There’s something undeniably hypnotic about simulator games—whether you’re plowing fields, running a theme park, or soaring above the clouds. They let you slip into someone else’s shoes, master a new craft, or test-drive a totally different lifestyle. Below, I’ve rounded up 15 of the best simulator games out there right now, drawing on the latest expert round-ups and my own late-night binge-plays.
Some titles you probably know; others might sneak up and surprise you.
Let’s dig in.
15 Best Simulator Games to Escape Into
1. Microsoft Flight Simulator
This one’s the granddaddy of flight sims—and for good reason. It nails the feeling of lifting off into the wild blue yonder with photoreal scenery and hyper-realistic weather patterns that’ll have you gripping the joystick. You can DIY a quick joyride or tackle instrument-only landings in a thunderstorm. Absolutely mesmerizes me every time I fire it up.
2. Two Point Hospital
Imagine SimHospital but with a wicked sense of humor. You design wacky wards—think “Slime Vomit Ward”—research absurd cures, and treat patients who’ve caught everything from “Light-Headedness” to “Mock Star” to “Animal Magnetism.” It’s a management sim that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works. I’ve laughed so hard at some of this game’s patient descriptions it nearly crashed my PC.
3. Planet Coaster
If you’ve ever sketched roller coasters in the margins of your notebook, this is your jam. Planet Coaster lets you build insane loops, then micromanage every cotton-candy stand, staff uniform, and footpath. The sandbox tools are so deep, some folks actually earn a living selling coaster blueprints. This is the kind of creativity injection every gamer needs once in a while.
4. Farming Simulator 22
There’s Zen in driving a massive tractor across fields at dawn, planting seeds to the hum of diesel engines. Farming Simulator 22 captures that rural charm—complete with authentic brand-name machinery and seasonal cycles. It’s meditative…until you realize your bank account’s tanked because you over-invested in pasture maintenance. Been there, done that.
5. Cities: Skylines II
City builders don’t get much bigger than Skylines. The sequel cranks complexity to 11: layered traffic analytics, advanced citizen and economic simulation, even severe weather events that can cripple your metropolis. Watching your dream city spiral into gridlock is strangely compelling—though I admit I sometimes rage-quit in a blaze of highway mayhem.
When you’ve burned out on those heavyweights, here’s a clutch of niche sims—from hobby-horses to off-the-wall thieves—that deserve a spot on your playlist.
6. Fruitbus
One of the sweeter surprises of the last year. You’re a wandering food-truck chef in a pastel open world, foraging fruits, crafting recipes, and plating dishes for adorable critters. It’s as chill as it sounds, but sneaks in a surprising level of recipe management once you’re hooked.
Check more games to play when you’re bored here.
7. Thief Simulator
Ever wanted to case a digital home and make off with Grandma’s sterling silver? Thief Simulator gives you the lowdown: scout routines, disable alarms, pick locks, and leg it before the cops arrive. It’s tense and often hilarious—because yes, I’ve bungled a getaway so badly I had to restart the entire heist. Zero shame admitting that.
8. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Press play and watch your stress level plummet. Animal Crossing’s pace is glacial—in the best way—and every new shell or flower you snag yields this tiny burst of joy. I’m not above bragging that I’ve spent entire weekends trading turnips with Internet strangers. There’s real warmth in that laid-back island life.
9. The Sims 4
The original life-sand-box. You name, shame, and shame again your Sims as they pursue careers, romances, and—if you’re feeling cruel—public humiliation. The latest expansion pack is called Enchanted by Nature, so whether you’re into vampirism, running a food truck, or raising toddlers, there’s always something new to tweak.
10. Stardew Valley
A masterclass in indie farming. You inherit a run-down plot, plant crops, mine caverns, and flirt with townsfolk—all backed by a lovingly crafted pixel-art world. It’s simple to pick up but deep enough to lose yourself for weeks.
11. Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator
This one’s oddly addictive: you cruise stylized city streets, ferrying passengers against the clock. Traffic’s unpredictable, fares vary, and there’s an entire upgrade tree for your taxi. It’s a weirdly satisfying hustle—especially when you squeeze in a late-night double fare on neon-lit avenues.
12. Euro Truck Simulator 2
No joke: hundreds of hours of armchair trucking await. You haul cargo across Europe, pick up contracts, manage fuel stops, and customize your big rig down to the wheel spokes. There’s a zen in long stretches of highway at dusk—plus, spotting landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in digital form gives you the same thrill as real-world travel.
13. Kerbal Space Program 2
Strap adorable green astronauts (Kerbals) into wonky rockets and launch them into orbit—if you can get off the launchpad, that is. The sequel expands on building, research, and exploration. With the release of the game’s 1.0 version, I’ve personally spent more time flaming back into the pad than I care to admit, but when you finally dock two ships…pure euphoria.
14. House Flipper
You buy wrecks, gut interiors, and flip them for profit. It’s a mini-MasterClass in virtual renovation—complete with floor plans, paint swatches, and the soul-crushing moment you realize you forgot to lay insulation. I once painted an entire bathroom neon green. My virtual clients hated it, and honestly, so did I.
15. Satisfactory
Factory-building meets first-person exploration. You land on an alien planet, start scrapping resource nodes, then architect massive conveyor-belt cathedrals that pump out components on a grand scale. The learning curve’s steep, but stumbling through cable spaghetti and conveyor chaos is half the fun.
Which sim has your heart?
Maybe you’re a pilot, an urban planner, or a weekend farmhand. Or perhaps you fancy yourself a culinary wanderer or a low-key outlaw. Whatever your itch, there’s a simulator out there that’ll let you scratch it—often in ways you never expected.
Now it’s your turn. Which sim are you logging back into tonight?
Drop a comment below, share your wildest in-game fail, or shout out your secret favorite.
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