Best Simulation Games on Steam

Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated simulation games. For those who prefer not to search, check out lists of the most played, top deals and best free to play Simulation games on Steam.

Filters & Lists
Evochron Legacy SE Advanced Space Flight, Combat, Trading, and Exploration Simulation. Set in a vast explorable universe, Evochron Legacy offers freeform gameplay with many diverse objectives and paths to choose from.

Price 24.50€
Rating 7.7
Release 18 Jan 2016
Sol 0: Mars Colonization Sol 0 is a real time strategy game where you establish the first Martian colony. From the first human footprints on Martian soil to a thriving and self-sustaining colony, Sol 0 imagines a near future using technology that could be available within the next few decades.

Price 0.99€
Rating 6.6
Release 15 Jan 2016
Punch Club Train hard, fight crocodiles and find love. Earn your place in the Punch Club ranks, and discover who brutally murdered your father, in this choose your own adventure boxing management tycoon.

Price -96% 0.47€
Rating 7.9
Release 08 Jan 2016
Sepia Tears A visual novel about a memory that a boy named Mark tries very hard to forget, and a girl named Myra who unearths it.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.4
Release 08 Jan 2016
Feed and Grow: Fish Hunt and eat other fish - simply, grow into larger beasts!

Price 14.99€
Rating 7.6
Release 08 Jan 2016
Blood Code A story about an ordinary human girl and her romantic encounters with knights and princes. These characters may be gentle, passionate, considerate, or inhospitable. There are many character styles to suit a variety of individual player tastes.

Price -50% 4.87€
Rating 7.1
Release 28 Dec 2015
Heaven Island - VR MMO More a Journey in your Inner Self than a game, "Heaven Island" is an experience in which you'll explore wonderful places. The inspiration for the environments comes from the Renzo Piano designs and from the book "Origins of Architectural Pleasure" in which the welfare is of primary importance.

Price 0.99€
Rating 6.2
Release 23 Dec 2015
Drift Streets Japan Racing Game about Illegal Night Street Racing. Nice Cars and Advanced Engine Tuning. Most Realistic and Best Physics. Most Quality Graphics. Drive the Large Japan Highway with traffic. Feel the Real experience, try to drift with car cockpit camera.

Price -96% 0.23€
Rating 6.3
Release 21 Dec 2015
MechWarrior Online™ Legends MechWarrior Online™ Legends is a tactical, 'Mech-based online shooter set in the vast BattleTech Universe. Assume the role of an elite MechWarrior, piloting powerful BattleMechs, fighting for supremacy over the Inner Sphere.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.8
Release 10 Dec 2015
Emily Wants To Play It’s 11pm and the last house on your route. The windows are boarded up, the yard is overgrown, but the lights are on and the front door is open… strange place to deliver a pizza. You’re getting soaked from the rain, so you hesitantly step inside the house. You shouldn’t have done that.

Price -81% 0.99€
Rating 7.5
Release 10 Dec 2015
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Maker "Romance of the Three Kingdoms Maker" celebrates the 30th anniversary of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" series. It has been realized through a collaboration between the creators of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" series, Koei Tecmo Games, and the creators of the "TSUKURU" series, KADOKAWA.

Price 9.99€
Rating 6.4
Release 09 Dec 2015
Pool Nation FX Lite Pool Nation FX, is a seriously fun Pool & Snooker Sim! A visually stunning billiards simulation with the critically acclaimed POOL NATION physics engine. Play 8 Ball, 9 Ball, Snooker, Killer & more, unlimited Career modes with customised difficulty levels, Trickshots, Local and Online Multiplayer, spectate live matches and feel...

Price Free to play
Rating 7.0
Release 07 Dec 2015
AX:EL - Air XenoDawn Combining the very best of sci-fi and aerial dogfighting gameplay, AX:EL delivers a totally new gaming experience. Create your very own shape-shifting vehicle and dominate both the sky and the ocean.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.2
Release 04 Dec 2015
The Isle Experience fierce open world survival gameplay as you attempt to stay alive on an unforgiving island inhabited by dinosaurs! Hunt. Grow. Survive.

Price 19.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 01 Dec 2015
Eastside Hockey Manager EHM offers fans the most realistic, in-depth and immersive simulation of hockey management available, giving them the chance to manage either club or country in any of the world’s top hockey-playing nations.

Price -98% 0.43€
Rating 8.2
Release 01 Dec 2015
Astrox: Hostile Space Excavation Exiled to a deep space mining sector, you are left with a crappy ship, a laser, and a small mining beam. It is up to you to survive by working your way through the galaxy. Mine asteroids, refine and trade the ore, buy upgrades for your ship, hunt pirates... you get it.

Price 8.19€
Rating 7.9
Release 30 Nov 2015
The Deed A keenly dark twist on the traditional murder mystery setting, The Deed is an Adventure/RPG game about getting away with murder. Arran Bruce, the rightful heir to Dunshiel House, returns home to settle a score with his estranged family.

Price -63% 0.37€
Rating 8.7
Release 23 Nov 2015
Emily is Away Emily is Away is an interactive story. Create a screenname and choose your path through the branching narrative.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.7
Release 20 Nov 2015
Home Design 3D Home Design 3D is the reference interior design and home decor application, allowing you to draw, create and visualize your floor plans and home ideas.Design your dream projects simply and easily, in 2D and/or 3D. Get a good idea of your next home or simply have fun!

Price -84% 1.64€
Rating 7.4
Release 20 Nov 2015
Life is Feudal: Your Own Hardcore and realistic; LiF is a Medieval multiplayer sandbox RPG, with free terraforming, a rich crafting system and preset and modular building construction. With engaging survival aspects, no target physics-based combat and a unique formation system - along with numerous other features - LiF is not for the faint of heart!

Price -92% 1.74€
Rating 6.5
Release 17 Nov 2015
rFactor 2 rFactor 2 is a realistic, easily extendable racing simulation that offers race customization, great graphics, outstanding multiplayer and the height of racing realism. It features mixed class road racing with ultra realistic dynamics, an immersive sound environment and stunning graphics.

Price -94% 1.98€
Rating 7.7
Release 12 Nov 2015
FortressCraft Evolved! FortressCraft Evolved is a unique blend of Voxel Landscapes, Tower Defense, Crafting, Logistics, Exploration, Combat and Assembly lines. Players begin by crash-landing on a strange alien world, left with only a small handful of starting machines.

Price -49% 6.63€
Rating 7.0
Release 09 Nov 2015
Among the Heavens Up in the sky in a fantasy world, two friends Cid and Markus decided to bring an old tavern back to life in Among the Heavens!

Price -69% 0.95€
Rating 8.1
Release 06 Nov 2015
The Odyssey: Winds of Athena As the Greek Goddess Athena, control the wind, seas, and air to guide the hero Odysseus home from the Trojan Wars. The incredibly realistic water current simulation will amaze and challenge you, as you use your powers to protect the Hero's fleet.

Price 4.99€
Rating 6.2
Release 06 Nov 2015

Simulation games offer players the chance to experience real-life scenarios in a virtual environment. Whether you want to build a thriving city, manage a farm, or pilot a plane, simulation games provide immersive experiences that can be both entertaining and educational. Here are some popular types of simulation games you can explore.

Life Simulation
Games that let you create and manage characters and their lives, like The Sims™ 4.
Vehicle Simulation
Experience driving, flying, or sailing in realistic environments, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition.
City-Building
Design and manage your own city, balancing resources and the needs of your citizens, like in Cities: Skylines.
Farming Simulation
Grow crops, raise animals, and manage your farm in games like Farming Simulator 25.

Each game offers unique gameplay mechanics and challenges, ensuring that there’s something for everyone.

How to Find More Simulation Games

If you’re eager to explore even more simulation games, our site makes it easy! Use the category filters to narrow down your search. You can look for tags like "multiplayer" for games to play with friends or "realistic" for those that focus on authentic experiences. This way, you can quickly find games that match your interests.

Tips for Choosing the Right Simulation Game

Consider your interests
Think about what aspects of simulation you enjoy most. Do you prefer building and management, or are you more into exploration and adventure?
Look for games with strong community support
Games that have active communities often provide additional content, mods, and tips that can enhance your experience.
Check for user reviews
Reading reviews can give you insight into the game’s quality, gameplay experience, and any potential issues.

What are the best simulation games for beginners?

If you’re new to simulation games, consider starting with Stardew Valley or Two Point Hospital. Both are user-friendly and offer tutorials to help you get started.

What makes a simulation game great?

A great simulation game typically features engaging mechanics, a well-designed user interface, and a balance between challenge and fun. Realism and depth can also enhance the overall experience.

With a wide variety of options available, you’re sure to find a game that captivates you and provides hours of entertainment. Don’t forget to check back regularly for updates, as new games are released and ratings change. Happy gaming, and enjoy building, managing, and exploring in your virtual worlds!