GameDev

25 Best Simulation Games for PC and Consoles

Original in Russian: blog.skillbox.by
25 Best Simulation Games on PC and Consoles

Contents:

Jurassic World Evolution 2

Year of release: 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: Jurassic Park management simulator

How about building your own Jurassic Park? Jurassic World Evolution 2, based on the popular film franchise, lets you do just that. However, building the park isn't the end of the story: you'll also have to manage the park, hire scientists and new staff, send expeditions to search for remains containing ancient reptile DNA, then recreate dinosaurs in a lab and repopulate them in designated areas within the park. In this case, it will be necessary to take into account the needs of all species, providing unique conditions for each of them.

Two Point Museum

Year of release: 2025
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: a simulator of a museum manager with antiquities and more

In Two Point Museum, you'll take on several roles: architect, owner, and museum manager. First, you'll need to design the building, choose the right style, and purchase equipment. Then, organize expeditions with archaeologists and scientists to uncover rare exhibits. But the work doesn't end there: before opening, it's important to devise an advertising campaign, attract visitors, and ensure security—you don't want restless children touching your valuable exhibits, right?
Like previous games in the series, Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus, this museum simulator is full of humor and absurd situations. For example, mummies from ancient tombs may not be so lifeless, and ghosts sometimes wander the halls of a museum.

Tavern Master

Year of release: 2021
Platforms: PC
Brief description: Medieval tavern owner simulator

We've often been fantasy heroes, relaxing in medieval taverns and taking on quests there. Now it's time to step behind the counter and take on the challenging role of owner of one of these taverns. Don't be intimidated, you'll start small—with one room and a few tables, and just a couple of drinks on the menu. Later, however, you'll have to expand, as your business needs to grow. You'll need to build new rooms, a kitchen, and sleeping quarters on the second floor—and don't forget to hire additional staff in a timely manner. If all goes well, sooner or later your tavern will attract the attention of distinguished patrons. Perhaps we can even hold an event for the king and queen.

House Flipper

Year of release: 2018
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Short description: simulator of a repairman, plumber and cleaner for hire

Cleaning and renovating houses in real life is deadly boring. Unlike in games: House Flipper is a great example of how even boring tasks can be made interesting. In this simulator, you'll be renovating houses: renovating them, cleaning the rooms, installing plumbing and furniture, cleaning up trash, and even laying tiles if necessary. The goal is to earn a lot of money. Once you've amassed a small fortune, you can buy an old barn and transform it into a comfortable home—and then sell it for a fortune. Business!

TheHunter: Call of the Wild

Year of release: 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: An extremely realistic hunting simulator

TheHunter: Call of the Wild recreates the process of hunting animals in great detail. The game offers numerous large wilderness locations, complete freedom of action, and a huge variety of virtual animal species inhabiting the local forest thickets. The developers, however, place a significant emphasis on realism, so hunting in theHunter: Call of the Wild is anything but simple. Just like in real life, you'll have to carefully track animals, strategize, and wait just as long as necessary. Animals here have keen eyesight, hearing, and smell, so running through the forest and killing everyone left and right won't work.

Car Mechanic Simulator 2021

Year of release: 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: car mechanic simulator

Elite Dangerous

Year of release: 2014
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: A simulator of a space explorer, pirate, trader, or anyone else - the choice is yours

Elite Dangerous is a large-scale online space exploration simulator. The game takes place in the Milky Way galaxy. Freedom of choice and action is enormous: you can explore uncharted systems, become a trader and pave profitable routes, fight pirates—or even become one yourself, hunting for other people's ships and loot.
The simulator is regularly updated with new updates and major additions. So, in the Horizons add-on, it became possible to land on the surface of planets and drive around them in all-terrain vehicles, and in Odyssey, on-foot missions, shooter battles, and exploration of stations in first-person mode were added.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

Year of release: 2020
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: an extremely realistic simulator of a civil aviation pilot

EA Sports FC 25

Year of release: 2024
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Brief description: the best football simulator - but mainly because it is, in fact, the only one

Monopoly is bad. And EA is practically a monopoly when it comes to football simulators. There are other simulators, of course, but FC (formerly FIFA) has a huge number of licenses and real football players. As a result, the game is not much different from the previous part, and that part is not much different from the part that came out before it. But, to be fair, real football doesn't change much from year to year either.
If you have any of last year's parts, then you don't need to upgrade to FC 25. But if you don't or haven't updated in a while, this is just the thing. It's the same vibrant strategy arcade game that's great to play with friends or alone. If you like football, of course. There's no alternative anyway, so what else are you going to do?

Football Manager 2024

Release year: 2023
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Short description: The best football manager (and coach) simulator

In Football Manager, the player takes on the role of a club manager. You'll buy and sell players, develop tactics, conduct training sessions, give interviews, and manage the budget. It's all so addictive that you can't tear yourself away.
Compared to Football Manager 2023, the actual football gameplay has been improved: animations are smoother, and players show each other where to pass. The next part was canceled, so we're in for a break - maybe after it the game will finally change seriously, otherwise the situation is about like with the annual "FIFA".

The Sims 4

Year of release: 2014
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Brief description: The best life simulator

If living this life in reality isn't enough for you, you can do the same in the game, but as a god. The Sims 4 is a mastodon in the life simulation genre. You manage virtual people, monitor their needs, observe their daily lives and the events that unfold in their lives. You can create any character or family, raise an entire dynasty, experience a variety of life scenarios, and build the home of your dreams.
Expansion packs add new gameplay elements to The Sims 4: vampires, werewolves, mermaids, fairies, pets, new cities, clothing, interior items, and much more, depending on what you purchase. Well, if this doesn't seem enough for you, the game has mod support that will further brighten up the lives of your virtual people.

Thief Simulator 2

Year of release: 2023
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: a robber simulator with a progression system

The second part of the thief simulator places even more emphasis on a well-thought-out approach to robberies. The player begins their journey as an ordinary burglar, supervised by a stranger over the phone. More stolen goods means more experience and money, which means more opportunities to upgrade useful skills and purchase various gadgets, including drones. This will eventually help you hit the jackpot by robbing a bank.
But, of course, without proper planning, the mission is doomed to failure. You'll have to monitor the behavior of residents, scan the area for cameras, and avoid the police if something goes wrong. But even if you end up behind bars, it's not the end of the game, but an opportunity to outsmart the cops and prepare better.

PC Building Simulator

Year of release: 2019
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch
Brief description: PC repair and assembly service worker simulator

As a computer repairman, the player must complete various orders from clients, ranging from virus removal and system cleaning to selecting new components and fully assembling a PC. Each completed order grants experience points and the opportunity to purchase new parts and tools, but the tasks also become increasingly difficult.
As the game progresses and explores its capabilities, even an inexperienced user can learn more about hardware and component installation. And considering that the developers collaborate with dozens of real brands in this field, assembling the system unit of your dreams is quite achievable, even if in reality such an opportunity does not exist yet.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Year of release: 2012
Platforms: PC
Brief description: a truck driver simulator with elements of logistics

Initially, the player acts as a hired driver, who is provided with transport by the company and tasked with delivering goods to European cities. Over time, the player has the opportunity to open their own transportation company with a fleet of trucks, hire drivers, and eventually make a profit.
The game itself emphasizes realism. While driving, you must obey traffic rules, monitor the fuel level and the condition of the truck, and don't forget to make rest stops. Not to mention that trips from city to city are quite long, and some missions take about 30 minutes. But it is precisely this leisurely pace that gives the game a special charm, especially if you play a playlist with your favorite music during the trip. It's no wonder, then, that many players find Euro Truck Simulator 2 a meditative game.

Farming Simulator 25

Release Year: 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Brief Description: A farming simulator with a focus on agricultural technology and management

Farming Simulator 25 introduces the unique challenges of being a modern farmer in three distinct zones: the United States, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Players will operate various types of real-world agricultural machinery to cultivate the land, harvest, and sell crops, thereby gaining the opportunity to eventually expand the farm, raise livestock and poultry, acquire more powerful machinery, and establish production chains.
But running a farm isn't easy. In addition to regular expenses and the challenges of organizing seasonal work, players can suffer additional losses due to weather events like hurricanes or hail. Despite the challenges involved, the process of cultivating crops is addictive and rewards patience, planning, and hard work with a bountiful harvest.

SnowRunner

Release year: 2020
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch
Short description: An off-road transport simulator in extreme conditions

In SnowRunner, players conquer off-road terrain across the globe, delivering cargo. While piloting a massive vehicle, they must literally carve their way through mud, rivers, snow, rocks, uphill climbs, and other obstacles. The cargo must not be damaged, not to mention the vehicle can easily get stuck. As a result, completing even the shortest section feels like a small victory.
Each contract becomes a test of adaptability: in some cases, you'll have to find a workaround, in others, pull the vehicle out with a winch, or switch to a different type of vehicle. In any case, you will have to play thoughtfully, because the road in SnowRunner is more important than the destination.

Planet Coaster 2

Year of release: 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: an amusement park construction and management simulator - now with water slides

Planet Coaster 2 is basically the same as Planet Coaster, but prettier and more convenient, with incredibly detailed customization of everything, including water parks. You can spend hours creating a slide or other attraction if you want to get it perfect. Even the landscape and all sorts of park decorations are highly customizable.
But the downsides are the same as the first game: the economic and management parts of the game aren't very interesting. But who needs that when you can build the roller coaster of your dreams and ride it?

Stardew Valley

Release year: 2016
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Brief description: A renowned farming simulator made with love

Stardew Valley is about getting lost in the endless hustle and bustle of city life and wanting to take a breather for a while, going somewhere far away, somewhere quiet and peaceful. You're an ordinary office worker who inherits a country house from your grandfather and the advice to go there whenever your soul yearns for a change. And so, leaving everything behind, you set off.
Riches or miracles don't await you there: the small plot in front of the house is overgrown, maybe forty people live in the village nearby, and nothing ever seems to happen here. But that's the beauty of it. No one bothers you or rushes you: you can dig and water the beds, fish until midnight, or stroll around the area. You can grow the garden of your dreams, start a family, become an integral part of the local small community—or even just crawl through caves, mining ore and fighting slimes. A kind of embellished slice of village life, where you can heal your nerves and take a break.

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator

Year of release: 2021 (early access), 2022 (full release)
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Brief description: An extremely addictive simulator of an alchemist selling potions and experimenting with new recipes

Potion Craft's gameplay is divided into several sectors: during the day, various customers come to your shop, for whom you need to prepare suitable potions. Over time, customers' requests become increasingly sophisticated, and then you have to experiment with new recipes.
Inventing new potions is a separate, exciting game. You have a conventional alchemical map scattered with unknown potion effects, as well as obstacles, portals, and research points (for leveling up). And there are a bunch of herbs and mushrooms that allow you to move around this map in different directions and unusual ways. You toss the necessary ingredients into the cauldron, paving the way to a new effect and avoiding obstacles, and then save the recipe in your cookbook for easy access.
Various ingredients can be grown right there in your shop garden, and new seeds and sprouts can be purchased from traveling merchants. Planting, watering, and harvesting—it's all simple and meditative. And interesting game goals push you to progress, including restoring the alchemical machine in the basement, which can be used to create the Philosopher's Stone.

Cities: Skylines 2

Release year: 2023
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: the most detailed big city building simulator

A city is more than just a bunch of buildings standing together. It's a huge, complex organism, whose well-being depends on every organ and every cell. The Cities: Skylines duology perhaps perfectly illustrates this concept. In these games, building a city turns into a fascinating puzzle. It's not enough to just build enough schools and hospitals—you also need to think through the logistics: wisely arrange residential and industrial zones, build a dense road network, and organize convenient public transportation.
The first Cities: Skylines, released in 2015, revolutionized urban development and remains a benchmark representative of the genre. Cities: Skylines 2 met with a cooler reception due to its high price and technical issues, but in it, the developers from the Colossal Order studio worked even deeper into key mechanics: zoning, traffic simulation, and the city economy.

PowerWash Simulator

Year of release: 2022
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch
Short description: a simple and relaxing simulator of cleaning with a portable power washer

PowerWash Simulator delivers exactly the gaming experience its name suggests. You explore locations ranging from a private home and a skate park to the surface of Mars, scrubbing away dirt with a portable power washer. You earn money for cleaning, which can be spent on new attachments, cleaning products, and ladders for reaching hard-to-reach places. That's essentially all the gameplay in PowerWash Simulator—but the act of scrubbing away dirt is as calming and refreshing as any meditation. Co-op is also available, so you can enjoy a soul-searching session together. The main thing is not to get so carried away with the game that you forget about the cleanliness of your apartment.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Year of release: 2022
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Brief description: a starship disassembly simulator with realistic physics

You are a space scavenger who dismantles spaceships for a powerful corporation. This task is not an easy one: maneuvering and manipulating ship parts in zero gravity and a vacuum is extremely difficult, and if you're not careful, the laser could accidentally hit a fuel tank or a nuclear reactor, which would vaporize you without a trace. The company will, of course, bring you back as a clone—but this will cost you part of your salary. And earning money is already difficult: all shifts are strictly limited in time.
The universe in which Hardspace: Shipbreaker takes place is not the most cheerful place, but the process of dismantling ships is addictive. It's a fascinating puzzle that also gives room for creativity: finding the most profitable and efficient way to dismantle a ship is very interesting. And if so, then you can serve as a corporation slave for a bit: after all, it's not every day you find a job that makes your eyes light up.

Train Sim World 5

Release year: 2024
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.
Brief description: A beautiful and realistic train simulator, but with expensive DLC

One ​​of the most meditative simulators in this selection. Seriously, what's so stressful about driving a train? There's a lot, but in Train Sim World you quickly get the hang of it and start enjoying the sound of the wheels and the beautiful views from the window. Perfect for train fans or those who just want to relax and pretend they're on vacation. The game features detailed route customization and various modes, including a conductor mode and a good photo mode.
There are two downsides. Firstly, the game still has plenty of bugs. Secondly, without DLC, the game can get boring after 10-15 hours—and add-ons are expensive (and there are a lot of them out already). But that's the distribution system for many hardcore simulators: they have a modest audience, and the developers need to make money somehow.

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic

Year of release: 2024
Platforms: PC
Brief description: Dark Souls from the world of city-building simulators

In Workers & Resources, you manage not a city, but an entire SSR—with a planned economy. This means you have to control absolutely everything. The game has a difficulty setting, but it's best to choose Hardcore. In this case, even seemingly basic waste recycling poses challenges, let alone more complex systems. Chains form new chains, and more chains are strung on them, which depend on other chains: even building a single panel here is a whole science in itself.
And there are rail links, aviation, shipping, the fuel industry, aircraft manufacturing, depreciation of equipment and buildings—you name it. Plus, there's the Steam Workshop, for which a huge number of mods have already been created. You can lose yourself in Workers & Resources for many thousands of hours. If you like challenges, of course, this is not Cities: Skylines, everything is difficult here.

InZOI

Release year: 2025
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Brief description: a simulator of the beautiful life

A life simulator from South Korean Krafton and, potentially, a Sims-killer. The game is still in Early Access, so there's a lot left unfinished: there are few workplaces you can visit with your Zoey, mechanics related to children are unfinished—and there's a lot that's not quite right yet. But it's already a good and beautiful life simulator, one in which you can easily lose dozens of hours of real life.
Firstly, InZOI is very beautiful and has a deep character editor—it's sure to please those who love to customize their characters in detail. If you're missing decorative elements, you can take photos of your own, and they'll appear in the game. Thanks to the AI, you can even teach your Zoey your favorite TikTok dances! Secondly, Zoeys are more willful than Sims, which makes for interesting stories. Plus, their actions are strongly influenced by their mood and personality. It will be very interesting to see how the game will develop: it still has a lot ahead of it.

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