With 2021 rapidly coming to a close, it's fun to look back and consider what the year had to offer regarding video games. A plethora of gaming genres exist, but it's hard to beat a cozy simulator or a mentally stimulating strategy game. This year witnessed plenty of great titles in these departments to satisfy fans for quite some time.

RELATED: RTS Games That Are Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre

Although there are a few games in the strategy/simulation genre that deserve recognition, a handful of them stand out from the rest. When the chips are down, it's hard to pass up these stellar titles that hit the shelves in 2021.

10 Age Of Empires 4

Age of Empires 4

The Age of Empires franchise is one of the titans of the RTS genre. Not too many rivals can match its simple, yet satisfying blend of base-building and combat. Age of Empires 4 continues the series trend of RTS excellence. With plenty of room for further growth, AOE 4 has the potential to be just as popular as the vaunted Age of Empires 2.

Age of Empires 4 is, by and large, a very polished experience. The controls are smooth and intuitive, while the singleplayer campaigns offer history buffs a wealth of material to occupy their time. The combat mechanics don't reinvent the wheel, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. When itching for more addictive RTS action, it's difficult to go wrong with AOE 4.

9 Farming Simulator 22

Close-up of a cow with other cows in the background of the field in Farming Simulator 22

If players have ever wondered what it's like to own a farm, but have no intentions of actually doing so, then Farming Simulator 22 may be a satisfactory compromise. The game includes all the fun of managing a farm without the backbreaking physical labor that comes with it!

Fans of high-octane, non-stop action may want to look elsewhere. However, for players who love diving into the intricacies of a well-developed simulator, it's tough to beat Farming Simulator 22. With a multitude of crops to plant, over 400 vehicles to drive, changing seasons, and so much more, this game is perfect for whiling away the hours.

8 Inscryption

inscryption angler with hook

Great strategy games don't necessarily have to take place on sprawling battlefields with thousands of soldiers. Inscryption takes a different approach, forcing players to exercise their wits through the careful management of cards.

RELATED: Games To Play If You Loved Inscryption

In the end, Inscryption proves to be a surprisingly addictive deck-builder. In addition, fans of horror games should feel right at home with the game's creepily unique aesthetic. Inscryption delivers plenty of strategy and fun, particularly in its early segments.

7 Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

TABS cover photo

Not every simulator aspires to be as determinedly realistic as possible. The facetiously named Totally Accurate Battle Simulator takes a sillier approach to combat. Players may take command of legions of "wobblers" to lead to victory. The amount of customization afforded to players regarding their "wobblers" is part of the appeal.

Once players' troops have been customized to their satisfaction, the mayhem can begin. The game's physics system is endearingly wacky. With tons of settings and battlefields for fans to experiment with, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is a tough game to put down.

6 Total War: Rome Remastered

Land Battle From Total War Rome Remastered

Much like the Age of Empires franchise, the Total War series possesses a long and excellent history of games. Fans undoubtedly have their personal favorites, but one title that tends to be fondly remembered is 2004's Rome: Total War. When the game was remastered in 2021, perhaps some players felt that an old friend had returned home.

Despite its lack of polish in certain respects, Total War: Rome Remastered is still a fine game. There's something inherently satisfying about forging an empire from nothing. Rome Remastered realizes that desire competently. With a talented modding community already based around it, this game's longevity is sure to last for quite some time.

5 Lawn Mowing Simulator

lawn mowing simulator stiga

Strategy games and simulators don't necessarily have to take one's breath away. Sometimes, players are in the mood for something a bit more relaxing. Why go through all the trouble of cutting your own grass when you can play Lawn Mowing Simulator instead?

RELATED: Most Immersive Simulation Games

Lawn Mowing Simulator is a perfect example of a game that's exceedingly satisfying in its simplicity. With plenty of lawncare equipment at one's disposal, players can snip, cut, and slice every blade of grass to their heart's content. Building a business from nothing never felt quite so delightful!

4 Humankind

humankind island civilization

Although it's hard to beat the Civilization franchise in terms of compelling 4X gameplay, certain players may be in the mood for something different. Humankind's gameplay is familiar enough to attract fans of both Civilization 6 and perhaps even the Total War series.

Players are tasked with leading of civilization of their choice through multiple eras of human history. Along the way, they can expect to build cities, expand their territories, and engage in tactical combat with rivals. With so many methods at the player's fingertips to develop their civilizations, Humankind isn't a game that gets old very quickly.

3 Evil Genius 2: World Domination

Evil Genius 2 Red Ivan Rocket Launcher

World domination sounds pretty fun, doesn't it? That's the primary goal of Evil Genius 2, a game where players must develop a doomsday device to conquer the world. However, world domination is, unsurprisingly, no easy feat. It's hard work being an evil genius, after all.

Fans have a plethora of responsibilities to attend to in their maniacal quest. An evil lair needs to be built from the ground up, while minions and henchmen with their own specialties must be recruited and put to work. All the while, fans must keep the forces of good at bay. Evil Genius 2 offers a fun distraction for players, where being bad feels pretty good.

2 PowerWash Simulator

Washing an older vehicle in PowerWash Simulator

In a similar vein to Farming Simulator 22 and Lawn Mowing Simulator, the aptly named PowerWash Simulator is relaxing fun. Not everyone may enjoy washing their car in real life, but giving a car a virtual power wash is strangely calming.

The game is still in Early Access, but already PowerWash Simulator proved a massive hit with fans. One need only look at the game's reviews on Steam to prove its popularity. For players who enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with tidying up, PowerWash Simulator is a must-try.

1 Gas Station Simulator

The originally abandoned gas station in Gas Station Simulator

Successfully running a small business takes a tremendous amount of hard work. Games that simulate running a business of this type are quite common. One of the more recent and popular examples is Gas Station Simulator, where the goal is to convert a ramshackle gas station into a thriving business.

Much like farming, there's a considerable amount of thought that must be put into running a lucrative gas station. The amount of customization options on offer is sure to appeal to players who love copious amounts of freedom in their games. Experiencing satisfying levels of progression is the name of the game in Gas Station Simulator.

MORE: Best Party Games Of 2021