top gaming simulators

Not only InZOI: Top 10 PC Simulators That Will Interest You

Home » Blog » Not only InZOI: Top 10 PC Simulators That Will Interest You

Simulators have confidently moved beyond the narrowly specialized genres. Today, they are not just accurate imitations of professions or systems, but full-fledged game worlds with a high degree of involvement. The genre has long become a field for experimentation, where realism, creativity, and strategic thinking are combined. The TOP 10 PC simulators provide a vivid snapshot of the industry, from conquering the skies and depths to building cities and managing your own farm.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 – a visual and physical symphony of the sky

The TOP 10 simulators on PC opens a project that has ceased to be just a game. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has turned into the most accurate simulation of aviation space. Each aircraft reproduces real characteristics: speed of ascent, inertia when descending, weight coefficients when changing fuel and load. Even the position of the center of mass plays a role. Management requires knowledge of navigation, instrument reading, understanding of autopilot and weather risks. When flying long distances, the system takes into account the radius of action, fuel consumption, altitude of the echelon and weather changes in real time.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 – a rhythm and route simulator

The next position in the TOP 10 PC simulators belongs to Euro Truck Simulator 2. Here, trucking takes on an almost philosophical depth. Driving a truck becomes a series of decisions: when to stop, how to plan the route, which roads to trust, and how to anticipate weather traps. The game values regularity and precision over speed. The nighttime highway with headlights in the fog, rain, crosswinds, and challenging interchanges create a realistic driving experience.

Route mechanics

Each delivery is a separate story. Some cargo requires special storage conditions: temperature, vibration level, and humidity. The driver must monitor fuel consumption, find the best prices at gas stations, repair equipment, and expand the fleet. Managing the company is a separate level: hiring employees, improving skills, and opening offices across Europe. The routes pass through real cities: Prague, Berlin, Lyon, and Venice.

Cities: Skylines 2 – Urban Planning Realism with a Focus on Logic

Cities: Skylines 2 provides tools for building a complex urban system, where each building, road, and service affects other components. The player doesn’t just place objects; they design a cohesive structure, maintaining a balance between citizens’ needs and budget constraints. Any change in zoning triggers a chain reaction, affecting traffic patterns, tax growth/decline, and population migration.

A living ecosystem

The city grows not according to a template, but according to the rules of supply and demand. If businesses open in an area, residents will move there. If transportation is not sufficient, businesses will leave. Management requires tracking more than 30 indicators, including unemployment, crime, pollution, education, wealth, traffic, and satisfaction levels. The system simulates not only statistics, but also the individual needs of each resident, such as someone seeking a job closer to home or someone moving due to noise levels.

Farming Simulator 22 – Farming Simulation as a Business Model

In the list of TOP 10 PC simulators, Farming Simulator 22 occupies the niche of realistic agricultural management. Instead of an idyllic village, the game offers a professional approach to farming. The player plans seasonal activities, selects crops based on climate, market prices, and available machinery. Weather conditions play a crucial role, as rain affects the speed of harvesting, while drought affects crop yields.

Field Engineering

The technical component is a separate layer of gameplay. The player controls a fleet of machines: tractors, seeders, sprayers, trailers, and sorting lines. The player adjusts the depth of plowing, the width of coverage, and the type of sprayer. If the equipment is not properly adjusted, it can result in a loss of yield, increased fuel consumption, or equipment failure.

Kerbal Space Program – Science and Failures Under User Control

The list of TOP 10 PC simulators includes Kerbal Space Program as an example of game design that combines humor, physics, and engineering precision. In this game, the player takes on the role of an aerospace agency, starting from scratch and gradually mastering the challenges of satellite launches, manned missions, and interplanetary travel. Each stage requires precise calculations, including the mass of the spacecraft, engine thrust, air resistance, and fuel reserves, all of which are governed by the laws of real-world ballistics.

Not only science, but also humor.

Despite the engineering seriousness, the user maintains balance through a unique style. The small green Kerbals astronauts express emotions during disasters and triumphs. When overloaded, their eyes bulge; when falling, they scream in panic; and when landing successfully, they exclaim in delight.

The Sims 4 is a social strategy game with improvisation elements

The Sims 4 is the most human and at the same time the most ironic game in the genre. The player constructs virtual lives, from the appearance and character of the characters to the architecture of the house and the daily schedule. Each Sim is a complete personality with emotions, desires, fears, weaknesses, and habits. The world reacts to actions: arguing leads to a breakup, friendship leads to shared projects, and romance leads to children. Even random actions affect the scenario: forgetting to eat breakfast leads to hunger, hunger leads to aggression, aggression leads to conflict, and conflict leads to dismissal. This is the depth of simulation — every decision has consequences, often unpredictable.

Tropico 6 – Island-Scale Politics and Economics

The TOP 10 PC simulators include Tropico 6, which is an example of management satire with a focus on political and economic mechanics. The player takes control of an archipelago state, where they have complete control over finances, the military, resources, public sentiment, and diplomacy. This is not just a city-building simulator, but a comprehensive model of political governance.

Micromanagement in action

The Tropico 6 system is built on chains of influence. For example, a farm produces sugar, which is processed by a rum factory, which exports its products through a port built with tax funds collected from local shops. One disruption in the chain, and the economy collapses. This level of detail requires precise management of resources, human flows, and budgets.

Subnautica – Survival in a Different Dimension

The TOP 10 PC simulators include Subnautica, which is an exception to the usual approach to simulation. There are no tractors, skyscrapers, or offices here — only the ocean, silence, and alien depths. The game takes you into a world of total uncertainty, where a spaceship has crashed on a planet completely covered in water. There is no compass, map, or interface — only visual cues, sounds, the color of the water, and the innate instinct for survival.

Organic gameplay

Survival begins with a capsule and empty hands. The task is to obtain oxygen, find water, and build a shelter. All tools, from flippers to submarines, are crafted from the materials obtained. There are no “loot boxes” or inventories with pre-made resources; it’s all about exploration, processing, and production.

RimWorld is a simulation of the human psyche on the verge of

A psychologically rich strategic game that creates not just a base, but a story. RimWorld uses a unique event generator called the “AI Storyteller.” This is not a scripted scenario or randomness. The algorithm analyzes the current situation in the colony, including resources, health, morale, temperature, and relationships, and selects events that can create an emotional impact. For example, a storm may break out somewhere. Raiders may arrive at another location. Or, an air conditioner may break down, triggering a chain reaction.

House Flipper — Renovation as a Genre

The TOP 10 PC simulators are completed by a game that does not offer grandiose scale, but immerses in a very specific process – the purchase, repair and resale of housing. House Flipper builds the game cycle on the micro-management of construction and design tasks, turning each stage of repair into a full-fledged mechanics.

The user analyzes the market, chooses a run-down room, makes an estimate, buys materials and starts to restore. The economic model takes into account costs, profits, the needs of potential buyers. The sale depends not only on the quality of the finish, but also on the color of the walls, the location of the bathroom, and even the model of the sink.

Top 10 PC Simulators: A Reflection of a Genre Without Borders

The simulation genre is no longer a niche. Today, it encompasses not only drivers and farmers, but also mayors, repairmen, astronauts, colonists, and even architects of human destinies. The top 10 PC simulation games demonstrate how precise mechanics, attention to detail, and an organic balance between realism and entertainment create a deep and multi-layered gaming experience.

Related posts

PC gaming simulators are real virtual worlds where you can try on any role: from a civilian airliner pilot to a manager of a huge farm. Modern immersive models have become so advanced that they provide a realistic experience comparable to real sensations. Thanks to the detail and attention to detail, these projects have become not just entertainment, but also a way to understand how different processes work, develop skills and even prepare for a real profession. In this article, we will consider the most interesting PC gaming simulators and find out what makes them so attractive to players around the world.

The best PC gaming simulators: from life to construction

Games where virtual reality becomes an alternative version of the real world. In them, you can start a family, build a house, choose a dream job or just enjoy a leisurely life. One of the most popular projects is The Sims, where you can simulate events, develop characters and even manage an entire city. It is important to note that PC gaming simulators not only allow you to relax and unwind, but also delve into the details of human interaction, social aspects, and the impact of decisions on character development.

Examples of other interesting simulators:

  1. Stardew Valley: a farming platform where the player can farm, grow crops, and communicate with villagers.
  2. Animal Crossing: an environment where you can create your own island paradise full of friends and adventures.

They perfectly convey the atmosphere and allow the player to try on any role, providing a rich toolkit for experimenting with life scenarios.

Profession simulators on PC learn and develop

The opportunity to immerse yourself in the profession of your dreams and learn all the intricacies of the job. Players can become pilots, doctors, mechanics, or even astronauts. For example, Flight Simulator is one of the most famous flight simulators that provides a realistic experience of flying an airplane using real weather and terrain data.

Popular:

  1. Surgeon Simulator: an unusual simulator in which the player acts as a surgeon performing complex operations.
  2. PC Building Simulator: a platform where you can assemble your own computer, studying the details and features of its components.

Such games not only teach, but also broaden your horizons, helping players understand complex technical aspects and professional tasks.

Transport simulator games on PC: feel the steering wheel in your hands

Interesting game simulators for PC: immerse yourself in the virtual world of realistic entertainmentSome of the most popular types of simulators for PC. They allow players to find themselves behind the wheel of a sports car, a huge truck, and even a train. Projects like Euro Truck Simulator 2 reproduce the process of driving in detail: from choosing a route to following traffic rules. In games, not only speed and maneuverability are important, but also competent planning, which makes them especially exciting.

Popular games:

  1. Assetto Corsa: a reality emulator that is ideal for fans of high-speed racing and realistic control.
  2. Train Sim World: an environment that allows you to drive passenger and freight trains, following the schedule and observing safety rules.

The plots are detailed to the smallest detail: realistic physics, well-developed transport models, and a dynamic environment make them unforgettable.

Architecture and urbanism in the virtual world: build the city of your dreams

PC gaming simulators dedicated to construction allow you to implement the most daring architectural ideas. Players can design buildings, create infrastructure and manage entire cities. For example, Cities: Skylines — the platform gives complete freedom in the development of urban space. Here, all aspects are taken into account: from environmental issues to the mood of residents.

Also popular:

  1. Planet Coaster: a game that allows you to create an amusement park of your dreams, with many entertainment facilities and unique scenarios.
  2. SimCity: a classic model where you can build and develop a metropolis, following the needs of the population and balancing the budget.

Projects not only develop creativity, but also teach resource management and crisis management, which makes them useful and educational.

Manage everything: strategy and tactics come first

Management models give players the opportunity to take control of complex systems and prove their effectiveness as a manager. Whether it is managing a space station, a corporation or a state, gaming simulators on PC offer a huge number of options for implementing strategic plans. For example, Kerbal Space Program is a unique space where you can build and launch a spaceship, guided by the laws of physics.

Experienced players recommend:

  1. Factorio: a game where you need to create and optimize a production chain, developing infrastructure and improving productivity.
  2. Tropico: a government management simulator where the player becomes a dictator of an island state, solving economic and political issues.

Management simulators on PC require a deep understanding of mechanics, planning, and attention to detail, which makes them especially interesting for strategy fans.

Conclusion

Manage everything: strategy and tactics come firstGame simulators for PC provide huge opportunities for experimentation, learning and simply having a good time. They allow you to look at the world from different sides, whether it’s driving transport, building a city or living an alternative life. Each of them is a unique experience that gives emotions, teaches new things and develops skills. Virtual reality has become more than just entertainment, but a real tool for self-development and learning. The choice is huge, and anyone can find something to their liking, be it professional simulators or exciting construction projects.

Games in the genre of urban planning simulators have always attracted the attention of fans of strategy and architectural planning. The developers from Colossal Order and the publisher Paradox Interactive continue to develop this concept, creating Cities: Skylines 3 – the most ambitious and technologically advanced part of the series.

The continuation of the popular project offers advanced construction mechanics, improved simulation of urban infrastructure and new management tools. Unlike previous parts, the third release focuses on environmental issues, a deeper economic system and advanced customization options. How Cities: Skylines 3 develops the ideas of its predecessors, what innovations have been introduced, and whether we can expect a breakthrough in the genre — a detailed analysis will reveal all the important aspects.

The main innovations of the Cities: Skylines 3 simulator

The developers of Colossal Order promise global changes that affect gameplay and the depth of simulation. Key features include:

  1. A realistic economy. The city’s budget now depends not only on taxes but also on investments, trade, infrastructure development, and external economic factors.
  2. Advanced transport management. The new traffic system takes into account traffic density, accidents, public transport, and even pedestrian behavior.
  3. Weather conditions and their impact. Rain, snowfall, heat, and storms are now having a real impact on the city’s life.
  4. In-depth study of zoning. Unlike previous parts, each zone (residential, commercial, industrial, and business districts) now has more detailed parameters, including pollution levels, transportation accessibility, and population standards of living.
  5. Social policy and ecology. Citizens are now more actively responding to the mayor’s decisions, participating in city elections, and demanding sustainable development of the metropolis.

Gameplay: How much more difficult and interesting it is to manage a city

The gameplay structure is based on the gradual development of a settlement, from a small village to a huge metropolis. Cities: Skylines now requires players to consider various factors that affect the growth and stability of a city. The developers have redesigned the interface and control mechanics, making the gameplay more user-friendly.

Key controls:

  1. Infrastructure development involves the proper design of roads, transportation hubs, pedestrian zones, and parks.
  2. Energy and utilities are a balance between traditional energy sources and renewable resources.
  3. Housing and commercial real estate are aimed at creating a comfortable environment for citizens and developing the business sector.
  4. The transportation network includes public transportation, bike lanes, highways, and railway lines.

Comparing Cities: Skylines 3 and SimCity: What are the key differences?

Urban planning simulators have always been of great interest to players who enjoy strategic planning and economic management. The development of the genre has led to the creation of numerous projects, but Cities: Skylines and SimCity remain the two most significant series that have set the standards for the entire industry. Cities: Skylines 3 continues the concept, while projects under the second brand have gradually faded into the background since the controversial release in 2013.

SimCity initially offered a city-building system based on clearly defined rules, zoning restrictions, and rigid resource management mechanics. The gameplay revolved around simple algorithms that simulated urban development, focusing on visual appeal and user-friendliness. In contrast, Cities: Skylines 3 offers unlimited customization options, a more flexible economic system, and enhanced control over transportation hubs. The developers at Colossal Order have implemented an advanced technology where each resident has an individual route, work schedule, needs, and reactions to changes in the infrastructure.

The development of transport logistics has become one of the main factors that distinguish Cities: Skylines 3 from older parts of the SimCity simulator. In Electronic Arts’ projects, the movement routes of citizens were rigidly scripted, which often led to unnatural behavior of the population. For example, residents could move endlessly on the same roads, creating artificial traffic jams and leading to illogical collapses of the road network. In CS 3, the transportation system uses a realistic flow calculation algorithm, where each vehicle, pedestrian, or bus passenger takes into account the actual road conditions, chooses the optimal routes, and reacts to changes in traffic.

Another key difference between the two concepts is the feedback from the residents. In SimCity, the interaction with the population was limited to simple complaint or request windows, which provided only a superficial understanding of the city’s needs. However, in the new version of Cities: Skylines 3, the behavior of citizens dynamically changes based on the decisions made, the standard of living, tax policies, and the quality of the city’s infrastructure.

The financial model of the game has also undergone significant changes. While SimCity was based on a rigid tax management system, where basic parameters were adjusted through simple rate settings, Cities: Skylines 3 features a complex revenue and expenditure system that includes a city budget, investment projects, subsidies, taxation of individual districts, and commercial rentals.

Another important difference is the freedom of urban planning. In Electronic Arts projects, zoning has always been the primary tool for development, which limited the creativity of players. However, CS 3 introduces a detailed construction system that allows players to manually create roads, place buildings in unconventional locations, combine territories into unique zones, and even design individual neighborhoods with their own economies.

Player reviews and prospects of the series

Since the release of the first materials about the Cities: Skylines 3 simulator, interest in the project has increased significantly. Players who have followed the series have noted the depth of the innovations, the improved graphics, and the expanded mechanics that make the game the most realistic in the history of the genre.

Based on the reactions of the community, the concept has the potential to become a benchmark for urban planning simulations. The improved economic system, detailed city life simulation, and new management mechanics make the project unique in the industry. Thanks to these innovations, Cities: Skylines 3 is firmly established on the list of the most anticipated strategy games of 2025.

System Requirements and Availability of the Cities: Skylines 3 Simulator

A powerful PC is required for full-fledged gameplay at high settings. Paradox Interactive developers have confirmed that the game will support an updated graphics engine, providing more realistic textures and complex object physics.

Minimum requirements:

  1. Processor: 6th generation Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 3.
  2. RAM: 8 GB.
  3. Video card: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon RX 570.
  4. Storage: 50 GB.

Recommended requirements:

  1. Processor: Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 5.
  2. RAM: 16 GB.
  3. Graphics card: NVIDIA RTX 3060 / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT.
  4. Storage: SSD, 50 GB.

Cities: Skylines 3 will be available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.

Conclusion

The Cities: Skylines 3 city-building simulator offers deep gameplay, realistic city life projection, and an improved economic system. The game is an ideal choice for those who enjoy comprehensive city management and complex strategies.