5 Best Simulation Games on PlayStation Plus (November 2023)

Simulation games are partly responsible for PlayStation Plus’ ongoing popularity, which is precisely why the gaming giant continues to pour as many of the biggest IPs into its monthly portfolio as possible. In October alone, even, the subscription-based platform has rolled out the red carpet for several new additions, many of which have earned the right to share the podium with some of the most popular RPGs and first-person shooters on the market. Question is, which of said simulation IPs are actually worth playing at this moment in time?

If you have just reactivated your monthly subsection, or are simply looking to tread some new waters in the realm of hearty simulation gaming, then be sure to read on. Here are the five best simulation games on PlayStation Plus right now.

• Updated by Jord Tury on October 8, 2023

5. Tropico 5

If you happened to remove the complexities and mechanical malarkey from, for example, Cities: Skylines, then you’d actually have a much smoother, more beginner-friendly city-building and management simulation game. And as luck would have it, that’s exactly what Tropico 5 aims to be: a fully-comprehensive island builder that’s both accessible and easy to navigate right from the get-go.

The concept is simple: inherit an island, and essentially govern it through the eras as none other than El Presidente—a natural born leader who has all the power to pull strings and conquer nations from atop an iron throne. As for how you go about weaving said strings together to formulate a thriving colony, however, is entirely up to you and the choices you make along the way. The pressure is certainly there — but of course, it’s always going to be, so long as you’re the one to wear the suit and tie.

4. Farming Simulator 22

The latest entry in the agricultural IP has finally arrived on PlayStation Plus, which means avid green thumbs alike will once again have the opportunity to delve into the life of an everyday ranch hand and seasonal entrepreneur. Farming not your thing? Don’t sweat it; it’s more of a business management sim than anything else. And, it’s also one of the best land development sims on the current market, which means you can go ahead and flex those creative muscles and exploit your inner visionary, too.

Farming Simulator 22 is a management sim in which you take control over a few hundred acres of land. As the overseer, you must employ staff, tend to animals, and cultivate vast amounts of land — all of which will provide you with the funds and resources needed to develop an agricultural empire from the grassy roots up. Sure enough, it’s engaging, rewarding, and oh so addictive.

3. Two Point Hospital

Remember Theme Hospital? Well, Two Point Hospital formulates the same basic concept: there’s an empty plot of land, and an ill-fated community that yearns to have a state of the art medical institution in the center of their city. Surprise surprise, this is a job that you, an avid medical practitioner, must onboard and see through to the bitter end. But of course, to reach such a point, you’ll first need to learn the tricks of the trade, and with a whole lot of trial and error, find balance between being a medical professional and an entrepreneur.

If you had the chance to pick up Two Point Campus, then you’ll feel right at home within the wards of Two Point Hospital. As a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you’ll have more than enough opportunities to trial your creative ideas and find the balance that works best for you. And like the old saying goes: you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. As it turns out, though, those eggs are patients — and yes, they can be broken.

2. Bomber Crew

If the world of aviation has been calling out to you, then you’ll definitely want to consider boarding the Bomber Crew association. In the game, you’re tasked with sourcing a squad to pilot an aircraft—a state of the art bomber plane that has all the bells and whistles needed to complete death-defying missions across the globe. As the overseer, you must operate every station aboard the craft, from piloting to gunning, engineering to scouting, all the while keeping track of top-secret operations.

For those who are fairly new to the simulation genre, Bomber Crew is a near-perfect starting point, as it not only provides a series of beginner-friendly scenarios, but a campaign that’s bursting at the seams with customizable characters and missions. So, if you’re all for the idea of taking to the skies, then be sure to get behind the yoke of an elite bomber craft the next time opportunity comes knocking.

1. Empire of Sin

Empire of Sin is yet another business management simulation game, and more importantly, one that adopts a mixture of turn-based combat and role-playing. As a fledgling mobster, you are invited to form your own gang and take to the streets of a crime-riddled metropolis from a top-down perspective. To rule the hierarchy and conquer the city, you will need to transform a bunch of thugs into a close-knit network of specialists. And that’s only scratching the surface.

In addition to the social and political aspects of Empire of Sin, there’s also the combat, which plays a huge part in the overall flow of the narrative. To control the city, you must first learn to control the rackets and those sworn by oath to protect them. There’s turn-based combat to master, abandoned allotments to utilize, and an entire ocean of mobsters to whittle down; that’s three things that make up any good well-rounded mobster-centric simulation game, through and through.

So, what’s your take? Will you be playing any of the above five simulation games this month? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.