26 Best NEW Simulation Games of 2024

Look, we can’t always do what we want to do in the real world. That’s where simulation games come in! And these ones in 2024 will be something to keep an eye on.

#26 UBOAT

When it comes to war games, they’re often limited in trying to make the battlefield itself feel like the “only place a battle can happen.” Except, in games like UBOAT, you’ll see the truth is far more complicated. In the title, you’ll be part of a German U-boat crew, which were some of the most feared fighters in World War II.

The submarines were used to take out enemy craft, and you will do that, but you’ll also fight to keep your submarine alive and your crew focused. When times get hard, do what you can to boost morale, and don’t let them falter from their mission!

#25 WWE 2K24

The wrestling world is bigger than its ever been, and for WWE 2K24, they tried to make this entry the biggest its ever been. This game will let you play as current wrestlers in the WWE, and then lets you go even bigger by jumping into some of the most classic matches in WrestleMania history to see if you relive the matches that helped define the event.

Or, if you want to start from the ground up, you can build your own wrestler and see how far they can go in the industry. You can even be a General Manager and see if you can run a show to perfection!

#24 Zoochosis

Not all simulations are meant to be “realistic” in nature, and Zoochosis proves that in horrifying fashion. You play the night manager of a zoo, which should be an easy enough job, except that something truly scary is happening with the animals. Some of them have transformed into mutants, and they’re moving about the place looking for you.

You don’t know which ones are infected, so you must move carefully throughout the zoo to learn the truth. You an also try to develop a vaccine for the infection to try and save the animals, and yourself. Your fate is tied to your actions, so choose wisely!

#23 Kingmakers

What if you wanted to take a “realistic” type of game and throw a massive monkey wrench into the mix? Would you like to do that? In Kingmakers, you play someone from the future who is attempting to prevent the end of the world. The twist is that to do so, they must go back into medieval times to change the outcome of a war, all in the hopes that it’ll prevent the apocalypse.

The “monkey wrench” is that this character won’t dive into the war as a knight on horseback; they’re bringing guns and heavy weaponry into the mix! That’s right, you’ll get to shoot up knights to save the world! Doesn’t that sound like fun?

#22 Shapez 2

Factories are a key part of our world, and in Shapez 2, you’ll get to see this kind of process from a different angle. Specifically, you’ll build a factory that is tasked with completing certain “shape challenges,” and you must build your assembly line and machines to break down certain shapes and then reformat them to do what the challenge requires.

The more challenges you complete, the more complicated your tasks will become. The game will help you along the way to ensure you’re not overwhelmed, but it’s still up to you to get the job done. So, are you up to the challenge?

#21 EA Sports FC 25

The FIFA days may be over, but that doesn’t mean that the soccer gaming season stops. Oh no, it doesn’t. In EA Sports FC 25, you’ll get to see the “brand new” version of soccer that EA Sports has crafted after it went solo. Whether it meets all your needs or not depends on how you like to play the game and whether the title does right by your favorite teams and players!

Regardless, the journey to the top begins with you picking your mode and squad and then doing what it takes to get the win! Build up your team until they’re the best in every league!

#20 Goat Simulator Remastered

Did anyone ask for this game to be remastered? Nope! Are they doing it anyway? Yep!

Goat Simulator remastered is indeed an upgraded version of the original classic that lets players have fun while being the most annoying goat in history. Seriously, your whole purpose in life, or this game, at least, is to be a goat that goes around causing chaos and ruining the lives of the people it comes across. Is that mean? Yes. Do you really need to care about their feelings? Absolutely not!

With plenty of new features and additional content, you’ll see why this is a goat-ed title in no time.

#19 Train Sim World 5

Trains are one of the most important vehicles in our world. They constantly ferry people and items across state and country lines and ensure that key items get to certain locations. In Train Sim World 5, you’ll go to multiple cities to attempt to master these railroads and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Whether you go to Frankfurt, Los Angeles, or London, you’ll find new opportunities and challenges awaiting you. Plus, you can choose to become a conductor yourself and put the fate of your passengers in your hands! Good luck with that.

So, if you love everything about trains, this is the game for you!

#18 Supermarket Together

How competent do you feel? Do you think that you and your friends could run a store if one was granted to you? If so, you might want to prove it in Supermarket Together. The game is as obvious as its name, as it’s about you and your friends coming together to run a successful supermarket and possibly even more!

One of the tricks to the game is that the difficulty grows depending on how many people are with you in each run. The more people you have, the harder you have to work to get success! So, pick your team wisely, grow your stuff, and reap in the rewards!

#17 Crime Scene Cleaner

How far would you go for family? In Crime Scene Cleaner, you’re a father whose daughter needs medical help, but the insurance companies won’t cover the costs. So, you use your “special set of skills” to clean up the messes that criminals make. You know, like leaving bodies behind in a bloody mess?

While it may seem easy to clean up the dead, you have to be tactical in your approach; otherwise, you’ll leave clues behind. Yet, as the jobs pile up, you must ask yourself, is there any way you’ll get out of this alive? You’ll have to play the game to find out!

#16 Fields of Mistria

In Fields of Mistria, you’ll be asked to help rebuild a town to its former glory. To ensure that you come, they offer you a piece of land where you can build and grow things to your heart’s content.

As you can imagine, you won’t necessarily have to do this alone, as you can mingle with the other people of the town and attempt to build relationships with them, possibly even finding a partner in love!

So, what are you waiting for? Your acre of land awaits!

#15 F1 2024

Simulation games are all about realism, and when it comes to titles like F1 2024, the realism comes in not just racing but taking part of every element of the F1 series to try and ensure victory for your team. This wouldn’t be much of a simulator if it was all about racing; it’s about competing in the actual events that the 2024 season of F1 undergoes and see if you can match what the real professionals do.

You’ll need to ensure your team and your car are in top shape for every race. All it takes is one screwup for things to be undone, so be sure to be at your best!

#14 Star Trucker

Yes, we acknowledge that Star Trucker isn’t your “typical simulator game,” but you’ll see a few titles like this on this list, so be ready.

Trucking is a real-life thing, obviously, and there are plenty of people who do it. The twist here is that you’ll be a person doing trucking in SPACE and have to do various things to keep your big rig going.

The jobs you take are up to you. Sometimes, you’ll just be dropping off fuel to colonies and bases, and other times, you’ll be delivering more hazardous items.

The better you do, the better your business grows, and the more you can pimp out your space truck!

#13 ‘83

War games are very popular and are a type of simulator in and of themselves. After all, war is a real thing, and we should all be glad that we’re not actively involved in them all the time. Just saying.

In ’83, you’ll be part of the Cold War on opposite sides. Specifically, two groups of players will be battling one another to see who comes out on top.

How big will the groups be? Over 80 players a piece! So you’ll be doing your best to dodge bullets and take out foes however you can. Wield period-accurate weapons and vehicles to survive, and show them who the real soldiers are!

#12 HeatWave

No, the game isn’t simulating what happens when it’s too hot outside. Or, at least, not in the way you’re thinking.

Instead, HeatWave takes place in a world where the United States has cut off support for Alaska due to the global warming crisis. With everything falling apart, other nations decide to invade Alaska and take back the land they once called theirs.

You’ll be part of a resistance movement and need to think strategically to beat back the better-armed and trained fighters that are coming for your homes.

Will you be able to fight back and keep Alaska what it is? Or will the odds be too much for you?

#11 PISTA Motorsport

Here’s another racing game for you, and yes, there will be more to come. PISTA Motorsport puts you in a country known for some iconic tracks: Argentina! Didn’t expect that, now did you?

As you head to South America, you’ll be given access to plenty of cars from the region and the race tracks that have challenged many racers. You’ll need serious skills to take them on, so don’t be afraid to take things slow at first to adjust to how the game will play.

Then, when you’re ready, challenge other racers and other players to see who can dominate these streets the best!

#10 ZEPHON

Many games try to “simulate” what would happen when the world ends, and ZEPHON is another in a long line of them. After all, survival and simulation go hand-in-hand more often than not.

In this case, a great war with aliens and other races has caused the near-total destruction of the world. Everyone involved in the world was heavily affected, and now, as one of the last remnants of humanity, you’ll try to salvage what you can and end the alien threat once and for all.

With multiple races vying for survival, you’ll need to battle them and do what you can with what you have to make it out.

#9 Lightyear Frontier

Why go farming on Earth when you can farm the depths of space? That’s what we thought. Lightyear Frontier will allow you to be an intergalactic farmer as you attempt to harvest space crops using all sorts of tools. Oh, and did we mention that one of those tools was a mech? Because it is!

But if you need a little something more from your farming adventure, the planet you’re on isn’t a basic one. Things are going on here that need to be explored.

Plus, you can build a home for yourself and outfit your mech to do all sorts of tasks! Sounds fun, right?

#8 CarX Street

When it comes to street racing, it’s always best when it’s done at night.

In CarX Street, that’s what you’ll get to experience. You’ll be part of a vibrant racing scene in a big city and get to experience just how crazy things can get.

It’s not just about the racing; it’s about seeing everything there is in the area. See the city, then go outside of its limits to witness the beautiful environments around it.

Then, when you’re ready, challenge other players to races and challenges to see who comes out on top! If your car isn’t ready, trick it out and supp it up to take on any racer!

#7 Manor Lords

Here’s a building simulator that has a unique twist on things. Manor Lords puts you as a medieval lord trying to build up a place for themselves. The twist is that you’ll have to think like a builder to get the job done. It’s not simply clicking buttons and placing a whole house in one spot.

Instead, you’ll need to build your place by working the land and meeting your vision. Then, you’ll start to expand and have to work within the land itself to ensure that everything lines up well and functions as it should.

Oh, and don’t forget to protect your village and home from attackers!

#6 Japanese Drift Master

There are many different racing styles, and part of the fun of certain simulator games is being able to partake in those different kinds of racing without having to go to different parts of the world! For example, in Japanese Drift Master, you’ll get to partake in the beloved style of racing that puts driver skill above all else!

You’ll head to Japan and attempt to enter the drifting culture. As you do, you’ll build up your skills and car to take on any challenge they throw at you! Plus, you can venture across parts of Japan and see how your drifting works on various roads!

#5 Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Have you ever wanted to see what it was like to be in the “lifestyles of the rich and famous?” Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown will help you “simulate” one such experience but with some twists along the way.

In this case, you’ll go to Hong Kong as part of an invite from a mysterious corporation. They will allow you to drive in a special race they have planned, and in the meantime, you’ll get to live it up as though you were one of the richest people on the planet.

Then, when it’s time to race, you’ll get your ride and customize it to be the perfect racing machine!

#4 Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

Here’s a fun twist on the driving simulator game, as Expeditions: A MudRunner Game won’t have you racing around the world for glory and prizes but for scientific achievement!

Confused? The game focuses on you venturing into uncharted lands and trying to unearth their many secrets. You won’t just have an off-road car to help you, as you can fly planes and drones to chart the path you want to take. Then, once you’re ready, drop to the ground and set off for adventure!

With beautiful landscapes at every turn, you’ll have plenty to do, so don’t be afraid to wander around and see all the sights!

#3 Frostpunk 2

If you loved the original post-apocalyptic “cold world” simulator, you’ll love the sequel even more! Just like before, the game puts you in a place where the world has frozen over, and precious pockets of heat are the only thing keeping the human race alive.

Your job is to build up the last city of humanity and keep the people happy within it. But how can you do that when various groups want different things?

Will you placate to every need? Or will you push forward your personal vision of the future, even if it means rallying the people against you? Start your journey as a leader and find out!

#2 Maximum Football

Given that football season is still going on, it’s only right that we have a simulator in this list for you to have fun in.

Yes, Maximum Football isn’t the “NFL-approved” game that lets you play football, but this game goes much deeper than that franchise. In this case, you’ll be able to craft a team starting in college and then work your way to the pros to show how good of a coach you are.

Will you be able to dominate every league that you’re in? Can you forge the proper team to take on all threats and show why you are a dynasty in the making? You’ll find out when you take the field!

#1 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

In all honesty, this is the ultimate simulator game, and that’s why it’s on top of this list.

After all, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is more than just a simulator. It’s a title that is so accurate in how it depicts flying aircraft that it’s used to help train pilots! It’s even been proven to be so accurate that a novice can use it to help land a plan so long as they have some guidance from air traffic control!

That’s how good it is! So if you have an itch to fly a plane one day, this is absolutely the title you want to start your journey with.

Disclaimer:

Falling Frontier, Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time and Noble’s Life: Kingdom Reborn were removed as they are now slated for 2025.