Coming up with a list of top 20 PC simulator games that gamers do not want to ignore in 2021 was no mean feat. Not because there aren't enough sims to go around, mind, but because there are too many. Since we hadn't done anything of this type before, we also wanted to consider some older simulator titles for this purpose, and the list quickly grew from that.

Therefore, what we've prepared for you today is a very comprehensive list of our favorite sims on the market. Some of them deal with pretty casual stuff, while others go all-in. Something for everyone, then!

The thing to keep in mind, too, is that we didn't really limit ourselves to that very specific subset of games that go out of their way to include the 'Simulator' moniker written in Helvetica Ultra Compressed. Instead, we kept an open mind and just went through our massive library of games, referencing Metacritic as we went.

All of this resulted in a very neat little list of must-play titles for sim-loving gamers. Not all of these will appeal to everyone, of course, but there's much to love even if you're hyper-focused on a specific niche. Many of them are also available via the PC Game Pass, too!

Top 20 PC Simulator Games in 2021

Even though all twenty games featured on this list are numbered, that's not to say we've set them up in any particular order. Say, from worstest to goodest, as these lists usually do. Quite the opposite, in fact! The list featured below is a mishmash by design, simply because there's just no comparing, say, DRIFT21 with Crusader Kings III.

We are, however, including a short feature list with each entry. Most of these features will be pretty self, explanatory, but our 'Sim Rating' entry will tell you just how sim-heavy a given game might be. That ought to help you decide whether any of the games showcased in this article fit the bill for your particular interest(s).

After all, even if a game's Metacritic isn't all that special, you may well want to play it if it's a really good and niched-out simulator.

#20: Project CARS 2

The most simulation-adjacent racing title in the Project CARS franchise, PC2 offers a bunch of sim-racing content that's far more approachable than most other games in this category could deliver.

#19: PGA Tour 2K21

top 20 PC simulator games: PGA Tour 2k21

PGA Tour's latest and greatest entry is a sight to behold if you're a fan of the sport. Fun, engaging, and positively loaded with simulation aspects of golf, it's a great choice if you'd like to extend the hobby to your PC gaming experience.

#18: DRIFT21

There's more to drifting than just... drifting. Developers of DRIFT21 have built a wonderful sandbox that allows its players to completely immerse themselves into the tuning and maintenance of a dedicated drift car.

#17: Lawn Mowing Simulator

top 20 PC simulator games: lawn mowing sim #2

Lawn mowing! Some people love it, others sneer at the idea. For those who like it, though, and would love to continue to mow lawns even over the winter months, Lawn Mowing Simulator is the only option.

#16: SnowRunner

Not so much a sim as it is a highly granular survival experience, SnowRunner still fits the bill if you'd like to drive massive, badass vehicles through realistically-rendered inhospitable terrain. Expect simplified mechanics and extremely awesome physics, for the most part.

#15: Bus Simulator 21

The first of two bus-driving sims on this list, Bus Simulator 21 is the easier and slightly more arcade of the two. It still delivers a delightful experience for fans of the niche, however, and it's a great choice if you're looking to get a few tours in.

#14: Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa is the sandbox racing sim you didn't know you needed in your life. It manages to deliver just the right combo of fun and sim for most players, and comes with on-board modding capabilities, to boot!

#13: Farming Simulator 19

Arguably the best Farming Sim ever made, FS19 is the weapon of choice for 2Game's farmers at large. Commandeer an immense fleet of tools, gadgets, and vehicles today and begin your farming career in earnest.

#12: Motorsport Manager

top 20 PC simulator games: Motorsport Manager

Slightly lighter on simulator qualities than some might wish for, Motorsport Manager is still the only real entry in this particular niche. It's great fun, however, and will easily engage players that simply want to manage their racing team, rather than race themselves.

#11: Cities: Skylines

Another kinda-but-kinda-not simulator, Cities: Skylines is regardless the best city-building strategy game on the market. There are mods you could look into if you want to really lean into the sim aspect of the game, however!

#10: Railway Empire

top 20 PC simulator games: Railway Empire

If you're in the mood for a classic transport tycoon experience, except modernized, Railway Empire is the way to go. It takes after its strategy gaming lineage more than anything else, however. Just something to keep in mind.

#9: Kerbal Space Program

You're probably not a rocket scientist, but with Kerbal, you certainly could become one! This immensely fun and remarkably realistic rocket-launching sim is a joy to behold, and it's going to teach you a bunch about real-world physics, too.

#8: OMSI 2: Steam Edition

If BS2 focuses on fun, OMSI 2 picks the opposite end of the bus driving spectrum. Extremely in-depth, granular, and realistic, this is the game of choice for most bus aficionados.

#7: The Sims 4

For a game that's literally called 'The Sims', Sims 4 sure is light on actual simulations. It is, however, arguably the only real life simulator on the market, and it's a fun game to fiddle around with, to boot. Not to mention its almost universal appeal, even for non-gamers.

#6: F1 2021

No other F0rmula 1 game has allowed its players to delve quite as deeply into the whole F1 experience as F1 2021. Not only is it an amazing racing game to begin with, but it's also got a bunch of driver-specific goals and interactions, plus a compelling story mode.

#5: Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

Another lightweight sim that's regardless worthy of your attention, Bannerlord is the ultimate medieval sandbox RPG experience. The gist of it is that you get to make your own way through medieval life however you see fit. Whether that leads you down the path of banditry, trading, or knaveship is entirely up to you.

#4: Assetto Corsa Competizione

The competitive version of Assetto Corsa offers an even more realistic and fine-tuned driving experience - both against AI and against other players. Engage in cutting-edge racing championships from across the world on some of the most finely recreated real-world racing tracks ever committed to 1s and 0s.

#3: Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)

top 20 PC simulator games: Microsoft Flight Sim 2020

Microsoft had struck gold yet once more with their up-to-date version of Flight Simulator back in 2020. This is the flight simulator game with virtually no real competitor in the niche. The game is too vast, too realistic, and too engaging for any other developer to even begin to tackle. Not to mention the fact that it features satellite scans of the whole world.

#2: Crusader Kings III

An awesome, yet sim-light grand RPG from Paradox, Crusader Kings III is essentially a lineage simulator of sorts. Here, players take control over a lordship and get to develop it and its rule over a long period of time. How long will your family of inbred monstrosities stay in power, then?

#1: Football Manager 2022

top 20 PC simulator games: FM2022

Finally, the pinnacle of the sports management genre - FM2022 - makes an appearance. No other management game goes to such lengths to render every aspect of the sport in this way or the other. Time and again, the series makes headway in revolutionizing the niche, and its 2022 iteration is no different.

Don't forget!

Once more, it's worth pointing out that all of the games on this list are, by definition, awesome. It's just that not everyone will enjoy each and every one of them. That is, after all, what's to be expected out of extremely niched-out titles that don't always get to enjoy the sort of attention they deserve.

Mount & Blade: Bannerlord, for one, isn't that hot of a medieval sim. It sure is an awesome game, however, and it fits the bill well enough to make its way onto the list. On the other hand, Lawn Mowing Simulator doesn't have the sort of appeal a more casual game could easily command, but it definitely delivers a great lawn-mowing experience.

So, we hope we've provided you with a neat little overview of what's what when it comes to PC sims at the end of 2021! If you'd like to check out a bunch of our other content, or even grab a few awesome discounts as part of our ongoing Black Friday Sale, check out the following couple of links:

Have a great weekend, otherwise. Preferably one that includes heaps of gaming!

Coming up with a list of top 20 PC simulator games that gamers do not want to ignore in 2021 was no mean feat. Not because there aren’t enough sims to go around, mind, but because there are too many. Since we hadn’t done anything of this type before, we also wanted to consider some older simulator […]