Immersive simulator – what it is, examples of games of the genre

Gameplay elements in simulators: survival in conditions of hunger and limited resources

Players in survival simulators are constantly faced with the harsh need to get food, water, and other resources. Hunger is the eternal companion of the survivor. It forces you to take desperate measures: hunting, searching for berries, fishing or even looting. Take, for example, The Long Dark, where the harsh Canadian winter challenges every user. There is nothing more difficult than looking for food in the snowy forests when every step risks being your last. Resources are always worth their weight in gold, and the fight for them makes every moment of the game tense and dramatic.

Dangerous Animals and Nature

Nature in survival simulators is not just a background, but a formidable enemy. It is full of dangerous animals and unpredictable conditions. In ARK: Survival Evolved, participants encounter dinosaurs that are ready to tear apart if they do not take all precautions. Wild forests, unpredictable storms, and heat – all this becomes an obstacle. Nature here is not just a decoration, but a living force that tests a person’s strength. You have to be on guard, watch the weather change, and prepare for attacks by predators.

Crafting system and resource use

You can’t do without crafting in survival simulators. This element of gameplay allows you to create weapons, build shelters, and make tools in order not only to survive but also to develop. In Green Hell, for example, the participant has to use everything he finds in the Amazon jungle: from vines to create ropes to bones to create weapons. Crafting is a key element that allows you to adapt to the environment, gain an advantage, and survive in the most dangerous conditions. Crafting a bow, collecting traps, building temporary camps – all this not only helps to survive but also gives the player a sense of control over the situation.

The best survival simulators: TOP-4

Rust is a real social experiment. Here, users enter an open world, where everyone is for themselves. The fight for resources becomes the main meaning of existence. Getting wood and stones is only half the battle, the main difficulty is interaction with other participants, who can be both allies and enemies. The simulator forces you to develop a survival strategy, be on guard, and use every opportunity to gain an advantage.

The Forest offers players a completely different experience – the fight for life on an island full of mutants. Here, not only crafting and building shelters are important but also the psychological aspect. The main character must fight not only physical threats but also the fear that the unknown generates. At night, the forest seems especially dangerous, and every rustle can be a signal for an attack. Exploring dungeons, collecting resources, and creating your own shelter make this project unique in its kind.

Green Hell throws the player into the heart of the Amazon jungle, where trials await at every step. Hunger always reminds you of itself, and resources have to be found literally under every bush. The user needs to hunt, and collect fruits, and fish, so as not to die from exhaustion. It is important not only to get food but also to monitor your mental state because the jungle is constantly testing for strength. Poisoning, diseases, attacks of wild animals – all this creates a unique atmosphere.

The ARK: Survival Evolved simulator offers a unique survival experience in a world full of dinosaurs. Here, crafting plays a key role, allowing participants to build fortifications, tame dinosaurs and use them in battles. Dangerous animals can become both a threat and an ally. Building a base, creating transport, researching ancient technologies – everything turns the story in ARK into an exciting adventure.

Survival simulators for different platforms

Let’s consider suitable projects for weak computers, Russian survival simulators, and new developments that will soon hit the market.

Survival simulators for weak PCs

Not every computer can handle modern games with powerful graphics, but the genre is also suitable for those with weak hardware. Survival simulators for weak PCs include games such as Don’t Starve and Project Zomboid. The projects offer deep gameplay without requiring much power. For example, Don’t Starve demonstrates a unique art style and simple but exciting mechanics that captivate from the first minutes.

Russian survival simulators: what to choose?

Several worthy representatives:

1. “Siberia: Life on the Edge” immerses you in the harsh conditions of the Russian winter, where you need to not only get food but also withstand extremely low temperatures. This project attracts with its realism and attention to detail, creating a unique atmosphere of Russian life and survival in the Siberian frosts. “Island of Hope” – here the user finds himself on an abandoned island in the Far East. It is necessary to extract resources, build a shelter, and defend against attacks on wild animals. It is distinguished by high complexity and real physics.
2. “Exclusion Zone” is a game where the action takes place in post-apocalyptic Russia. The participant needs to explore radioactive territories, avoid mutants and find rare artifacts in order to survive.
3. New survival simulators: what awaits players in the near future

New simulators continue to develop and delight fans of the genre with fresh concepts. One of the most anticipated projects is Sons of the Forest, a sequel to the cult The Forest. The developers promise even more opportunities for crafting, new types of mutants, and improved graphics. It is also worth paying attention to Icarus, in which participants try to survive on a planet with a hostile ecosystem. These new products promise to expand the genre and offer a fresh look at the plot.

Conclusion

Survival simulators are challenges in which everyone can test their skills and willpower. The genre attracts not only the opportunity to feel like a hero but also the need to make difficult decisions, act under pressure, and fight for life.

Ghosts in Sims 4 are full-fledged participants of the gameplay, capable of dramatically changing the course of events. They can scare the Sims, spoil life or, conversely, help in everyday life. Some spirits become loyal friends, and others – a real nightmare for residents. It is important to understand how the mechanics work, what are the features of spirits and how to interact with them. Let’s see how to summon ghosts in The Sims 4 and what to do if you want to get rid of them.

When ghosts appeared in The Sims 4 and how they changed

The trick with spirits appeared in 2014 with the first major post-release update. Until then, the death of a character was final, the sim disappeared without the possibility of returning. With the introduction of ghosts, gameplay received an important expansion: now deceased characters could stay in the game, retaining some of their memories and skills. Initially, their functionality was rather limited.

The first versions of ghosts

In the beginning, ghosts were translucent figures that appeared at night. They could not interact with objects, only wander aimlessly around the plot and scare the Sims. Ghosts retained the colour associated with the cause of their death. Spirits who died of hunger were yellow, those who drowned were blue, and those who died of fire were orange.

Over time, they became more active. The developers added the ability to show emotions, then – to interact with the environment. Ghosts began to leave visible signs of their presence: switching lights on and off, swaying objects, affecting the Sims’ moods and feelings.

How did the ghosts change in the add-ons?

Ghosts in The Sims 4 have undergone significant changes since the game’s release. Initially they only existed silently in the shadows, but thanks to updates, they became active participants of the gameplay. The developers gradually added new emotions, abilities and mechanics, making their behaviour more realistic and diverse. Let’s take a look at the most significant changes:

1. 2014 – the first versions of ghosts could appear on plots if a sim died. They could not communicate with living characters. The only thing they could do was scare them.
2. 2015-2019 – during this period, the developers added emotions and individual characteristics for spirits. Now the behaviour of a ghost depended on how he died. And what kind of relationship he had with living characters before his death. Unique abilities for each type of ghost appeared. Spirits who died laughing could infect others with their mirth.
3. The Sims 4 Paranormal (2021) -a major update brought haunted houses that became a full-fledged element of gameplay. It also added the ability to summon spirits, make contact with them via Ouija boards, perform exorcism rituals, and even make friends.
4. The latest updates – the artificial intelligence of the ghosts has become much more sophisticated. Now they can randomly interact with the environment and choose whom to scare, and with whom to befriend. Ghosts began to react to the emotions of Sims, affect the mood, cause fear, joy or anger.

Ghosts in Sims 4 have evolved from passive shadows of the past into active participants of the gameplay. They can help characters and seriously interfere, creating chaos in the house or maintaining order depending on the situation. Thanks to this, they have become a full-fledged part of the game world, and mechanics – an important component of gameplay.

How to summon and inhabit ghosts in The Sims 4

For ghosts in Sims 4 to appear in the house, you need to create conditions for them. The most obvious way is to wait for the death of the character and wait for his spirit to return. But there are other methods as well:

1. Ouija board communication – allows you to summon a specific ghost if it is associated with the house.
2. Using cursed objects – antique items can be carriers of spirits.
3. Living in a haunted house– increases the likelihood of them appearing.
4. Friendship with spirits – if you treat ghosts well, they can stay in the house.

Spirits can be added to a family, which opens up new possibilities of interaction. They can help in the house, keep the house in order, or even raise children.

Interacting with ghosts in The Sims 4: befriend or fear them

Ghosts in the game can range from good-natured helpers to aggressive entities that will deface furniture and scare residents.

Modes of interaction include:

• maintaining friendly relationships – allows you to control the behaviour of ghosts;
• conflicts-can lead to poltergeists and chaos in the home;
• adding a ghost to the family – gives access to unique abilities;
• exorcising spirits– rituals can be used to clear the house of unwanted guests.

Some Sims have special traits that allow you to get along better with ghosts or, conversely, feel uncomfortable in their presence.

Skills of ghosts in The Sims 4

Each spirit has unique skills. Depending on the cause of death, ghosts can:

• pass through walls – travel without restriction;
• teleport – instantly change location;
• levitate objects  – lift and move things;
• affect the mood of living sims– to bring fear, joy or sadness;
• leave traces in the house – change the temperature, switch lights on and off.

Some ghosts have additional features depending on their character and emotions at the time of death.

How to get rid of ghosts in The Sims 4

Sometimes ghosts in the game create problems that you want to get rid of. You can do this in several ways:

• exorcism rituals – allow you to clear the house of entities; talking to a
• conversation with a ghost – some spirits may leave voluntarily;
• relocating a ghost – moving to another house or neighbourhood;
• destroying a cursed object – if a ghost is associated with an object, it can be exorcised by destroying that object.

In some cases, ghosts can disappear on their own if you don’t interact with them or remove them from the sim’s familiar list.

Conclusion

Ghosts in Sims 4 make the gameplay more diverse. They add a mystical atmosphere, new mechanics and interesting situations. Their presence can be helpful and problematic. Whether it’s worth summoning spirits depends on the player’s goals. For those who like unusual stories and unexpected twists and turns, interacting with ghosts will open up new facets of the game. For the rest of us, there is always the possibility to perform an exorcism ritual and return the house to its usual atmosphere.