20 Simulation Games Everyone Should Play at Least Once

At their core, simulation games encapsulate the best of what video games have to offer. Interactive media provides users with experiences that they might not be able to have otherwise, and simulation games tap into this in increasingly impressive ways. While some of the earliest titles in the genre focused on things like city building and flying, there has since been an expansion into all kinds of new and exciting opportunities for simulation gameplay. Whether it’s building a PC without having to spend thousands on components or using a pressure washer (something most of us try to avoid doing), some of the best newer games in the genre offer virtual experiences that prove to be more fun and engaging than the real-life activities they simulate.

Our list of the best simulation games tries to cover every conceivable subgenre within the genre to encapsulate the best experiences available. There are racing sims, flight sims, driving sims, city-builders, farming sims, and more. What ties these games together, though, is their accurate approximation of the activities their gameplay loop simulates, making them unmissable games within the genre. In no particular order, these are the 20 simulation games that everyone should try at least once.

PC Building Simulator

• Release Date — January 29, 2019
• Publisher — The Irregular Corporation
• Developer — Claudiu Kiss, The Irregular Corporation
• Review Aggregate Score — N/A
• Steam User Score — 93% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Let’s face it: building a PC is incredibly expensive. Between the increasing cost of components and the need to continually upgrade over time, the barrier to entry for PC gaming is fairly high. Thankfully, Claudiu Kiss and The Irregular Corporation have provided a virtual approximation of one of the best aspects of PC gaming — getting to build the actual rig. Better yet, players only need to spend $5 for the experience of building a virtual PC as opposed to the potential thousands of dollars required for building one in real life. Building a PC is half the fun of PC gaming, and PC Building Simulator brilliantly taps into that at a fraction of the cost.

House Flipper 2

• Release Date — December 14, 2023
• Publisher — Frozen District
• Developer — Frozen District
• Review Aggregate Score — 79% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 80% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Similar to PC Building Simulator, House Flipper 2 (and its predecessor) affords players the experience of something that typically takes large sums of capital. Instead of needing to invest tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in real property (not to mention the painstakingly long and costly process of renovation), House Flipper 2 lets people live out their Property Brothers dreams in an interactive, virtual setting. If you’ve ever thought about remodeling a kitchen or bathroom but the cost and labor involved seemed too prohibitive, House Flipper 2 gives a risk-free environment to test out all your interior design ideas.

Teardown

• Release Date — April 21, 2022
• Publisher — Tuxedo Labs, Saber Interactive
• Developer — Tuxedo Labs
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 95% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Tuxedo Labs’ Teardown leverages its impressive tech and voxel-based sandbox to great effect, letting players live out the demolition experience of their dreams. While the simple act of destroying buildings is fun in and of itself, it’s Teardown‘s impressive physics and hilarious domino effects that will truly impress players. Spending time lining up explosive charges on a building’s supports to then watch it all come crashing down spectacularly is an experience that Teardown replicates beautifully, and its impressive scale and spectacle help the antics of tearing down buildings never get old.

Thief Simulator 2

• Release Date — October 4, 2023
• Publisher — PlayWay S.A.
• Developer — CookieDev, Ultimate Games S.A.
• Review Aggregate Score — N/A
• Steam User Score — 90% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

On the darker side of simulation games are experiences that let players live out some less savory lifestyles. One of the better and more fully realized of these is Thief Simulator 2, which, along with its predecessor, is about as close as players can get to pull off a heist without any of the real-world ramifications. What’s impressive about Thief Simulator 2 are all the angles it considers. Players will need to plot their approach, enter silently, successfully steal the target items, and then escape without raising an alarm or leaving a trace. That the game gives you all the tools to accomplish this and you can still fail is half the fun.

Spaceflight Simulator

• Release Date — February 18, 2022
• Publisher — Team Curiosity
• Developer — Team Curiosity
• Review Aggregate Score — N/A
• Steam User Score — 96% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC (Early Access)

One of the more exciting simulation games in Early Access, Spaceflight Simulator is about as close as most of us will get to running our own space program. Every aspect, from designing and building rockets to planning launches and attempting landings, is carefully thought out and meticulously recreated using the game’s impressive physics engine and startlingly accurate variables. Success or failure comes down to having a basic knowledge of the science of flight along with attempting to master the game’s mechanics, making Spaceflight Simulator one of the few games with potential for implementation in the classroom.

Arcade Paradise

• Release Date — August 11, 2022
• Publisher — Wired Productions
• Developer — Nosebleed Interactive
• Review Aggregate Score — 72% (Mixed or Average)
• Steam User Score — 88% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

For those of us who grew up during the golden age of arcades, Arcade Paradise is a nostalgic callback to the days when it seemed like getting to play video games all day would be a dream come true. As it turns out, managing and operating an arcade is a good bit more complex than that, but Arcade Paradise eschews some of its accuracy in favor of injecting the proceedings with plenty of fun. In other words, stocking and maintaining the arcade cabinets is just part of Arcade Paradise‘s simulation, with getting to unwind and play through brief snippets of games being the other. Combined with its era-appropriate visuals and aesthetic, Arcade Paradise is a lovingly crafted trip down memory lane.

Kerbal Space Program

• Release Date — April 27, 2015
• Publisher — Private Division
• Developer — Squad
• Review Aggregate Score — 88% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 95% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

While it might not be as scientifically accurate as Spaceflight Simulator, Kerbal Space Program is still one of the better simulation games of its kind thanks to its compelling mixture of realistic flight physics and over-the-top hilarity. Before players have a successful flight in Kerbal, they will fail. These failures will come often, and will also result in laugh-out-loud moments of hilarity in watching the poor Kerbals scramble to damage control. Kerbal Space Program is easy to pick up and play yet difficult to master, but a very active community and plenty of mod support make it one of the best space simulation games to dive into.

American Truck Simulator

• Release Date — February 2, 2016
• Publisher — SCS Software
• Developer — SCS Software
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 97% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC

Part of the joy of simulation games is that they take the otherwise mundane and transform it into an exciting interactive experience. One of the best games in the genre to illustrate this is American Truck Simulator, which puts players in the shoes of one of America’s unsung heroes: semi-truck drivers. It’s up to you to swiftly and safely deliver products across the country, but logistics are only half the equation. The main joy of American Truck Simulator comes from getting to drive a big 18-wheeler across the countryside, all from the safety of sitting in front of your PC.

Manor Lords

• Release Date — April 26, 2024
• Publisher — Hooded Horse
• Developer — Slavic Magic
• Review Aggregate Score — N/A
• Steam User Score — 87% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC (Early Access)

Prior to Manor Lords‘ launch, the game quickly rose up the ranks to become Steam’s top wishlisted game. The Early Access launch in April did little to dissuade the hype surrounding the game, which is all the more impressive given that Manor Lords is primarily the work of a solo developer. Putting players in charge of a fledgling medieval kingdom, Manor Lords allows players to simulate the experience of building a fiefdom from scratch, taking it through its paces of defending its borders from invaders and cultivating bountiful harvests before eventually rising to become a young nation. The historical accuracy is a big draw to Manor Lords, but its gameplay loop and engaging mix of several different genres make it a more welcoming experience than some city-builders or simulation games offering something similar.

Planet Coaster

• Release Date — November 17, 2016
• Publisher — Frontier Developments
• Developer — Frontier Developments
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 91% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

The Roller Coaster Tycoon series will always have a special place in the hearts of simulation game fans, butFrontier Developments’ Planet Coaster takes the same general premise and catapults it into the future. Essentially, Planet Coaster is to Roller Coaster Tycoon what Cities: Skylines is to SimCity, taking the tried and true gameplay of the titles that inspired them and significantly improving visuals, adding more features, and bumping up the realism in places where it benefits the experience. Planet Coaster is about building the best and most thrilling theme park rides, sure, but it’s also equally as much about carefully managing your park and keeping your guests happy. And when the mood strikes, you can ride one of your own creations in stunning detail.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• Release Date — August 18, 2020
• Publisher — Xbox Game Studios
• Developer — Asobo Studio
• Review Aggregate Score — 91% (Universal Acclaim)
• Steam User Score — 79% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, Xbox Series X/S

Often considered the gold standard of flight sim games, Microsoft Flight Simulator is a perfect middle ground between license-worthy simulation and video game. In fact, should players desire, they can mod the MFS experience in ways that will make it count toward actual flight hours for earning a pilot’s license. That’s how incredibly accurate the game’s simulation is. Beyond that, though, Microsoft Flight Simulator is a stunningly beautiful game that painstakingly recreates the act of flying several different kinds of aircraft in impressively realistic scenarios. There’s a reason that the series has been going strong for 40 years, which explains why there are players with thousands of hours logged across multiple entries.

Cities: Skylines

• Release Date — March 10, 2015
• Publisher — Paradox Interactive
• Developer — Colossal Order Ltd.
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 93% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

While there’s a sequel that players can experience, the original Cities: Skylines is still somehow the better city-building simulation, and it’s perhaps the best city-building game ever. Skylines takes the general premise of SimCity (build up a town from scratch, manage it, and develop it into a thriving megalopolis), and expands upon it in meaningful ways all while giving the game an impressive visual polish and attention to detail. Cities: Skylines doesn’t reinvent the wheel for city-builders, but it doesn’t have to. Instead, Skylines takes the core fundamentals of simulating managing a city and executes them perfectly, making it an unmissable game in the process.

Stardew Valley

• Release Date — February 26, 2016
• Publisher — ConcernedApe
• Developer — ConcernedApe
• Review Aggregate Score — 89% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 98% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

When people think of either farming sims or wholesome “cozy” simulation games, Stardew Valley is probably the first title that comes to mind. And for good reason, as Stardew Valley executes every aspect of its gameplay so perfectly that it’s almost impossible to put down once you start playing. The true genius of Stardew Valley shines through in how every activity players engage in provides some type of meaningful reward or progression while also synergizing with any number of other systems or elements at play in the game. Whether you want to plant and harvest crops, go adventuring, or have rewarding social interactions with the townsfolk, Stardew Valley has you covered.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

• Release Date — October 21, 2016
• Publisher — 2K
• Developer — Firaxis Games
• Review Aggregate Score — 88% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 86% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — iOS, PC, Nintendo Switch

Just saying the name “Civilization” can stir up a swell of excitement in the players who are dedicated fans of the franchise, and playing any of the games in the series makes it easy to see why. The latest (and possibly greatest) in Sid Meier’s long-running world domination game, Civilization VI is the ultimate conquest simulator. Aside from the addictive and fun act of building up a thriving society, Civilization VI has a plethora of different modes to dig into, each with its own parameters for victory or defeat. Speaking of, the amount of different avenues players have to “win” a Civ match is astounding, meaning players can theoretically have no two playthroughs ever be the same. As someone who’s been a near-lifelong fan of the franchise, the recently announced Civilization VII can’t come soon enough.

Gran Turismo 7

• Release Date — March 4, 2022
• Publisher — Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Developer — Polyphony Digital
• Review Aggregate Score — 87% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — N/A
• Platforms — PS4, PS5

While it’s technically a racing franchise, the Gran Turismo series has always been about accurate simulation. The latest entry in Sony’s long-running racing-sim legend, Gran Turismo 7 is the best-looking and best-feeling game in the franchise thanks to the power of the PS5 and the DualSense controller’s unique functionality. Beyond putting rubber to the pavement, though, Gran Turismo 7 has a lot of side activities that more fully encapsulate the title’s place as a racing sim. Painstakingly customizing and tuning cars’ performance is one, and pouring over every minute detail of a car’s interior and exterior and customizing both is another. Gran Turismo 7‘s simulation aspects act as a love letter for people who love cars, and then it lets you take them on the track and race them at high speeds.

Satisfactory

• Release Date — September 10, 2024
• Publisher — Coffee Stain Publishing
• Developer — Coffee Stain Studios
• Review Aggregate Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)
• Steam User Score — 96% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC

The newest game on this list, Satisfactory is also a new entry in what’s a fairly new genre — automation simulation. Taking the addictive automation gameplay of hits like Factorio and transferring the experience into first-person, Satisfactory is practically a readymade hit in the making. That the game also incorporates elements of survival games (another incredibly popular genre) and open-world sandboxes only makes the game’s rapid success more logical. Beyond its popularity, though, Satisfactory is a game that continually rewards players the more time they spend with it, meaning any time with Satisfactory is time well spent.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Release Date — March 20, 2020
• Publisher — Nintendo
• Developer — Nintendo EPD
• Review Aggregate Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)
• Steam User Score — N/A
• Platforms — Nintendo Switch

Though there’s no way the company could have known it at the time, Animal Crossing‘s release couldn’t have been better timed. Right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the world was isolating indoors, Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrived for the Switch and gave everyone who played it a small semblance of peace and normalcy during a time of great uncertainty and turmoil. Beyond its perfectly-timed release, though, New Horizons is one of the best games in the iconic Animal Crossing series, allowing players to craft and cultivate an island home of their dreams all while building out a community where people live with each other and the environment in harmony.

The Sims 4

• Release Date — September 2, 2014
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Developer — Maxis
• Review Aggregate Score — 70% (Mixed or Average)
• Steam User Score — 87% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Maxis and EA’s The Sims series continues to be the most popular simulation game franchise of all time, and The Sims 4 proves that there’s still a lot of ground left to cover from future entries. One of the better decisions made by Maxis and Electronic Arts was taking the game and transferring to a free-to-play model, allowing anyone to dive into the addictive Sims gameplay loop risk-free before enticing them with expansions, cosmetics, and other additional content that supports the base game. The Sims 4 lets the player assume the role of an all-seeing, all-knowing deity that controls every aspect of their Sims’ lives, and it’s a surprisingly entertaining and addictive premise that seems to never get old for longtime fans.

Two Point Hospital

• Release Date — August 30, 2018
• Publisher — Sega
• Developer — Two Point Studios
• Review Aggregate Score — 83% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 92% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

The Two Point Studios games are all a blast to play, but Two Point Hospital still stands as one of the best. Starting with just a single building, players gradually build out and outfit rooms in their small hospital, increasingly adding services and expanding facilities until managing it all almost becomes too much to handle. You’ll be monitoring employee rotations and breaks one minute while putting out fires (literally) the next, but the undercurrent running under everything is humor. Two Point Hospital isn’t afraid to make the player laugh, even when its simulation aspects make them want to pull their hair out in frustration from trying to spin too many plates at once.

Power Wash Simulator

• Release Date — July 14, 2022
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Developer — FuturLab
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 97% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

The real-world act of pressure washing something is incredibly satisfying, but owning a pressure washer can be expensive and it’s hard work to boot. This is what makes the core conceit of FuturLab’s Power Wash Simulator so appealing. You get to be personally responsible for the restoration and get the satisfying reward of watching objects and environments transform from filthy to sparkling, all with the only finger being lifted being the ones wrapped around your controller. The base game is incredible as it is, but the addition of licensed expansions that let you clean items from Final Fantasy VII or the swamp from Shrek only adds to the value of this incredible simulation game that turns hard work into great fun.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Power Wash Simulator gameplay screenshot.