Best Simulation games See all
The rarest Simulation games See all
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$332 Best Simulation games by console
Simulation tops to explore See all
Simulation games in video game history
Simulation favors systems over dexterity: managing, building and bringing a world to life rather than fighting it. The genre took off in the late 1980s with the 'god game' and management sim, before expanding to everyday life, from the virtual village to the farm, often with no win condition but endless depth.
Its pillars are varied: SimCity founded the city-building game, Populous invented the god game, Animal Crossing turned village life into a console phenomenon and Stardew Valley revived farming sims for a whole generation. Harvest Moon, Theme Park and The Sims complete a sprawling genre.
For collectors, simulation ranges from widely distributed titles to rare exclusives and versions, especially among Japanese life sims. On RomWize, every simulation game is retested and re-rated for 2026, with its rarity index and collector value (loose, complete and new) by region; the 'by console' section above helps you explore the best, machine by machine.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Simulation games?
RomWize's ranking of the best Simulation games is based on a dual score — the original-era rating and a 2026 re-evaluation — to highlight the titles that still stand out today.
Which Simulation games are the rarest and most valuable?
For every Simulation game, we track a rarity index and a collector value (loose, complete and new) by region. The 'rarest' section highlights the hardest titles to find.
On which consoles can you find the best Simulation games?
The 'by console' section ranks platforms by their number of Simulation games, so you can explore the best titles console by console.