15 Most Realistic Game Simulations You Should Try

Whether you want to fly planes, crash cars, or plow fields, there is a simulation game for you. What’s more, there are some weird and wacky entries in this genre that might just be weird enough to pique your interest.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a sequel to the 2020 game of the same name. The game promises to deliver only two highly realistic things, but it does so at an extraordinary level: planes and the planet. The game contains a full version of our real world and a very realistic flight model. This is one of the few games where you can technically visit your own home.

In the game you can choose from a wide range of hand-crafted planes, allowing you to explore our planet that was built using satellite imagery, photogrammetry, machine learning and many hand-crafted objects. The 2024 sequel improves on existing systems by adding more aircraft types, an entire career mode, more realistic environments, and much more.

Euro truck simulator 2

Euro truck simulator 2 remains one of the best-selling games on Steam over twelve years after its initial release. Take on the role of a truck driver and drive licensed trucks in real locations, with tight schedules and regulations to follow. Plus, you can only ride for about ten hours at a time before you have to stop for sleep.

Although this is not the so-called live service gamethe creators almost treat it that way. ETS2 has received over 90 DLC packs, some of which are full-scale expansions that add completely new countries to explore. Similarly Microsoft’s flight simulatoryou can visit your own home… if you live in Europe (although American truck simulator also exists). Recently I saw a video from my city Western Balkans update and I couldn’t believe how well made and detailed it was.

Assetto Corsa EVO

Assetto Corsa EVO is upcoming racing simulation. The series is highly appreciated among racing and car enthusiasts because it is characterized by very realistic physics and mechanics. Apart from that, the game is original extremely moddable. This is the third installment of the series, but since Assetto Corsa Competizione focuses largely on GT racing, you can consider EVO as soft restart which puts the emphasis back on street cars.

It’s the kind of game that will make you want it set up a racing simulation system. Assetto Corsa EVO The premiere is scheduled for January 16, 2025.

BeamNG drive

BeamNG drive is not a typical racing simulator Assetto Corsa. Rather, it is a sandbox vehicle simulation focusing on soft-body physics. This means incredibly realistic crashes where cars bend and become unrecognizable with enough force.

BeamNG drive allows you to drive almost anything, from regular track racing and drifting to off-road driving on snowy maps. You can think of it as Garry’s mod, but with particular emphasis on vehicles. Although there are no licensed cars in the game, it has an active community and lots of mods.

Cities: Skylines II

Cities: Skylines II is a highly realistic city building and resource management simulation game. It’s your job to plan, build and manage a thriving metropolis filled with realistic traffic, pedestrians, weather systems and more.

This is worth emphasizing Cities: Skylines II had a rocky launch and still has some technical and gameplay issues, so consider giving the original a try (it’s often on sale) on Steamwhich makes it a better offer).

Great from the owner

If you want a real 1980s UK landlord simulator, you can’t get any closer than this Great from the owner. The gameplay largely focuses on building a house, managing finances and contacts with tenants. While the game has a number of technical issues that probably won’t be fixed anytime soon, it has a charm that only true indies have and is one of the weirder simulators you can get your hands on.

Farming Simulator 25

The Farming simulator the franchise is one of the most famous in the simulation world. It’s exactly what it sounds like if you played as a farmer and had to manage all aspects of the farming operation. You plant, grow and harvest various crops, buy and maintain machines, raise animals and so on.

Farming Simulator 25 is the latest entry that adds more content, a dynamic weather system and much more.

PowerWash simulator

PowerWash simulator is probably one of the strangest simulation games out there, at least at first glance. It’s a game where you use a pressure washer to clean almost everything (even a Mars rover). However, once you start playing it, you will realize how satisfying cleaning with a pressure washer is.

Don’t you believe me? The game has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam – over 41,000 reviews.

House flipping 2

If you’ve always dreamed of making a fortune buying and selling real estate, start your risk-free journey by practicing House flipping 2. Think of it as a highly detailed home renovation simulator where the goal is to buy a house cheaply, renovate it, and sell it for maximum profit (then do it again).

PC construction simulator 2

I love computer hardware. Building computers is something I would like to do in my life, but since it’s not a viable career path, I’ll just do it in PC construction simulator 2 Instead.

The game contains over 1,200 elements from everyday life to choose from and plenty of additional tasks to complete, such as benchmarking, replacing the thermal paste on the GPUand even Processor removal. The game comes with excellent step-by-step guides that allow you to practice before building or modifying your own computer. Read ours full review of PC Building Simulator 2 for more information.

Thief simulator 2

Thief simulator 2 this is a simulation unlike any other. The main focus is on break and enters. Your task is simple: find a way to get into the house, sneak around, steal valuable items and escape without getting caught. I don’t want to reveal too much, because the game is worth experiencing for yourself.

Contraband police

Another very specific simulation game, Contraband police is a game in which you play the role of a border inspector in a fictional communist country called Acaristan. The action takes place in the 1980s and your goal is to stop criminals from smuggling contraband into the country. I say “intentional” because you can also be corrupt and take bribes. There are guns and the occasional shootout, but action isn’t the main focus of this game.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

This may be a controversial choice, but I told my editor that I would only make this list if I could include it Kingdom Come: Deliverance I was only half-joking in this one. One sec Kingdom Come: Deliverance it is technically classified as A role-playing gameI like to think of it as a medieval simulator.

The game takes place in medieval Czech Republic. You play as Henry, the son of a village blacksmith, who sets out on a mission to avenge his family. The game is distinguished by a high level of historical accuracy, fantastic graphicsa slow and realistic combat system and plenty of survival elements that will help you remember the difficult times you find yourself in.

Now is a great time to jump in Kingdom Come: Deliverance before its sequel arrives in 2025.

Command: Modern Operations

Command: Modern Operations is a real-time strategy game that focuses entirely on modern military operations. You play as a military commander who must manage and direct all military assets (air, land and sea) to conduct successful operations in a variety of scenarios.

If you find military operations interesting, this is the perfect game for you.

Football manager 2024

IN Football manager 2024Your task is to be the best football manager and lead your team to victory. Unlike other football games in which you control the players (according to EA Sports FC), Football manager 2024 focuses solely on the management role.

You focus on tactics, player recruitment and transfers, team finances and decisions made on match day. This is a must-have for all football fans.

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There are so many great simulation games out there that I wish I had the time and space to mention them all here. Honorable mentions go to Planet Zoo, My summer car, Inhabitant, TCG card shop simulatorAND Warehouse Hunter Simulator. With such a wide selection, you will probably find at least a few simulations that will interest you!