Simulation games are a popular genre, made most famous by Maxis's The Sims series. However, The Sims takes a more lighthearted and cartoonish approach to the simulation genre. Other simulation titles are more...well...simulation, and less fun. They require you to know a thing or two about their respective craft, and they may even serve as decent little training practices for the uninitiated.
Of course, some sim games are better than others. While others take great care in replicating the craft, others are far more broken and unrealistic. And some are somewhere in the middle. These are those games.
These are ten real-life simulation games that are better than their Metascore.
10 Ship Simulator 2006 (59)
As you can probably tell from its title, Ship Simulator 2006 puts you in control of a multitude of ships. According to the game's summary, "Players take control of a wide array of ship types, from massive cargo ships to speedboats, yachts, water taxis, and even the mighty Titanic." Simulating the Titanic might be a little tactless, but hey, the game itself is pretty good. Unfortunately, it received a relatively middling 59 Metascore, mostly due to the lack of interesting gameplay. We get that. You are mostly just floating around, after all. But then, what do you expect?
9 Ship Simulator Extremes (49)
The critics really don't seem to like the ship sims. Then again, this is a very "extreme" version of the typical Ship Simulator series. You battle whale hunters in the Arctic, evacuate islands threatened with exploding volcanoes, and sail through violent sea storms, among other things. It sounds interesting, and it really is. But you wouldn't know it from its horrible 49 Metascore. We think the 6.4 user score is more in keeping with the game's quality. It's certainly not good, but it isn't 49 bad.
8 Railworks 3: Train Simulator 2012 (67)
We get that train simulators aren't for everyone. Sim games aren't for everyone, let alone train simulators. To some, it may seem like a bit of an "old man" game. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Many train sims are very interesting, educational, and fun, and Railworks 3: Train Simulator 2012 is among them. Granted, the game did receive relatively good reviews, scoring a 67 on Metacritic. But we think it deserves better. There are better train simulators out there, but this serves as a fun little introduction to the concept. Don't let the score scare you away.
7 Surgeon Simulator CPR (59)
Surgeon Simulator was a monumental hit when it was orignially released, thanks in large part to its wacky gameplay. It was the perfect kind of "pick up and play" game that makes for great reactions and funny YouTube videos. Surgeon Simulator CPR was released for the Switch in September 2018 and scored relatively poor reviews, landing at just 59 on Metacritic.
Yes, it does get pretty boring after a while, but the fun it does provide should have guaranteed it a higher score because this game has fun in spades. And scalpels.
6 Bridge Constructor (58)
Bridge Constructor sees you constructing bridges across various gaps and seeing if you've got what it takes to keep people alive. It's a big ask, and it's just as much as it sounds. You are forced to use your brains to construct bridges respective to their settings and surroundings, and watching the cars driving across your creation is equal parts heart-pounding and exciting. Granted, it's not always successful, but the game's lighthearted nature helps keep things fun. It's a little "mobile game-y," yes, but it's still a lot of fun.
5 Bus Simulator (61)
Of all the simulation games out there, Bus Simulator sounds like the most...mundane? Building bridges, being a surgeon, conducting trains, controlling a ship through an exploding volcano - all sound interesting and exciting. But driving a bus? Maybe not so much. But you'd be surprised at how relaxing it can be. Throw this on, drive a bus through the city, and get lost in your thoughts. It's really good stuff, and if you're in the right headspace, it can be a lot better than its 61 Metascore suggests.
4 Farming Simulator 15 (54)
Aside from Surgeon Simulator, Farming Simulator is probably the most popular and well-known sim series out there. And Farming Simulator 15 is a decent little example of what it can accomplish. Sure, it's not the greatest Farming Simulator game by a good margin, but it's better than its 54 Metascore.
Most of the criticism stems from its difficult gameplay and hard-to-understand terminology, as well as its general "boring" nature. But, yeah, it is a farming simulator. Were you expecting Halo?
3 Attack On Pearl Harbor (64)
Attack on Pearl Harbor is a flight simulator that simulates, you guessed it, the attack on Pearl Harbor. You can choose to play as either a United States Army Air Force pilot or an Imperial Japanese Navy pilot, with your objectives being to either defend or destroy Pearl Harbor. The flight mechanics are actually quite good, and the historic Pearl Harbor theme gives a fascinating personality to the game. It's certainly more interesting than just normal, every day flying, in our opinion, anyway. It has its problems, but overall, it's very good.
2 Pure Farming 2018 (73)
If Farming Simulator is too much handle, then you should definitely check out the Pure Farming series. It serves as a wonderful alternative. It really is a great game, albeit a very challenging one. But, much like real farming, the results of your hard work are more than worth it. The game actually received pretty good reviews, scoring a respectable 73 over on Metacritic. But in our opinion, it deserves even better than that. This is arguably the greatest alternative to Farming Simulator, and maybe even one of the best farming sims out there.
1 YouTubers Life (63)
One of the most interesting sim games on the market is YouTubers Life. It puts you in the role of a professional video blogger as you create and edit videos, market your channel, and grow wealthier as your channel gains more popularity and becomes more profitable. It's really interesting stuff, particularly for those who may want to venture into the YouTube business. It was criticized for its grind nature and relative lack of content, but it's still one of the most unique sim/tycoon games currently available to play. Check it out if you want something a little different.