If you're looking for the best simulation games, you've probably come across games like Stardew Valley, Cities: Skylines of course, The Sims. They are just some of the best ever created and here we will list a few more that deserve attention.
Whether to manage a family (The Sims), an amusement park (Roller Coaster Tycoon) or a city (SimCity), know that simulation games are part of that genre that are capable of completely sucking you into their universe. Also, even if you don't have any aspirations to work in administration, you can bet that by playing a simulation game you'll get a PhD in the subject.
This genre also brought some gems to the games industry, such as I Am Bread, a bread simulator, Bear Simulator, a bear simulator and Goat Simulator, the famous goat simulator. The genre took on strange proportions a few years ago and started to receive titles that were somewhat weird and very poorly polished.
As much as some of these — as is the case with Goat Simulator — are even fun, our list will focus on the ones that are really well done. Without further ado, let's get to the first on the list.
Also check out our video with the 10 best simulation games ever made:
Farming Simulator 17
Em Farming Simulator 17 you will have the complete experience of what consolidated the franchise: buy land, improve equipment and enjoy life in the middle of the woods with the best agricultural machinery. Speaking of machines, the amount of them and equipment in this game is quite large and it still has well-known brands for those who are familiar with the life of a farmer.
This is the best simulation game if you are looking to be a farmer in the gaming world. You'll get cool looks, customizable farms, and even horses to ride.
Available in: PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4 e… Google Stadia.
Project Cars 2
This racing simulator brings significant improvements in terms of realism compared to the first title in the franchise. The car handling system has been improved and now has a new climate system that takes into account the time of day and the seasons.
This is all purposeful to make the experience as realistic as possible, but it doesn't stop there. In addition to all these technical details that are very important in a simulator, the game manages to deliver adrenaline-fueled races on tracks around the world and with more than 180 real-life car options.
The game even allows you to race either alone or in online championships. If you are a fan of car games, especially simulation ones, this is a great choice.
Available in: PC, Xbox One and PS4
Railway Empire
Set between 1830 and 1930, this simulation game puts you in the shoes of the owner of an ambitious Railway Station company. Your mission is to use your creativity and manage more than 40 trains at these stations in the best possible way.
The game offers a high degree of customization, allowing you to hire employees — with different personalities — and even allowing you to decide the types of cargo your train will carry.
And if the game really clicks with you, it still has a very large variety of DLCs, expanding its Rail business to Europe, South America and Canada.
Available in: PC, Xbox One and PS4
Cities: Skylines
In 2013 there was an attempt to reboot the SimCity franchise, however it was a failure. Fortunately in 2015 we had the launch of Cities: Skylines, which brought all the essence of the genre in a new guise.
The game offers a rework of the original formula by Maxis (developer of The Sims e SimCity), expanding in the best possible sense what it had in its spiritual predecessor. In the game you will have the mission to build and keep a city running. This with good visuals and gameplay make the game one of the best in the segment.
Cities: Skylines also stands out for being available on consoles and for being extremely viable and comfortable to play with the controls, unlike many other simulation games where playing with the keyboard and mouse is infinitely better.
Available in: PC, Xbox One and PS4
PC Building Simulator
Are you a PC Gamer or would you like to be? Then this is the right game for you. Maybe the proposal seems a bit strange at first, but this is one of the most interesting simulators out there and I'll explain why.
One of the reasons is that the game delivers a great level of realism, bringing a long list of real-life components from famous hardware brands like Intel, AMD and Nvidia. You'll be able to experience building your dream PC without actually risking setting it on fire, and then when you learn how to do it all, you can face the real thing.
The game features a career mode, where your objective will be to upgrade, repair and remove the virus from the PC according to customer demand, or you can simply spend some time creating a PC Gamer in Free Creation mode.
Available in: PC, Nintendo Swithc, Xbox One e PS4
X-Plane 11
This airplane simulator will put you in the role of the pilot with a huge variety of real-world “flying things”, from helicopters and gliders to gigantic cargo planes.
Although the game has a lot of details, what really stands out here is the so-called “Plane Maker”, a tool that allows you to create your planes and other “flying beings” from scratch. Along with that, we have a weather system in the game to simulate real situations that give an extra “tchan” to the experience.
If your PC can handle the bump and you have the slightest interest in heights, this is a very interesting simulator that deserves your attention. In addition, it supports VR glasses, increasing the realism of the same.
Available in: PC
Stardew Valley
With a pixel-art design, this game puts you in the role of a character who inherited an old farm from his grandfather, in Stardew Valley. Your mission is, with just a few coins and tools, to manage not only the farm, but also your character's life.
Here you can create animals, crops and much more! In addition, you'll be able to customize your farmer and maybe even get married. The game has a high level of exploration and rewards you a lot for it.
The entire Stardew Valley experience can be played both solo and co-op, either online or in the same split-screen environment. If you want to experience the cattle life, only goes.
Available in: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS e Android
Euro Truck Simulator 2
If in Stardew Valley you play “cattle life”, in Euro Truck Simulator 2 you simulate the adventures of Bino and Pedro in Heavy Load. Maybe that's not the reason (we can believe so), but the game is one of the best rated on Steam, placed above games like Dishonored, Civilization v e Half-Live 2.
The game offers a crazy mix being extremely relaxing and captivating at the same time, allowing you to create routes according to your strategy, as elements such as gasoline, market and even polishing your truck are part of the journey.
Finally, the game offers a very pleasant experience for truck enthusiasts, but it extends to bring fun to those who just want to enjoy a good road trip.
Available in: PC
Two Point Hospital
Have you ever thought about running a hospital? In this simulator you can. Here your goal is to make Two Point County's new hospital ready for whatever situation the local residents might bring you.
As in most simulation games, here we have a system that balances customer demand, requiring you to know how and where to spend the money so you don't end up going bankrupt.
The game still has a high level of good humor, but always keeping the challenge and interesting choices to stay in the market. If you have the slightest interest in running a hospital, even if only in your dreams, this simulator is for you.
Available in: PC, Xbox One, PS4 e Nintendo Switch
Rising Storm 2: Vietnam
Here things get a little more violent, I would say. Bringing the WWII spirit of the game's predecessor to the Vietnam War, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a crazy and well-made mix between more popular games like Call of Duty and other more niche simulators like ARMA.
Unlike Call of Duty, the game encourages you to be much more tactical than the Rambo fashion. Because it's a simulator, you won't be able to go around killing everyone without dying together. On the other hand, it will always be hiding in holes, making calls with Napalm or flanking enemies.
Ultimately, you'll have a more tense and visceral experience of war, requiring you to use all your tactics and strategies to succeed.
Available in: PC
ARMA 3
Of course, he couldn't be left out of the list. ARMA 3 is an open world war simulator that fits into the Sandbox category – that is, an open world with infinite possibilities according to the players – which has a very interesting experience for war lovers.
Inside this giant map, things always happen dynamically and to the taste of the players, being able to have shootings, attacks on convoys and many other things. If you have a nice PC and some friends to test, the game can be very interesting and bring a great experience.
Available in: PC
Planet Coaster
Having your own amusement park is everyone's dream, isn't it? Regardless of the answer to that question, this spiritual successor of Roller Coaster Tycoon brings back the entrepreneurial spirit of having your own park with lots of attractions and, of course, roller coasters.
The game is the best of the “amusement parks” genre in recent times and if you have had experience with it in the past, you will have no problems with the game, but if you are new to the subject, it will take a little time to get used to it. all tools, items, etc.
Available in: PC, Xbox One and PS4
The Sims 4
Being one of the most famous franchises in the simulation genre, the fourth game in the franchise was released in 2015. Although very beautiful and with an interesting character creation system, it lacked content. These problems no longer exist, however, you need to pay a not very inviting amount to have these things.
However, The Sims 4 allows you to create or choose an existing Sim and, from there, assemble their story according to what you find most interesting. With expansions released, things like becoming a vampire, a zombie, or even experiencing things from the Star Wars universe were possible.
Of course, you don't need to buy everything at once and maybe you don't even need all the expansions, but the game certainly brings a very interesting experience that can make you laugh a lot in different situations or be outraged by the oddities. Whatever your case, The Sims 4 deserves attention.
Available in: PC, Xbox One and PS4
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft's simulator wowed everyone when it was released last year. The game lets you travel around the world with a level of realism and impressive details.
A very interesting thing about the game is that it brings with it a kind of school on how to fly planes, that is, even if you have no idea how to fly one, the game will teach you. Obviously this is just to prevent you from causing accidents in it and does not serve as a certificate in real life.
Microsoft Flight Simulator It's one of the best experiences of the simulation genre and you're sure to want to stop by on a plane in your city or even close to your house.
Available in: PC, Xbox One e Xbox Series S/X
These were the best simulation games we found for you to play right now. Do you believe that something is missing or do you simply want to make an observation? Use the comments field.
