In our Inside XR Design series, we delve into remarkable examples of XR design brilliance. Today, we’re dissecting the game Synapse, focusing on the intriguing concept of embodiment, a key feature that significantly enhances VR experiences.
Editor’s Note: It’s surprising how fast time flies—it’s been a year since this insightful piece was first published. As relevant today in 2025 as ever, we’re highlighting it again to spark ongoing conversation about the importance of embodiment in creating compelling VR content.
You can check out the complete video, or keep reading for a detailed adapted text discussion.
### Understanding Embodiment
Welcome back to another episode of Inside XR Design. In today’s deep dive, we spotlight Synapse (2023), a PSVR 2 gem from nDreams, through the lens of what we call embodiment.
So, what exactly is embodiment, and why is it worth our time over the more obvious elements like thrilling shootouts and slick designs? Hang with me for just a moment, and you’ll see why this concept is key to the game’s design impact.
Embodiment refers to the sensation of being physically present in a VR environment, as if you’re truly standing within the virtual world around you.
Now, you might wonder, “Isn’t this what we mean by immersion?” Well, while immersion is often thrown around in casual discussions, there’s a vital distinction between ‘immersion’ and ’embodiment’.
When we’re truly immersed, something commands our full attention. Think of a film that captivates you so completely, it feels like the cinema and the world beyond fade away. Yet, no matter how captivating, a movie doesn’t make you feel like you’re physically there, does it?
Here’s where embodiment steps in. For clarity, let’s link immersion to attention, while embodiment hinges on physical presence and awareness of surroundings.
VR games automatically capture immersion when they take over your senses the moment you don the headset. But embodiment transcends just holding your attention; it convinces your entire being that you’re part of the virtual realm. It’s the sensation that if you reached out, you could touch what’s in front of you.
To sum up, immersion is attentiveness, while embodiment is the feeling of genuinely being present.
And importantly, embodiment isn’t simply there or not—it’s a gradient. Some VR games offer a hint of embodiment, while others engage you fully. What accounts for these differences?
That’s precisely what we’ll uncover with Synapse.
### Feeling the Cover
Synapse may initially seem like just another VR shooter, but it’s packed with design choices that significantly boost embodiment. Let’s talk about its cover system first.
Every VR shooter lets you take cover, usually by moving behind a wall that shields you from enemy fire. However, the wall often feels like a static prop, not something you interact with physically.
Synapse changes the game by allowing you to grab the cover with your hand, pulling yourself in and out of sight. This interactive element feels intuitive and marries beautifully with the gameplay.
As you physically move in relation to the cover—rather than just using a joystick—the wall starts to feel integral to your experience. It becomes part of your proprioceptive model, which is your body’s subconscious understanding of its place in space.
### The Role of Proprioception
Let’s pause for a moment to dive into proprioception, an essential concept in the realm of bodily awareness.
Imagine a cat walking along a table, deftly avoiding knocking its ears even without looking. That’s proprioception at play—your body’s understanding of its position relative to surrounding objects.
In Synapse’s cover system, it’s intuitive: ‘When I grip this wall and shift right, my body responds by moving left.’
By interacting directly with walls, they evolve from mere visuals to elements you connect with meaningfully, influencing your game’s experience. Your mind pays more attention to the walls’ spatial relation to your body, enhancing the realism. Resultantly, your presence in the game world intensifies, boosting your sense of embodiment.
### Reloading with a Twist
Walls in Synapse aren’t just for dodging bullets—they’re integral to reloading mechanics too.
Step aside from embodiment for a tick—this design choice is genius. Reflecting on the detailed weapon mechanics of Half-Life: Alyx (2020), Synapse charts its own path with a unique, fast-paced reloading system that fits its run-and-gun style: Magazines float out, ready to be quickly inserted with a slide.
In Sci-fi fashion, this choice cleverly simplifies complexity while retaining all the enjoyment of the action.
This ties perfectly with the game’s cover mechanics. One hand is occupied with using cover—how to reload, then? By using the wall, of course, naturally bridging gameplay elements.
It’s not just smart design—it’s another way to interact meaningfully with your surroundings. Your awareness of the wall helps reload, integrating its location into your proprioceptive understanding.
These elements make interactions feel genuine because you engage with them on a tactile level. When the game world becomes vivid, you feel even more present within it. That’s where true embodiment shines. While virtual worlds capture us with immersion, embodiment pushes boundaries, focusing on sensations.
And when it comes to dynamics like extending your reach, Synapse’s telekinesis system is a leap forward.
### Continue on Page 2: Extend Your Reach »
