There are some classic simulation and management games that you will remember if you are over 25 years old. Some like Theme Park, Theme Hospital , like SimCity or like the Sims themselves that today are still one of the great successes. The usual ones adapted to new times or the new ones that arrive with the same old essence, but new challenges, new possibilities. They hook us and keep us glued to the screen to ensure that our city or amusement park is always the best and that is why today we collect some of the best simulation games that we can have on PC or consoles.
From the classic Sims to live day to day to the possibility of managing a zoo, a hospital or the popular Flight Simulator.
The Sims
It may be the simulation game par excellence and it has been a hit with all audiences for years. The Sims were first released almost twenty years ago, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Today the latest version is The Sims 4 with all kinds of expansions and accessory packs that we can add to the families that we create in the video game. They are available mainly for PC and Mac and it is the most comfortable and recommended option but there are also titles of the franchise that we can use in other devices such as mobile phones, portable consoles … And since November 2017 we can also play The Sims 4 on the Xbox One or PS4, for example.
What is it about? We all know that already well enough and it is rare that you have come this far without having heard of them or without playing. In The Sims you must create your own family or your own character, create a house and make them grow, prosper. You can have a job, a family, decide to be rich or dedicate yourself to doing nothing, visit common areas, meet people …
Among the extensions of The Sims we can find some fun or different, such as a specific one about Star Wars, about magic, about life at home or about dogs and cats, among many others. Vampires, fitness, cooks …
Theme Hospital
The classic Theme Hospital is still available today, even if it seems unlikely. The game was launched in 1997 by Electronic Arts and, as its name suggests, it is a simulation game in which we have to design and create our own hospital to discover diseases, cure patients, improve the value of it. We have to ensure that the hospital is comfortable, attractive, clean, that the reputation is high or that not all the patients die.
The game was released more than twenty years ago but you can still buy it today from Origin for around five euros if you want to rebuild the hospital and make it the best. Obviously you will not have the best graphics or the most visual tools but it is an old game that has been recovered today for the most nostalgic.
Two Point Hospital
If you were a fan of Theme Hospital twenty years ago, Two Point Hospital is one of the best simulation and management games you can have today. One of the most complete, interesting and recommended that you can buy if you like this type of title. It is available for computers, for Nintendo Switch, for PS4 and for Xbox ONe although it is best to bet on the PC version if you want a more comfortable control since it can be frustrating to handle everything depending on the joystick of the console (we speak from the experience) although not impossible.
The operation of Two Point Hospital is identical to that of Theme Hospital and you will know how to use it from the beginning if you played the classic. Build, heal and upgrade. You must monitor all aspects so that your hospital prospers and you can get stars to go to the next level. As you overcome levels and get your hospital to function properly, we can unlock new locations or new hospitals that we will be tasked with managing. We must expand with new buildings, building rooms that are up to the task and making decisions that make everything go for the better …
A very complete game with a renewed design adapted to the times, modern, current, fun and with the usual sense of humor. Crazy and funny diseases in a very complete and recommended game.
Planet Coaster
Although the Theme Park is not available today, it does have heirs and Planet Coaster is one of the most complete and exhaustive simulation games that we can use and download. Yes, it is like Theme Park so your mission is the same: create your own amusement park , succeed with your amusement park. No detail is missing.
You can manage practically everything and it is one of the most popular of this genre, just take a look at YouTube to see what it is capable of. For now the game is available for PC, for PlayStation 4 and 5 and for Xbox One although it is expected that it will also arrive on Nintendo Switch. You must create your favorite attractions but also everything that surrounds them: the queues to make your park comfortable, the decoration, the lakes and mountains. Once created, you must manage, get customers happy, have fun and get excited. Get your park to be clean and cared for and that absolutely nothing is missing in it.
It is one of the best games in terms of graphics or possibilities. It was launched in 2016 developed by Frontier Developments and it has all kinds of possibilities, infinite construction and management options … Without a doubt, it is worth investing in it because it allows many, many hours of play and you will not get tired of using it, of modifying it parks or create new ones.
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Like the previous one, Roller Coaster Tycoon also consists of creating an amusement park. The original game was born in the late nineties and today there are no updates, although there is a version for mobile phones or tablets, for Android and iOS. RollerCoaster Tycoon went on sale in 1999 and was created by Hasbro and Atari. Now you can use or download RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, a game that was released in 2020 for Nintendo Switch or for computers and that works as a replacement for RollerCoaster Tycoon World.
An improved version to create the theme park you’ve always wanted. With the essence of the old saga but with 3D graphics, with new content, with all kinds of facilities that we can add to the park. Toilets, food stalls, restaurants, light shows … You can buy it on Steam for about 20 euros for a computer or in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch for about 39.99 euros
Simcity
Simcity is another of the great classics among management and simulation games and it is one of the most recommended options if you are looking to create a city from your mobile phone or tablet. SimCit BuildIt was launched in 2016 as a game available for Android and iOS with the essence of the classic title of always: build your city and make it work properly.
to downloadQR-Code
SimCity BuildIt
Developer: ELECTRONIC ARTS
to downloadQR-Code
SimCity BuildIt
Developer: Electronic Arts
Beyond the mobile game we can also play the urban simulator on a computer if you have Origin, the Electronic Arts gaming platform . In Origin we can find the SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, the SimCity 2000 or some extra packs to add to our cities such as the German city pack, the airship pack or the amusement park pack. The most modern game is from 2013 so it is quite current (compared to the classic one) and you can play all of them as a user of EA Play or EA PlayPro , the subscription offered by Origin. We can also buy it for about 19.99 euros per month for Windows or Mac.
Cities: Skylines
If you want a complete city simulator, the fashion game is Cities: Skylines. Nothing, absolutely nothing is missing from this game from Epic Games that is the most modern version of city management and simulation. The purpose is the same as the classic SimCity or any other: create a city . It was launched in 2015 but has been renewed only a few years ago and is available for Windows and Mac, for Xbox One, for PS4 or for Nintendo Switch. It is multiplatform and we can buy it from the Epic Games store or from the different console stores. Or on Steam.
Cities Skylines is spectacular if you are a fan of simulation games , because it will allow you practically everything you want with good graphics, good gameplay and with many options so you don’t get tired of it. What should you do? As usual. Build, plan and manage a city , ensure that everything works correctly, that there are resources for all citizens, that the road network allows to move easily and get everywhere, that there is good legislation, incentives, etc. You will be able to control everything in a highly recommended game, striking and with a comfortable and easy-to-use interface so that you have everything under control, without being complex even if you are not an expert in video games.
Planet Zoo
It has been common to play to manage a hospital, an amusement park or a city but much less “classic” is to manage a zoo. Although Zoo Tycon was launched twenty years ago (in 2001) it may have gone more unnoticed than others. But its successor is totally recommended. The objective of Planet Zoo is this, to manage your own Zoo. From the creators of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycon is a zoo simulator for computer that we can buy on Steam with a price of around 45 euros.
Everything is taken care of in detail in this game that inevitably reminds us of others on this list and with outstanding visuals . It can be complex or somewhat confusing at first, but we will have to fulfill the missions of the career mode while we create habitats for our animals, make decisions or improve. There are four different modes : career (you will pass 12 levels), franchise (zoos connected around the world), challenge and free creation.
Flight simulator
Microsoft launched its Flight Simulator for the first time more than twenty years ago: in 1982 Microsoft Fight Simulator 1.0 was released. II. At present, it is one of the most mythical and classic games that we can have. The most current version is from 2020 and stands out for its realism and for the detail that we find in each of the aircraft models that we can fly.
We can return to more than 37,000 airports, see more than 1,500 million buildings , mountains or real roads and there are more than two million cities included in the flight simulator in which we will have to perfect our piloting skills to change planes or level up, to fly in more complex weather conditions or fly day and night. One of the most realistic, complete and highly praised by users of this type of game.
Available for Xbox and for computer, it can be purchased on Steam or in the Microsoft store for a price of about 69.99 euros in its basic version.
