Simulation games are incredibly popular, and there are new ones coming out each year. People love to create their own worlds and characters and to interact with the things around them. To help you make the most of your time, here are the top 10 simulation games ever made.
- The Sims
The Sims has long been a popular simulation game. It’s also one of the best-selling video game series of all time. It has been around since 2000. You can have pets, jobs, hobbies, and more in this game. You can play Sims 4 for PC, and soon it will be available for Xbox One and PS4. You can also sample a Sims game on your mobile device. The free game is “Sims Freeplay,” and you can buy Sims 4 on the Sims website for $29.99. - Wolf Quest
Wolf Quest is a 3D wildlife simulation video game developed by the Minnesota Zoo. In this fun (and free) game, you get to explore wolf behavior and ecology like never before. There are intense social interactions as you find your own pack and live as a wolf would. - Sid Meier’s Civilization
Sid Meier is another game maker who has been around for quite a long time. In one of his best-selling series, Civilization, you play empires as they grow from small city-states to huge superpowers. Civilization 5 is available on both PC and major consoles. You can achieve victory by various means, such as world domination, reaching space, or becoming an economic powerhouse. Purchase this game on Steam for $29.99. - Spore: Creature Creator
Spore is created by one of the same designers who made The Sims, and it shows. This game is one of the best simulations of its time. You start out as a single-celled organism. As you grow, your character literally evolves genetically and in appearance. You live in a world unique to your character, and eventually, grow to be a tribe. Try it for free, then buy it for $19.99. - Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata is a simple little console and PC game that simulates gardening. There is a story behind it that keeps you playing. Along the way, you attract wildlife—“piñatas”—to your garden. In order to attract certain piñatas, you must have what they like. The cost of the game varies based on which version you purchase and whether you purchase it for PC or console. It is available at a number of retail websites. - Tycoon Simulators
It’s impossible to pick one Tycoon simulation game, as they’re all equally amazing. Two of the most popular are Zoo Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon, but there are several more, such as Prison, Airline, and Railroad Tycoon games. In RollerCoaster Tycoon, you create a theme park complete with roller coasters of your own creation. There are tons of possible customizations in each of these games. Price varies depending on which Tycoon version you get, but they’re all amazing in their own right. Tycoon games can be purchased online or at a number of retail stores. - Kerbal Space Program
This simulation game is so in-depth and authentic that it’s spurred interest from NASA, Space X, and the European Space Agency (ESA). This PC game is a space flight simulator that allows you to control a space program, building and creating your own spacecraft to explore space. The game has been praised by scientists for its representation of physics and orbital mechanics. If this game sounds good to you, you can purchase it on Steam for $39.99 or play a free demo. - Don’t Starve
This simulation game is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. You play a man who has entered a strange and unexplored world full of creatures you’ve never seen before. There are many unexpected dangers and surprises. Your job is to gather resources and survive by crafting items and structures. This game is available on Steam for $14.99. - Papers Please
Papers Please is a puzzle game that simulates the emotional toll of working as an immigration officer. You decide who may enter the country and who will be turned away. While you approve or deny people, your dystopian city may end up destroyed by those who wish to enter. This game isn't easy, but it has been praised by IGN as being one of the best games ever made. Find it on Steam for $9.99. - Ark: Survival Evolved
This game is unique from all others. It’s a survival game, but it’s set during Jurassic times. You play a cave-person who has to survive around dinosaurs. While raptors may try to kill you, you can train other dinosaurs to be your companions. You can ride land dinosaurs or even fly on a pterodactyl. “You must hunt, harvest, craft items, grow crops, and build shelters to survive.” You can find this game on Steam for $29.99.
