Best Simulation games of 2016
The 54 best Simulation games released in 2016, ranked from 16,980 critic and player ratings.
The best Simulation game of 2016 is Stardew Valley, with a critic score of 89/100 — updated août 2026.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is an open-ended country-life RPG! You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
89
/100
02
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire to stand the test of time. Become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Wage war, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head with history’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.
88
/100
03
RimWorld
87
/100
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Using the new governmental security program that has the power to survey the online presence of every person in The Nation, you investigate the lives of citizens to find those responsible for a series of terror attacks. Information from the internet, personal communications and private files are all accessible to you. But, be warned, the information you supply will have consequences…
86
/100
05
XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is the sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the 2012 award-winning strategy game of the year. Earth has changed and is now under alien rule. Facing impossible odds you must rebuild XCOM, and ignite a global resistance to reclaim our world and save humanity.
85
/100
06
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Learn about daily life in a cyberpunk dystopia. A branching storyline where your decisions do not depend on traditional choices, but through the drinks you prepare. Visuals inspired by old japanese adventure games for the PC-98, with a modern touch for an other-wordly experience. A beatiful soundtrack composed entirely by Garoad. Get to know your clients, their tastes, and prepare the drink that will change their lives.
84
/100
07
Hearts of Iron IV
Victory is at your fingertips! Your ability to lead your nation is your supreme weapon, the strategy game Hearts of Iron IV lets you take command of any nation in World War II; the most engaging conflict in world history. From the heart of the battlefield to the command center, you will guide your nation to glory and wage war, negotiate or invade. You hold the power to tip the very balance of WWII. It is time to show your ability as the greatest military leader in the world. Will you relive or change history? Will you change the fate of the world?
84
/100
08
Hitman
Become the Master Assassin in an intense spy-thriller story. As Agent 47, you perform contract hits on powerful, high-profile targets in exotic locations around the world. Gameplay focuses on taking out targets in huge and intricate sandbox levels with complete freedom of approach. Where to go, when to strike and who to kill – it is all up to you. Hitman is an expanding and evolving world of assassination. The experience began with a Prologue and Paris location in March, continued with Episode 2: Sapienza in April, Episode 3: Marrakesh in May, the Summer Bonus Episode in July, Episode 4: Bangkok in August and Episode 5: Colorado in September. The season finale in Hokkaido, Japan arrived on October 31st. HITMAN also features a major live component, which is made up of Elusive Targets, Escalation Contracts, Community-inspired Challenge Packs and Contracts Mode. An Elusive Target is the closest thing to the Hitman fantasy that we’ve ever created. These targets will be custom-created characters that are added to existing locations and are only there for a limited time in real-time. You’ll only have one chance to take them down. If they escape, they are gone for good. If you kill them, that’s the way that you killed them. There are no do-overs and no second chances. When an Elusive Target leaves the game world (one way or another) they never return. Escalation Mode is something else completely new for HITMAN and was created as a way to regularly provide a fresh challenge to players. You’ll need to master the location as well as the gameplay mechanics to complete a hit that will escalate in difficulty by adding new elements. This mode has a strong focus on having fun with the game mechanics and mixing them up. It’s more about being playful than realistic. Contracts Mode returns from Hitman Absolution; Play-to-create, mark your own targets, choose how to kill them and compete against your friends. We will also pick the best of the bunch and put them in the Featured Contracts list so you’ve got something fresh to play whenever you load up the game.
83
/100
09
Don't Starve Together
Fight, Farm, Build and Explore Together in the standalone multiplayer expansion to the uncompromising wilderness survival game, Don't Starve. Discover and explore a massive procedurally generated and biome-rich world with countless resources and threats. Whether you stick to the surface world, go spelunking in the caves, dive deeper into the Ancient Archive, or set sail for the Lunar islands, it will be a long time before you run out of things to do.
83
/100
10
ABZU
83
/100
11
Planet Coaster
83
/100
12
Parkitect
83
/100
13
SuperHot VR
82
/100
14
Overcooked!
82
/100
15
Slime Rancher
81
/100
16
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
81
/100
17
American Truck Simulator
81
/100
18
Redout: Lightspeed Edition
81
/100
19
Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation
81
/100
20
Football Manager 2017
80
/100
21
Crashlands
80
/100
22
Stellaris
79
/100
23
Offworld Trading Company
78
/100
24
That Dragon, Cancer
78
/100
25
Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You
77
/100
26
Reigns
75
/100
27
Kingdom: New Lands
75
/100
28
Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
75
/100
29
Poly Bridge
75
/100
30
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
75
/100
31
Batman: Arkham VR
74
/100
32
The Curious Expedition
74
/100
33
No Man's Sky
74
/100
34
The Flame in the Flood
73
/100
35
Punch Club
73
/100
36
Project Highrise
73
/100
37
Turmoil
73
/100
38
Steep
73
/100
39
Rec Room
73
/100
40
Golf With Your Friends
72
/100
41
The Final Station
72
/100
42
Crazy Machines 3
71
/100
43
Transport Fever
71
/100
44
Bad North
70
/100
45
Pro Evolution Soccer 2017
69
/100
46
Farming Simulator 17
69
/100
47
Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor
69
/100
48
Job Simulator
68
/100
49
The Solus Project
68
/100
50
This is the Police
66
/100
What is the best Simulation game of 2016?
Stardew Valley currently tops the ranking with a score of 89/100 across 2,465 ratings. Ranking updated août 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.