List of All Simulation Video Games

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Updated October 13, 2023 21.9K views 3,665 items

List of simulation video games, listed alphabetically with photos of the game's cover art when available. Spanning the entire history of the genre, these simulation video games have been enjoyed by millions. This list includes all simulation video games that have ever hit the shelves, so it doesn't necessarily have all the more obscure, future or new simulation video games. Various bits of information are available for these top simulation video games, such as when the game was released and who developed the game. In some instances you can click on the names of the games to get an even more in-depth description of them. These aren't necessarily the best simulation video games, but there are a lot of popular simulation video games listed here.

The list you're viewing has a variety of games in it, like Mario Kart 64 and The Sims.

This list answers the questions, "What are the best simulation video games?" and "What are the most popular simulation video games?"
  • Tribes 2

    Tribes 2

    Jan 01 2001
    Tribes 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra Studios in 2001 as sequel to Starsiege: Tribes.
  • Silent Hunter II

    Silent Hunter II

    Nov 06 2001
    Silent Hunter II is a WWII U-boat combat simulation from Ubisoft for Windows 95/98/ME. It was originally being developed by Aeon Electronic Entertainment, the developers of Silent Hunter, but they had to leave the project unfinished, and Ultimation Inc. finished it. After considerable delays it was released in November 2001. Silent Hunter II gives the player the command of a U-boat during the Second Battle of the Atlantic.
  • Thunderhawk

    Thunderhawk

    Jan 01 1991
    Thunderhawk is a combat flight simulator video game developed by Core Design and released for the Amiga and DOS in 1992, for the Sega Mega-CD in 1993 and for Microsoft Windows in 1996. In the game the player flying a fictional AH-73M attack helicopter.
  • Tornado Low Level
    Tornado Low Level is a game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC computers, and released by Vortex Software in 1984. It was written by Costa Panayi who also coded Android, Android 2, Highway Encounter, Cyclone and Revolution.
  • Dark Horizon

    Dark Horizon

    Sep 23 2008
    Dark Horizon is a space combat simulation game developed by Quazar Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. The game was released on September 26, 2008 in Europe and in North America on October 13, 2008. Dark Horizon is the sequel to Tarr Chronicles. Dark Horizon initially debuted with incomplete joystick support. The game appeared to be released with the mouse and keyboard as the primary control system. The 1.0.6.0 patch however introduces joystick axis mapping to any game actions.
  • Lula: The Sexy Empire

    Lula: The Sexy Empire

    Jan 01 1998
  • Grand Prix Legends
    Grand Prix Legends is a computer racing simulator developed by Papyrus Design Group and published in 1998 by Sierra Entertainment. At the time of its release, it simulated the 1967 Formula One season and is considered to be one of the most realistic racing games ever released. As of 2012, mods depicting the 1965, 1966 and 1969 Formula 1 seasons, 1967 World Sportscar Championship season, 1967 Formula 2 season and the 1971 Can-Am season have been created. Modders are also currently developing further carsets.
  • Lego Creator: Knights' Kingdom
    Lego Creator: Knights' Kingdom is a PC game that uses virtual Lego pieces to build a medieval kingdom and then use the kingdom in a battle against the character Cedric the Bull.
  • Jimmy White's 2: Cueball
    Jimmy White's 2: Cueball is a sports simulation video game published by Virgin Interactive as a sequel to Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, and released in 1999 for the PC, Sony PlayStation and Sega Dreamcast. The development team was led by Archer MacLean, the designer of the original game. Cueball is a highly realistic snooker and pool simulator.
  • European Superleague
    European Superleague is a football sports management game released for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC 6128, Atari ST, PC and Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128/+3 platforms. It was created in 1990 by Matrix Developments and published by CDS Microsystems.
  • Megafortress

    Megafortress

    Jan 01 1991
    Megafortress is a flight simulation video game developed by Artech Digital Entertainment and released by Three-Sixty Pacific Inc in 1991. The player takes command of the fictional EB-52 Megafortress created by the military and espionage novelist Dale Brown.
  • Budokan: The Martial Spirit
    Budokan: The Martial Spirit is a computer and video game released by Electronic Arts in 1989 for various platforms. The title is a versus fighting game, pitting the player against other martial artists in a great tournament known as the Budokan at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.
  • CyberJudas

    CyberJudas

    Jun 30 1996
    CyberJudas is a presidential simulation video game for MS-DOS-compatible computers, and is the sequel to Shadow President. CyberJudas contains many of the same cyberpunk/dark science fiction elements of the original game, but adds themes of espionage and treason.
  • Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout
    Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout is an exercise video game for Nintendo's Wii video game console, developed by video game developer Rocket Company. Based on the "shape boxing" fitness regimen used at Kyoei Boxing Gym which includes shadowboxing, press-ups, and sit-ups, the game also features a diet management feature. Originally announced in mid-2007 as Wii Exercise with a release target of later that year, in May 2008, the game was stated to still be in an early stage of development. Though not originally intended to feature support for the Wii Balance Board, the feature was announced later. Shape Boxing was finally released in Japan on October 30, 2008. The game was licensed by Ubisoft for other regional markets, and released as in Europe as part of the publisher's My Coach series as My Fitness Coach: Cardio Workout, and released in North America and Australia as Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout, in partnership with the Gold's Gym fitness center chain.
  • Alter Ego

    Alter Ego

    Jan 01 1986
    Alter Ego is a role-playing video game released by Activision in 1986. It was created by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D., for the Commodore 64, DOS, Apple II, and the Apple Macintosh. The game allows the user to make decisions for an imaginary person and shows what possible consequences these decisions could have on that person. Alter Ego was available in both male and female versions, each using a different set of experiences. The player's alter ego begins the game as an infant; the game presents the user with a tree diagram with nodes, each labeled with an icon. The player chooses an icon representing an "experience" or situation to explore. Each icon bears a symbol showing what kind of experience it represents. After making a choice in each node, the user is moved back to the tree with that node marked as completed. In this manner, the user can progress to the next experience, thus living through his or her alter ego's entire life and examining what impact their decisions had. Some of these experiences are disturbing, and can even lead to premature death, though most tend to be humorous.
  • Melon Chan's Growth Diary
    Melon Chan's Growth Diary is a Life simulation game it is comparable to Tamagotchi and other virtual life simulations. In Melon Chan's Growth Diary the player raises and nurtures little girl Melon Chan. The games was only released in Japan and was one of the earliest titles released for the Neo Geo Pocket. The game was released for the Neo Geo Pocket and features monochrome graphics; however the Neo Geo Pocket Color is backwards compatible with the game. A sequel called Melon-Chan Growth Diary 2 was planned but was cancelled.
  • CityVille

    CityVille

    Dec 02 2010
    CityVille is a casual social city-building game developed by Zynga, and released in December 2010. The game is similar to SimCity Social and FarmVille. The goal is to develop a city by farming, constructing buildings, and collecting rent. CityVille is a freemium game. There is no cost to play, but players have the option of purchasing premium content. A sequel, CityVille 2, was released in November 2012. It was closed down on March 7, 2013, however the original will remain. Zynga announced that Cityville will be shutting down on April 30, 2015. Players have been given notice when opening the game.
  • MotherLoad

    MotherLoad

    Jan 01 2004
  • Survival: The Ultimate Challenge
    Survival: The Ultimate Challenge is a PC strategy game developed and published by Activision Value.
  • Fly! II

    Fly! II

    Apr 26 2001
    Fly! II is a virtual flight simulator developed by Terminal Reality and released on April 26, 2001, by Gathering. It is a sequel to Fly!. While it had a promising flight model and a unique approach to the cockpit panel system, the lack of default scenery and program bugs kept the simulator from reaching the popularity of Microsoft's Flight Simulator. Nevertheless Fly! II gained a steady fan base which can be attested to by the fact that fan add-ons to the simulator are still made on an almost daily basis, even though the sim was released in 2001.
  • Trust & Betrayal: The Legacy of Siboot
    Trust & Betrayal: The Legacy of Siboot, often abbreviated simply to Siboot, was a game designed and programmed by Chris Crawford and published by Mindscape in 1987.
  • Terminus
    Terminus is a space-flight role-playing/action computer game by Vicarious Visions. It was released in 2000 for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Apple Macintosh. Terminus won awards in the 1999 Independent Games Festival for "Technical Excellence" and "Innovation in Audio".
  • Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 3
    Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 3 is a 1992 card strategy video game.
  • Line Rider

    Line Rider

    Sep 16 2008
    Line Rider is an internet toy. Versions are available for Microsoft Silverlight and for Flash. It was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež, a Slovenian student. Originally appearing on DeviantArt on September 23, 2006, Line Rider quickly became an internet phenomenon. Line Rider is featured by several websites, such as Yahoo! but is mainly used on the website Linerider.com, Time Magazine's website and has appeared in several McDonald's commercials for the Snack Wrap in 2008. Line Rider was also selected by staff and voted by users as the Best Webtoy of 2006 in the Jay is Games polls. A two-page article about the game was published in Games for Windows: The Official Magazine.
  • Knights of the Sky
    Knights of the Sky is a World War I combat flight simulator designed by Jeff Briggs and published by MicroProse in 1990 for DOS and in 1991 for the Amiga and Atari ST. A MicroProse action-strategy game titled Knights of the Sky was also completed in 1994 but never released. In 2007, it was also a working title for the never-finished World War I flight simulator that was supposed to be a debut title by the now-closed developer Gennadich Team.
  • MLB 2001

    MLB 2001

    Feb 29 2000
  • Casino, Inc.

    Casino, Inc.

    Jan 01 2003
    Casino, Inc. is a business simulation game for Windows. The player must construct a casino, fill it with attractions such as blackjack and poker tables, and hire staff to maintain the casino.
  • Race – The Official WTCC Game
    Race is a racing simulator computer game based on the World Touring Car Championship released in November 2006. The game was developed by SimBin, who had earlier produced critically acclaimed racing simulators like GTR and GT Legends, and distributed by Eidos in Europe and by Valve Corporation across their Steam network. The first expansion pack, Caterham Expansion was released in June 2007 featuring new cars and tracks. The game features almost all drivers and all of the teams and tracks from the 2006 World Touring Car Championship season. It was followed by a sequel in 2007, named Race 07.
  • Dive Bomber
    Dive Bomber is a computer game developed by Acme Animation in 1988 for the Atari ST, Amiga, Apple II, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and IBM micro and compatible systems.
  • Dangerous Waters

    Dangerous Waters

    Feb 25 2005
    Dangerous Waters is a 2005 naval warfare simulation game developed by Sonalysts Combat Simulations. It was released for Microsoft Windows on February 22, 2005, and was released on Steam on February 7, 2006.
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