Simulation games have their own unique charm that draws players in. Here are our picks for the best simulation games available today. Now, games like Goat Simulator are a lot of fun, sure. But we’ll only be looking at realistic games that are based on a real-life profession or activity.
Arma 3
Arma 3 is a huge military simulator set in a massive world. It’s very realistic in almost every single aspect, from graphics to the way the guns handle. Combat situations are very different from games like Call of Duty, and they’re really intense. Full-auto weapons aren’t viable options in many combat situations and players need to be disciplined in their gun handling. In most missions, you play with a squad of soldiers and often you obey orders or give them. Tactical and strategic thinking is the key to winning, not spraying and praying. Enemies will drop you with one good shot and vice versa. It’s a quite difficult game to get into at first, obviously. But I believe that Arma 3 is definitely the best military simulator out there.
SnowRunner
SnowRunner is a game where you drive offroad vehicles in difficult terrain. Often, you’ll be transporting logs from one lumber camp to another in harsh weather. The driving mechanics are very overwhelming at first; along with gearing systems and clutching, there are also situations where you have to use objects around you to complete a mission. For example, if the truck gets stuck in the mud, you’ll need to use the winch to get out. It’s a really fun game and the physics is also realistic. It’s one of the best off-road driving games ever.
PC Building Simulator
The name says it all. This game is all about building PCs. From choosing the components to assembling the entire system, everything is so well done. Obviously, there isn’t a story or anything like that. If you’re an enthusiastic PC builder, this is the perfect game for you.
Assetto Corsa Competizione
Assetto Corsa Competizione is a racing simulator game that’s quite difficult to get used to at first. It’s not about driving insanely fast to win the race, but driving safely and with discipline. You have to adapt to the different weather systems and tune your car to suit your needs. It also looks quite good on all platforms, especially the PC. A racing wheel can make the game truly feel authentic, but playing with a controller is fine as well.
The Hunter: Call of the Wild
The Hunter: Call of the Wild is a game about hunting, as the name implies. You can hunt various wildlife in a variety of beautiful and scenic locations. There are a lot of firearms to choose from and they can be customized. You must be slow and quiet in order for a successful hunt and rushing it will simply result in your prey escaping. It can be a relaxing experience at times as well, thanks to the ambiance.
Car Mechanic Simulator
To be honest, there isn’t much you can tell about these games because their names clearly tell you of what they are all about. Anyway, Car Mechanic Simulator is a game where you repair and maintain cars! It’s a great game and like many good simulators, you can learn more about the subject when playing it.
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a game where you drive a truck that carries heavy cargo from one place to another. You can customize your truck and learn to master driving this heavy vehicle in order to make successful deliveries. It’s a very popular game and it can be somewhat addictive, even. It’s not like other driving games. You must pay close attention to traffic and the roads. And you must also drive carefully and not damage the goods.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, you can fly planes in any country of the world and you might even fly above your own city. Every airport in the world is in the game and that really is something to boast about. It’s a huge game and it’s safe to say that it executed the concept of a good flying simulator very well. The plane is very overwhelming to control at first, but it can be very satisfying to gain altitude and land the plane perfectly after getting used to it.
Farming Simulator
Farming Simulator is another game where overly explaining the game is unnecessary because the title itself says what the game is all about. In it, you can do basically anything a farmer does. It’s very in-depth and you can learn a fair bit about real-life farming by playing it.
Train Simulator Classic
Train Simulator is the best game for train enthusiasts. You can learn many things about railways and the trains themselves. Driving a train is complex and you need to master many mechanics of the game to become a really good driver in-game. There are a lot of iconic trains from around the world and it’s a real joy for anyone who prefers games like this.
What are your picks for the best simulation games? Let us know on the forums!
