Summary
The concept of a game within a game has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1980s, with somegames set entirely in digital worldsto replicate the feeling of being in cyberspace. This evolution is thanks to revolutionary films such asThe MatrixandDark City, which introduced the idea of virtual realities to mainstream audiences.
In an era where the lines between reality and the digital realm continue to blur, video games exploring virtual worlds have become increasingly relevant and captivating. From first-person shooters to open-world adventures, games featuring virtual worlds not only explore unique gameplay mechanics but also provide stunning visuals.
8Enter The Matrix
The Wachowskis Created A Game That Is Important To Matrix Canon
The Matrixfranchise made audiences both fear and love the concept of an entirely digital world. The series’ creators, the Wachowski sisters, capitalized on this by developingEnter The Matrix. By choosing either Niobe or Ghost, players engage in a story that is directly linked to the events ofThe Matrix Reloadedand even clarifies certain scenes and plot points from that movie.
The gameplay closelyresembles that ofMax Payne, featuring the signature slow-motion ability seen in the films as Niobe and Ghost shoot their way through programs and agents. While it may not be flawless, at the time, it was the only way for fans to immerse themselves in The Matrix in video game form, blending running, shooting, martial arts, and cerebral storytelling into one experience.
The original series ofSaints Rowgames got increasingly silly and over-the-top with each entry, andSaints Row 4is a prime example of that, leaving behind the crime organization aspect. Instead, Saints Row 4 turns the Saints, especially Boss, into superheroes trying to save the people of Earth who are stuck in a virtual reality-like prison.
The change in direction led to a division amongSaints Rowfans, with some disliking howSaints Row 4no longer resembled the older games, while others were fond of it. It helps that Saints Row gave players an open world to explore and go wild,thanks to the superpowersthat made the Boss feel like a character from Marvel or DC.
6Tron: Evolution
Programs And Viruses Battle For The Fate Of The Grid
Tronhelped pave the way for movies likeThe Matrix, featuring characters in a computer world where Programs are beings with free will and thought. InTron: Evolution, a Program known as Anon fights a virus known as Abraxas that is corrupting the Grid, resulting in a lot of running, jumping, and riding through a prequel story toTron: Legacy.
Tron: Evolutionis a simple but fun movie-licensed game that replicates the look of the movie rather well for the Xbox 360/PS3 era, even featuring the film’s soundtrack by Daft Punk. With some fun light cycle chasesand hack-and-slash gameplay, itis still one of the best ways for fans ofTron: Legacyto experience the Grid.
From an experimentalindie title to a massive franchise,Superhotfeatures a protagonist playing a video game that is immersive to a dangerous degree but is addictive to play.Superhotfeatures a unique gameplay mechanic where time only moves when the player does, so it requires forethought and precise movements to complete each scenario.
As the short but sweet campaign progresses,Superhotgets more intense, with more ways for the enigmatic red enemies to execute the player, but the same goes for the reverse. It encourages players to experiment with different items and weapons to use while also uncovering more of the story, which gets more confusing as it goes on.
Gamers spend so much time in theAssassin’s Creedgames as the assassin character that it becomes easy to forget that the story of games likeAssassin’s Creed 2is being experienced through the eyes of the modern day. The Animus is essentially a virtual reality device that allows a person to relive the memories of an ancestor through a simulation.
While the firstAssassin’s Creeddeserves recognition, most fans suggest that newcomers start withAssassin’s Creed 2. It raised the stakes, created an improved open world, and introduceda memorable and charismatic protagonistin Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Nearly every subsequent title would build upon the stealth and action gameplay ofAssassin’s Creed 2,expanding it in various ways.
After a long hiatus, Disney finally continued theTronuniverse withTron: Identity, taking place after the events ofTron: Legacyand showing the Grid dealing with the aftermath of Clu’s death as a detective program known as Query investigating an explosion.It also has elements of visual novels, utilizing a mix of 3D and 2D visuals.
While it may not be as action-packed as Tron fans may expect from the franchise, it still delivers on the neonpunk atmosphere thatTron: Legacymade such an impact with.Tron: Identityalso features the deepest story in the Tron universe, and, while it may be short, it features many alternate branches that can make each playthrough different depending on the player’s choices.
From the same award-winning developers behindA Way OutandIt Takes Two,Split Fictionis another co-op adventure, but this time, it is a virtual misadventure that blends two genres. One character is a science fiction author, and the other writes fantasy, and they are stuck inside a machine that is meant to immerse them in their respective worlds, but it glitches.
From beginning to end,Split Fictionfeels like a love letter and a parody of pop culture, especially the video game world, as the machine’s malfunctions bring the characters through different worlds.From the little Easter Eggsto the blunt references,Split Fictiongoes all out with fan service while still providing an entertaining thrill ride filled with difficult challenges and puzzles.
Before Monolith Productionswas shut down in 2025, it made a name for itself with several strong first-person shooters likeTron. 2.0. It was a game that created a sequel story to the original Tron ten years beforeTron: Legacycame around, focusing on Alan Bradley’s son, Jet, on his own adventure to save the Grid from a threat.
Tron 2.0replicates the way the original film looked but expands upon it. It’s pure neon but with all the items and environments meant to look like geometric circuit boards. It has the Identity Discs and light cycles, but it also features new weapons, such as a sniper rifle, shotgun, and SMG to make the action more engaging without losing theTron-like visuals and sounds.
