Simulation or sim games are probably the most addictive of any genre, and the Nintendo Switch is perhaps the most interesting way to experience them. In the ultimate role-playing experience, it is important to always keep track of your avatar. So, portable gaming is the way to go when it comes to sim games.
While the definition of the best sim games may vary vastly between players, the idea is quite simple- escape the mundane realities of life with a seemingly less mundane reality where you can do what you desire and start over as many times as you want.
Here’s a collection of the best sim games on Switch that can help you escape reality on the go.
Stardew Valley

ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley addresses several contemporary issues and concerns in a friendly virtual world. The game revolves around a protagonist who breaks the shackles of the corporate world and sets out to create a countryside paradise. While this is as good a premise as any to make a great sim game, Stardew Valley offers a lot more to keep you engaged. The things you can do in this game are endless.
Farming is just the beginning of things at the game’s titular town. You can expand your activities to mining, cooking, crafting, spelunking, monster-hunting and more. Once you start realizing that all your exploits have been for nothing and begin feeling the need to perpetuate, you can start a family, even adopt kids. You can even give back to the community (or take everything away) as the mayor of this blissful town.
The Sims

Long before concepts like virtual reality and Metaverse received serious backing, Electronic Arts had The Sims. This franchise took the concepts of simulation and role playing to heights that the gaming industry didn’t know were possible. The simple yet elegant design of the game is the ideal setting for the advanced game AI mechanics that have made this franchise so popular among gamers of all tastes.
The limitless replay value of the vanilla Sims games makes the innovative contributions of hardcore modding community look like overkill. The mood of the game is also completely up to players, with most preferring to take a humorous approach to their simulated realities. Among the best sim games on Switch, The Sims certainly is the most popular.
My Time at Portia

My time at Portia is a whimsical take on the RPG and simulation genre. The game’s ambience is so charming that most people won’t even realize this is a serious post-apocalyptic crafting RPG. While the game focuses primarily on building, there are many activities that you can partake in at Portia. The many unique characters in the game make the meandering quest arc worth it.
Snowrunner

Driving sims offer the right blend of thrill and challenge with a heavy emphasis on realism. Snowrunner takes this concept to the next level with survival elements dictated by challenging environments and terrains. This open world driving sim offers a range of 40 different vehicles which need to be customised to suit the harsh terrains where you are expected to make various deliveries.
SailForth

Ship-themed RPGs are the fantasy of pretty much every gamer in the world. Unfortunately, there aren’t many that emphasize on the actual sea-faring aspect. SailForth is the closest you can get to a wholesome nautical simulation experience. The game features every sea fantasy imaginable, from fishing in ice-cold arctic waters to hunting down sea monsters in a stormy weather.
Sailforth has a plethora of customization options to make any ship fantasy of yours come to life. The game leans a lot toward offering the most realistic sailing physics possible in games. Of course, there are plenty of farfetched elements as well, including pirates that will make Blackbeard wish he never got out of bed. Sailforth’s comprehensive open world mechanic is complemented by a well-crafted quest line. The multiplayer mode also offers great value, making it one of the best sim games on Switch.
Dragon Quest Builders 2

The title clearly sums up the diverse experiences that this unique simulation title offers. Dragon Quest Builders 2 offers the best of three genres – RPG, crafting, and simulation. This sandbox game emphasizes on exploration and adventure elements to go through an enthralling quest arc which culminates by vanquishing a magician and human-demon god in a castle.
The simulation elements of Dragon Quest Builders 2 are worth deviating from the original story, although the quest line does benefit from doing so. This game is canonical to the rest of the games in the franchise and is a direct story sequel. But, this does not take away from the game’s immersion for players new to the series.
GRID Autosport

This is the third instalment of the popular Codemasters racing series GRID and one of the best sim games on Switch if you love motorsport. This game was developed with the sole purpose of bringing the franchise back to its racing-sim roots after the underwhelming response GRID 2 received from the core fan base. The game leans heavily on realism and simulation mechanics, and the physics system has also been upgraded.
GRID Autosport has five primary event categories and a custom cup mode available in the DLC, which includes a demolition derby event. The highlight of the game is the career mode, which is among the best any racing game has to offer at least on Switch.
Bee Simulator

If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to be a bumblebee, then this simulator lets you steps into the shoes (or ‘tarsus’, as anthropologists would call it) of one. The physics of the game is quite realistic as well, not that most gamers would know what makes great bee physics. The mechanics are well worked out and seem fluid enough to give a tight flying experience.
Contrary to Jerry Seinfeld’s contrived take on bees, there is not much else to do in this simulator apart from collecting pollen. So, don’t jump into this game expecting to land an airplane or sue the entire human race. The realism does offer you the opportunity to face off against bees’ natural nemesis, the wicked wasps. So, there is a combat mechanic as well in this exploration sim game.
Skies of Fury DX

There are many games based on World War 2, but very few depict the original ‘Great War’. Skies of Fury DX is a bold attempt by SEED Interactive to fill that void. This game is one of the best flying simulators out there that features wartime fighters. The realistic mechanic is complemented well by the hand-drawn art style graphics, which paint an accurate portrait of the events of Bloody April. The game offers a comprehensive perspective of the war from both sides of the iron curtain.
While lacking an engaging story, Skies of Fury does have wide range of missions and game modes including multiplayer to keep gamers engaged. One of the best sim games on Switch, this title will scratch your flying-a-war-plane itch.
Eurotruck Simulator 2

It has been just over a decade since its release, but Eurotruck Simulator 2 has shown what exactly it means to be a timeless classic. This driving sim has erased the boundaries between gamers around the world and given a wholesome view of what it is like to be a truck driver in Europe. While the pay estimates may suggest that you could become a millionaire tycoon in a matter of months, other game elements are quite realistic.
The thrill of exploring various landscapes of Europe and traversing between right-hand and left-hand drive nations is something that sets the game apart. The extensive collection of live European radio stations that the game features make this driving sim experience an engaging one. The game does have a loyal and dedicated modding community which constantly keeps the game updated and playable in any year with many useful add-ons at your disposition.
Spiritfarer

Any list of the best sim games on Switch would be incomplete without Spiritfarer. This grim indie title offers a refreshing take on the afterlife and the journey toward it.
Spiritfarer has you play as Stella, a ferrymaster who is tasked with ferrying souls across to the afterlife. But, unlike Davy Jones, this spiritfarer’s goal in life (or afterlife) is to make the journey as comfortable as possible. While the game features some really unique gameplay and crafting mechanics, the rich ensemble of characters makes this is an emotional, fulfilling journey.
Which sim game do you play on Switch? Tell us in the comments below.