The Best Simulator Games and Software

Unlike typical video games, simulator games focus on highly specialized fields, mundane or fantastical, and aim to replicate them as realistically as possible. Where you have to complete a certain task in video game objective, regardless of how to do it; the process/journey is just as important in sim software games as the ultimate goal. For instance, if you’re playing a farming sim, tasks like planting seeds, watering crops, and tending to fields are as rewarding as harvesting and selling your produce for profit.

The best sim software and games currently out there might never be as popular as – let’s say Grand Theft Auto 5 – but fans of this genre keep coming back for more. Be it designing and managing a city in Cities Skylines, cruising through skies in the MS Flight Simulator, or even assembling your own PC; here are the best simulator games and sim software that you can play in 2025 and beyond!

10. Farming Simulator 22

In this sim software, players engage in various agricultural activities such as cultivating fields, harvesting crops, and managing livestock. In addition, players also raise and manage their farms with animals or engage in forestry since the game provides as many facets of farming as one might expect. There are 400+ vehicles and pieces of equipment from 100+ real-life farming companies to provide as realistic an experience as possible.

New gameplay features include a seasonal year in which players must plant and grow depending on yearly weather. Also, players have production trees at their disposal to make products out of their yields (i.e., flour and then bread) to create a more immersive, managerial aspect. Sophisticated AI and modern visuals further help to deliver an engaging farming environment for one's sim experience.

9. Two Point Campus

Two Point Campus, developed by Two Point Studios, is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC. It's a hilarious management simulator where players build and run their own school campus with classes like Knight School (where students learn how to joust) and Gastronomy (where students learn how to make giant culinary delights).

Whereas the last game had no focus on the satisfaction of its student body, Two Point Campus makes players pay attention to student satisfaction concerning class offerings and after-school activities. For example, players will have to throw campus parties or, if not, give them opportunities to bond with locations to help facilitate bonding. When students are happy, they will get good grades and want to remain at the institution—something that you would definitely want for your campus in this one of the best simulation games. Two Point Campus supports both Campaign and Sandbox modes, and each has its own unique challenges and objectives.

8. PC Building Simulator

The next game on our list of the best simulator games is PC Building Simulator by The Irregular Corporation. As of today, it is available to play on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It's a sim game where you step into the shoes of a PC building and repair shop owner, handling tasks from diagnosing issues to assembling custom computers by using real-world components from brands like Intel, AMD, and Nvidia.

In Career Mode, you manage a shop and serve customers' demands for virus removal, hardware upgrades, and full custom builds. Every project is completed with attention to detail, from removing side panels and unscrewing screws to plugging in cords to spreading thermal paste. This makes it both educational for newcomers and engaging for enthusiasts.

Then, for those who want less of a guided experience and more freedom, there's Free Build Mode. Here, you can build without any concern for the budget, letting your create your dream rig! You also can customize any component you like, overclock it if you so desire, and benchmark using 3DMark and other options for stability and performance testing.

7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The most innovative gameplay feature of New Horizons is terraforming where players can change land and waterways at their will to create ideal islands. In addition, gameplay includes a NookPhone, which possesses several apps for accessing DIY recipe lists, cameras, etc. Because the game is popular, you'll never be without playmates. Up to eight players can hop into the fun at any time which helps create an engaging immersive sim environment.

6. The Sims 4

Expansion Packs add new careers/life states and new worlds to gameplay. For instance, the Get to Work expansion enables users to step into their Sim's psyche and have the Doctor, Detective, and Scientist careers. The Seasons expansion merely creates weather but it does provide seasonal activities (i.e., winter holiday activities).

Game Packs and Stuff Packs exist to fill in any gaps for additional gameplay options and additional items for possible new use. For instance, the Spa Day Game Pack gives wellness options like yoga and meditation, which encourage positive living for the Sims. The game's extensive customization options enable players to build diverse homes and develop unique Sim personalities.

5. Cities: Skylines

In Cities: Skylines, players are tasked with designing and managing a city from the ground up. In doing so, they address several inevitable challenges that come their way such as zoning, infrastructure, and public services.

Like every popular sim game, there are several expansions for Cities: Skylines that enhance the overall experience. For example, the After Dark expansion adds a day/night cycle; players will find their city functioning one way during the day and another at night as the opportunities for leisure and tourism become available. There is also a Mass Transit expansion where new transportation options like ferries, monorails, and cable cars enter the foray in-game. To put the cherry on top, there's even a thriving modding community that has created an endless array of mods and custom content to improve gameplay.

4. Gran Turismo 7

The most recent release in the series is Gran Turismo 7 for PS4 and PS5. With a roster of over 400 cars from original manufacturers and more than 90 tracks, including real-world circuits like Nürburgring and fictional classics like Trial Mountain, Gran Turismo 7 offers endless variety for sim racers. Dynamic weather and time-of-day cycles further add an extra layer of realism, requiring players to adapt their driving strategies to ever-changing conditions.

Beyond its single-player campaign, the game excels in multiplayer modes, with competitive PvP options and community events. Players can customize vehicles, explore the robust tuning system, and participate in eSports tournaments like the Gran Turismo World Series.

3. PowerWash Simulator

Using a variety of attachments and different nozzles, players blast away dirt and grime from the top of the object to the bottom to reveal what's underneath on a newly scrubbed surface. The gameplay includes single-player and cooperative multiplayer with friends. There's nothing quite as gratifying as cleaning, and few sounds are as blissful as the high-pressured spray of water cutting through dirt and debris in an almost Zen-like fashion. It's a well-crafted experience with realistic movements and great detail. No wonder the game became all the rage back when it was released in 2022.

2. Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator comes from Asobo Studio for PC and Xbox Series X/S. A reboot of the decades-long franchise, this title is highly realistic with many offerings which makes it one of the best simulation games to date. For instance, using satellite data from Bing Maps and Azure AI, the entire world is rendered with insane detail with over 37,000 airports, 1.5 billion buildings, and landscapes.

To further enhance realism, the sim software features dynamic weather systems and real-time atmospheric conditions. Therefore, not only can players hop on a plane and fly anywhere in the world to any major airport and successfully land, but they're also subjected to real weather patterns as they try to fly.

The simulator caters to both novices and seasoned aviators, offering a range of assistive features and comprehensive tutorials. You will pilot anything and everything from miniatures to massive planes, from constructed cockpits to full-fuselage aircraft with the potential of real-world navigation. The game supports various peripherals, including flight sticks and VR headsets, further enhancing the sense of realism.

1. Stardew Valley

In this farming simulator, players engage in diverse activities such as cultivating crops, raising animals, fishing, mining, and crafting. To further add depth to the farming experience, the game supports dynamic seasons that influence gameplay and crop availability.

One of the standout aspects of Stardew Valley is its community element. Players inhabit Pelican Town, which features over 30 unique characters whom players can befriend, participate in seasonal festivals, and even marry and raise children.
Of course, such fun, whimsical pixelated graphics, and a relaxed, enjoyable game would draw something for everyone. Moreover, the ability to transfer saved data from computer to tablet to console allows for easy transition and continued gameplay across platforms.