I was always wondering why some games are like magnetic fields, pulling us in, while others barely keep our interest. In order to figure this out I learned three essential principles that turn a virtual world into an irresistible experience.

Firstly, there's the vibe of environment immersion. It's about creating a world so deep that you get lost in it. Think of games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R and the Metro series – it's not just about the story; it's about the little stuff scattered around. To implement this, your game world needs to be worth exploring, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where the main quest is just one part of the thrill.

Next up, is the immersive sim genre – where players choose the style of the game flow. Give players options, let them play how they want, whether it's charging in or sneaking around. But the real trick is to make every move count and everything clickable. This way, players can explore endless ways to play the game. I personally was immersed in games like Deathloop and Dishonored which give you options for the play style. 

Lastly, there's the narrative immersion. There are two basic choices – make the player the star, a blank jar for them to fill, or create a killer character for them to follow. Both work, depending on the vibe you're going for. The Fallout series are perfect example of building up your own personal character, while games like The Last of Us give you to play already full-fledged people.  

These are just basic principles that I read or heard about that would probably impact the games I am going to make in the future.