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Best PC Simulation Games to Play from 2019: A Curated Guide

From zoo design and comic hospital management to farming, home restoration, and factory building, these PC sims offer distinct ways to play—with a clear note on which one actually released before 2019.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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For a zoo to design, a hospital to run, a farm to work, or a factory to build, the best PC simulation game depends on what you want to spend your time doing. This guide brings together notable games discussed in 2019 coverage across several kinds of simulation; it is a curated shortlist, not a definitive ranking of every game released that year. It also distinguishes 2019 releases from older games that were still part of the conversation.

How to choose a PC simulation game

“Simulation” covers very different play styles. Some games ask you to manage an institution and its people; others focus on operating machinery, caring for animals, cooking, or transforming a home. Decide first which activity sounds appealing, then consider whether you want a comic presentation, intricate systems, or company in multiplayer.

  • Main activity: Choose the simulated job or system you want to engage with, from hospital management to farming or factory construction.
  • Tone: Some management games make their situations deliberately silly; others emphasize detail and operational decisions.
  • Complexity: Factorio is known for a steep learning curve, while Dwarf Fortress centers on detailed micromanagement.
  • Release-year scope: A game featured in 2019 coverage was not necessarily released in 2019.

Recommended PC simulation games from the 2019 conversation

Planet Zoo: animal care and zoo management

Choose Planet Zoo if designing habitats and caring for animals are more appealing than running a factory or working a field. PCGamesN included it in a general year-end list updated on 25 December 2019, describing its appeal through animal care, zoo management, and guest demands. That makes it a useful example of the zoo-management branch of simulation, not a proven winner in a simulation-only ranking. PCGamesN’s 2019 list

Two Point Hospital: comic hospital management

Two Point Hospital suits players who want to manage an institution without a solemn tone. PC Gamer’s management-simulation guide, published 27 September 2019, highlights its comic approach to hospital management. It is a strong fit when the management itself is the draw and you want the presentation to be deliberately silly. PC Gamer’s management-simulation guide

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#1 Best Overall

Farming Simulator 19: running a farm with others

Farming Simulator 19 focuses on farming, livestock, machinery, and large environments. Its Steam listing describes single-player and online co-op play, and says a farm can be developed online with up to 16 players. That player count is a product-listing feature claim, not a recommendation or a measure of typical group size. Steam gives the release date as 19 November 2018, so this is a game relevant to the 2019 discussion, not a 2019 release. Check the Steam page for the current system requirements before buying. Farming Simulator 19 on Steam

Cooking Simulator: a hands-on kitchen sandbox

Cooking Simulator is for players interested in experimenting in a kitchen rather than managing a larger institution. PC Gamer’s 8 January 2019 preview emphasized its cooking and kitchen-sandbox premise, including chaotic experimentation with objects and the environment. Because that source is a preview from 2019, it should not be read as a current review or confirmation of the game’s present store status. PC Gamer’s 2019 simulation preview

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House Flipper: restoring homes

House Flipper centers on home restoration, making it the clearest fit here for players who want to work on properties rather than operate a business or manage a population. PC Gamer mentioned it in the same 2019 preview and described it as a home-restoration simulation. The preview also discussed planned garden-focused downloadable content at the time; that was a historical plan, not confirmation of current availability. PC Gamer’s 2019 simulation preview

Dwarf Fortress: detailed fortress micromanagement

Pick Dwarf Fortress if the appeal is overseeing a fortress through detailed management decisions. PC Gamer’s guide points to its micromanagement as a defining draw, so it is better suited to players who welcome complexity than to someone seeking a light, hands-off experience. PC Gamer’s management-simulation guide

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Factorio: factory construction and interconnected systems

Factorio is the factory-building choice in this shortlist. PC Gamer’s 2019 guide notes its steep learning curve, making it a natural option for players who enjoy learning complex systems rather than jumping straight into a simple routine. PC Gamer’s management-simulation guide

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Which game should you play?

Game Main activity Best fit if you want 2019 release?
Planet Zoo Zoo and animal management Habitat design, animal care, and guest demands Included in a 2019 year-end list; the cited source does not establish its release date.
Two Point Hospital Hospital management Management with a deliberately comic tone Covered in a 2019 guide; the cited source does not establish its release date.
Farming Simulator 19 Farming, livestock, and machinery Farm operations and online co-op No. Steam lists 19 November 2018.
Cooking Simulator Cooking and kitchen experimentation A hands-on kitchen sandbox Covered in a January 2019 preview; the cited source does not establish its release date.
House Flipper Home restoration Working on and improving homes Covered in a January 2019 preview; the cited source does not establish its release date.
Dwarf Fortress Fortress management Detailed micromanagement Covered in a 2019 guide; the cited source does not establish its release date.
Factorio Factory construction Complex systems and a steep learning curve Covered in a 2019 guide; the cited source does not establish its release date.

The choices reflect different subgenres rather than a single scale of quality. For a release-year-only list, verify each game’s release date separately; the cited coverage establishes that some were discussed in 2019, not that every title launched that year. The available sources do not provide a complete, simulation-only ranking of PC releases for 2019.

Quick Recap

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Face extreme environments in a highly advanced physics engine; 40 unique vehicles to unlock, upgrade, and customize
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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