments are less likely to be familiar to the player, thus, much like the Sci-fi FPS, the player relies on the game for information about the world.

Fourth are the modern military shooters, for those of us who lack first hand combat experience the situation is unfamiliar, and there is an aspect of competition, but the familiarity of the environment, modern times, with recognisable objects and brands pull the player out of the experience because any inaccuracy is immediately apparent, and our minds know this isn't real. This is why MMS rely on fast action, the instant competition forces players to focus, but every soda bottle and every car that isn't realistic enough or is recognisable enough tells the player, they're in a fantasy world. I would go so far as to postulate that competitive FPS players, that being the MMS players mind you, like a chess master, doesn't see the world, they see only the map, and their minds calculate probability of detection.

Fifth are going to be Sci-fi action RPG's, of the third person variety, like Mass Effect or Remember Me. Again, as with the FPS, it is the world's alien ness that make it immersive, fantasy games also fall into this category, by the way. The player relies on the game to learn about their world. One minor point of clarification. though, I mean only the third person Action RPG's so no Diablo or X-COM.

As you might have guessed, sixth are modern military third person action RPG's, including games like Sleeping Dogs, and GTA V. Despite their unfamiliar situations, the third person perspective, and the familiarity of the world makes them less immersive.

At this point the standards get a bit murky, seventh one might include Mech games like Armored Core and Mech warrior, and other games where the player plays a non-humanoid character, from a third person or even first person perspective. If it sounds a bit odd that a game which allows players to play as an alien creature is less immersive than GTA, even if it is first person perspective, think about this. While it is an unfamiliar experience in which we rely on the game to inform us about our world, it is readily apparent we are not human, and therefore it is difficult for the player to relate to the experience.

At the tail end of our list in 8th, 9th, and 10th are sports games, RTS's and so called "god games," and finally, tun based strategy games

Sports games, of the non driving or flying variety offer significant immersion only to a few, but it is solely the competition and familiarity with the sport that creates immersion. Ninth, the RTS games and games like Sim City, and even Diablo, are obviously unreal, and players know this, but the real time aspect puts them above turn based games which like a side scrolling game have only difficulty to offer the player.