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Simulator games have had a popularity boom in recent years with everything from realistic lifestyle simulators to absurd and adventurous space age fantasies. This boom in the market is great for gamers who want to consume as much simulator content as possible, but it does mean you have to sift through masses of poor quality games in order to find a gem. But we're about to solve that problem for you!
In this article, we have compiled a list of the top 10 simulator games currently available in the UK. We have curated some helpful information about average playtime, age ratings and buying options. Plus, we have included games on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, SteamOS, and Mac, so no matter how you choose to play, you'll be sure to find a game to suit you.
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The most important thing to remember when shopping for video games is that not all game developers make their games available on every platform. The most common gaming platforms at the moment are Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and PC. Most simulator games have wide releases, which means they are quickly made available on all major platforms on or soon after their initial release.
Not all games benefit from a wide release, though, so it’s important to check your chosen game is available on your chosen platform before making any purchases. This is easy enough if you are shopping for yourself, but is especially important to keep in mind if you’re buying a game as a gift.
Simulator games don’t tend to contain any graphic or explicit content. In fact, most of the games in this ranking are suitable for children as young as 3! However, age ratings are still important to ensure younger players will be able to understand and participate in the game.
More complicated games won’t be enjoyable for young children, but in this genre, they are unlikely to be inappropriate for younger children to watch while older kids play. The age rating is a minimum recommended player age, but that’s not to say you can’t still enjoy these games when you’re older. Simulation games can be engaging and relaxing, so many of the games labelled 3 and above are enjoyed by adults too.
Let the little ones play along with our Best PC Games for Kids!
There's nothing worse than getting into a game and then all of a sudden the content runs dry! With simulator games, luckily there are always more things you can do, but there are still main storylines and side quests that keep the gameplay interesting. If you're the type of gamer who needs this to stay engaged, check the average playtime to make sure it has enough content to keep you entertained.
The averages in our buying guide are taken from polls in the gaming community from people who have already completed the game. This will give you a rough idea of how long the story and side quests will last. If you're an intensive gamer who's used to extra-long sessions, you might want to opt for a longer game, but if you're just planning on playing casually here and there, the playtime might not be as significant.
There are also extensions and downloadable content (DLC) for many simulator games, meaning once you've completed the main story, you can download extra features to keep things interesting while you play. This is why the average playtimes in our ranking vary so much. The hours quoted are time spent playing the main story as well as any side quests and DLCs.
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Whether you want to purchase your simulator game via online means or as a physical copy, both options have their pros and cons.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | EA The Sims 4 | £28.91 High Mid | An Iconic Lifestyle Simulator With Plenty of Downloadable Content | ||
2 | Sickhead Games Stardew Valley | £11.99 Low | Live Off the Land in This Homely Farmtown With Retro 8-Bit Art Style | ||
3 | Paradox Interactive Surviving Mars | £15.88 Low Mid | Try Your Hand at Adventure With a Simulator That's Out of This World | ||
4 | Sega Football Manager 2022 | £34.95 High Mid | Lead Your Favourite Club to the Top of the Tables and Bring Your Own Unique Tactics to the Beautiful Game | ||
5 | Microsoft Flight Simulator | £34.99 High Mid | Jet off Across the World From the Comfort of Your Own Home | ||
6 | GIANTS Software Farming Simulator 22 | £29.95 High Mid | Enjoy the Total Freedom of Farm Life With This Extensive Bestseller | ||
7 | Sega Two Point Hospital | £21.24 Mid | Make Use of Those Healing Hands With This Hospital Building Simulator | ||
8 | PlayWay and Red Dot Games Car Mechanic Simulator | £17.99 Low Mid | Unlock Your Inner Motorhead and Stay Entertained With an Infinate Number of Missions | ||
9 | Kalypso Media Railway Empire - Complete Collection | £19.99 Mid | Travel in Style With the Classic Steam Locomotives of the Industrial Revolution | ||
10 | Frontier Developments plc Planet Coaster | £16.95 Low Mid | Bring Your Theme Park Dreams to Life With This Creative Game That’s Perfect for Thrill-Seekers |
The Sims is one of the most iconic games on the market. With the first game coming out in 2000, EA has been developing high-quality lifestyle simulators for over 20 years. The Sims 4, though, is widely believed to be one of their best.
You can fully customize your characters' appearances, personalities, homes, and livelihoods. Plus, with various expansion packs and DLCs, the content feels never-ending! Whether you want to create happy families or destroy the entire town in scandal and cheat, every player's simulation goals have potential in The Sims.
Although it was released in 2016, Stardew Valley utilizes the 8-bit art style of the 1980s to create a nostalgia-filled farm simulator with fully customizable characters and home decoration.
When you're not tending your crops and animals, you can explore the game's vast map with monsters and treasures afoot. Plus, for those less adventurous days, your local community is full of residents to befriend, date and start a family with!
If you're the adventurous type and home comforts have become a bit of a drag, what better way to escape the monotony of everyday life than by jetting off to Mars? This game will have you build a colony on the surface of Mars full of interesting characters and unique stories.
When science fiction had its boom in the 1950s and 60s, humanity turned its eyes to space and imagined a sleek and shining future among the stars. This game takes inspiration from the art of 1960s sci-fi and lets you completely modify your characters' stories and living quarters. One small step for you, one giant leap for mankind!
Ever caught yourself shouting at the TV when they sent the subs on too early or been completely dumbfounded that they signed that terrible player to your favourite club? Football Manager lets you take the game into your own hands and lead your team to victory.
Search through the inventory of players to make transfers and build the team of your dreams. It won't just be your judgement that counts, though, as you'll need to impress the fans too!
This Flight Simulator from Microsoft allows you to learn the ropes of piloting with its highly advanced depictions of real flight controls. Because of the level of detail, this has quickly become the most popular flight simulator on the market.
You can try your hand at anything from single-engine small planes to widebody jets, as you soar over awe-inspiring landscapes that look just like their real-life counterparts. Whoever said that jetsetters and couch surfers were mutually exclusive?
There have been many iterations of this game but Farm Simulator 22 is the biggest yet. With 400 machines and tools and brand new US and EU inspired maps, you really can get the best out of farm life.
Some might find that this game doesn't offer much excitement, with most of the tasks taking on the same rhythm and the art style being quite standard. However, if you're looking for something relaxing to settle into, this could be the one!
With this game, you can build the ideal hospital from the ground up, modifying the building and employing the perfect staff. There are a whole host of entertaining characters and amusing illnesses that you'll be tasked to cure.
This game is reminiscent of the Theme Hospital game of 1997, so it will provide a nostalgia kick for many 90s babies. Unfortunately, though, some of those players have complained that the new art style leaves something to be desired, and they don't quite enjoy this game as much as its 90s counterpart.
This is the perfect game for any car-lover, with exciting auctions, a variety of cars and over 1000 different parts! You'll learn the ropes of fixing cars and the randomly generated missions will keep you entertained forever.
It's the ideal game if you're big on cars or to buy as a gift for someone who is, but it's quite a niche option and won't be entertaining for anyone who isn't car mad. Even so, with the right buyers, this game has been flying off the shelves.
This game compiles beautiful landscapes of cities all across the globe with the exciting developments of the Industrial Revolution. Build railways and experience the tracks first-hand from the driver's cabin.
Although train enthusiasts tend to get heavily engrossed in their passion, this game might not appeal to all gamers so it's best avoided if you're buying a gift or if you're not too keen on trains and travel.
This sandbox building game lets you construct without limits, so you can create the perfect theme park full of thrilling rides and excited patrons. If that sounds like too much of a challenge, though, you can always ease yourself in with hundreds of building blueprints.
There's plenty of downloadable content available to enhance your gaming experience. However, it is one of the shortest games on our list, so won't last long if you're a frequent player.
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
No. 1: EA|The Sims 4
No. 2: Sickhead Games|Stardew Valley
No. 3: Paradox Interactive|Surviving Mars
No. 4: Sega|Football Manager 2022
No. 5: Microsoft|Flight Simulator
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications