Some of my friends who normally have no interest in simulation games play Silent Hunter 3. I think there are several reasons why this game has such a wide appeal:
1. Stunning graphics which runs well on modest systems
2. Crew animations, you have a crew with names and faces which adds to the immersion, the different stations in 3D make you feel you actually are aboard a WW2 U-boat.
3. Unlike flightsims a subsim is less built on reflexes and assigning a gazillion buttons on your keyboard. To attack a convoy and survive you have to plan one step ahead.
4. Excellent mods
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