Silent Hunter III

Silent Hunter III cast the player as the commander of a German Type VII U-boat during the Second World War, and for many genre fans it became the definitive embodiment of the submarine simulator on PC. The player plans voyages from French ports, tracks merchant convoys through the periscope and hydrophone, manually calculates torpedo firing angles using a simulated TDC targeting computer, and must manage limited fuel, torpedoes and crew patience during long patrols in the Atlantic. The career mode carries the player through the entire war from 1939 onward, with the success of individual patrols affecting decorations, promotions and gradual upgrades to the submarine.

The game combines detailed simulation with tense moments of evading depth charges from escort vessels, dynamic hull damage, and modeling of crew experience and morale that directly affects the submarine's performance. The range of realism settings spans from a more accessible arcade approach to fully manual control without helper indicators, so the game could be tailored by both newcomers and seasoned simulation enthusiasts alike. The graphics engine felt unexpectedly convincing for its time — the rippling surface, weather and lighting gave the game a strong atmosphere, underscored by oppressive music and the sounds of sonar, engines and distant explosions. Extensive community modifications, especially the GWX package, later deepened the game's realism and content and became almost a mandatory addition for many players.

Upon release, Silent Hunter III earned praise for its simulation depth and atmosphere, and to this day fans of the genre still rank it among the best submarine simulators ever made. It significantly influenced later entries in the series as well as competing naval warfare titles and set a benchmark that later simulators long measured themselves against. Even with today's hindsight, it works as an exceptionally tense and well-thought-out simulator, though it demands patience and a willingness to learn its complex systems from the player.

Why play it: For fans of submarine simulators seeking an exceptionally tense and well-thought-out experience, still ranked among the best of its kind today, though it requires patience to master its complex systems.