Top 10 Simulation Games for Fans of Open World Exploration in 2024

If you’re a fan of **open world games**, chances are you're already deep into the endless expanses of procedurally-generated terrain and non-linear narratives. But what if your gaming cravings don't just involve shooting and looting? For many players out there, real joy lies in managing virtual cities or crafting lifetimes of characters inside intricate simulation worlds.

A Shift from Action to Experience

In recent years the lines between simulation and traditional action RPGs like PlayStation 5 RPG games have blurred. Titles built around player freedom now often borrow simulation mechanics — crafting systems, survival loops, and economic planning. This trend has made space in 2024 for immersive experiences that blend simulation with open worlds, offering more creative control than even the best online strategy games like Clash of Clans. So without further ado, let's jump straight into our picks!

Pioneertown: Crafting Civilizations with Your Feet on the Ground (And Hoe in Hand)

You wake up next to an ox pulling an overloaded cart and your only assets are a pick, axe, and hoe. There’s little direction but plenty of possibilities in this sandbox-style survival colony game set within vast wilderness environments. While initially daunting, mastering tools leads to constructing everything from timber huts all way up to grand cathedrals made from quarried stone. And because weathering plays big roles — snowstorms delay harvest cycles; drought forces innovation with irrigation tech—players can expect no shortage challenges ahead shaping societies one block time piece by hand-hammered nail… literally speaking.

• Gathering & production system
• Creative building tools allow unlimited designs
• Seasonal climate cycles affecting gameplay