Best Simulation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 33,115 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 3/5/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free simulation games on Steam
- Best simulation Steam Deck games
- Best simulation Linux games on Steam
- Best simulation Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. People Playground
Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.
People Playground holds the #1 spot for "best Simulation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 242,371 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 239,123 positive reviews and 3,248 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 |
2. 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 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 701,372 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 689,198 positive reviews and 12,174 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 |
3. 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 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 720,445 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 703,529 positive reviews and 16,916 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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 | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 10/12/2012 |
| Franchise | SCS Software |
| Developer | SCS Software |
| Publisher | SCS Software |
| Steam App Id | 227300 |
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 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 185,574 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 181,955 positive reviews and 3,619 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. 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.
Slime Rancher has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 119,595 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 117,106 positive reviews and 2,489 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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 | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 8/1/2017 |
| Franchise | Monomi Park |
| Developer | Monomi Park |
| Publisher | Monomi Park |
| Steam App Id | 433340 |
6. 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 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 122,102 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 119,484 positive reviews and 2,618 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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 | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 4/1/2021 |
| Franchise | Landfall Games |
| Developer | Landfall |
| Publisher | Landfall |
| Steam App Id | 508440 |
7. Mount & Blade: Warband
In a land torn asunder by incessant warfare, it is time to assemble your own band of hardened warriors and enter the fray. Lead your men into battle, expand your realm, and claim the ultimate prize: the throne of Calradia!
Mount & Blade: Warband has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 160,027 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 156,407 positive reviews and 3,620 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Mount & Blade: Warband on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 3/31/2010 |
| Developer | TaleWorlds Entertainment |
| Publisher | TaleWorlds Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 48700 |
8. VPet-Simulator
Feeling like the computer desktop is too dull? Need something cute to heal oneself? Come and try this new completely free and open source V-Pet simulator. A cute and adorable pet that supports various feeding interactions to accompany you in game learning is definitely your best choice!
VPet-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 38,818 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 38,177 positive reviews and 641 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run VPet-Simulator on the Steam Deck.
9. Touhou Mystia's Izakaya
A brand new pixel art restaurant simulator based on the Touhou Project! Play as Mystia, the owner of a small izakaya. Collect ingredients by day, cater to the customers by night, learn recipes from familiar characters, and become the best izakaya owner in all of Gensokyo!
Touhou Mystia's Izakaya 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 20,403 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,135 positive reviews and 268 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $5.99 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.
10. BeamNG.drive
A dynamic soft-body physics vehicle simulator capable of doing just about anything.
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 245,828 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 239,154 positive reviews and 6,674 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).
More Simulation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Simulation games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 6,226 | 7/23/2019 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 95,766 | 2/26/2016 | 97 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 32,745 | 10/12/2012 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 31,310 | 10/17/2018 | 97 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 815 | 8/1/2017 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,276 | 4/1/2021 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,232 | 3/31/2010 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,460 | 8/14/2023 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 324 | 10/1/2021 | 96 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 17,960 | 5/29/2015 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,700 | 1/20/2021 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 28,168 | 11/29/2006 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 129 | 3/31/2023 | 96 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 14,100 | 8/14/2020 | 96 | $35.00 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,085 | 6/28/2023 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 337 | 4/20/2023 | 96 | $10.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 10,677 | 6/8/2020 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,034 | 2/2/2016 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,329 | 5/25/2010 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 512 | 8/8/2013 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts |
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. (2024, March 5). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 5). People Playground on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Stardew Valley on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 5). Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). RimWorld on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 4). Slime Rancher on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Totally Accurate Battle Simulator on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 26). Mount & Blade: Warband on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). VPet-Simulator on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Touhou Mystia's Izakaya on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). BeamNG.drive on Steam. Steam Store.