Best games
Best Simulation games of 2023
The 24 best Simulation games released in 2023, ranked from 1,754 critic and player ratings.
The best Simulation game of 2023 is Dave the Diver, with a critic score of 93/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2023.
- 24 games are listed on this page, carrying 1,754 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 24
01
Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver is an action-adventure and management simulation game developed by Mintrocket. In the game, players control Dave, who spends his days diving into underwater environments to catch fish and gather resources, and his nights managing a sushi restaurant. The gameplay combines real-time underwater exploration and combat with restaurant management mechanics.
93
/100
02
The Exit 8
You are trapped in an endless underground passageway. Take a good look around and find a way to escape.
92
/100
03
Against the Storm
A roguelite city builder set in a fantasy world tormented by the everlasting rain. Settle the unknown wilds to discover and rebuild the ruins of a long-forgotten civilization. Develop technologies that will help your citizens tackle destructive storms and extend the frontier of your civilization.
90
/100
Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver is an action-adventure and management simulation game developed by Mintrocket. In the game, players control Dave, who spends his days diving into underwater environments to catch fish and gather resources, and his nights managing a sushi restaurant. The gameplay combines real-time underwater exploration and combat with restaurant management mechanics.
93
/100
02
The Exit 8
You are trapped in an endless underground passageway. Take a good look around and find a way to escape.
92
/100
03
Against the Storm
A roguelite city builder set in a fantasy world tormented by the everlasting rain. Settle the unknown wilds to discover and rebuild the ruins of a long-forgotten civilization. Develop technologies that will help your citizens tackle destructive storms and extend the frontier of your civilization.
90
/100
04
Palia
Palia is a vibrant new world made just for you. Craft, cook, fish, and farm with friends as you live the life of your dreams and discover an enchanting adventure filled with colorful characters and a mystery to unravel.
87
/100
05
Dredge
Dredge is a fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your vessel and dredge the depths for long-buried relics. Explore the stories of the strange locals and discover why some things are best left forgotten. Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth.
86
/100
06
Forza Motorsport
Out-build the competition in the new career. Race your friends in adjudicated multiplayer events. Compete in over 500 cars on world-famous tracks with cutting-edge AI, advanced physics, tire and fuel strategy, and driver and safety ratings.
88
/100
07
Venba
Venba is a narrative cooking game, where you play as an Indian mom, who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Players will cook various dishes and restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations and explore in this story about family, love, loss and more.
87
/100
08
Ready or Not
Ready or Not is a tactical first person shooter which places you in the boots of an elite SWAT team, tasked with diffusing hostile situations in intense, claustrophobic environments. It's set in a nondescript modern America, where an income disparity between the classes have become unsustainable and the country has been plunged into havoc. Bring order to chaos with up to 8 players in cooperative play, battle enemy squads in a close player-vs-player environment, or command AI in a striking single-player mode.
84
/100
09
Storyteller
With Storyteller you are the one writing the stories! Start with a title, characters and settings and create your own twist on stories familiar and new.
82
/100
10
Killer Frequency
Killer Frequency is a first-person horror puzzle game set in 1987, that puts you in the role of a late-night radio talk show host in small town America whose callers are being stalked by a mysterious killer.
82
/100
11
Buckshot Roulette
80
/100
12
Cities: Skylines II
81
/100
13
Terra Nil
80
/100
14
System Shock
78
/100
15
Slay the Princess
76
/100
16
D
Barotrauma
73
/100
17
Contraband Police
71
/100
18
Disney Dreamlight Valley
71
/100
19
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
70
/100
20
Disney Speedstorm
70
/100
21
EA Sports FC 24
66
/100
22
Torn Away
60
/100
23
DR LIVESEY ROM AND DEATH EDITION
34
/100
24
The Day Before
30
/100
Palia
Palia is a vibrant new world made just for you. Craft, cook, fish, and farm with friends as you live the life of your dreams and discover an enchanting adventure filled with colorful characters and a mystery to unravel.
87
/100
05
Dredge
Dredge is a fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your vessel and dredge the depths for long-buried relics. Explore the stories of the strange locals and discover why some things are best left forgotten. Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth.
86
/100
06
Forza Motorsport
Out-build the competition in the new career. Race your friends in adjudicated multiplayer events. Compete in over 500 cars on world-famous tracks with cutting-edge AI, advanced physics, tire and fuel strategy, and driver and safety ratings.
88
/100
07
Venba
Venba is a narrative cooking game, where you play as an Indian mom, who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Players will cook various dishes and restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations and explore in this story about family, love, loss and more.
87
/100
08
Ready or Not
Ready or Not is a tactical first person shooter which places you in the boots of an elite SWAT team, tasked with diffusing hostile situations in intense, claustrophobic environments. It's set in a nondescript modern America, where an income disparity between the classes have become unsustainable and the country has been plunged into havoc. Bring order to chaos with up to 8 players in cooperative play, battle enemy squads in a close player-vs-player environment, or command AI in a striking single-player mode.
84
/100
09
Storyteller
With Storyteller you are the one writing the stories! Start with a title, characters and settings and create your own twist on stories familiar and new.
82
/100
10
Killer Frequency
Killer Frequency is a first-person horror puzzle game set in 1987, that puts you in the role of a late-night radio talk show host in small town America whose callers are being stalked by a mysterious killer.
82
/100
11
Buckshot Roulette
80
/100
12
Cities: Skylines II
81
/100
13
Terra Nil
80
/100
14
System Shock
78
/100
15
Slay the Princess
76
/100
16
D
Barotrauma
73
/100
17
Contraband Police
71
/100
18
Disney Dreamlight Valley
71
/100
19
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
70
/100
20
Disney Speedstorm
70
/100
21
EA Sports FC 24
66
/100
22
Torn Away
60
/100
23
DR LIVESEY ROM AND DEATH EDITION
34
/100
24
The Day Before
30
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Simulation game of 2023?
Dave the Diver currently tops the ranking with a score of 93/100 across 186 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.