Have you ever wanted to escape from the real world and try something completely new? While there are so many games on the market, we found the best simulation games for when you want to avoid reality (we’re not judging).
Looking for the best simulation games that feel like real life? Perhaps you want to experience an entirely new way of life, a career you’ve never considered, or even, dare we say it, dabble in a little bit of crime.
While some are challenging, delivering absolute accuracy and forcing you to learn technical skills, some are playable ASMR, introducing a flow of state that will give you a welcome break from the real world.
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In fact, some of the best simulation games available right now can actually help you discover a new passion.
Whether you want to swap your full corporate life for a quiet one harvesting turnips, want to try your hand at managing the most talented F1 drivers in the world, or even start a career as a producer behind the scenes of a Hollywood film studio, we’ve found the best simulation games that will keep boredom at bay and your creative juices flowing.
Read on for the best simulation games available to play and buy right now.
F1 Manager 2022
Looking for one of the best simulation games to play? We can’t be the only ones excited for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s arrival in November. Who doesn’t want to watch Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen tear through 55 laps in some of the best car engineering the world’s ever seen? After a 22-year-wait (yes, you read that right), you can now oversee entire Formula 1 squads, create race strategies, allocate car development resources, appease the directors through sponsorship objectives, and even scout drivers.
Dhs222. Out now. Available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. f1manager.com.
The Sims 4 High School Years
This is one of the best simulation games in the world. Have you ever been so sick of paying rent, bills and having to be an “adult” that you wish you could go back to school and enjoy freedom again? Well, now you can. Kind of. In this game, you’ll be able to join a club, start a trend and make the most out of being a teenager again with The Sims 4 High School Expansion Pack. Get dressed up for prom, pull pranks on your friends, experiment with your identity and try out extracurricular activities you’ve never done before.
Dhs142. Out now. Available on Windows, macOS, PS4, PS5, Xbox One. ea.com.
PowerWash Simulator
This is, surprisingly, one of the best simulation games out there. We know what you’re thinking. Why would you want to play a game that simulates a power wash? Um, for the ultimate dopamine hit of course. Actually, it proves that you only need water and a bit of muck to have fun. Essentially the game is a shooter, but your targets are filth that has built up on lawn chairs, vans and helicopters and your weapons are a water jet and various flavours of soap.
Dhs93. Out now. Available on PC. store.steampowered.com
Cooking Simulator
Love cooking but too afraid that you’ll burn the house down? There’s a game for that. Hey, your safety is paramount to us so we’ve found just the game for you to practice your culinary skills without the risk. Cooking simulator puts you in charge of a large, realistic kitchen and makes it your task to dice, simmer, blend and season your way to becoming the greatest chef in the world. But if you’re more inclined to scream and shout your way through the kitchen a la Chef Gordon Ramsay, you also have the opportunity to smash plates, blow up the microwave and start fires. Just don’t do this IRL. You’ve been warned.
Dhs47. Out now. Available on Steam. store.steampowered.com
Flight Simulator
We can’t be the only ones obsessed with travel (welcome to the Time Out family, duh) but after two long years of few opportunities to travel, Flight Simulator has offered us a boarding pass to the beautiful blue skies and new lands of the world. After years of dying to know what all the buttons mean on an aircraft, you can also learn all the technicalities of piloting at flight school to teach you all the basics and, you know, learn how to avoid a fatal crash. Ready to join the Mile High Club?
Dhs196. Out now. Available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. flightsimulator.com.
Farming Simulator
Looking for one of the best simulation games to play? It’s hard labour but it’s worth escaping the chaos of city life to the rolling green hills of the country. In Farming Simulator, you can choose from three different careers set at different difficulty settings. You’ll be able to buy fields, upgrade your equipment from more than 400 machines from more than 100 brands, ride horses, tend to farm animals, and get your wellies dirty.
Dhs110. Out now. Available on PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Google Stadia. farming-simulator.com
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You can now purchase a one-day pass for just Dhs120.
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