The most interesting simulation games released in 2016
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Lionel City Builder 3D: Rise of the Rails
Simulation 14 January 2016
A sandbox simulator in which the player creates and expands a transportation network. The game was developed by Big John Games studio known for creating a Minecraft clone called Cube Creator 3D. Lionel City Builder 3D: Rise of the Rails takes place in the not so distant future, after the current transport model had crashed. In order to give some life to the cities, a metallurgist named Vin decides to create a new railroad network from scratch. The player helps him with that task.
Scrap Mechanic
Simulation 20 January 2016
This is the debut production from Axolot Games. The game itself is a multiplayer-focused sandbox mechanic simulator featuring elements of survival. The player takes control of a mechanic sent to a fully automatized agricultural planet to fix and maintain the machines working there. As it soon turns out, the robots inhabiting the planet went insane and the protagonist's task is to make a good use of his knowledge of machines in order to survive the attacks of mechanical enemies.
The Westport Independent
Simulation 21 January 2016
Developed by Double Zero One Zero studio, The Westport Independent is a censorship simulation video game in which we assume the role of the executive director, who runs a newspaper in a fictional, authoritarian country. Our mission is to influence the public and its attitude towards the government.
American Truck Simulator
Simulation 02 February 2016
The next installment in the popular truck simulation game series with an additional economic layer. The product was created by Czech studio SCS Software, who previously created its sister game - Euro Truck Simulator - and the 18 Wheels of Steel franchise. The game lets you play as a driver of a mighty 18-wheeler, whose career takes him from being an ordinary full-time corporation worker to an owner of a prosperous transport company.
Elite: Dangerous - Arena
Simulation 16 February 2016
A space combat sim focused on online PvP, which is actually a standalone version of the multiplayer mode taken from Elite: Dangerous, a game by Frontier Developments. This title allows up to 8 people to play together in such game modes as Free-for-All, Team Deathmatch, or Capture the Flag.
X Rebirth: Home of Light
Simulation 25 February 2016
Second expansion for the 2013's X Rebirth, an installment in the well-known series of space simulators by Egosoft. The Home of Light DLC offers three brand new star systems, extending the already vast universe of the base game, as well as new space station type dedicated to support the trade within a system and allowing storage of surpluses of individual goods.
Bear Simulator
Simulation 26 February 2016
Bear simulator, developed by one-man Farjay studio with the support of Kickstarter’s users. We play as the eponymous bear and are tasked with surviving in unfriendly environment. We explore the game’s open world and get food by catching fishes, stealing honey from beehives, and gathering tasty species of plants. We also make use of our strong paws and claws to clear our way and fight with other animals. Resting in our cave will be necessary to replenish our lost energy.
Bus Simulator 16
Simulation 02 March 2016
Another installment of a simulator series allowing you to play as a driver of public transport bus, developed by the British company Astragon. In contrast to previous entries in the series, the game was developed by the Austrian studio StillAlive, previously known for the action adventure game, Son of Nor. The new developer made sure that player's role is not limited only to driving, but reflects all aspects of a bus driver's work as closely as possible.
Into the Stars
Simulation 04 March 2016
Set in an open-world, a space survival simulation developed by a small, debuting studio, Fugitive Games. The action takes place in the distant future in which humans are forced to evacuate from the Earth after it is overrun by invaders. Those who survived found shelter in Ark 13 – the last spaceship left – and travel through the universe in search of a new home.
Farming Simulator 15: Official Expansion 2
Simulation 10 March 2016
The second expansion to the popular farming simulator developed by GIANTS Software in 2014. The expansion does not bring any ground-breaking changes to the game’s mechanics and focuses on new, unavailable before types of seeding machines, tractors, front loaders etc. Altogether there are more than 50 different machines produced by companies like ITRunner, JCB, NEW Holland, and Holmer along with classic machines and farming equipment.
Professional Farmer 2017
Simulation 23 March 2016
Another installment in the popular farming simulator series, also known as Agrar Simulator. The general gameplay mechanics remain the same, while the game is still divided into simulation and economic parts. In the former, we personally engage in various farming activities, such as field reclamation, animal breeding, crop production, planting trees, and harvesting, using a wide variety of agricultural machines.
Forestry 2017: The Simulation
Simulation 25 March 2016
The next installment in a simulation games series previously known as Woodcutter Simulator. The game is a result of cooperation between the German UIG Entertainment company and a renowned game publisher Namco Bandai. This is the first part of the series that was designed for both PC and console players. Professional Lumberjack 2016 allows you to become a manager of a wood cutting company. Gameplay consists of two layers: simulation and economic.
EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone
Simulation 28 March 2016
Multiplayer-focused space simulator set in a fictional universe created by Crowd Control Productions (CCP Games) for their MMO title, EVE Online. This game is set in the distant future, long after humans living in the New Eden solar system get separated from the rest of the universe because of the collapse of a wormhole leading back to the Milky Way. Isolated from their kinsmen, in time they split up into five opposing factions competing for resources and space for expansion.
Apollo 11 VR
Simulation 01 April 2016
A game that recreates the first human spaceflight to the Moon using virtual reality. Apollo 11 VR shows the events preceding the historic journey, such as: launch of the Apollo 11 spaceship using a Saturn V rocket, the flight to the Earth’s natural satellite, or the landing and the first walk on its surface. The title is described as a new kind of documentary film, featuring only uncomplicated mechanics that fit more to virtual reality than a fully-fledged video game.
Job Simulator
Simulation 05 April 2016
Developed by Owlchemy Labs, a humorous simulation game designed with Augmented Reality in mind. This title can be classified as a joke sim, similar to Surgeon Simulator, I Am Bread, or Probably Archery. The game is set in the year 2050, when most humans’ tasks were handed down to specialized machines. In order to remind humanity that their ancestors used to work like this, a special simulation program was created to teach people of the future what true work used to mean.
theBlu
Simulation 05 April 2016
An interactive first-person experience in which the player can observe the living depths of the ocean by using virtual reality goggles. theBlu was developed by Wevr, Inc.; The title offers three different experiences in which the role of the player is limited to observing what is happening on the screen. In Whale Encounter the users find themselves in a sunken shipwreck, from where they can observe a giant whale. Reef Migration presents the underwater journey of sea turtles.
Cloudlands: VR Minigolf
Simulation 05 April 2016
A virtual reality game from Futuretown studio that is based on classic minigolf, but set in fairy-tale like floating archipelago. Quite obviously, the whole game focuses on trying to get the ball to the hole throughout courses filled with obstacles. What makes Cloudlands: VR Minigolf different from similar games are unique controls. There are no pointers or tips – player’s moves are sent to the controller in 1 to 1 scale, meaning it resembles real-life minigolf.
Ascent: The Space Game
Simulation 12 April 2016
MMO game from Australian studio Fluffy Kitten, set in science-fiction world and combining features of economic strategy game and space simulator. It takes place in the far future, in which civilization is coming to its end due to a great financial crisis, and the players, as its last living members, try to restore the ruined planet. Depending on one’s preferences, there are two variants of gameplay, though close cooperation between players is crucial in both of them.
Ice Lakes
Simulation 19 April 2016
An ice fishing simulator with a sandbox approach to the subject. During the game we visit several open locations, catching nearly 30 species of fish and making use of a wide range of fishing gear.
End Space
Simulation 21 April 2016
A space simulator created specifically for VR headsets. The player assumes the role of a pilot working for the powerful United Trade Consortium. Aboard a spaceship, the player defends the company's resources against rebels that try to sabotage actions of the UTC. The player controls a combat ship and fights their foes while observing the events from the first-person view. The game uses the player's body movements, as one targets their enemies by moving their head.
Sea Hero Quest
Simulation 03 May 2016
Using virtual reality technology, an unusual game, in which we sail through the full of adventures and attractions of the sea. The production was created to support scientists in the fight against dementia - its aim is to explore ways of navigation in humans.
Britney Spears: American Dream
Simulation 18 May 2016
A celebrity life simulator developed by Glu Mobile, the creators of similar games: Katy Perry Pop and Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. Britney Spears: American Dream is a mobile game based on free-to-play model with optional microtransactions. The player assumes the role of a young person – a man or a woman – who dreams of a career of a pop music idol. The titular singer helps the protagonist in getting to the top.
Waltz of the Wizard
Simulation 31 May 2016
Free production designed for virtual reality sets, in which the player takes on the role of a wizard developing his magical abilities. While playing, you can not only prepare potions and cast various spells, but also use found objects like crossbows; there is also nothing to prevent you from opening portals leading to other locations.
Combat Air Patrol 2: Military Flight Simulator
Simulation 06 June 2016
A military flight simulator created by Sim155 Limited - a studio founded by one of the main designers who worked on the original game. CAP2 is a spiritual heir to the 1993's Combat Air Patrol - a game released for Amiga computers. The player is given an opportunity to take control of a British-American reconnaissance/attack plane AV-8B Harrier II, which is capable of performing V/STOL maneuvers, an acronym for short, vertical take-offs and landings.
The Sims 4: Dine Out
Simulation 07 June 2016
The third game pack to the fourth installment of the cult series of life simulation games developed by EA Maxis. As the title of the expansion suggests, The Sims 4: Dine Out concentrates on the theme of cooking. It allows the Sims to visit a restaurant and eat a meal with friends outside the house. That’s not all – one can create his own restaurant which will function even when the owner is not there.
Take Off: The Flight Simulator
Simulation 09 June 2016
Take Off: The Flight Simulator is a mobile flight simulator developed by Jujubee. The game is incredibly complex for a mobile production - the mechanics aren't much less rich than those available on stationary systems. The players become a beginner pilot, who slowly but steadily gathers experience and new licenses. The players have 14 planes at their disposal - each with a detailed 3D cockpit, where the game takes place.
Landmark
Simulation 10 June 2016
An online sandbox game set in the universe of the popular EverQuest MMO title. The game can be considered a spin-off created on the side while the developers work on the official sequel to the series. Daybreak Game Company is giving a huge open world to the players, who can shape and develop this environment freely.
Satellite Command
Simulation 22 June 2016
A mobile strategy simulation game and the first production by Stromtide Limited, created with the help of astronautics experts. In Satellite Command your task is to oversee a satellite network orbiting the Earth. There are 150 mission in the game, featuring various goals, and your main obstacles are your limited resources and the permadeath system, severely punishing you for even the smallest of mistakes. You have to e.g.
Organ Trail: Complete Edition
Simulation 14 July 2016
A complete edition of an old school simulation game with RPG features. The title takes place in a world filled with zombies and the player's task is to survive. The game is a pastiche of the classic title The Oregon Trail which told the story of a group of settlers colonizing America. During the game, the player controls a group of survivors who travel through the USA in an old car. In order to survive, they must gather food and other useful items like medications and fuel.
The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars
Simulation 28 July 2016
A new installment of The Idolmaster – a popular series developed by Bandai Namco. Similarly to the previous installments in the series, the game mixes elements seen in managers, visual novels, and rhythm games. The player assumes the role of a producer, whose mission is to lead the careers of thirteen young idols that were sent to a special training camp. The game begins with the choice of a leader, while gameplay itself was divided into several segments.
Hacker Evolution Immersion
Simulation 29 July 2016
A logic and simulation game developed by the Romanian team at exosyphen studios. Hacker Evolution IMMERSION is the fourth title in the series started in 2002. The plot of the game references modern conspiracy theories related to the rapid development of information technologies. The player assumes the role of a talented hacker, breaking into various systems where he learns about a conspiracy related to so fast technological advancement of humanity.
EVEREST VR
Simulation 02 August 2016
A simulation game designed for virtual reality sets, taking us to Himalayas where we conquer the summit of the highest mountain in the world. Production was developed by Icelandic Sólfar Studios collaborating with RVX team, responsible for special effects in the Baltasar Kormáruk movie, Everest. Project was supported financially by many Scandinavian institutions.
IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Moscow
Simulation 09 August 2016
A continuation of the famous combat flight simulator series, Il-2 Sturmovik, developed, like the previous installment in the series, by the team at 777, working under the aegis of 1C Company. As the subtitle suggests, the action of the game once again takes us to the Eastern Front during the World War II, where we are involved in key air operations of the turn of 1941 and 1942, including the eponymous battle of Moscow.
Fernbus Simulator
Simulation 25 August 2016
Yet another simulation game developed by TML-Studios. The game has been created in cooperation with FlixBus - one of the largest intercity coach operators in Germany. Fernbus Simulator allows the players to assume the role of a bus driver shuttling between several metropolises that include Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Dortmund. Apart from driving the vehicle, the player has to tend to a number of other things, such as selling tickets.
Farm Expert 2017
Simulation 02 September 2016
Another farm simulator developed by PlayWay, a studio experienced in the genre. Farm Expert 2017 traditionally allows the player to assume the role of a farmer who is tasked with maintaining and expanding his farm. His main task is to cultivate the ground with various professional equipment among which there are 170 devices, including vehicles from the world’s leading producers. The farm is also maintained with plant protection products.
Train Simulator 2017
Simulation 15 September 2016
Another installment in the railway-themed simulation game series, whose consecutive releases have been developed by Dovetail Games since 2009. Train Simulator 2017 is based on the same technology that powered the previous game. The biggest innovation are the four new routes: players can drive across Germany (between Lubeck and Hamburg), the United States (New York – New Jersey), France (Marseille Saint Charles to Avignon TGV), and the Great Britain (Bristol – Cardiff).
Youtubers Life
Simulation 22 September 2016
A simulation game developed by Spanish studio U-Play online, in which the player can assume the role of an internet vlogger who, while being famous, recalls his first steps in the industry. Gameplay of Youtubers Life focuses mostly on creating and publishing videos related to video games, sports, lifestyle or cooking. The player starts their career with limited low-end equipment.
Children of a Dead Earth
Simulation 23 September 2016
A very ambitious independent game developed by Q Switched Productions. The title combines traits of a space simulator with a strategy game. In Children of a Dead Earth the player assumes the role of an admiral who commands a space fleet. During the series of missions he can see as the Solar System plunges into a civil war. The gameplay is based on two main pillars: constructing space ships and participating in planetary conquests.
Chernobyl VR Project
Simulation 27 September 2016
Chernobyl VR Project is an extraordinary exploration game, which utilizes virtual reality to take the players into the ruins of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as the city of Pripyat. Chernobyl VR Project has been developed by The Farm 51 – the studio known for such games as Get Even, Deadfall Adventures, Painkiller: Hell & Damnation or the NecroVision series.
Giant Machines 2017
Simulation 29 September 2016
A heavy machinery simulator created by an independent studio Code Horizon. Giant Machines 2017 stands out from the other simulators with the presence of a Story Mode, the final objective of which is to send a shuttle to the International Space Station. The players can take the reins of machines such as a crane, a bulldozer, a dump truck, a gigantic mining excavator, or a platform transporting space shuttles.
Disney Magical World 2
Simulation 14 October 2016
Another installment in the cartoon life simulator based on Disney animated films. Like its predecessor, Disney Magical World 2 was developed with Nintendo 3DS in mind. This time the game features six varied environments, including the world of Frozen, or the places known from Winnie the Pooh. Disney Magical World utilizes well-known gameplay rules, based on such series as Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon.
Demolish & Build Classic
Simulation 18 October 2016
A building and demolition simulator created by an independent team known as Noble Muffins and published by PlayWay. Demolish & Build Company 2017 casts the player in the role of a company owner who both builds and demolishes various structures. Gameplay as such was based on two pillars here - destroying buildings and constructing new ones in their place in order to rent the new buildings.
Ships 2017
Simulation 19 October 2016
Another simulation published by PlayWay and developed by an independent studio FragOut. The production gives you a chance to take control over three ships – a container ship, a deepwater construction vessel, and a semi-submarine transport vessel. The action takes place on waters of Baltic Sea where you will carry out rescue missions, retrieve objects sunken in the depths of the sea, mount installations, and take transport cruises.
Farming Simulator 17
Simulation 25 October 2016
Farming Simulator 17 is another installment in the series of simulators of farm. This time, the game was published by Focus Home Interactive, but the development was still carried out by GIANTS Software, known from the previous parts of this series. The mechanics remain unchanged - the players become farmers, who need to take good care of their establishment.
Eisenbahn.exe Professional 13
Simulation 26 October 2016
The 13th full-fledged installment of a series of popular railway simulators developed by a German studio Trend Verlaag. Eisenbahn.exe Professional 13 allows us to assume the role of a train driver, traveling through various areas using a chosen train. We can choose from over 4500 models – from classic steam-powered engines, up to modern diesel or electric engines, each containing a faithfully-recreated, three-dimensional cockpit.
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Simulation 27 October 2016
A strategy-simulation game developed by German studio Osmotic Studios. The title references the Orwellian theme of Big Brother and the internet surveillance of the modern society in face of global terrorism. The titular Orwell is the name of a computer system that tracks the citizens and finds people suspected of criminal activity.
House of the Dying Sun
Simulation 01 November 2016
A science-fiction tactical space simulator shooter. It is the debut title of Marauder Interactive – a studio founded by Mike Tipul, one of the designers of Halo: Reach. In the game, the player assumes the role of one of loyal commanders of dead Emperor, who is tasked with punishing the traitors which caused the monarch’s death. In order to do it, player takes control of a modern fighter jet, Executor Mk II, and commands the remains of the defeated fleet of the empire.
The Sims 4: City Living
Simulation 03 November 2016
Another large expansion for the 2014 game The Sims 4 by EA Maxis. City Living adds a new area of the city of San Myshuno, where you can find e.g. noisy neighbors, administrators, who want their rent money badly, exotic restaurants, and many more interesting places and events. Your Sims can now live in apartments and luxury suites, and can choose from three new career options, each connected with the city life: politician, art critic, and social media expert.
Notruf 112: Die Feuerwehr Simulation
Simulation 09 November 2016
A simulation game developed by German company Aerosoft. In Emergency Call 112 - The Fire Fighting Simulation the player assumes the role of a firefighter posted to a fictional city, which is open for exploration. As you play, you take part in a various rescue operations – starting with road accidents, through cleaning toxic spills, to putting down fires of houses and industrial compounds. Each crisis is generated procedurally and may take place both outside and inside buildings.
How We Soar
Simulation 29 November 2016
Developed for VR devices, an exploration game by British Penny Black - a studio set up by former employees of Crytek and Free Radical Design. The action of How We Soar takes us to a fantasy universe projected in a writer’s mind. In the game we try to bring back order to this world and put the writer’s shattered memories back together while flying on a mythical bird – Phoenix. Gameplay predominantly concentrates on exploration in which interaction with the world plays an important role.
Space Arena
Simulation 01 December 2016
Simulation game in which we play the role of a designer of combat spaceships. In Space Arena we construct new ships ourselves and send them to fight in the arena. Battles take place automatically and by winning we gain funds for the purchase of various upgrades.
Euro Truck Simulator 2: Vive la France!
Simulation 05 December 2016
The third official expansion pack for Euro Truck Simulator 2 from the Czech SCS Software studio - a game which has remained very popular since its release. The Vive la France! expansion does not introduce any changes to the gameplay mechanics or technology employed by the game. It focuses mainly on expanding the game area with the territory of virtual France. In the base game, only a small part of this country was recreated.