There are a lot of video games out there and in this day and age of mobile and home-based gaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable games through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, our attention this time turns to the best simulation games of all time. The games feature incredible ecosystems and semi-realistic depictions of daily activities that we encounter every day.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Minecraft
The best-selling video game of all time is Minecraft. It’s a title many fans enjoy for its relaxing atmosphere, addictive gameplay, and unbelievable potential. The games had consistent updates that add new elements here and there. However, its core mechanics alone should satisfy players.
If you’ve never played Minecraft, it’s essentially a game where the whole world is your playground. You can do mostly everything from fishing in lakes and chopping down trees. You can use the resources you collect to build more tools and weaponry. You can use said tools to create anything from large buildings to tiny houses.
During your building and crafting, you’ll organisms like cows, chickens, and pigs that you can harvest materials from or treat as pets. Minecraft’s world also features horrifying monsters like zombies and spooky skeletons. However, some of these creatures’ designs are more adorable in nature, making it easy for kids to sleep well after a long session of Minecraft.
If you’re looking for a great simulation game, Minecraft’s worth playing.
The Sims
The Sims offers players a chance to create their ideal households, families, and relationships within a computerized setting. These games have grown in popularity since their conception, introducing and adding new mechanics with each release.
The premise for The Sims is simple. You’re meant to create an avatar, control their actions, and monitor their life activities on the screen. For instance, you can force your character to pursue specific careers or activities you wouldn’t typically involve yourself in, in the real world.
It’s a timeless classic that continues to grow with each new entry. Whether you love or despise The Sims, it doesn’t look like they’ll be going away for a long time.
My Time At Portia
Many games often site films and other media as inspiration. My Time at Portia is an excellent example of how to replicate its influence’s work into something fresh. This game was inspired by Studio Ghibli’s wonderfully array of films.
It manages to capture the same magic and atmosphere of said films with its adorable character designs and world. My Time At Portia centers around a boy who inherits his father’s abandoned workshop, handbook, and workbench. With these tools, the child must dig and create many things that’ll convince the citizens of Portia that his workshop is the best.
While building up your workshop’s reputation, the player will help this boy establish goodwill with Portia City’s citizens. This means that the player will indulge themselves in many quests, dungeons, and other things to attain popularity.
Cities: Skylines
Babysitting is one thing, but imagine having to run an entire city. Cities: Skylines is an excellent city-building simulation game that allows players to create the metropolis of their desires. With great power comes great responsibility as you’ll also have to maintain peace within your created community.
This game allows you to control your city’s layout to fit your needs. It’s a title that emphasized the struggle with creating and maintaining order. You’ll start with a basic infrastructure that gradually grows into something larger as you progress through the game. The game offers wonderful tutorials that’ll help you become better at the craft.
Avoiding mistakes is your biggest concern while playing this game. Something small like poorly constructing a water dam can lead to your city’s demise.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a farming and life simulation title that many fans adore. Its graphics are wonderfully pixelated and immersive. The gameplay loop is fun, creative, and time-consuming. It’s a title that you’ll want to set aside some time to play as it will pull you in with many things to do.
You play as a girl who inherits her grandfather’s farm plot. Your mission is to transform this plot of land into something breathtaking enough to refill the Stardew Valley citizen’s spirits. The game may feel like it gives players less freedom to create the farm of their dreams. However, its story is only a fraction of what the game offers.
Besides rekindling the citizen’s spirits, you’ll be able to harvest and tame wildlife, explore various caves and attend specific fun-filled events. You’ll also be able to shape your grandfather’s plot to how you want it, allowing you to have different farms from friends. On that note, you can also build upon farms with friends in a 4-player online co-op.
This game’s meant to be your playground, and your story to tell. If you’re looking for a life simulator that allows you to make your farming dreams come true, play Stardew Valley.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was many fans’ saving grace in the year 2020. It gave everyone stuck in quarantine something to do. It also allowed players to hang out with their friends on a tropical island no less. It felt like Nintendo’s way of making the world feel brighter than it had any right to be.
At its core, the Animal Crossing franchise has always been about creating your dream home and paying off your debts to Tom Nook. However, New Horizons went a step further and gave you a chance to create the island of your dreams. Unfortunately, you still have to pay Tom Nook for the costs, but the end product makes the whole premise a worthwhile one.
At the same time, this entire island is a playground that you can build on top of or destroy to your heart’s content. The gamers offer introductions for new and old alike and set you off to do whatever you please. While there are some mandatory tasks in the game for you to complete, you generally are your own boss.
If you’re looking for a game that’s well worth your time and effort, pick up Animal Crossing New Horizons.
Planet Coaster
Have you ever wanted to create your own theme park? Planet Coaster has you covered. This game features mesmerizing visuals, engaging sound design, and a simple interface that allows you to create the amusement park of your dreams.
As you can tell, Planet Coaster is an amusement park simulation game that allows players to take control and create a well-established theme park. You’ll be tasked with filling your park with incredible rides, attractions, concession stands, and fun activities. It will require a lot of work, but the game’s tutorials should alleviate one’s stress for building and managing.
Not only can you build attractions, but the game allows you to ride them yourself. This build’s upon the game’s immersion and gives players a chance to lean back and take in the game’s astounding visuals. You can also share your creations online with friends.
Cooking Simulator
Cooking Simulator’s name speaks for itself. It’s a game that allows you to make a variety of dishes without needing to worry about causing a mess in your actual kitchen. It’s a game full of fun and hilarity as you’ll see yourself making the perfect meal or creating an atrocious dish.
The game’s premise consists of you being a chef of a well-established restaurant. You’ll have access to this restaurant’s entire kitchen, including its utensils, stands, plates, etc. Your goal is to master Cooking Simulator’s 80+ recipes while meeting customers’ demands.
You can either take the game seriously or goof around making the most bogus meals possible. The game will limit you occasionally with special meals and orders, but you mostly have free terrain to make whatever you want.
Two Point Hospital
Two Point Hospital is a hospital simulation game developed by Sega. In this game, you’re tasked with creating a hospital and building upon its reputation. Two Point Hospital features hilarious facial animations, a simple interface, and a robust gameplay loop.
This game will task players with managing their cash flow, arranging corridors, rooms, and other specifications that best suit themselves and their clients. Hospitals can expand to multiple buildings, allowing players to create their ideal hospital buildings. You’ll also get access to varied furniture and decorations to help improve your building’s landscapes.
The gameplay also has you take the role of doctors and nurses. You’ll receive patients who are enduring different symptoms from mild colds to severe influenza. However, the game offers players lists featuring different medications they can offer their patients.
Two Point Hospital is a great and wacky game that’ll leave players feeling like a proper doctor or nurse.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of Microsoft’s most beloved franchises. This game will embrace its players with colorful and vibrant visuals. It allows players who’ve never ridden a plane before, to experience the joys, wonder, and excitement surrounding air travel.
This game offers a magical experience and time. Players have many vehicles they can choose from. Each vehicle is well-designed and polished to fit the game’s multiple landscapes. You’ll be able to travel to many different areas from Germany to the United States. The game also features a real-time weather system, many different organisms from trees to animals, and live traffic.
The game suffers from long load times, though. This is apparent whenever players want to go from one location to the next. This may bother you if you’re someone who likes seamless gameplay. The game has a few issues with some graphical details in its environments.
Besides that, Microsoft Flight Simulator will play fine on most high-end computers. If you have the technology to handle it, I suggest giving it a chance.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best simulation video games of all time!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!