simulation games

Simulation games are video games or tabletop games that replicate real-world activities, systems, or environments with varying degrees of realism.

Players might manage cities, pilot aircraft, run farms, or oversee entire civilizations.

The genre spans from highly realistic flight simulators used for actual pilot training to casual life sims like The Sims.

I've been obsessed with simulation games lately—spent all weekend building my perfect zoo.

The appeal lies in experiencing complex systems without real-world consequences.