Escape The Mundane With The 20 Best Simulation Games For The Switch

After the game took the world by storm in March of 2020, you'd probably have a hard time finding someone who hasn't at least heard of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This wholesome community simulator returns to the staples of the series that fans love, while also introducing new mechanics like crafting, customizing, and diving just to name a few.

Players who are looking for a way to relax will have an excellent time with New Horizons, whether they're talking to their neighbors, decorating their home, or spending the afternoon fishing. This most recent installment in the Animal Crossing series is a must-play for anyone, especially those who love social simulation games.

Stardew Valley is a combination community and farming simulator and offers players the best of both genres. You'll feel like part of a small town, getting to know and potentially even marrying the townspeople, while also tending to your crops and making a profit from your harvest.

Aside from the relaxing and downright addicting gameplay, other draws to this game include its adorable art style and earworm-inducing soundtrack. Whether you're looking to focus on the relationships, the farming, or both, this is definitely a title to check out.

A spiritual successor to one of the most beloved Nintendo DS franchises of all time, Nintendogs, Little Friends: Dogs & Cats is a pet simulation game that released for the Switch in 2019. Players can partake in various activities with their dog or cat, including playing with them, feeding them, petting them, and dressing them up.

The game even includes activities like a flying disc tournament, which is a direct callback to a similar event in Nintendogs. For fans who are looking to relive the good old days of loving on their little virtual furry friend, this game is an absolute must.

Ported over to the Switch in 2020, Two Point Hospital is a business simulation game where players not only build their own hospital from the ground up, they also work with patients to help treat and cure ailments. While hospitals IRL can be a pretty depressing, the developers purposely decided to make this game more comical, with fake, funny-sounded ailments and cute and cartoony characters throughout.

As you take on the lead role of general manager, you're tasked with expanding your hospital to accommodate your ever-growing base of patients. The game's surprisingly deep, and the funny, lighthearted mood really makes it a blast to play.

Originally released in 2003 as part of the Harvest Moon series, which has been renamed to Story of Seasons in more recent years, Friends of Mineral Town is a community and farming simulator that has been re-imagined for the Nintendo Switch.

Ironically, the Game Boy Advance version of Friends of Mineral Town was a remake 1999 Harvest Moon title Back to Nature, which was only released for the PlayStation. Having been the inspiration for more modern titles, Friends of Mineral Town is a great option for fans of newer games like Stardew Valley or My Time at Portia who didn't grow up with the genre.

Ever thought about what it might be like to be a bee? Well, now's your chance with Bee Simulator. As one might guess, players will collect pollen, evade dangerous wasps, and help their hive not only stay alive, but thrive.

Not only is it fun to play, but the game also has educational aspects to it as well, as players learn more about how bees work to help our ecosystems, which is an added bonus. Bee Simulator also offers co-op and multiplayer modes, so you can get your friends in on the fun too.