Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.

Updated: October 16, 2026

Most Acclaimed Simulation Games of All Time

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100 of 101

#1 Minecraft (2011) (#37)

Mojang Studios | 3, X360, PS3 | Sandbox / Survival | ~65h | 93 lists

#2 The Sims (2000) (#79)

Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~19h | 48 lists

#3 SimCity 2000 (1993) (#81)

Maxis | DOS, MAC, AMI | City Building | ~22h | 46 lists

#4 Persona 5 (2016) (#85)

P Studio | WIN, 3, XB1, XBXS, SW | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~98h | 62 lists

#5 Fortnite (2017) (#91)

Epic Games | MAC, WIN, XB1, PS4 | Sandbox / Survival / Battle Royale | ~66h | 45 lists

#6 Stardew Valley (2016) (#101)

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

#7 Persona 4 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008) (#103)

Atlus | WIN, PS2, PSV | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~73h | 32 lists

#8 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) (#111)

Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5 | SW | Life Simulation | ~61h | 46 lists

#9 Shenmue (1999) (#118)

Sega AM2 | DC | Action-Adventure / Life Simulation | ~19h | 30 lists

#10 SimCity (1989) (#121)

Maxis | DOS, MAC, 5, SNES | City Building | ~16h | 37 lists

#11 Star Wars: TIE Fighter (1994) (#151)

Totally Games | 3 | Space Simulation | ~28h | 32 lists

#12 Papers, Please (2013) (#158)

Lucas Pope | 3 | Simulation / Puzzle | ~5h | 36 lists

#13 Elite (1984) (#199)

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell | 6, DOS | Space Combat | 24 lists

#14 LittleBigPlanet (2008) (#260)

Media Molecule | PS3 | Sandbox / Platform | ~9h | 25 lists

#15 Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012) (#266)

Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 | 3DS | Life Simulation | ~79h | 30 lists

#16 Animal Crossing (2001) (#275)

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development | N64, GC | Life Simulation | ~66h | 17 lists

#17 The Sims 2 (2004) (#300)

Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~26h | 14 lists

#18 Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) (#359)

Asobo Studio | WIN, XBXS | Flight Simulation | ~26h | 14 lists

#19 The Sims 3 (2009) (#403)

The Sims Studio | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~57h | 14 lists

#20 Persona 3 Reload (2024) (#421)

P Studio | WIN, XB1, XBXS, PS4, PS5 | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~65h | 8 lists

#21 Populous (1989) (#423)

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

#22 MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (1995) (#435)

Activision, Quantum Factory | 3 | Vehicle Simulation | ~8h | 12 lists

#23 Star Wars: X-Wing (1993) (#468)

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

#24 Eve Online (2003) (#479)

Fenris Creations | WIN | MMORPG / Space Combat | ~1777h | 11 lists

#25 FreeSpace 2 (1999) (#495)

Volition | WIN | Space Combat | ~16h | 8 lists

#26 Wing Commander (1990) (#499)

Origin Systems | DOS, AMI, CD32, SNES, SCD | Flight Simulation | ~8h | 11 lists

#27 Dispatch (2025) (#507)

AdHoc Studio | WIN, PS5 | Adventure / Simulation / Interactive Drama | ~9h | 29 lists

#28 Kerbal Space Program (2015) (#521)

Squad | 3 | Flight Simulation | ~110h | 14 lists

#29 Pilotwings (1990) (#528)

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development | SNES | Flight Simulation | ~4h | 12 lists

#30 IL-2 Sturmovik (2001) (#529)

Maddox Games | WIN | Flight Simulation | ~14h | 7 lists

#31 ActRaiser (1990) (#540)

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

#32 Dungeon Keeper (1997) (#560)

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

#33 Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi (1991) (#568)

Origin Systems | DOS | Space Combat | ~11h | 9 lists

#34 Cities: Skylines (2015) (#642)

Colossal Order | 3 | City Building / Construction & Management | ~28h | 9 lists

#35 SimCity 4 (2003) (#646)

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

#36 Theme Park (1994) (#648)

Bullfrog Productions | DOS, MAC, 3, 3, SNES, 3DO, JAG, PS | Construction & Management | ~16h | 8 lists

#37 Factorio (2020) (#681)

Wube Software | 3, SW | Real-Time Strategy / Construction & Management | ~53h | 2 lists

#38 LittleBigPlanet 2 (2011) (#700)

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

#39 Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005) (#718)

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development | DS | Life Simulation | ~68h | 7 lists

#40 Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter (1997) (#735)

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

#41 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1996) (#757)

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

#42 Viva Piñata (2006) (#774)

Climax Group, Rare | WIN, X360 | Life Simulation | ~19h | 5 lists

#43 Everything (2017) (#779)

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

#44 Pilotwings 64 (1996) (#780)

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development, Nintendo R&D3, Paradigm Simulation | N64 | Flight Simulation | ~5h | 7 lists

#45 Dwarf Fortress (2006) (#791)

Bay 12 Games | 3 | Survival / Construction & Management / Roguelike | ~48h | 4 lists

#46 Crimson Skies (2000) (#797)

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

#47 Driver / Driver: You Are the Wheelman (1999) (#799)

Reflections Interactive | WIN, PS | Action / Simulation | ~11h | 5 lists

#48 Overcooked (2016) (#825)

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

#49 Harvest Moon (1996) (#832)

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

#50 Frostpunk (2018) (#838)

11 bit studios | WIN | Survival / City Building | ~11h | 5 lists

#51 Cart Life (2010) (#841)

Richard Hofmeier | WIN | Simulation | 4 lists

#52 RollerCoaster Tycoon (1999) (#852)

Chris Sawyer Productions, Frontier Developments | WIN | Construction & Management | ~59h | 4 lists

#53 Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 (1982) (#858)

subLOGIC | DOS | Flight Simulation | ~30m | 5 lists

#54 Anno 1800 (2019) (#866)

Ubisoft Blue Byte | WIN | Real-Time Strategy / City Building | ~16h | 2 lists

#55 Star Raiders (1980) (#876)

Atari | A26, A52, A8 | Space Combat | ~18m | 5 lists

#56 Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger (1994) (#889)

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

#57 Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001) (#893)

Factor 5, LucasArts | GC | Action / Flight Simulation | ~6h | 8 lists

#58 Black & White (2001) (#910)

Lionhead Studios | WIN | Simulation / God Game | ~15h | 5 lists

#59 Dragon Quest Builders 2 (2018) (#925)

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

#60 Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods (1991) (#939)

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

#61 RimWorld (2018) (#942)

Ludeon Studios | 3 | Construction & Management | ~66h | 4 lists

#62 SimCity 3000 (1999) (#944)

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

#63 Football Manager (1982) (#982)

Addictive Games Ltd | 8, DOS | Simulation / Sports | ~2h | 2 lists

#64 Persona 3 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (2006) (#986)

Atlus | PS2 | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~83h | 3 lists

#65 Microsoft Flight Simulator X (2006) (#1023)

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

#66 Consume Me (2025) (#1026)

Hexecutable | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~7h | 8 lists

#67 RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 (2002) (#1031)

Chris Sawyer Productions | WIN | Construction & Management | ~66h | 4 lists

#68 Anno 1602: Creation of a New World / 1602 A.D. (1998) (#1068)

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

#69 Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon (1990) (#1069)

MPS Labs | DOS, MAC, AST, AMI | Simulation | ~15h | 3 lists

#70 Frontier: Elite II (1993) (#1070)

Frontier Developments | DOS, AST, AMI | Space Combat | ~60h | 4 lists

#71 Garry's Mod (2006) (#1071)

Facepunch Studios | WIN | Sandbox | ~54h | 3 lists

#72 Steel Battalion (2002) (#1093)

Capcom Production Studio 4, Nude Maker | Xbox | Action / Vehicle Simulation | ~15h | 3 lists

#73 The Movies (2005) (#1095)

Lionhead Studios | WIN | Simulation | ~30h | 3 lists

#74 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (1998) (#1103)

Factor 5, LucasArts | WIN, N64 | Action / Flight Simulation | ~8h | 7 lists

#75 Elite Dangerous (2014) (#1118)

Frontier Developments | MAC, WIN, XB1 | Adventure / Massively Multiplayer / First-Person Shooter / Space Combat | ~112h | 4 lists

#76 Falcon 3.0 / Falcon Gold (1991) (#1122)

Sphere | DOS | Flight Simulation | 4 lists

#77 Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance (1999) (#1123)

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

#78 Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (2003) (#1128)

FASA Studio | Xbox | Action / Flight Simulation | ~8h | 4 lists

#79 Theme Hospital (1997) (#1160)

Bullfrog Productions | DOS, WIN, PS | Simulation | ~27h | 4 lists

#80 Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008) (#1187)

Rare | X360 | Construction & Management / Platform | ~16h | 4 lists

#81 Satisfactory (2024) (#1218)

Coffee Stain Studios | WIN | Management Simulation / Sandbox | ~112h | 11 lists

#82 Wings (1990) (#1223)

Cinemaware | AMI | Shooter / Flight Simulation | ~14h | 3 lists

#83 EF2000 (1994) (#1241)

Digital Image Design | DOS, WIN | Flight Simulation | 3 lists

#84 Farming Simulator 22 (2021) (#1248)

Giants Software | MAC, WIN, XB1, XBXS, PS4, PS5 | Simulation | ~169h | 1 lists

#85 LittleBigPlanet 3 (2014) (#1253)

Sumo Digital | PS3, PS4 | Puzzle-Platformer / Sandbox | ~6h | 3 lists

#86 Spiritfarer (2020) (#1260)

Thunder Lotus | 3, XB1, PS4, SW | Management Simulation / Platform | ~26h | 11 lists

#87 Hypnospace Outlaw (2019) (#1264)

Michael Lasch, Tendershoot, ThatWhichIs Media | 3, XB1, PS4, SW | Simulation / Puzzle | ~6h | 8 lists

#88 Lunar Lander / Moonlander (1979) (#1267)

Atari | ARC | Flight Simulation | 3 lists

#89 RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (2004) (#1288)

Frontier Developments | MAC, WIN | Construction & Management | ~16h | 3 lists

#90 Dungeon Keeper 2 (1999) (#1310)

Bullfrog Productions | WIN | Management Simulation / Real-Time Strategy / God Game | ~18h | 2 lists

#91 Little King's Story (2009) (#1327)

Cing, Marvelous Entertainment | Wii | Role-Playing / Life Simulation / Real-Time Strategy | ~24h | 2 lists

#92 The Settlers (1993) (#1332)

Blue Byte Software | DOS, AMI | Real-Time Strategy / City Building | ~18h | 2 lists

#93 X3: Reunion (2005) (#1335)

Egosoft | WIN | Space Simulation | ~18h | 2 lists

#94 Cult of the Lamb (2022) (#1340)

Massive Monster | MAC, WIN, XB1, XBXS, PS4, PS5, SW | Construction & Management / Roguelike | ~15h | 14 lists

#95 Thirsty Suitors (2023) (#1344)

Outerloop Games | WIN, XB1, XBXS, PS4, PS5, SW | Adventure / Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~8h | 5 lists

#96 Anno 1404 (2009) (#1350)

Blue Byte, Related Designs | WIN | Simulation / Real-Time Strategy / City Building | ~18h | 2 lists

#97 Uplink (2001) (#1354)

Introversion Software | 3 | Simulation | ~8h | 2 lists

#98 Frostpunk 2 (2024) (#1355)

11 bit studios | MAC, WIN | Survival / City Building | ~12h | 10 lists

#99 Silent Hunter III (2005) (#1368)

Ubisoft Bucharest | WIN | Vehicle Simulation | ~63h | 2 lists

#100 Carrier Command (1988) (#1369)

Realtime Games Software Ltd. | DOS, MAC, 5 | Vehicle Simulation | 2 lists