The Most Fun Simulator Games You Can Play in 2024

For the most part, the simulation game genre is pretty hardcore stuff. After all, these games are trying to simulate many different scenarios from our real lives. There are even job simulation games for those who enjoy doing free labor after finishing their own day at work. Oftentimes, these simulation games forget one crucial thing: fun. That’s why we’re showing you a bunch of the most fun simulator games you can play in 2024!

5. No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky is a truly gargantuan video game. It features a procedurally generated universe, with developer Hello Games boasting 18 quintillion planets to explore in total. Even among the best space simulator games, that’s impressive. With fun combat, engaging resource-gathering mechanics, and an addictive gameplay loop, No Man’s Sky has come a long way since its rocky launch. Nowadays, it’s one of the most fun simulator games around.

4. Trackmania

Trackmania is arguably the best racing simulator on the market right now. This niche free-to-play title has found a wider audience of late, thanks to a booming content creation scene online. It’s an awesome arcade racer, where crazy stunts are the order of the day. With a ton of community-created maps that are challenging for even the most grizzled of players, Trackmania is one of the most fun simulator games you can play.

3. Arma 3

Arma 3 is still pretty hardcore when compared to the other fun simulator games on this list. It prides itself on being an accurate war simulator, with a heavy focus on multiplayer missions, where players must work tactically and as a unit to succeed. Community game modes offer a more casual experience too, if the main offerings aren’t quite to your taste. What separates Arma 3 from other hardcore simulators is that just about anyone can have fun with it, if they allow themselves to commit to its unique playstyle.

2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

It should come as no big surprise to see Animal Crossing: New Horizons on this list. This life-simulation game is one of Nintendo’s biggest system sellers, giving players the freedom to build and inhabit their own island from scratch. There’s a little something for everyone to enjoy here, with farming, socialization, and building elements among plenty of other features. It really is one of the most fun simulation games ever made, and there’s a reason it remains so popular over four years after its launch.

1. Stardew Valley

The top spot was always going to be Stardew Valley. You could make the argument that it’s the best simulation game ever, thanks to how it appeals to fans of both hardcore and casual simulators. The concept is simple: you’re handed a plot of land, and it’s up to you to clear it and develop it through farming, crafting, and exploring. Its pixel art style ensures it’ll feel timeless for many years to come, and it even receives content updates from developer ConcernedApe almost a decade after it first launched.