The Best Simulation Games of All Time

The 17 best Simulation games

35 votes

Pokémon Pokopia

Nintendo Switch 2

SimulationSocial SimulationCozySandbox

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story4.1

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.2

Music4.4

Character4.5

Game Freak's first foray into the cozy life simulator genre, Pokemon Pokopia drops you off as a Ditto slowly reclaiming the once destroyed land back into a habitable paradise for other Pokemon! Along the way, you meet a ton of Pokemon that will aid you in this gargantuan task and some can even teach Ditto new skills to aid you in restoration! Restore the varied colorful landscapes, collect a ton from the wide roster of Pokemon, or just relax and take photos with your Pokemon friends, there is something in Pokopia that anybody can just pick it up and enjoy at your own leisurely pace.

Survey voice

かど
It's a work that brilliantly fuses the sandbox genre with Pokémon. The Pokémon are producers of crafting materials, also serve as the workbench, and even become consumers of the finished items, so I felt the game's overall core loop is extremely well done. Also, there's almost no strong pressure from survival or combat, and the design makes you feel the player's ingenuity and growth through building, so it delivers a genuinely laid-back, relaxing play experience. On top of that, each Pokémon has a rich variety of expressions and animations, and each one expresses its own personality and preferences through its actions. As a result, rather than just learning about their traits from Pokédex entries, an "ecosystem" is created where you feel them as beings actually living there, which is another big appeal of this game.
Show original (日本語)
サンドボックスとポケモンを見事に融合させた作品です。ポケモンたちは、クラフト素材の生産者であり、作業台の役割も担い、さらに完成したアイテムの消費者にもなるため、ゲーム全体のコアループが非常に優れていると感じました。また、生存や戦闘による強いプレッシャーはほとんどなく、建築を通じてプレイヤーの工夫や成長を実感させる設計になっているため、本当の意味で気軽に楽しめる、リラックスしたプレイ体験が成立しています。加えて、ポケモンごとに多彩な表情や動作が用意されており、それぞれが行動を通じて自分の性格や好みを表現してくれます。その結果、単に図鑑の説明文で個性を知るのではなく、実際にそこに生きている存在として感じられる“生態系”が作られている点も、本作の大きな魅力です。

Diana / 20s / Female
This is my actual first Pokemon game despite knowing the franchise for a long time. We were never really able to afford many consoles growing up, so having a cozy Pokemon game as my entry really warms my heart. I haven't progressed much into the story because I really just want to savor it and not speedrun it.

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30 votes

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Nintendo Switch

SimulationSocial SimulationCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Story3.2

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.3

Music4.5

Character4.5

Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes you to a deserted island to begin a new life. Go fishing, catch bugs, and forage for valuable materials to earn money at your own pace. You can even use the materials you've gathered to craft other items and furniture. Slowly but surely, you'll be able to transform the weed-filled island into your own unique paradise! The game offers many customization options compared to its predecessors, allowing you to change your island's landscape and even place furniture outdoors. Enjoy island life together with your quirky neighbors and build a home for yourself without any pressure.

Survey voice

Muffin / Other
It's more expansive than the previous versions and I really love the decorating. The DLC I would argue is a mid game must, and it really expands on the core focus of ACNH, which is the excellent decorating. I also really love the new update and it's a satisfying game to play every day.

Lucas / 20s / Male
This came in at a time where the world was in panic and in need of an escape, and this was it. It was my first (and so far only) Animal Crossing game and it took care of me as much as I wanted to take care of the critters in my game. It's relaxing, charming, and very fun with friends.

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21 votes

Stardew Valley

Nintendo Switch

SimulationFarming SimCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.6/5

Story4.3

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.6

Music4.8

Character4.5

Stardew Valley is a cozy farming life simulation role-playing game where players inherit a neglected farm and build it into a thriving homestead while becoming part of the local community. Players can grow and sell crops, raise livestock, fish, mine for resources, and customize their own farm. Beyond farming, there is also the relationship-building that allow players to befriend villagers, complete quests, participate in seasonal festivals, and even marry and start a family. Stardew Valley is a game where players have the freedom to progress at their own pace providing a relaxing atmosphere and rewarding progression.

Survey voice

Kei / 30s / Female
Technically, Stardew Valley is on many platforms but I mainly play it on the Switch. It's the perfect game for when you just want to relax after a tiring day. I've always wanted to live in a rural area surrounded by animals and nature. I think this is why this game has such a hold on me. Apart from that though, the game's story and characters are all so adorable. In the game, I get to live my dream of becoming an entrepreneur who lives in a cabin surrounded by nature. I get to use the plants I grew for my dishes, and I can visit my friends whenever and walk alone at night because it's safe.

Diana / 20s / Female
In my opinion, one of the best cozy games ever made. It's inspirational to me as a game development student too since this was made by just one guy. I have almost 1000 hours in this game and I will always go back to it as one of my gaming safe spaces. I recently went to the Festival of Seasons concert too here in Manila and it was so worth all the hours of gameplay and saving up for the merch.

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6 votes

Animal Crossing: Wild World

Nintendo 3DS / DS

SimulationSocial SimulatorCozy

Survey scores · avg 3.8/5

Story2.3

Gameplay4.3

Graphics3.7

Music4.7

Character4.5

Animal Crossing: Wild World further established the cozy life sim we know today as the second main installation of the series. Customizable paths reimagined personalization, and for the first time, Wild World allowed players to visit each other and share the spectacle of their own little worlds. Along with new characters well-loved today such as Brewster, Celeste, Pascal, and villagers still sought-after, Wild World reinforced the relaxed yet quirky and delightful identity of Animal Crossing.

Survey voice

ばたし / 30代 / 男性
Even with new titles out, playing the older one has a different atmosphere and its own flavor. At the time, it was a rare piece of software where you could play between each other's homes via Wi-Fi. It had a chat feature too, and it was the first work where I communicated even with strangers and traded furniture.
Show original (日本語)
新作が出ていても、旧作をやると雰囲気が違っていて味がある当時はwi-fiを経由して各々の家同士で遊べる貴重なソフトだったチャット機能もあり、知らない人ともコミュニケーションをとって家具の交換などもした初めての作品

あやっぺ
In elementary school, I forced myself to stay awake, fighting off drowsiness, to watch the New Year's fireworks.
Show original (日本語)
小学生のとき、眠気に耐えながら年越しの花火を見るために頑張って起きていました。

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5 votes

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Nintendo 3DS / DS

SimulationSocial SimulatorCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.5/5

Story3.8

Gameplay5.0

Graphics4.2

Music5.0

Character4.8

Animal Crossing: New Leaf lets you play as the mayor of a town you were originally supposed to visit, albeit by mistake. With this role, you're in charge of improving the town, from planning its layout and keeping your villagers happy to developing facilities like the museum, where you can display the fish and bugs you catch as part of your daily routine. It also introduced the ability to dive and visit a distant island, giving you access to new critters and fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, to bring back to your town. There are also plenty of villagers to meet throughout the game, with even more available through amiibo and collaboration characters, giving your town a greater sense of uniqueness.

Survey voice

Kei / 30s / Female
Animal Crossing: New Leaf doesn't really have a "story" but it's special to me cause it's what accompanied me during doctor and hospital visits when I was sick. It helped me calm down before tests and before I talk to the doctor. It's really relaxing and I love the village I built along with its villagers. I especially loved going to the island, hearing Kapp'n sing his silly little songs, grab mangoes, and catch those colorful beetles so I can pay off my home loan.

Dee / 30s / Male
My first Animal Crossing game! It’s also the reason I have a soft spot for Genji, Gigi, and Colton since they were my villagers there. I actually used to hate Gigi a lot, but she grew on me to the point that she became my favorite.

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5 votes

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town

Game Boy Advance

SimulationFarming Sim

Survey scores · avg 4.5/5

Story4.6

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.2

Music4.4

Character4.6

In Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, you play as the protagonist who inherits a decrepit farmland from a long-time pen pal who passed away months ago. Grow crops, raise animals, and forage for materials to restore the farm to its former glory! Develop strong bonds with the townsfolk, and you might even find someone to settle down with. As your daily farming routine continues throughout the seasons, you'll surely make a cozy home for yourself in Mineral Town.

Survey voice

Succi / 20s / Male
My first farming sim game. This single game made me micromanage every single farming sim games I played in the future (like Stardew Valley).

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5 votes

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

Nintendo Switch 2

SimulationSocial SimulationCozySandbox

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

Story3.8

Gameplay4.5

Graphics3.8

Music4.0

Character5.0

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the latest Mii life simulator in the franchise. You can create various Miis and even tailor them to resemble their real-life inspirations using the Paint Tool, then have them live together on your island and interact with one another. How unhinged the game gets depends on you, with unfiltered topics you can set for your Miis to discuss, along with the crazy cutscenes that you'll discover as you play!

Survey voice

Muffin / Other
I really enjoy it, and the gameplay is really fun. There's a lot you can do. But I want more! It's so quick to complete and there needs to be more to do, the interactions get stale fast. You have to put a lot of you into the game to get anything out. There's nothing else quite like it though. But Nintendo, I'm waiting for an update! Give me the concert hall!

Dee / 30s / Male
One of my latest grabs, and I’ve been playing it every day. I love the silliness, the vulgarity, and the freedom to get creative with the characters.

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4 votes

Harvest Moon: Back to Nature

PlayStation (PS1)

SimulationFarming SimCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.6/5

Story4.5

Gameplay5.0

Graphics3.8

Music5.0

Character4.2

Harvest Moon: Back to Nature is one of the classics that helped bring the series into the mainstream. Not only does it feature the series' signature farming mechanics, but it also emphasizes building relationships with the townspeople and caring for your animals. It takes things a step further as you can choose one of the eligible bachelorettes to marry and even start a family with while growing your farm together. The game also features several event cutscenes that add charm to the cast and help you get to know the characters better!

Survey voice

Than / 20s / Male
This game is top tier. I'm more of an action RPG guy, but this game really had me hooked. Probably the first introduction to "waifus" in any game. Mine is Elli. I have the remastered version installed on my PC right now.

Ralph / 30s / Male
This is the game that made me fall in love with farming games. Most memorable moment is helping Cliff secure a job in the village as otherwise he will leave the town permanently.

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4 votes

Pokémon Snap

Nintendo 64

Simulation Cozy

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story3.5

Gameplay4.5

Graphics4.2

Music4.0

Character4.0

Pokemon Snap is a rail shooter where, instead of shooting enemies, you take photos of Pokemon in numerous maps. As you progress the game, you will unlock additional tools that you can use to take different photos, increasing the game's replayability.

Survey voice

Toshiki
I'd only ever played action and RPGs, but I played this like crazy at a friend's house. A photo-shooting game you can do with the feel of a theme-park attraction.
Show original (日本語)
アクションやRPGしかやってこなかったけど、友達の家でめちゃくちゃやった。テーマパークのアトラクション感覚でできる写真シューティング。

Toshiki
I'd only ever played action and RPGs, but I played this like crazy at a friend's house. You can experience the feel of riding a theme-park attraction.
Show original (日本語)
アクションやRPGしかやってこなかったけど、友達の家でめちゃくちゃやった。テーマパークのアトラクションに乗った感覚を味わえる。

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3 votes

Crazy Taxi

Dreamcast

SimulationVehicle Simulation

Survey scores · avg 3.3/5

Story1.0

Gameplay4.3

Graphics4.0

Music4.0

Character3.3

Crazy Taxi for the Dreamcast was the home console version of the Arcade game of the same name. In Crazy Taxi, you must taxi people to their destinations while also keeping track of how much time you have left until they get impatient and leave the ride. You can pretty much drive as recklessly as you want as long as you manage to reach the destination in time. The game also featured a lot of challenge levels to truly test out your mastery of the game.

Survey voice

DJ / 30s / Male
Pure arcade fun

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2 votes

Harvest Moon GB

Game Boy / Game Boy Color

SimulationFarming

Survey scores · avg 4.9/5

Harvest Moon GB is the second installment in the franchise featuring the all-so familiar farming sim experience for the first time handheld, condensed in one simple storyline. Players will get to take care of a farm for 1 year, split into four different seasons. During this time, you can plant and grow crops for sale, raise animals for other goods, and build a routine to remain profitable until the year ends. Once you complete the year successfully, you may continue to tend to the farm for your enjoyment. Unlike other Harvest Moon games, this one purely revolves around farming and doesn't delve into romancing bachelors or bachelorettes.

Survey voice

Trick / 20s / Male
The game shaped how I viewed farming games. It developed my interest in gardening and caring for animals.

Seto Kai B. / 20s / Male
My first ever exposure to Harvest moon lol and it was in black and white HAHA

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2 votes

Giftpia

Nintendo GameCube

SimulationSocial SimulationCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.8/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics4.0

Music5.0

Character4.0

Giftpia is an offbeat adventure game about Pokkle, a boy on Nanashi Island who oversleeps his own coming-of-age ceremony and ends up punished with a massive debt. Instead of focusing on combat, the game is built around exploring the island, doing odd jobs, meeting its strange residents, and eventually helping fulfill their wishes. Its daily-life structure gives it a cozy but unusual rhythm, with mechanics like hunger, curfews, and character schedules shaping how each day plays out.

Survey voice

宮﨑
Giftpia is an RPG released by Nintendo for the GameCube on April 25, 2003. The title is a coined word combining "gift" and "utopia," and as the name suggests, connections between people and growth are its themes. The story begins with the protagonist oversleeping the "coming-of-age ceremony" and being saddled with a fine. Rather than becoming a hero who saves the world, you gradually grow by listening to the island residents' requests, working to earn money, and giving presents, a very unusual work for its time. Nanashi Island, the setting, is home to distinctive residents like Pockle, Cappy, Mappo, and the Mayor. Every character is very quirky, and the conversations have a unique surrealness, but it's not just gags, each one's life, worries, and humanity are also firmly depicted. Also, there's a concept of time; at night you get sleepy, and residents act according to the time, giving it life-simulation-like elements too. There's also a system for earning money through fishing and part-time jobs, and looking back now, it was a work you could call a forerunner of the "slow-life RPG." What's especially striking is that it doesn't depict "becoming an adult" preachily. Working to pay off debt, acting for someone else's sake, touching the residents' true feelings, the accumulation of such everyday things naturally leads to the protagonist's growth. Furthermore, the distinctive world and music reminiscent of the tropics are a big appeal too. Contrary to its cute appearance, it has an air that's somehow mysterious and a little lonely, and it stays strongly in the memory of those who played it. "Giftpia" wasn't a big hit, but it's a one-of-a-kind masterpiece with a mysterious charm, the kind of game you'd suddenly recall as an adult, thinking, "what was that game, anyway."
Show original (日本語)
ギフトピアは、2003年4月25日に任天堂からゲームキューブ向けに発売されたRPGです。タイトル名は「ギフト（贈り物）」と「ユートピア（理想郷）」を組み合わせた造語で、その名の通り人とのつながりや成長がテーマになっています。物語は、主人公が“大人になるための儀式”に寝坊してしまい、罰金を背負わされるところから始まります。世界を救う勇者になるのではなく、島の住人たちの頼みごとを聞いたり、働いてお金を稼いだり、プレゼントを贈ったりしながら少しずつ成長していくという、当時としては非常に珍しい作品でした。舞台となるナナシ島には、ポックルやキャッピー、マッポ、メイヤーをはじめとした個性的な住人たちが暮らしています。どのキャラクターもクセが強く、会話には独特のシュールさがありますが、単なるギャグだけではなく、それぞれの生活や悩み、人間らしさもしっかり描かれています。また、時間の概念が存在し、夜になると眠くなったり、住人たちが時間に合わせて行動したりするなど、生活シミュレーションのような要素も特徴です。釣りやアルバイトでお金を稼ぐシステムもあり、今振り返ると“スローライフRPG”の先駆けとも言える作品でした。特に印象的なのは、「大人になること」を説教くさく描いていない点です。借金を返済するために働くことや、誰かのために行動すること、住人たちの本音に触れること――そうした日常の積み重ねが、自然と主人公の成長につながっていきます。さらに、南国を思わせる独特の世界観や音楽も大きな魅力です。かわいらしい見た目とは裏腹に、どこか不思議で少し寂しさを感じさせる空気感があり、プレイした人の記憶に強く残ります。『ギフトピア』は大ヒット作品ではありませんでしたが、「あのゲームは何だったんだろう」と大人になってからふと思い出してしまうような、不思議な魅力を持った唯一無二の名作です。

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2 votes

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility

Nintendo Wii

SimulationFarming SimCozy

Survey scores · avg 3.9/5

Story4.0

Gameplay3.5

Graphics4.0

Music4.0

Character4.5

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility is a cozy, farm life simulator game about reviving a struggling town by growing crops, taking care of animals, and building relationships. As life slowly creeps back to Waffle Island, you see the revival of the long-dead Mother Tree as well as the return of the bountiful nature that previously blanketed the island.

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1 votes

Rune Factory Frontier

Nintendo Wii

SimulationFarming SimCozy

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics5.0

Music5.0

Character5.0

Rune Factory Frontier is a farming sim/action RPG that lets you experience the town of Trampoli through the main character, Raguna, a young man who lost his memories while searching for his friend one night. The game follows a day-to-day cycle where you manage your own time to plant crops, take care of monsters found in the dungeons, build new relationships with the locals, and even date one of the twelve maidens. The game also features post-content after you complete the main story wherein you can continue to expand your house, craft better farming tools, and even start your own family.

Survey voice

Trick / 20s / Male
Further developed my interest for gardening/farming and cooking. The concept of dating was also a good touch in the game here and shaped how I viewed relationships

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1 votes

The Urbz: Sims in the City

Game Boy / Game Boy Color

SimulationSocial Simulation

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Nothing takes you into the heart of the concrete jungle like The Urbz: Sims in the City. This spin-off from the legendary life sim franchise The Sims throws you into a story about saving your beloved city from the grasps of greedy capitalist hands. Become a part of a living and breathing Urbzville by taking in odd jobs, meeting unique characters, and just making it through life in the big city.

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1 votes

Animal Crossing

Nintendo GameCube

SimulationSocial SimulationCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.8/5

Story5.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics4.0

Music5.0

Character5.0

The original Animal Crossing introduced players to the main gameplay loop of the series; players move to a small town as a new resident, and gradually settle into the lifestyle while making renovations on their home and town. Odd jobs can be completed to receive Bells, the game's currency, which can be used to increase the size of your house, and to improve the local store, which sells more items and decorations as it evolves from a mom-and-pop shop into a bustling supermarket. The game operates in real time, with some events only occurring on certain days or times of day, making each interaction feel special. New villagers will move to your town, each with a unique personality, and sometimes they will move away as well, making the time players spend with each villager feel more precious, knowing that it might not be forever. The game also introduced the feature of allowing other players to visit your town, bringing further meaning to creating a unique town all your own.

Survey voice

Kevin
The GameCube Animal Crossing already had the important parts down, developing your town, getting close with the villagers, finely designing umbrellas, so even without especially amazing feature implementations, it moves your heart. This is enough.
Show original (日本語)
GC版のどうぶつの森で既に重要なところはできてて、街を発展させて、村人と仲良くなって、傘を細かくデザインするなど、特別にすごい機能実装じゃなくても心が動く。これでいいんだ。

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1 votes

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

Nintendo GameCube

SimulationFarming Sim

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

A Wonderful Life is unlike the other Harvest Moon or even farming simulation games out there. The game introduces a definite beginning, middle, and end to your playthrough. Instead of the massive plots of land where you can grind away millions of crops at a time, A Wonderful Life slows it down and focuses on everyone's intimate lives and how your character and the partner you will choose will age and in time have your own child who would also age.

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Platforms in this genre

Browse Simulation games by platform

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Wii PlayStation (PS1)Nintendo 3DS / DS Game Boy Advance Game Boy / Game Boy Color Nintendo 64 Nintendo GameCube Steam (PC)Dreamcast

FAQ

How were these best Simulation games chosen?

From a survey of 241 players. Games are ranked by mention count, then average score, with votes combined across platforms.

What is the top Simulation game?

Pokémon Pokopia ranks #1 with 35 votes.

How to find the best Simulation games

The best Simulation games according to 241 surveyed players — ranked by votes with average score as the tie-breaker, with platform links and curated player comments.

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