10 Best PC Simulation Games in 2025 For PC Gamers

Simulation games are no longer a side category for a handful of enthusiasts. In 2025, PC simulation games sit at the core of the gaming landscape, covering almost every aspect of real life and professional activity: long-haul truck driving across Europe, highly detailed flight simulators that recreate real-world weather, city-building titles that model traffic and economics, farm management games with licensed machinery, full city-scale life simulations where every citizen has routines and needs, and even surprisingly addictive job sims like power-washing entire neighborhoods.

This article is designed to:

• Give you a focused shortlist of the 10 Best PC Simulation Games in 2025, so you don’t have to dig through endless store pages and forums.

• Clarify who each game is for , whether you’re a relaxed player looking for a calming, low-pressure experience or a hardcore simmer ready to learn complex systems, check manuals, and invest in special hardware.

• Help you choose the right simulator based on your budget, the time you can realistically invest, and the hardware you already own (from modest laptops to high-end rigs with wheels, yokes, and VR).

Our Top Picks for PC Simulation Games

If you want the quick answer before diving into the full list, here are the top three standout simulation games to play this year , chosen for quality, accessibility, and long-term value:

Best Overall Simulation Experience: Euro Truck Simulator 2

Relaxing, atmospheric, endlessly expandable, and surprisingly immersive. Works on mid-range PCs and offers both casual and deeply realistic driving.

Most Realistic Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator

Unmatched global scale, live weather, accurate aircraft physics, and strong hardware support. Ideal for players who want true aviation realism.

Best Next-Generation Sim: Assetto Corsa EVO

A 2025 racing sim built with cutting-edge physics, laser-scanned tracks, and high-fidelity visuals. Perfect for sim-racers with a wheel setup.

These three games represent the best of their categories , driving, flying, and racing , and serve as excellent entry points into the broader simulation genre.

1. Euro Truck Simulator 2 : Why is it still a must-play in 2025?

Euro Truck Simulator 2 remains one of the most iconic driving simulators ever created, and even in 2025 it continues to dominate the genre. At its core, ETS2 challenges you to transport cargo across a vast, expanding map of Europe, connecting major cities, industrial hubs, and beautiful countryside. The game’s strength lies in how convincingly it replicates the everyday life of a long-haul trucker: realistic truck physics, clear weight distribution, responsive steering, and a wide selection of licensed trucks to master.

One of the standout features is driver fatigue and realism management. You can’t drive indefinitely—your driver gets tired, fuel runs low, and trucks wear down over time. You need to plan rest stops, maintain your vehicle, and manage budgets. These seemingly small elements add a surprising amount of depth, turning every long-distance journey into a thoughtful routine.

Visually, ETS2 still holds up impressively. Recognizable European landscapes, detailed cities, dynamic weather conditions, and beautifully crafted interiors make a simple delivery route feel atmospheric. Sitting inside the driver’s cabin, surrounded by working dashboards, buttons, pedals, and mirrors, adds a layer of immersion that newer games still struggle to match.

The ecosystem around the game is equally important. ETS2 benefits from continuous developer support, frequent updates, and a massive, passionate modding community. Players can add new trucks, traffic systems, real-world companies, improved weather, or even entire countries , ensuring the game never feels outdated.

Everything in Euro Truck Simulator 2 is built for immersion. Whether you’re cruising across German highways at sunset or navigating narrow streets in Italy, the game strikes a rare balance: it’s calming, engaging, and surprisingly addictive.

My Verdict:
Euro Truck Simulator 2 remains essential for simulation fans. Its depth, realism, and enormous modding community give it endless replayability. Perfect for players who enjoy slow-paced, atmospheric gameplay and want a simulator that rewards patience and precision.

2. Microsoft Flight Simulator : Is it still the reference flight sim in 2025?

Microsoft Flight Simulator remains the gold standard of aviation simulation in 2025, offering an experience unmatched in scale, realism, and atmospheric detail. Instead of limiting you to handcrafted maps, the game recreates the entire planet using satellite data, real-time weather, live flight traffic, and stunning photogrammetry technology. Every flight feels different because the world itself is alive , storms form naturally, winds shift, and visibility changes just like in real aviation.

You can choose from a massive range of aircraft: light planes, airliners, turboprops, gliders, and even helicopters. Each cockpit is recreated with extreme precision, complete with functional buttons, switches, and instruments. Whether you’re taking off from a small rural airstrip or landing a Boeing 787 at a major international airport, the game demands concentration, planning, and a solid understanding of flight principles.

One of the most interesting features is the realistic systems modeling. Engine performance, fuel consumption, navigation tools, autopilot systems, and aerodynamic principles all behave as they should. If you cut corners, fail a checklist, or mishandle landing procedures, the results are immediate and educational.

Visually, Microsoft Flight Simulator still sets the benchmark. Sunsets reflect off clouds, landscapes shift naturally, and city skylines appear exactly as you’d expect. For many players, simply flying around and exploring Earth becomes its own relaxing experience.

My Verdict:
This is the definitive choice for anyone who wants the most authentic aviation experience available on PC. demanding, beautiful, and endlessly deep, Microsoft Flight Simulator is the closest most players will come to real-world piloting.

3. Cities: Skylines II : Which city builder should you choose in 2025?

Cities: Skylines II takes the beloved formula of the original game and pushes it into deeper, more detailed territory. Instead of just placing roads and zoning neighborhoods, you’re now managing an entire living, breathing urban ecosystem. Every citizen has a job, a routine, an income, and a transportation preference. Traffic doesn’t just flow , it reacts to the city’s shape, road hierarchy, and population needs.

The simulation now models weather, seasons, pollution, land value, and long-term citizen behavior. You’ll see commuters adjust their routes, businesses rise and fall, and neighborhoods transform over time. The depth is impressive, but it also makes planning more important than ever.

One of the most satisfying aspects is creating a city that functions smoothly under real pressure. High-density districts may cause traffic jams. Poor infrastructure leads to pollution spikes. The game rewards strategic thinking, not just creativity.

Visually, Cities: Skylines II delivers detailed landscapes, realistic buildings, and atmospheric lighting. Despite its heavier system requirements, it offers some of the most immersive city visuals ever seen in a simulation game.

My Verdict:
This is a must-play for fans of city-building who enjoy depth, realism, and long-term planning. If your PC can handle it, Cities: Skylines II is the most advanced city simulator today.