Best Simulation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 39,166 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 2/19/2025.
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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 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 854,763 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 841,326 positive reviews and 13,437 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.
- Price:$14.99
- Release Date:2/26/2016
- Developer:ConcernedApe
- Publisher:ConcernedApe
- Last Updated:2/19/2025
- Steam App Id:413150
2. People Playground
Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.
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 273,942 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 270,093 positive reviews and 3,849 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).
- Price:$9.99
- Release Date:7/23/2019
- Developer:mestiez
- Publisher:Studio Minus
- Last Updated:2/21/2025
- Steam App Id:1118200
3. 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 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 99,690 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 97,972 positive reviews and 1,718 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 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).
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 204,290 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 200,149 positive reviews and 4,141 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.
- Price:$34.99
- Release Date:10/17/2018
- Developer:Ludeon Studios
- Publisher:Ludeon Studios
- Last Updated:2/21/2025
- 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 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 807,052 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 787,252 positive reviews and 19,800 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.
- Price:$19.99
- Release Date:10/12/2012
- Franchise:SCS Software
- Developer:SCS Software
- Publisher:SCS Software
- Last Updated:2/20/2025
- Steam App Id:227300
6. 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.
Balatro 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 129,765 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 127,332 positive reviews and 2,433 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $12.74 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.
- Price:$12.74
- Release Date:2/20/2024
- Franchise:Playstack
- Developer:LocalThunk
- Publishers:
- Last Updated:2/22/2025
- Steam App Id:2379780
7. 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 97, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 134,555 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 131,791 positive reviews and 2,764 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).
- Price:$19.99
- Release Date:8/1/2017
- Franchise:Monomi Park
- Developer:Monomi Park
- Publisher:Monomi Park
- Last Updated:2/19/2025
- Steam App Id:433340
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 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 133,072 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 130,185 positive reviews and 2,887 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.
- Price:$19.99
- Release Date:4/1/2021
- Franchise:Landfall Games
- Developer:Landfall
- Publisher:Landfall
- Last Updated:2/19/2025
- Steam App Id:508440
9. 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 #9 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 165,133 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 161,390 positive reviews and 3,743 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).
- Price:$19.99
- Release Date:3/31/2010
- Developer:TaleWorlds Entertainment
- Publisher:TaleWorlds Entertainment
- Last Updated:1/22/2025
- Steam App Id:48700
10. 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 #10 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 26,089 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 25,739 positive reviews and 350 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.
More Simulation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Simulation games available on Steam.
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. (2025, February 19). Steam Store. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 19). Stardew Valley on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 21). People Playground on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118200
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 22). MiSide on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2527500
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 21). RimWorld on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/294100
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 20). Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 22). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 19). Slime Rancher on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/433340
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 19). Totally Accurate Battle Simulator on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/508440
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 22). Mount & Blade: Warband on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/48700
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 19). Touhou Mystia's Izakaya on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1584090