Best Simulation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 47,636 Simulation games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Simulation game rankings were last updated on 2/26/2026.
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1. Stardew Valley
You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?
Stardew Valley holds the #1 spot for "best Simulation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 98. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 979,871 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 964,885 positive reviews and 14,986 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
- Price:$14.99
- Release Date:2/26/2016
- Developer:ConcernedApe
- Publisher:ConcernedApe
- Last Updated:2/26/2026
- Steam App Id:413150
2. People Playground
Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.
People Playground has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 305,697 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 301,047 positive reviews and 4,650 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play People Playground on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
- Price:$9.99
- Release Date:7/23/2019
- Developer:mestiez
- Publisher:Studio Minus
- Last Updated:2/24/2026
- Steam App Id:1118200
3. Schedule I
From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.
Schedule I has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 280,268 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 274,483 positive reviews and 5,785 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Schedule I on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
4. RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
RimWorld has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 234,218 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 229,292 positive reviews and 4,926 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
- Price:$34.99
- Release Date:10/17/2018
- Developer:Ludeon Studios
- Publisher:Ludeon Studios
- Last Updated:2/25/2026
- Steam App Id:294100
5. Euro Truck Simulator 2
Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 899,098 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 876,373 positive reviews and 22,725 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
- Price:$4.99
- Release Date:10/12/2012
- Franchise:SCS Software
- Developer:SCS Software
- Publisher:SCS Software
- Last Updated:2/25/2026
- Steam App Id:227300
6. Balatro
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Balatro has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 184,428 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 180,589 positive reviews and 3,839 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
- Price:$14.99
- Release Date:2/20/2024
- Franchise:Playstack
- Developer:LocalThunk
- Publishers:
- Last Updated:2/25/2026
- Steam App Id:2379780
7. Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slimes.
Slime Rancher has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 149,960 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 146,942 positive reviews and 3,018 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Slime Rancher on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
- Price:$19.99
- Release Date:8/1/2017
- Franchise:Monomi Park
- Developer:Monomi Park
- Publisher:Monomi Park
- Last Updated:1/29/2026
- Steam App Id:433340
8. MiSide
Let's imagine that you have a game in which you care for a character. But could you imagine one day getting into that game yourself?
MiSide has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 135,882 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 133,019 positive reviews and 2,863 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $13.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play MiSide on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
9. Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
Be the leader of wobblers from ancient lands, spooky places, and fantasy worlds. Watch them fight in simulations made with the wobbliest physics system ever created, make your own wobblers in the unit creator and send your army off to fight your friends in multiplayer.
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 144,249 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 141,117 positive reviews and 3,132 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
- Price:$19.99
- Release Date:4/1/2021
- Franchise:Landfall Games
- Developer:Landfall
- Publisher:Landfall
- Last Updated:1/31/2026
- Steam App Id:508440
10. Touhou Mystia's Izakaya
A brand new pixel art restaurant simulator based on the Touhou Project! Play as Mystia, the owner of a small izakaya. Collect ingredients by day, cater to the customers by night, learn recipes from familiar characters, and become the best izakaya owner in all of Gensokyo!
Touhou Mystia's Izakaya has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 30,876 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 30,450 positive reviews and 426 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.23 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
More Simulation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Simulation games available on Steam.
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 26). Steam Store. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 26). Stardew Valley on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 24). People Playground on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118200
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 21). Schedule I on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3164500
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 25). RimWorld on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/294100
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 25). Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 25). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 29). Slime Rancher on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/433340
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 21). MiSide on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2527500
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 31). Totally Accurate Battle Simulator on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/508440
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 23). Touhou Mystia's Izakaya on Steam. Steam Store. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1584090