Summary
There’s something hypnotic about good simulation games that lets players engage with certain aspects of real life as they go about tasks that may seem menial but are genuinely captivating to deal with once people get into the core gameplay of these titles. Simulating what may seem like the most boring thing doesn’t sound all that great for many at first glance, but it’s a testament to the brilliance of some titles that they execute these systems with great finesse to keep people interested in the long run.
From farming simulators togames that simulate certain elements in fantasy or sci-fi settings, it’s easy to see why simulation games have become all the rage and have a dedicated section of fans clamoring to check out these amazing titles. In some cases, studios that have developed a game for the first time end up hitting the ground running with their titles in this genre, which is always great to witness.
Eric Barone would’ve never dreamt in his wildest dreams that his indie project, which was inspired by the likes ofHarvest MoonandAnimal Crossing, would become one of the biggest and most beloved simulation games in the modern era.Stardew Valley’s legacy is something many people are quite familiar with, with the game encapsulating players with a retro art style and charming gameplay that keeps them busy for hours on end.
Everything frommaking an aesthetic farmto forming a lasting bond with the townsfolk is something that players will love to engage with as they get immersed in this beautiful title that continues to receive a slew of notable updates to this day. Eric Barone struck gold but did so with the utmost respect for his fans, and it’s easy to see why players are hyped to the moon and back forHaunted Chocolatierto set the simulation genre on fire once again.
Maxis is a company that has become one of the biggest developers working under EA’s banner, with its legacy being unmatched to this day in the simulation genre.The Simsmight be their most popular work by far, but fans still remember how freshSimCitywas when it launched for the first time. Letting players manage the urban chaos of a developing city while ensuring that all the cogs were functioning made for a great time that most people loved.
It was clear that the two people at the helm of the project, Will Wright and Jeff Braun, knew they had a golden goose just waiting to be let loose after developing this ingenious title. All they needed was the funding to turn this title into a household name, which led to the creation of Maxis as a studio. They faced a lot of challenges since most people didn’t want to take a risk on a title that didn’t feature any of the arcade or action elements that were popular at the time, but Broderbund decided to make a deal and help in the distribution. The rest, as they say, is history.
3Championship Manager
The Collyer Brothers Founded Sports Interactive And Developed A Series That Eventually Became Football Manager
Sports Interactive is known as the popular developer of theFootball Managerseries, with these simulation games setting the bar for what one would expect from a realistic simulation of anything soccer-related. Before they became the authority on soccer simulation games, the studio started with humble beginnings and the release of the firstChampionship Managergame back in 1992. The game was created by two siblings who are diehard Everton fans, Paul and Oliver Collyer, kickstarting their meteoric rise in the video game industry.
Despite featuring a weird UI that players found hard to get into, there was no denying that the immense detail present inChampionship Managermade it one of the best soccer simulation games players could get into at the time. After splitting with their publisher, Eidos, Sports Interactive retainedthe engine used for theChampionship Managergamesand releasedFootball Managerin 2004. In the next two decades, this title has grown to become one of the biggest simulation games of all time and owes its success to the 1992 title that helped the developer become so beloved among sports fans.
BeamNG.driveis one of the most popular driving sims players can check out, with one of the biggest highlights being the realistic damage model that can turn a vehicle into something wholly unrecognizable after players are done smashing it to smithereens. It was clear that the game’s advanced physics model was a huge reason why the developer’s debut project ended up being a massive hit across the board.
Sim drivers love checking out the many game modes in this title, with regular updates adding more content for players to mess around with in the form of races, stunts, time trials, and everything else along the same lines.BeamNG.driveworks as both a realistic driving simulation and a physics engine used for academic research, which speaks to the amazing realism enabled by the soft-body physics this game uses.
NASA aspirants who want to build spaceships, rockets, and everything else along the same lines willlove whatKerbal Space Programhas to offer. This title combines the charming and cute nature of Kerbals with in-depth space flight simulation gameplay that will take a few hours before players understand how this title works. Once players get into the meat, they’ll find it hard to tear their eyes away from the screen as they try to develop ludicrously designed machinery that can somehow be launched successfully into space.
It’s a shame thatKerbal Space Program 2’s Early Access has been rife with controversy, but players can always check out the first game that is functionally better in every department. The sheer joy players can experience from their first successful rocket launch is unmatched and shows just how amazing Squad’s debut title is.
