Simulation games have been on a massive spike lately, especially with games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons becoming major hits over the last few months. These games have ways of putting players in positions of living their lives as if they were living someone else’s. And there’s plenty of simulation games out there for people to experience.
One of the best platforms for something like this is the Nintendo Switch, which has embraced the simulation genre more than any other console. Because there are so many, it’s important to look deep in the Switch’s library to find the right games and not just stick to the surface.
Updated December 30th, 2020 by Thomas Bowen: These video games of ours are incredible things. Through them, we are able to do just about anything, from vanquishing evil to visiting distant worlds. The possibilities really are endless. Most see video games as a means of escaping the confines of their real lives and there’s no better way to do that than by walking a mile or two in somebody else’s shoes. The number of simulation games has exploded over the last decade to the point where it doesn’t even have to be a person anymore. We’re able to control all manner of creatures and a fairly wide assortment of inanimate objects too. Not all of them offer the same freedoms, however, nor were they all created equally. For those looking to find that perfect simulation experience on the Switch, it can actually be a bit of a minefield.
14 Overrated: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The latest entry in the Animal Crossing series is a really great game. Sadly though, it struggles to remain so for too long. Players will quickly tire of the game’s cumbersome dialogue and the poorly implemented item durability. Likewise, while there’s certainly plenty to do when players first get started, most of the game’s core activities lack the level of depth required to warrant the kind of time commitment they demand. Players will soon find themselves accumulating Bells and Nook Miles simply for the sake of it, at which point they’ll begin to seriously question the point of their endeavors.
Thankfully, the game’s regular seasonal events help to keep the experience relatively fresh and provide players with a reason to keep coming back. As with the game’s core mechanics though, many of these events can be completed in a matter of hours — once again leaving players with nothing noteworthy to accomplish. In short bursts, Animal Crossing: New Horizons can be a lot of fun, but it’s not a game that can be binged like some of the other big simulation titles that are out there.
13 Underrated: Bee Simulator
A lot of modern simulation games sell themselves almost entirely on their gimmicks which can often leave players feeling disappointed once they realize just how shallow their shiny new game really is. While this scenario can be incredibly common when dealing with simulation games surrounding insects, animals or objects, it is not at all the case when it comes to Bee Simulator. The humble bumble bee serves as the perfect vessel to transport players far far away from the problems of everyday life.
It’s surprisingly easy to become lost while exploring the game’s world, just as it is to find oneself fretting over the troubles of their fury little friends. The team over at Varsav Game Studios did a fantastic job fleshing out the game’s mechanics and concepts far beyond the standard ‘you are a bee’ theming that lesser developers would have settled for. When all’s said and done, the game provides players with a chance to see the world from a different perspective that will likely be incredibly different than anything they’ve experienced before.
12 Overrated: RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition
There was a time not too long ago when the RollerCoaster Tycoon series was responsible for some of the best simulation games of their era. As time has passed, however, the series has coasted by without any major innovation or noticeable effort on display. We’re now at a point where the RollerCoaster Tycoon logo is no longer the sign of a top-quality title, but instead the mark of a series that is content to splash around in the muddy footsteps of its past achievements.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 is an incredible game. Well, at least it was when it first released back in 2004. Since then, however, the gaming landscape has changed dramatically and yet RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition remains largely unchanged. Sure, there have been some small quality of life updates and the game looks a little better than its turn of the century counterpart. Is this really the best we can expect though considering the 16 years of progress that have occurred since the game’s first release? Like Frontier Developments, some players may be happy wallowing in the past, but most would be loopy to pick this one up — even at its heavily reduced price.
11 Underrated: Story Of Seasons: Friends Of Mineral Town
It may no longer bear the Harvest Moon name, but the heart and soul of the series can still be found throughout Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town. This 3D remake of the 2003 GBA classic looks and plays great and serves as a great example of how classic franchises can reinvent themselves for the modern era without needing to start from scratch.
Friends of Mineral Town was always one of the better Harvest Moon titles and so it should come as little surprise that the remake is one of the best simulation games on the switch. A few harsh reviews prevented it from attaining the kind of average rating it deserves, but it’s not a game that needs to rely on critical acclaim or past reputations to make its point. It is a game that can provide hours of content to anybody who’s willing to give it a chance. Those who do might find it difficult to put it down again afterward.
10 Overrated: Goat Simulator
Goat Simulator is a lot of fun. Players take on the role of goats and explore a small town, wreaking havoc and interacting with many different easter eggs. But what makes this game a little overrated is its lack of content. Sure, there can be a lot to find and do in these two areas provided to the player.
However, this game was not built to be played for hours on end. It’s very easy to be bored after some time. Sure, there’s more content than just the base game, but the other game modes begin to lean out of the simulation genre altogether.
9 Underrated: Stardew Valley
Yes, this game is absolutely popular, but the reason why it may be considered underrated is that it tends to be overshadowed by bigger titles of the same genre, such as Animal Crossing and Minecraft. But Stardew Valley is a cult-classic for a reason and it all comes down to the amount that players can do in this game.
From growing a dream farm to falling in love with someone in town, plus all the fun hijinks and achievements that can be unlocked, this game will keep players busy in the best way.
8 Overrated: Dream Daddy
The concept of Dream Daddy is excellent, being able to date a variety of different dads with unique storylines and fun methods to try to woo them. The game is an excellent story-telling experience, especially with interactions with the player’s daughter in the game.
However, where Dream Daddy lacks is the distance it goes to actually feel like an intimate experience. It leaves players wanting more out of the bonds they have formed and while reaching the goal is sweet, the goal itself lacks substance.
7 Underrated: House Flipper
If simulation games are what a player wants, then House Flipper is a perfect place to start. The game puts the player in the shoes of a house flipper, as the title suggests, that goes into houses that are in complete disarray and turns them into houses they can sell.
This game gives a first-person look into what it is like to deal with the worst of homes and the need to restore it from the ground up. From knocking down walls to installing new appliances and pipes, the game makes cleaning a house feel fun.
6 Overrated: Untitled Goose Game
This is a hard one to put on this list, as Untitled Goose Game brings a lot of joy in its own unique and chaotic way. As a goose, players go around torturing civilians by stealing their things, making them fall down and causing rifts within the community.
It’s also a much more organized and refined game than Goat Simulator, so why is it overrated? Simply put, it is too short. While the player gets the gist of what it is like being a goose with a love of mischief, it felt like the goose could move on to torturing more areas and more people. Instead, the game ends with a chase and a letdown.
5 Underrated: My Time At Portia
Similar to Stardew Valley and inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli, My Time At Portia teleports the player to the town of Portia where they will work to restore a workshop by growing crops and raising animals. There’s plenty to interact with in the world as well, with villagers who need assistance that could lead to a better town as a whole.
There’s even a battle element to the game that includes needing to defeat enemies in order to get more loot. Overall, players can log many hours into this experience.
4 Overrated: Overcooked 2
When looking under simulation games on the Nintendo eShop, players will see Overcooked 2 among the most popular available in the genre. The game involves fast-paced action in which players need to work together with their friends to handle a dinner service, which each level providing a new level for players to overcome.
The reason for it being overrated is its placement in the genre. While it’s fun to play, it more so focuses on the co-op and action-adventure elements of it than a full-blown cooking simulation. Those looking for true simulators may need to go elsewhere.
3 Underrated: Doraemon Story Of Seasons
Doubling as an RPG, Doraemon Story Of Seasons brings together a popular manga and a video game series for one adorable simulation. Doraemon and his friends have been transported to a different world and must live on a farm until they figure out a way to get back to their own world.
With the help of a local resident named Lunch, Doraemon must embrace life in this new world by not only tending to the farm, but meeting new friends along the way. The pace of the game is relaxing and will allow players to get sucked into it for long stretches of time.
2 Overrated: Minecraft
Look, Minecraft didn’t become the best-selling game out of luck. It is an excellent sandbox simulation game that puts the player in a randomly-generated world in which they must survive by gathering resources and building a place to shelter in from the dangers of the night.
The thing is, this game is available on almost every single platform and has been around for a long time. While its understandable to want to spend a lot of time in it, there are a lot of other games out there that deserve the attention right now. Minecraft will still be there when its all said and done.
1 Underrated: Little Dragons Cafe
If players are looking for a super relaxing experience with little to no pressure, Little Dragons Cafe is perfect. In a game that has no currency, the primary objective is exploring the world around the cafe to collect ingredients for the newest additions to the menu.
Along the way, players will be raising a dragon that can help fight enemies and grow crops. The plot is definitely on the weird side, but it’s also rather enjoyable to have a pet dragon following the main character around. It’ll be hard to walk away from a game like this and not smile.
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