The best simulation games ever

The question of which simulation games are the best is a subjective question. With so many different simulation games in so many different sub-genres, how can one decide which are the best? The sub-genres of simulation games provide very different gameplay experiences. A person-centered reality simulation game, for example, is vastly different from a flight simulation game.

Still, within each of these types of simulation games, certain games tend to rise to the top. Here are some of the best simulation games, broken down by sub-genre:

Sub-Genre: Flight Simulation

Microsoft Flight Simulator has dominated the flight simulation market for more than 25 years. The latest iteration, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, provides the player with extremely realistic real-world flight experiences. Microsoft Flight Simulator has even been used to train real-world pilots on the various control systems of certain planes.

Sub-Genre: Reality Simulation

Person-centered reality simulation games provide the user with the ability to control a single, or sometimes a handful, of individual characters. The most popular reality simulation series has to be The Sims, and for good reason. The quality graphics and the continual support that EA Games has given to The Sims keeps it on the cutting edge of simulation games. While games like Second Life have been more successful in terms of their online components, The Sims still dominates the reality simulation market.

Sub-Genre: Economic or Business Simulation

The fact that there are more than 30 "Tycoon" game titles indicates that business simulations belong in their own category. Unlike flight and reality simulation games, however, there isn't a clear leader in the business simulation area. A personal favorite is Roller Coaster Tycoon. Roller Coaster Tycoon is the best business simulation, in part, because of the non-business features it provides, such as engineering and riding your own roller coaster.

Sub-Genre: Driving Simulation

Driving simulation games fall into a couple of different subtypes: reality and racing. The two subtypes find their ultimate expressions together in EA Games' NASCAR: SimRacing. NASCAR: SimRacing is about as close to racing in a real NASCAR race as you can get without having to actually leave your home.

No matter type of simulation game you like best, the good news is that the market is wide open. There are so many games to choose from that it is likely you couldn't play them all in a lifetime.