Summary
- Simulation games offer immersive, diverse experiences for gamers to escape and live out different lives.
- Each game on the list provides unique, engaging scenarios with attention to detail, freedom of choice, and emergent narratives.
- From crashing vehicles in BeamNG.drive to managing a wildlife park in Planet Zoo, simulation games offer endless replayable experiences.
Simulation games offer a unique escape, plunging players into remarkably diverse and lifelike worlds. Imagine laying out a sprawling city’s skyline, guiding a jet through turbulent skies, or nurturing a humble farm into a thriving estate. These games drop gamers into diverse, lifelike scenarios where every choice feels weighty and real.
8 Best Life Simulation Games Of The 2020s, Ranked (So Far)
The 2020s are far from over, but there have already been numerous fantastic life simulation games that are must-play for fans of the genre.
Gamers adore these experiences because they are the closest thing to living out an entirely different life. The attention to detail, the freedom of choice, and the emergent narratives created by player actions make for incredibly engaging and endlessly replayable experiences. The games here have earned their spot thanks to their degree of immersion, each one pushing the boundaries of what the genre can achieve.
10 BeamNG.drive
The Ultimate Crash Test Playground
BeamNG.Drive
- Released
- August 3, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC
This isn’t like any other racing game; BeamNG.drive is less about the finish line and more about the realistic wreckage. Players dive into a sandbox where vehicles twist, crumple, and shatter with jaw-dropping realism, thanks to a soft-body physics engine that tracks every dent in real time.
The gameplay is largely emergent, driven by player experimentation. Gamers can tweak everything from tire pressure to suspension, then test their creations by racing, stunting, or simply hurling them off cliffs. It’s a chaotic blast for anyone who loves tinkering and watching the results explode.
9 Farming Simulator 22
Cultivating Success, One Season at a Time
Farming Simulator 22
- Released
- November 22, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- GIANTS Engine 9
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Farmin Simulator 22 turns the grind of agriculture into a soothing, addictive escape. Players sow crops, raise livestock, and manage a farm’s finances, building it from a small plot into a rural empire. It’s not just about planting seeds and harvesting; players must contend with changing weather, manage production chains, and make proactive economic decisions to expand their agricultural empire.
This game is not about high stakes—it’s about the quiet joy of watching a field ripen under care. With licensed gear from giants like John Deere and seasonal cycles that shift the landscape, the realism hooks gamers hard. The modding scene is massive as well, with thousands of add-ons keeping things fresh. It’s a slow burn, sure, but that’s why fans adore it.
8 Euro Truck Simulator 2
Hit The Open Road Across Europe
Euro Truck Simulator 2
- Released
- October 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- SCS Software
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC
Euro Truck Simulator 2 transforms long-haul trucking into a chill, immersive ride. Players navigate Europe’s highways, hauling cargo while juggling fuel, traffic laws, and rest stops. This isn't just about driving; it's about building a trucking empire from a single vehicle to a massive logistics company, hiring drivers, buying garages, and managing finances.
The game’s strength lies in its immersive driving experience. The trucks are meticulously detailed, the controls are responsive, and the physics provides a realistic sense of weight and momentum. The world itself is a joy to explore, with numerous DLCs expanding the map to include regions from Iberia to the Baltic. It’s a game that proves that even seemingly everyday jobs can make for compelling virtual experiences.
7 Kerbal Space Program
Try Not to Explode While Reaching For The Stars
Kerbal Space Program
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- unity, unity 5
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The Kerbal Space Program hands players the keys to a space agency—and a lot of explosions. Players are tasked with running the space program for an alien race known as the Kerbals. The goal? Design, build, and launch rockets, spacecraft, and rovers to explore the Kerbal system.
The game is full of trial-and-error, and sometimes it leads to getting into an orbit and even landing on a distant moon. The mix of sandbox freedom and challenging mechanics keeps it addictive. Players can engage in a career mode, managing budgets and research, or enjoy the freedom of science and sandbox modes. The game is tough but rewarding, and that’s why players love it.
6 Planet Zoo
Crafting Wildlife Havens With Care
Planet Zoo
- Released
- November 5, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Crude Humor, Mild Blood, Mild Violence
- Developer(s)
- Frontier Developments
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Planet Zoo puts players in charge of a living, breathing wildlife park, and it’s absolutely stunning. Designing habitats, managing staff, and keeping animals happy is the name of the game, with each species boasting unique needs that demand attention.
7 Best First-Person Simulation Games, Ranked
These are some of the best first-person simulation games fans of the simulation should try out.
The game shines in its attention to detail. The animals themselves are stunningly animated and behave with a lifelike authenticity that makes them feel like living creatures. Players must also manage the guest experience, staff, conservation efforts, and research to unlock new facilities and species. For animal lovers and creative builders, Planet Zoo offers a deeply rewarding experience in wildlife conservation and zoo management.
5 Stardew Valley
The Cozy Pixelated Farm Life
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Stardew Valley offers a complex farming simulation experience that has captivated millions. Players inherit a rundown farm in Pelican Town and are tasked with restoring it to its former glory. But farming is just the beginning. The game seamlessly blends crop cultivation, animal husbandry, fishing, mining, and even combat in monster-filled caves.
Players can befriend (and even marry) the diverse cast of villagers, each with their own personalities, stories, and schedules. Participating in seasonal festivals, completing quests, and uncovering the secrets of the valley creates a rich and immersive world. It's a game where players can truly live a second life at their own relaxed pace.
4 The Sims 4
Puppet Master Of Virtual Lives
The Sims 4
- Released
- September 2, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
The Sims 4 lets players play puppet master with virtual lives, and it’s a riot. Crafting Sims, building homes, and steering them through jobs, love, and chaos is the core loop. Sims themselves are more emotive and capable of multitasking, leading to more believable and often humorous situations.
While the base game offers a solid foundation, The Sims 4 has expanded significantly through numerous expansion packs, game packs, and stuff packs, adding new worlds, careers, activities, and items. This continuous stream of content keeps the gameplay fresh for dedicated players. It’s a sandbox where anything goes, and over 85 million players can’t be wrong.
3 Schedule I
The Kingpin of Crime Simulation
Schedule I
- Developer(s)
- TVGS
WHERE TO PLAY
Schedule 1 comes with a dark twist on simulation, thrusting players into the underworld as a drug-lord-in-the-making. Starting from scratch in Hyland Point, gamers cook, deal, and dodge the law, building a criminal empire with grit and cunning.
A core gameplay loop involves experimenting with different ingredients to create custom drug strains, which adds a layer of unexpected creativity to the game. The more players climb the underworld ladder, the economy shifts, and even cops adapt. It’s raw, tense, and wildly immersive, with every drug having its own production quirk—shady simulation games don’t get more real than that.
2 Cities: Skylines
The Ultimate City-Building Experience
Cities: Skylines
- Released
- March 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Colossal Order
- Genre(s)
- City Builder
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Seires X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Cities: Skylines hands players the keys to a metropolis. It offers players a vast canvas to design, build, and manage the metropolis of their dreams. Zoning land, laying roads, and solving public transport issues all feel real, with every decision rippling through the city.
One of the standout features of the game is its robust traffic simulation. Managing the flow of vehicles and pedestrians is a key element in creating a functional city. Watching a small town grow into a sprawling, dynamic city under careful guidance is immensely satisfying, making this a must-play for any hardcore simulation game fan.
1 Microsoft Flight Simulator
A Masterclass in Flight Simulation
Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Publisher
- Microsoft
- Genre
- Simulation
- Platform
- PC, Xbox
Microsoft Flight Simulator soars above the rest, mapping the entire planet with satellite precision. Players pilot anything from prop planes to jets, with physics so spot-on that real aviators take note. The game’s true marvel is its living world. Real-time weather, including accurate wind, temperature, humidity, rain, and lightning, which dynamically affect flight conditions.
Players can plan flights to virtually any airport on Earth, making this a global adventure. The inclusion of features like live air traffic further enhances the realism. Microsoft Flight Simulator redefined what's possible in the simulation genre with its meticulous detailing, which is why it truly deserves the top pick.
29 Best Co-Op Simulation Games, Ranked
Even though simulation games tend to emulate real-life experiences, they can be fun to play, especially the ones with a co-op mode.