The concept of the industrial metaverse represents a revolutionary fusion of digital and physical realms within the industrial sector. This paper delves into the intersection of the internet of things (IoT) and the metaverse, aiming to define its emerging landscape through an analysis of current literature and identification of future research directions. Employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including bibliometric analysis and the Visualization of Similarities (VOS) technique, our study maps the field of the industrial metaverse. The PRISMA method, which we used for our contribution, provides a systematic approach to our research process, and provides a base for the sequent thematic analysis, where a thesaurus is used to account for keyword variations, enriching our understanding of the metaverse's potential in industrial applications. We argue that the industrial metaverse is not merely a technological advancement but opens the way in which industries operate, collaborate, and innovate. This paper aims to establish a foundational framework for future research and development in the industrial metaverse, offering a clear and precise overview about the current state of research on the metaverse and internet of things.