Our Inside XR Design series delves into standout examples of exemplary XR design, and today we’re spotlighting the game Synapse. We’re particularly interested in exploring the idea of embodiment and why it’s so critical in VR gaming.
A quick note from our editor: It’s amazing that it’s been a year since we first unpacked this discussion, yet the insights remain as pertinent as ever in 2025! We’re bringing this back to the forefront to keep the conversation going about embodiment as a vital design principle in crafting immersive VR experiences.
Feel free to check out the complete video below, or keep reading for a written exploration that dives into these concepts.
What is Embodiment?
Welcome back to another episode of Inside XR Design. Today, we’re diving into the world of Synapse, a PSVR 2 exclusive by nDreams. We’re peeling back the layers of what makes this game tick by examining something called embodiment.
So, what exactly is embodiment, and why is it worth our time to understand it beyond simply enjoying the shooting, explosions, and ingenious design mechanics in the game? Well, bear with me, and I’ll show you how it elevates certain design choices in Synapse.
In simple terms, embodiment is about creating the experience of physically being within a VR world—like you’re genuinely existing within and interacting with that world.
Your initial reaction may be, "Isn’t this just immersion?" While common usage might lump the two together, it’s crucial to differentiate between ‘immersion’ and ’embodiment’.
For our purposes, ‘immersion’ is about capturing your complete focus. Think about how a gripping movie can make you forget where you are for a moment. But even the most captivating film doesn’t make you feel physically in it.
That’s where ’embodiment’ steps in. If immersion is about holding your attention, embodiment is about integrating your physical presence with the virtual realm.
Most VR games automatically achieve immersion; they seize your vision and hearing as soon as you put on the headset. But the exceptional ones, like Synapse, take it a step further by making you feel as if your entire being has been transported into a digital universe, messaging you’re actually there.
This distinction between immersion as attention and embodiment as the perception of physical presence is foundational. Embodiment isn’t binary; it varies—some experiences might barely scratch the surface, while others fully draw you in. So let’s see how Synapse raises the bar on this front.
The Feeling of Real Cover
At first blush, Synapse might come across as a typical VR shooter. However, several deliberate design choices amplify the sensation of embodiment, starting with its cover system.
In most VR shooters, cover is straightforward; hide behind something, and it provides protection. Typically, these barriers don’t feel tangible because you don’t consciously interact with them. They’re just there.
But Synapse transforms this concept by allowing you to physically engage with cover—grasping walls to shift your body in and out of hiding. This interaction feels natural and playfully effective.
When you’re physically moving in relation to the wall, rather than just using a thumbstick, the wall stops being a mere visual and starts feeling authentic. This shift occurs because when you integrate the wall into your movement, it becomes part of your proprioceptive sense.
Getting to Know Proprioception
Let’s pause to talk about proprioception, a term that often pops up when discussing how our bodies perceive placement in space.
The clearest demonstration of proprioception I’ve seen is in a clip involving a cat. As it approaches a table, without glancing, the cat flicks its ear instinctively to avoid bumping it.
This is proprioception in action—awareness of your body in space. For the cat to dodge just right, it subconsciously knows how much space its ear occupies in relation to the table.
In Synapse, the act of grabbing a wall and adjusting your stance instills this sense. Suddenly, walls aren’t just visual elements. They inform your body’s spatial awareness and start feeling real, enhancing embodiment in the game.
Reload with a Twist
Synapse offers more with its walls—they’re tools for reloading, too.
Stepping away from embodiment briefly, let’s talk about this cool design choice. In an earlier episode, we studied the weapon dynamics in Half-Life: Alyx. But Synapse embraces its fast-paced essence with a novel reloading mechanic.
Here, magazines conveniently float, and reloading is as simple as a slide back into your weapon. Although unconventional, it suits the game’s sci-fi vibe by offering simplicity without sacrificing gameplay immersion.
This design marries perfectly with the cover system, allowing players to reload without disengaging from cover. Pushing a magazine against the wall to reload seamlessly combines both systems.
But more than being clever, this interaction deepens your connection to the virtual environment. Your brain needs to perceive the wall’s distance accurately because it’s an anchor point for actions like reloading, enhancing its presence in your proprioceptive model.
So as you use these systems—grabbing a wall to adjust your position, or reloading against it—each interaction elevates the reality of these walls, enhancing your sense of presence, or embodiment, in this virtual space.
Ultimately, when your virtual surroundings start to feel tangible, the illusion that you’re physically present in the game world solidifies—that’s the core of embodiment. While immersive worlds capture our focus, embodiment is all about what we feel.
And speaking of a tactile experience, Synapse takes this a notch higher with a fantastic telekinesis mechanic, offering an exciting extension of player interaction. Want to explore more? Continue with us on Page 2 to dive into extending your reach!
