This paper presents a grounded theory of immersion in games, dividing it into three levels: engagement, engrossment, and total immersion. The study involved interviews with seven gamers to understand their experiences of immersion. The findings suggest that immersion is a spectrum of involvement, with total immersion being the most intense. Barriers to immersion include human factors like concentration and game-related factors like construction. Engagement is the initial level, where players start to invest time and effort. Engrossment involves deeper emotional investment, and total immersion is characterized by a strong sense of presence and detachment from reality. The study highlights the importance of game design elements such as visuals, plot, and sound in creating immersion. It also discusses the role of attention and the need for an invisible interface to achieve total immersion. The research suggests that immersion is not always enjoyable, as it can lead to guilt from excessive gaming. The findings have implications for designing immersive experiences in other software domains. The study emphasizes the need for further research into manipulating interfaces to enhance empathy and atmosphere in immersive experiences.This paper presents a grounded theory of immersion in games, dividing it into three levels: engagement, engrossment, and total immersion. The study involved interviews with seven gamers to understand their experiences of immersion. The findings suggest that immersion is a spectrum of involvement, with total immersion being the most intense. Barriers to immersion include human factors like concentration and game-related factors like construction. Engagement is the initial level, where players start to invest time and effort. Engrossment involves deeper emotional investment, and total immersion is characterized by a strong sense of presence and detachment from reality. The study highlights the importance of game design elements such as visuals, plot, and sound in creating immersion. It also discusses the role of attention and the need for an invisible interface to achieve total immersion. The research suggests that immersion is not always enjoyable, as it can lead to guilt from excessive gaming. The findings have implications for designing immersive experiences in other software domains. The study emphasizes the need for further research into manipulating interfaces to enhance empathy and atmosphere in immersive experiences.