We as humans long for experiences that we don't foresee having in our lifetime. From being able to fly a plane to living life like a farm animal, there's only one medium that allows people to put themselves in these situations. That's video games.
More specifically, simulation video games are meant to emulate real-life activities and events. There are quite a few games that accurately put players into those positions while others go for a more satirical approach through patently obscured scenarios. Either way, these games are a joy to experience. Some of these simulation games are among the best games ever made.
10 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Metacritic Score: 90)
Animal Crossing is a staple in the Nintendo library and its greatest installment hit the Nintendo Switch at a crucial time. Animal Crossing: New Horizons begins as the player moves to a deserted island as part of a program started by Tom Nook. From there, players are tasked with growing the island and living their everyday life while paying off their debt. The game features adorable villagers to befriend, cool creatures to catch, and various customizable ways to make the island as personalized as possible.
9 F1 2020 (91)
Driving games are featured heavily in this list, starting out with F1 2020. This game is the official video of the 2020 Formula 1 and Formula 2 Championships. The classic motorsports competition features several circuits for drivers to participate in. The game features a team management mode that allows players to grow their teams more so than in past games. The game has a career mode that allows players to choose between a half or full Formula 2 season. The game was praised by critics for its accessibility and beautiful graphics.
8 Colony Wars (91)
Many people want to go to space but will probably not make it in their lifetime. Games like Colony Wars give people that experience, while also throwing in space combat. The 1997 game has players completing missions using seven different starfighters that are equipped with different weapons.
There are many paths players can go down depending on how well they perform in each mission. The immersion of being in space is probably not the same as it could be now, but the gameplay and design of the game make it stand out.
7 IL-2 Sturmovik (91)
If some players enjoy dogfighting but don't like doing it in space, IL-2 Sturmovik is for them. In the first installment of the series, players are brought back to World War II and the air battles of the Eastern Front. The game has 31 flyable planes to choose from and up to 15 countries to represent, including the United States, France, and the USSR. There was a multiplayer feature back then that was able to support up to 100 players battling it out online. Still, the main game was considered one of the best war simulators out there by critics.
6 FreeSpace 2 (91)
Another space combat game, FreeSpace 2 came out only a few years after Colony Wars. Players are a pilot fighting against the Shivans, mysterious aliens at war with the human race. The game has plenty of fighters to choose from. The story mode revolves around a series of missions. As each mission is complete, more fighters and weapons become available to use. The game was a commercial failure but critics felt the game deserved better. They praised the great action, an excellent story, and easy-to-use controls.
5 F1 Challenge '99-'02 (91)
F1 has had quite a few great games over the years, even with changing developers over its lifetime. F1 Challenge '99-'02 takes place during four Formula One seasons. This game in particular was the final F1 video game developed by EA Sports. The game took a major leap as many of the game's textures were rebuilt from the ground up. This included the car models, which got a high-resolution upgrade. Structures around the courses were also revitalized, such as the pit crews and the panoramic skies.
4 Microsoft Flight Simulator (92)
Imagine being able to fly anywhere at the click of a button. That is what the new Microsoft Flight Simulator has to offer. Players have an assortment of planes to choose from small personal planes to huge commercial jets.
The game attempts to put players in real-time situations, such as night-time flying and weather. All the while, players can look at the gorgeous views around them generated by data from Bing Maps. The game has received critical acclaim for its gameplay and graphics, despite some weirdly generated landmarks.
3 Forza Motorsport 3 (92)
Forza is one of the biggest racing simulation video game series in the world. The brand has two ongoing titles that have multiple installments ranked among the best in racing. Forza Motorsport 3 is the top-rated game of the Motorsport series, which focuses on professional-style track racing events. This game introduces features such as in-car driving view, drifting, and SUVs. The game has 400 customizable cars to choose from and more than 100 race track variations. Critics praised the controls as being very accessible and the environments for being beautiful.
2 The Sims (92)
The Sims is the most iconic life simulation series of all time, and its first game is still considered the best in the critics' eyes. Players can control customizable Sims, setting them up with relationships and careers. As players take care of their Sims through their basic needs such as hunger and sleep, they can also use money the Sims have earned on furnishing their homes to their desires. There is no ending to this game, which makes it all the more replayable. Since this first game, there have been over 25 titles that have been made under The Sims' name.
1 Forza Horizon 4 (92)
Forza Horizon is the other branch of the popular Forza series. These games focus more on an open-world driving format which allows players to freely roam throughout the game's massive environment. The best example of this series is Forza Horizon 4. There are various features in the game including the ability to buy in-game houses and constantly changing seasons which enhances an already beautiful game. There are over 700 cars to choose from. The game was given rave reviews for its environment, customization, and accessible racing controls.