5 – This War of Mine
I’m still considering if placing This War of Mine on a “Management and Simulation” games list is a good or a bad thing, but other than describing it as a “brutal survival sim”, I can’t think of any place else to put it.
The game came out almost a decade ago, but with the war in Ukraine still raging, it’s as actual as it will ever be. War of Mine offers a captivating and emotionally charged gaming experience that sheds light on the civilian side of war. Be it that, rather than playing as a soldier, you assume the role of ordinary people trying to survive in a nameless war-torn city, by experiencing the challenges, hardships, and moral dilemmas of war from a perspective rarely explored in video games at the time the game released and since.
I don’t really want to reveal that much, so as to not ruin the impact of the experience. The gameplay takes place on a 2D plane and most of the time you’ll be managing scarce resources, scavenging for supplies, taking care of the people in your group, and constructing your makeshift shelter. One of my most memorable experiences with the game was finding out a couple in a house I was looting, and the rest… well, you’ll have to give it a go.
4 – Mini Motorways
Another great game to pick up and play, get addicted for a couple of hours, and completely forget about it for months at a time. Mini Motorways is a refreshing and engaging “city-building” experience that revolves around the art of road network management in a very arcadey and simplistic way while trying its best to keep the fundamentals very solid -your goal is to construct and optimize efficient transportation by placing buildings, shops, and roads in the most optimal way possible to keep everything running smoothly. Fail to keep your traffic flowing and it’s game over. You’ll do that by strategically planning and placing roads, intersections, and roundabouts (and bridges) to ensure that congestion is down to a minimum.
As the city grows, so does the complexity of managing traffic. Monitor the flow of vehicles, identify bottlenecks, and make adjustments to alleviate congestion. Plan ahead, anticipate the city’s needs, and continuously optimize your road network to accommodate the growing demands of the population.
With its randomized maps and challenging gameplay, Mini Motorways offers endless replayability by testing your skills against yourself or friends to achieve high scores and create the most efficient road networks.
3 – Assetto Corsa
What can I say about Assetto Corsa that hasn’t already been said everywhere else? It’s the premier racing simulation game. One that delivers an unrivaled experience for motorsport enthusiasts and newbies alike. With its focus on realism, diverse car selection, customization options, and multiplayer, the game offers endless hours of diesel-fueled excitement. If you have a steering wheel and some pedals, do yourself a favor and grab the thing for so ridiculously cheap it’s almost insulting.
Oh, and there are so many mods for Assetto Corsa that it’s probably the biggest racing game in terms of content. Just have in mind that quality may vary and there’s no Steam Workshop integration.
2 – Microsoft Flight Simulator
The reason it isn’t in the first place is mainly because of its price. Microsoft Flight Simulator is THE flying sim you want to have if you’re a newcomer to the genre. I really don’t have a lot to say about it other than no other flying sim can even compare to the amount of detail Flight Simulator has. Continuous updates have been steadily improving and adding even more detail to certain parts of the globe. However, the game’s AI still does a good job interpreting the data it’s given and manages to produce somewhat realistic and true-to-life results. Check out my “How accurate is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 to Real Life” article.
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