Best Simulation Games on Steam

Steam currently has 51,176 Simulation games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Simulation game rankings were last updated on 6/22/2026.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Stardew Valley

You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?

Stardew Valley banner

Stardew Valley holds the #1 spot for "best Simulation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 98. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,016,067 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,000,587 positive reviews and 15,480 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 2/26/2016
Developer ConcernedApe
Publisher ConcernedApe
Steam App Id 413150

2. People Playground

Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.

People Playground banner

People Playground has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 313,822 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 309,042 positive reviews and 4,780 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play People Playground on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 7/23/2019
Developer mestiez
Publisher Studio Minus
Steam App Id 1118200

3. Schedule I

From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.

Schedule I banner

Schedule I has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 303,636 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 297,111 positive reviews and 6,525 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Schedule I on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 3/24/2025
Developer TVGS
Publisher TVGS
Steam App Id 3164500

4. RimWorld

A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.

RimWorld banner

RimWorld has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 241,567 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 236,445 positive reviews and 5,122 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $34.99
Release Date 10/17/2018
Developer Ludeon Studios
Publisher Ludeon Studios
Steam App Id 294100

5. Euro Truck Simulator 2

Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 banner

Euro Truck Simulator 2 has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 925,418 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 901,845 positive reviews and 23,573 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $4.99
Release Date 10/12/2012
Franchise SCS Software
Developer SCS Software
Publisher SCS Software
Steam App Id 227300

6. Slime Rancher

Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slimes.

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Slime Rancher has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 154,438 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 151,342 positive reviews and 3,096 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Slime Rancher on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $4.99
Release Date 8/1/2017
Franchise Monomi Park
Developer Monomi Park
Publisher Monomi Park
Steam App Id 433340

7. Balatro

The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.

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Balatro has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 193,549 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 189,403 positive reviews and 4,146 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 2/20/2024
Franchise Playstack
Developer LocalThunk
Publishers
Steam App Id 2379780

8. Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

Be the leader of wobblers from ancient lands, spooky places, and fantasy worlds. Watch them fight in simulations made with the wobbliest physics system ever created, make your own wobblers in the unit creator and send your army off to fight your friends in multiplayer.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator banner

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 150,953 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 147,654 positive reviews and 3,299 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $6.79 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $6.79
Release Date 4/1/2021
Franchise Landfall Games
Developer Landfall
Publisher Landfall
Steam App Id 508440

9. MiSide

Let's imagine that you have a game in which you care for a character. But could you imagine one day getting into that game yourself?

MiSide banner

MiSide has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 139,022 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 136,004 positive reviews and 3,018 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $11.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play MiSide on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $11.99
Release Date 12/10/2024
Franchise Shochiku
Developer AIHASTO
Publishers
Steam App Id 2527500

10. BeamNG.drive

A dynamic soft-body physics vehicle simulator capable of doing just about anything.

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BeamNG.drive has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 400,602 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 390,373 positive reviews and 10,229 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play BeamNG.drive on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $24.99
Release Date 5/29/2015
Developer BeamNG
Publisher BeamNG
Steam App Id 284160

More Simulation Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Simulation games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Stardew Valley steam charts
38,303
2/26/2016
98
$14.99
Steam Charts
People Playground steam charts
4,566
7/23/2019
97
$9.99
Steam Charts
Schedule I steam charts
10,410
3/24/2025
97
$19.99
Steam Charts
RimWorld steam charts
22,950
10/17/2018
97
$34.99
Steam Charts
Euro Truck Simulator 2 steam charts
19,247
10/12/2012
97
$4.99
Steam Charts
Slime Rancher steam charts
969
8/1/2017
97
$4.99
Steam Charts
Balatro steam charts
7,219
2/20/2024
97
$14.99
Steam Charts
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator steam charts
1,242
4/1/2021
96
$6.79
Steam Charts
MiSide steam charts
306
12/10/2024
96
$11.99
Steam Charts
BeamNG.drive steam charts
19,592
5/29/2015
96
$24.99
Steam Charts
VPet-Simulator steam charts
2,308
8/14/2023
96
Free
Steam Charts
Mount & Blade: Warband steam charts
2,280
3/31/2010
96
$19.99
Steam Charts
Touhou Mystia's Izakaya steam charts
133
10/1/2021
96
$5.99
Steam Charts
Papa's Freezeria Deluxe steam charts
162
3/31/2023
96
$5.99
Steam Charts
Factorio steam charts
17,161
8/14/2020
96
$35.00
Steam Charts
Creature Kitchen steam charts
79
2/6/2026
96
$7.99
Steam Charts
Garry's Mod steam charts
24,432
11/29/2006
96
$4.99
Steam Charts
Satisfactory steam charts
20,172
9/10/2024
96
$27.99
Steam Charts
Shelldiver steam charts
298
11/16/2025
96
$2.99
Steam Charts
Crime Scene Cleaner steam charts
849
8/14/2024
96
$21.89
Steam Charts
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Soures & References

Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.

  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 22). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 22). Stardew Valley on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, May 18). People Playground on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 9). Schedule I on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 20). RimWorld on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 25). Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 25). Slime Rancher on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 16). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 25). Totally Accurate Battle Simulator on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 21). MiSide on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, June 22). BeamNG.drive on Steam. Steam Store.

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