Simulation
Description
Simulation games are created with the goal of putting the player in control of a certain activity while attempting to make it as realistic as possible.
In the strictest sense of the word, all electronic games are simulations, since they cannot exist without simulating aspects of real life. However, simulation genre only includes games that
focus (entirely or mostly) on imitating real-life activities. That does not mean that simulation games must be completely realistic; for example,
space combat simulation games simulate an activity that is (yet) unknown to human beings. The distinguishing feature of simulation games is their emphasis on realism and detail comparable to those encountered in real life.
Most simulation games are not story-driven, since they concentrate on describing general activities, not concrete situations. Among notable exceptions are
Wing Commander games, which combine space combat simulation with a continuous narrative.
Simulation themes vary greatly; theoretically, they are limited only by the amount of activities known to human beings. Simulation themes include, for example,
traffic networks,
medical care,
romance,
music, and many others.
Simulation games can be roughly divided into five main groups:
- Managerial simulations put the player in a position of a manager or a similar role.
- Construction simulations primarily involve building, for example cities.
- Life simulations may deal with human life or life in general.
- Professional / Social simulations are dedicated to specific social activities and professions.
- Vehicle simulations allow the player direct control of a vehicle with a certain sense of realism, for example plane, space ship, tank, etc.
Simulation can also be used as a modifier for other genres, for example Strategy (realistic re-creation of historical battles), Racing / Driving (particularly realistic vehicle-handling, tuning, repair, etc.), or Sports (team management, training, trading, etc.).
 Game Title |
Apple II (1987) and Commodore 64 (1987) Earth Orbit Stations is a space program simulation where you run a privately owned space station. It focuses on the... |
Windows (1996) and Windows 3.x (1996) The war between the human resistance and the evil robotic Cybrids renews! Prometheus has built a base on the moon... |
Windows (2008) EA Sports 08 Collection is a compilation including every EA Sports game released for PC in 2007:
NHL 08
NBA... |
Windows (2002) Eastern Thunder is an unofficial add-on for IL-2 Sturmovik. I features a German and a Russian campaign with 14 missions... |
Windows (2009) East India Company is a strategic simulation of the struggle between different trade companies set up by European nations from... |
Windows (2009) Battle of Trafalgar is the third commercial expansion to the naval strategy title East India Company and requires the original... |
Windows (2009) East India Company: Pirate Bay is an add-on for East India Company and requires the original game to play. This... |
Windows (2009) Privateer is the second commercial expansion to the naval strategy title East India Company and requires the original game to... |
Windows (2001) A very deep and thorough Hockey Managment Game. You take control of one or more Hockey Teams in the NHL,... |
Windows (1999) The littlest cooks will mix up lots of fun in the Easy-Bake Kitchen. Eight cooking tools on the play set... |
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Windows (2001) Take a bit of Wing Commander, and mix some of the fanciful parts of modern aircraft sims and you'll have... |
Windows (2002) Wind Warriors is the sequel to Echelon. Set in the year 2351, this game allows players to assume the role... |
Browser (2009) Echo Bazaar is a text-adventure that takes place in Fallen London, a city full of crime and corrupt politics that... |
PlayStation 3 (2008) and PSP (2008) echochrome is a puzzle game with a design inspired by the works of M.C. Escher. The gameplay is based around... |
PSP (2010) echoshift is a spin-off of echochrome, but while the original had the player distorting space to create pathways through optical... |
Amiga (1988) and Atari ST (1988) Eco is an action strategy game of sorts, which sets you in charge initially of a small single-celled organism, and... |
Windows (2006) This game is a city management game à la SimCity, focused on waste and recycling.The simulation takes into account usual... |
Windows (1995) Eco East Africa is a managerial simulation with educational elements, in which the player takes the role of a warden... |
DOS (1995) Made by the same team that produced TFX, this simulation focuses on the Eurofighter 2000.Set in a fictional campaign against... |
DOS (1996) and Windows (1996) EF2000 (Special Edition) contains:
EF2000 (base game)
EF2000 TACTCOM (expansion pack)
EF2000 baseball cap (not included in the Windows release)... |
DOS (1996) This is an expansion pack to DID's EF2000 flight simulator. It includes a new mission and scenario editor, enhanced multiplayer... |
DOS (1997) and Windows (1997) EF2000 v2.0 is a US-only compilation of an updated DOS version of EF2000 and the Windows 95 version Super EF2000.... |
DOS (1992) EGA Trek is a space combat simulator where you take control of a starship to explore the galaxy and defend... |
PlayStation 2 (2001), Dreamcast (2000) and GameCube (2002) Hard core truck racing action.
Dodging, weaving and smashing through traffic to beat your opponent.
Masses of skill involved in... |
