Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,000 most recommended games across 827 critic lists from 134 publications.

Updated: October 26, 2025

Most Acclaimed Simulation Games of All Time

Filters

66 of 66

#1 Minecraft (2011) (#39)

Mojang Studios | 3, X360, PS3 | Sandbox / Survival | ~65h | 87 lists

#2 SimCity 2000 (1993) (#74)

Maxis | DOS, MAC, AMI | City Building | ~21h | 43 lists

#3 Persona 5 (2016) (#86)

P Studio | WIN, 3, XB1, XBXS, SW | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~98h | 59 lists

#4 Persona 4 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008) (#87)

Atlus | WIN, PS2, PSV | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~72h | 33 lists

#5 Fortnite (2017) (#90)

Epic Games | MAC, WIN, XB1, PS4 | Sandbox / Survival / Battle Royale | ~62h | 43 lists

#6 Stardew Valley (2016) (#94)

ConcernedApe | 3, XB1, PS4, SW | Life Simulation | ~53h | 49 lists

#7 The Sims (2000) (#96)

Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~20h | 42 lists

#8 Shenmue (1999) (#120)

Sega AM2 | DC | Action-Adventure / Life Simulation | ~19h | 27 lists

#9 SimCity (1989) (#126)

Maxis | DOS, MAC, 5, SNES | City Building | ~15h | 34 lists

#10 Star Wars: TIE Fighter (1994) (#131)

Totally Games | 3 | Space Simulation | ~28h | 30 lists

#11 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) (#144)

Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5 | SW | Life Simulation | ~61h | 44 lists

#12 Papers, Please (2013) (#146)

Lucas Pope | 3 | Simulation / Puzzle | ~5h | 35 lists

#13 Elite (1984) (#176)

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell | 6, DOS | Space Combat | 23 lists

#14 Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012) (#250)

Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 | 3DS | Life Simulation | ~79h | 28 lists

#15 LittleBigPlanet (2008) (#251)

Media Molecule | PS3 | Sandbox / Platform | ~9h | 24 lists

#16 Animal Crossing (2001) (#260)

Nintendo EAD | N64, GC | Life Simulation | ~66h | 16 lists

#17 The Sims 2 (2004) (#281)

Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~26h | 13 lists

#18 The Sims 3 (2009) (#334)

The Sims Studio | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~53h | 16 lists

#19 Populous (1989) (#391)

Bullfrog Productions | 3, SMS, GEN, SNES | God Game | ~12h | 12 lists

#20 MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (1995) (#411)

Activision | 3 | Simulation | ~8h | 11 lists

#21 Kerbal Space Program (2015) (#443)

Squad | 3 | Flight Simulation | ~113h | 14 lists

#22 Star Wars: X-Wing (1993) (#444)

Totally Games | 3 | Space Simulation | ~27h | 12 lists

#23 FreeSpace 2 (1999) (#450)

Volition | WIN | Space Combat | ~15h | 8 lists

#24 Eve Online (2003) (#464)

CCP | WIN | MMORPG / Space Combat | ~1553h | 10 lists

#25 Wing Commander (1990) (#498)

Origin Systems | DOS, AMI, CD32, SNES, SCD | Flight Simulation | ~8h | 10 lists

#26 Dungeon Keeper (1997) (#512)

Bullfrog Productions | DOS, WIN | Role-Playing / Real-Time Strategy / God Game | ~17h | 8 lists

#27 ActRaiser (1990) (#515)

Quintet | SNES | Action RPG / City Building / Platform | ~5h | 13 lists

#28 Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) (#517)

Asobo Studio | WIN, XBXS | Flight Simulation | ~26h | 10 lists

#29 Pilotwings (1990) (#535)

Nintendo EAD | SNES | Flight Simulation | ~4h | 11 lists

#30 Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi (1991) (#592)

Origin Systems | DOS | Space Combat | ~11h | 7 lists

#31 Theme Park (1994) (#602)

Bullfrog Productions | DOS, MAC, 3, 3, SNES, 3DO, JAG, PS | Construction & Management | ~17h | 8 lists

#32 SimCity 4 (2003) (#604)

Maxis | MAC, WIN | City Building | ~9h | 6 lists

#33 Farming Simulator 22 (2021) (#620)

Giants Software | MAC, WIN, XB1, XBXS, PS4, PS5 | Simulation | ~153h | 1 lists

#34 Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005) (#658)

Nintendo EAD | DS | Life Simulation | ~68h | 7 lists

#35 LittleBigPlanet 2 (2011) (#663)

Media Molecule | PS3 | Puzzle-Platformer / Sandbox | ~7h | 11 lists

#36 IL-2 Sturmovik (2001) (#665)

Maddox Games | WIN | Flight Simulation | ~14h | 5 lists

#37 Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter (1997) (#683)

Totally Games | WIN | Space Combat | ~14h | 5 lists

#38 Dwarf Fortress (2006) (#687)

Bay 12 Games | 3 | Survival / Construction & Management / Roguelike | ~75h | 4 lists

#39 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1996) (#698)

Origin Systems | 3, PS | Space Combat | ~11h | 5 lists

#40 Factorio (2020) (#705)

Wube Software | 3, SW | Real-Time Strategy / Construction & Management | ~50h | 1 lists

#41 Crimson Skies (2000) (#714)

Zipper Interactive | WIN | Action / Flight Simulation | ~10h | 5 lists

#42 Pilotwings 64 (1996) (#719)

Nintendo EAD, Nintendo R&D3, Paradigm Simulation | N64 | Flight Simulation | ~5h | 7 lists

#43 Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger (1994) (#743)

Origin Systems | DOS, MAC, 3DO, PS | Space Combat | ~12h | 6 lists

#44 Everything (2017) (#744)

David OReilly | 3, PS4 | Simulation / God Game | ~3h | 9 lists

#45 Driver / Driver: You Are the Wheelman (1999) (#745)

Reflections Interactive | WIN, PS | Action / Simulation | ~12h | 5 lists

#46 Cities: Skylines (2015) (#753)

Colossal Order | 3 | City Building / Construction & Management | ~28h | 7 lists

#47 Overcooked (2016) (#785)

Ghost Town Games | WIN, XB1, PS4, SW | Simulation | ~8h | 5 lists

#48 Harvest Moon (1996) (#789)

Amccus, Pack-In-Video | SNES | Life Simulation | ~24h | 6 lists

#49 RollerCoaster Tycoon (1999) (#797)

Chris Sawyer Productions, Frontier Developments | WIN | Construction & Management | ~61h | 4 lists

#50 Cart Life (2010) (#811)

Richard Hofmeier | WIN | Simulation | 4 lists

#51 Dragon Quest Builders 2 (2018) (#840)

Omega Force, Square Enix Business Division 5 | WIN, PS4, SW | Sandbox / Action RPG | ~55h | 6 lists

#52 Star Raiders (1980) (#849)

Atari | A26, A52, A8 | Space Combat | ~18m | 4 lists

#53 Black & White (2001) (#851)

Lionhead Studios | WIN | Simulation / God Game | ~16h | 5 lists

#54 SimCity 3000 (1999) (#877)

Maxis | MAC, WIN | City Building | ~9h | 5 lists

#55 Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods (1991) (#878)

Bullfrog Productions | DOS, AST, AMI | God Game | ~17h | 4 lists

#56 Persona 3 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (2006) (#907)

Atlus | PS2 | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~82h | 3 lists

#57 Frostpunk (2018) (#925)

11 bit studios | WIN | Survival / City Building | ~11h | 4 lists

#58 Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 (1982) (#926)

subLOGIC | DOS | Flight Simulation | ~30m | 3 lists

#59 Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance (1999) (#927)

Totally Games | WIN | Space Simulation | ~20h | 4 lists

#60 Microsoft Flight Simulator X (2006) (#931)

Microsoft Game Studios | WIN | Flight Simulation | ~182h | 3 lists

#61 Anno 1602: Creation of a New World / 1602 A.D. (1998) (#934)

Max Design | WIN | Real-Time Strategy / City Building | ~24h | 4 lists

#62 Elite Dangerous (2014) (#963)

Frontier Developments | MAC, WIN, XB1 | Adventure / Massively Multiplayer / First-Person Shooter / Space Combat | ~114h | 4 lists

#63 Anno 1800 (2019) (#964)

Ubisoft Blue Byte | WIN | Real-Time Strategy / City Building | ~15h | 1 lists

#64 Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon (1990) (#969)

MPS Labs | DOS, MAC, AST, AMI | Simulation | ~6h | 3 lists

#65 Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001) (#994)

Factor 5, LucasArts | GC | Action / Flight Simulation | ~6h | 6 lists

#66 Garry's Mod (2006) (#995)

Facepunch Studios | WIN | Sandbox | ~52h | 3 lists

#39

Mojang Studios

MAC, LIN, PS3, WIN, X360

Sandbox / Survival

~65h

87 lists

Minecraft 2011

#74

Maxis

AMI, MAC, DOS

City Building

~21h

43 lists

SimCity 2000 1993

#86

P Studio

SW, PS3, PS4, PS5, WIN, XB1, XBXS

Role-Playing / Life Simulation

~98h

59 lists

Persona 5 2016

#87

Atlus

PS2, PSV, WIN

Role-Playing / Life Simulation

~72h

33 lists

Persona 4 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 2008

#90

Epic Games

MAC, PS4, WIN, XB1

Sandbox / Survival / Battle Royale

~62h

43 lists

Fortnite 2017

#94

ConcernedApe

MAC, LIN, SW, PS4, WIN, XB1

Life Simulation

~53h

49 lists

Stardew Valley 2016

#96

Maxis

MAC, WIN

Life Simulation

~20h

42 lists

The Sims 2000

#120

Sega AM2

Action-Adventure / Life Simulation

~19h

27 lists

Shenmue 1999

#126

Maxis

AMI, CPC, MAC, C64, DOS, FMT, SNES, ZXS

City Building

~15h

34 lists

SimCity 1989

#10

#131

Totally Games

MAC, DOS, WIN

Space Simulation

~28h

30 lists

Star Wars: TIE Fighter 1994

#11

#144

Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5

Life Simulation

~61h

44 lists

Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2020

#12

#146

Lucas Pope

MAC, LIN, WIN

Simulation / Puzzle

~5h

35 lists

Papers, Please 2013

#13

#176

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, ZXS

Space Combat

23 lists

Elite 1984

#14

#250

Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2

3DS

Life Simulation

~79h

28 lists

Animal Crossing: New Leaf 2012

#15

#251

Media Molecule

PS3

Sandbox / Platform

~9h

24 lists

LittleBigPlanet 2008

#16

#260

Nintendo EAD

N64, GC

Life Simulation

~66h

16 lists

Animal Crossing 2001

#17

#281

Maxis

MAC, WIN

Life Simulation

~26h

13 lists

The Sims 2 2004

#18

#334

The Sims Studio

MAC, WIN

Life Simulation

~53h

16 lists

The Sims 3 2009

#19

#391

Bullfrog Productions

AMI, AST, PC98, SMS, GEN, SNES

God Game

~12h

12 lists

Populous 1989

#20

#411

Activision

MAC, DOS, WIN

Simulation

~8h

11 lists

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat 1995

#21

#443

Squad

MAC, LIN, WIN

Flight Simulation

~113h

14 lists

Kerbal Space Program 2015

#22

#444

Totally Games

MAC, DOS, WIN

Space Simulation

~27h

12 lists

Star Wars: X-Wing 1993

#23

#450

Volition

WIN

Space Combat

~15h

8 lists

FreeSpace 2 1999

#24

#464

CCP

WIN

MMORPG / Space Combat

~1553h

10 lists

Eve Online 2003

#25

#498

Origin Systems

AMI, CD32, DOS, SCD, SNES

Flight Simulation

~8h

10 lists

Wing Commander 1990

#26

#512

Bullfrog Productions

DOS, WIN

Role-Playing / Real-Time Strategy / God Game

~17h

8 lists

Dungeon Keeper 1997

#27

#515

Quintet

SNES

Action RPG / City Building / Platform

~5h

13 lists

ActRaiser 1990

#28

#517

Asobo Studio

WIN, XBXS

Flight Simulation

~26h

10 lists

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

#29

#535

Nintendo EAD

SNES

Flight Simulation

~4h

11 lists

Pilotwings 1990

#30

#592

Origin Systems

DOS

Space Combat

~11h

7 lists

Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi 1991

#31

#602

Bullfrog Productions

3DO, AMI, CD32, MAC, JAG, DOS, FMT, PS, SCD, GEN, SAT, SNES

Construction & Management

~17h

8 lists

Theme Park 1994

#32

#604

Maxis

MAC, WIN

City Building

~9h

6 lists

SimCity 4 2003

#33

#620

Giants Software

MAC, PS4, PS5, WIN, XB1, XBXS

Simulation

~153h

1 lists

Farming Simulator 22 2021

#34

#658

Nintendo EAD

Life Simulation

~68h

7 lists

Animal Crossing: Wild World 2005

#35

#663

Media Molecule

PS3

Puzzle-Platformer / Sandbox

~7h

11 lists

LittleBigPlanet 2 2011

#36

#665

Maddox Games

WIN

Flight Simulation

~14h

5 lists

IL-2 Sturmovik 2001

#37

#683

Totally Games

WIN

Space Combat

~14h

5 lists

Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter 1997

#38

#687

Bay 12 Games

MAC, LIN, WIN

Survival / Construction & Management / Roguelike

~75h

4 lists

Dwarf Fortress 2006

#39

#698

Origin Systems

MAC, DOS, PS, WIN

Space Combat

~11h

5 lists

Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom 1996

#40

#705

Wube Software

MAC, LIN, SW, WIN

Real-Time Strategy / Construction & Management

~50h

1 lists

Factorio 2020

#41

#714

Zipper Interactive

WIN

Action / Flight Simulation

~10h

5 lists

Crimson Skies 2000

#42

#719

Nintendo EAD, Nintendo R&D3, Paradigm Simulation

N64

Flight Simulation

~5h

7 lists

Pilotwings 64 1996

#43

#743

Origin Systems

3DO, MAC, DOS, PS

Space Combat

~12h

6 lists

Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger 1994

#44

#744

David OReilly

MAC, LIN, PS4, WIN

Simulation / God Game

~3h

9 lists

Everything 2017

#45

#745

Reflections Interactive

PS, WIN

Action / Simulation

~12h

5 lists

Driver / Driver: You Are the Wheelman 1999

#46

#753

Colossal Order

MAC, LIN, WIN

City Building / Construction & Management

~28h

7 lists

Cities: Skylines 2015

#47

#785

Ghost Town Games

SW, PS4, WIN, XB1

Simulation

~8h

5 lists

Overcooked 2016

#48

#789

Amccus, Pack-In-Video

SNES

Life Simulation

~24h

6 lists

Harvest Moon 1996

#49

#797

Chris Sawyer Productions, Frontier Developments

WIN

Construction & Management

~61h

4 lists

RollerCoaster Tycoon 1999

#50

#811

Richard Hofmeier

WIN

Simulation

4 lists

Cart Life 2010

#51

#840

Omega Force, Square Enix Business Division 5

SW, PS4, WIN

Sandbox / Action RPG

~55h

6 lists

Dragon Quest Builders 2 2018

#52

#849

Atari

A26, A52, A8

Space Combat

~18m

4 lists

Star Raiders 1980

#53

#851

Lionhead Studios

WIN

Simulation / God Game

~16h

5 lists

Black & White 2001

#54

#877

Maxis

MAC, WIN

City Building

~9h

5 lists

SimCity 3000 1999

#55

#878

Bullfrog Productions

AMI, AST, DOS

God Game

~17h

4 lists

Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods 1991

#56

#907

Atlus

PS2

Role-Playing / Life Simulation

~82h

3 lists

Persona 3 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 2006

#57

#925

11 bit studios

WIN

Survival / City Building

~11h

4 lists

Frostpunk 2018

#58

#926

subLOGIC

DOS

Flight Simulation

~30m

3 lists

Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 1982

#59

#927

Totally Games

WIN

Space Simulation

~20h

4 lists

Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance 1999

#60

#931

Microsoft Game Studios

WIN

Flight Simulation

~182h

3 lists

Microsoft Flight Simulator X 2006

#61

#934

Max Design

WIN

Real-Time Strategy / City Building

~24h

4 lists

Anno 1602: Creation of a New World / 1602 A.D. 1998

#62

#963

Frontier Developments

MAC, WIN, XB1

Adventure / Massively Multiplayer / First-Person Shooter / Space Combat

~114h

4 lists

Elite Dangerous 2014

#63

#964

Ubisoft Blue Byte

WIN

Real-Time Strategy / City Building

~15h

1 lists

Anno 1800 2019

#64

#969

MPS Labs

AMI, MAC, AST, DOS

Simulation

~6h

3 lists

Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon 1990

#65

#994

Factor 5, LucasArts

Action / Flight Simulation

~6h

6 lists

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader 2001

#66

#995

Facepunch Studios

WIN

Sandbox

~52h

3 lists

Garry's Mod 2006

Filters

CSV

Game Status

Release Year

Drag or shift+click for ranges

Platform

Genre

Series

Playtime (HowLongToBeat)

Presets

Short

Medium

Long

Completion

Range (hours)

Min

Max