Whatoplay presents 15 upcoming simulation games for this year and beyond. All arranged by release
dates. To see the complete list, check out our page on all upcoming simulation games.
1. Youtubers Life 2 on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
The second installment of the YouTuber simulator from developer UPLAY Online.
This sequel gives you the spotlight to launch your imaginary YouTube career.
Make viral videos and collaborate with popular YouTubers like PewDiePie… and Whatoplay.
Just kidding. Like every aspiring YouTuber, building your career isn’t easy. Generate content
and customize your little channel to rack up some subs. Players can explore a little YT Town and
maybe find the inspiration they need for the next hit. It comes out on all consoles on October 19.
2. Age Of Empires IV The latest installment of
the beloved medieval strategy-sim is back. One of the most popular real-time strategy games
out there, Age of Empire once again takes you into epic battles to recreate history.
This will also streamline its game modes, making it easier to fight in campaigns and
compete with other players online. It’s set to release this October 28.
3. Jurassic World: Evolution 2 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, and Xbox One
Build a massive empire full of bioengineered creatures in this dinosaur tycoon game from
Frontier Developments. In this sequel, dinosaur enthusiasts will find more building options
for the theme park simulator of their dreams. It also features a story mode for anyone looking for
more original content from the Jurassic franchise. It’s scheduled for release this November 9.
4. Icarus In this brutal
and unforgiving alien planet, build an outpost and make it a sanctuary for you and your friends. This
upcoming survival game from RocketWerkz is getting enough traction due to its successful open beta
a few weeks ago. It’s a session-based co-op survival game for up to eight players. Think
Minecraft meets No Man’s Sky, but with a strong focus on teamwork. Coming this November 20.
5. Farming Simulator 22 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, and Xbox One
It’s not a simulator list without GIANTS Software’s annual celebration of… farming. The
latest installment of this agricultural playground is still familiar to returning players, but the
newly added European and American settings are a breath of fresh air for those casual plowers.
It’s not that complicated if you’re well-versed in real-life farming.
The whole sim aspect of it involves you taking your sweet time navigating around fields and
tending to your crops using a selection of harvesters. It’s an oddly therapeutic experience
even if you’re not into farming at all. It comes out on November 22 for all major consoles.
6. Climber: Sky is the Limit Ever wondered how it feels to climb Mt. Everest?
In this climbing simulator from Art Games Studio, become a trained adventurer making his way to the
peak of the world’s tallest mountain. It’s no Death Stranding, so the budget isn’t all too
big. It leans in on the realistic side with an emphasis on planning your trips and choosing the
proper survival equipment. The extreme weather is something you should be worried about, aside
from the steep slopes and dangerous crags. It’s expected to come out this fourth quarter of 2021.
7. SimRail 2021 Trains. This year’s SimRail opens
a new era of railway simulators. The developers promise realistic physics, immersive environments,
and a ton of customization options for train nerds. Whether it’s powered by steam,
diesel, or electricity, the destination remains the same. As the engineer of this operation,
take care of your station and prepare the smoothest path for your citizens.
It sounds easy on paper, but even one malfunction
could lead to disaster. No definite release date yet, but it’s expected to come out this year.
8.
Alaskan Truck Simulator on PC, PS4, and Xbox One We have Farming Simulators and Train Simulators.
What’s stopping Alaskan Trucks from getting one? Live that trucker life and enjoy this chill
experience without having to worry about real weather effects. Brave the frozen wilderness using
its variety of massive trucks. The trailer isn’t too convincing since it’s running on low frames,
but it’s still in progress so let’s hope it gets the polish it deserves.
It comes out early next year for the PC and all major consoles… except for the Switch.
9. Kerbal Space Program 2 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, and Xbox One
The sequel to the critically acclaimed space-flight simulation game. Kerbal Space Program
2 is fully redesigned from the ground up to create more immersive and ‘realistic’ physics-based
creations. This sequel will generate an influx of engineering enthusiasts. The improvement of
its UI, onboarding, and physics will lead to more creative launches. Space colonies will
be far from the usual rocket-building hijinks we’re used to. Manage this little civilization
and it will repay you tenfold in useful resources. It’s expected to come out next year.
10. MythBusters: The Game Who would’ve thought we’d
finally be able to play a Mythbusters game. Without all the familiar faces from the show,
it almost doesn’t feel like Mythbusters at all. If you can get past that, however,
the game is a playground of explosions and that’s pretty much a selling point
for fans of the series. Enter the Mythbusters workshop and find new myths to tinker with.
It’s a destruction simulator where you find the right tools and materials to craft the experiment.
You could even record your own Mythbusting and post it on the internet. No release date yet.
11. Euro Truck Simulator 2: Heart of Russia The latest downloadable content from SCS
Software’s long-running title. It’s the eighth major map expansion of the game and there’s
certainly no stopping them from releasing more in the future. It’s pretty much the same as its
original version. The only difference is that you get to explore the Heart of Russia, which
includes Moscow, and Russia’s diverse biomes, from the Volga to the Oka rivers. No release date yet.
12. Prologue The man behind the widely popular PLAYERUNKNOWN’S
BATTLEGROUND has an up-and-coming IP. This one promises to be more ambitious than his previous
Battle-Royale game. In Prologue, players step into a realistic sandbox world where the wilderness is
continually evolving. It combines sim and survival elements where everyone can gather resources,
craft, and explore its dangerous new world. It’s an experimental project and it sounds
impossible on a technical scale, but who knows, maybe it might just work.
No gameplay footage is available yet, but its promising features sound really… interesting.
13. Mew Genics Straight from the mind of the man behind
Super Meat Boy, Edmund McMillen, comes a bizarre Tamagotchi-like game centered on cute animals.
There’s not much info about the game at the moment since it’s currently in development.
However, the creator himself stated that it’s a mix between FF Tactics
and Pokemon with a touch of Animal Crossing and Binding of Isaac. The
simulation aspect definitely involves tending to these adorable creatures.
14. Frostpunk 2 The sequel to 11
Bit Studios’ harrowing dystopian future is back for another test of morality.
Again, you'll play as the overseer of a crumbling society. Lead your civilization
to prosperity by making tough decisions and managing resources to make it through the days.
Like the original Frostpunk, a looming blizzard is still the ultimate threat.
But it also adds some new mechanics. For example, the addition of Oil as a major resource opens new
doors to its civilian conflicts. Play your part and leave no request unattended. Otherwise,
the very foundations of your society may fall apart, and it's game over. No release date yet.
15. Star Citizen Ah, gaming’s most elusive
science-fiction game. Despite being in Alpha Stage for a long, long time,
it is fully playable and free for anyone who wants to experience its limitless wonders.
It has become a meme of the industry, with new controversies plaguing it every week.
The community, however, remains ever-hopeful that the game will come out. As a space-simulator,
take on the role of a space-trader in a vast and infinite galaxy. You can customize your ship,
but note that you can’t fly…yet. In addition to a breadth of customization options,
you can also face off against other players or AI in combat sims. The game still has
a long way to go and it’s been in a constant state of ‘Upcoming’. Release date? Who knows.