The best abandonware simulation games
Simulation games are designed to convey realism in every aspect, from gameplay to visuals. Simulation games have a number of sub-genres according to their main goals, for example building cities, managing business companies, leading a social life, or campaigning for president.
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Wall Street Raider
DOS1986 business simulation
Infiltrator
DOS1987 flight simulation, third-person shooter
Transport Tycoon Deluxe
DOSWindows XP/98/951995 sandbox strategy, business simulation
Transport Tycoon Deluxe is a business simulation game where players take control of a transport company, competing against rivals. Players can build stations, airports, and railroads to transport passengers, mail, and various good...
Capitalism 2
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2001protected business simulation
If spreadsheets are your love language, Capitalism 2 is pure romance. This brutally detailed simulation lets you create your own corporate empire from scratch—manufacturing, retail, real estate, stock markets... even farming...
Patrician
DOS1992protected business simulation
Caesar 3
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1998protected city building, sandbox strategy
Polished to a shine worthy of a senator’s sandals, Caesar 3 finally gets it right. Gorgeous 2D visuals, elegant gameplay, and voiceovers that say “No more workers!” like they’re scolding your ancestors. You...
SimCity 2000
DOSWindows 3.xWindows XP/98/951993protected sandbox strategy, city building
SimCity 2000 is a classic city building simulation, part of the popular SimCity series, developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. SimCity 2000 is a huge step up from the 2D predecessor SimCity and boasts improvements like: i...
The Oregon Trail
DOS1990 life simulation
Pharaoh
Windows XP/98/951999protected sandbox strategy, city building
Pharaoh is a city-building strategy game released in 1999 by Impressions Games and published by Sierra Studios. It is set in ancient Egypt and is heavily inspired by Caesar III, another game by the same developer. Pharaoh focuses ...
Caesar 2
DOS1995 sandbox strategy, city building
Bigger, bolder, and with more statues of yourself than ever, Caesar 2 builds on its predecessor like Rome after a good tax season. Now you get to manage both cities and provinces, making sure barbarians don’t redecorate your...
Zoo Tycoon
Windows XP/98/952001 business simulation
Ever dreamed of running your own zoo without needing a shovel for elephant poop? Zoo Tycoon lets you do exactly that. Build the ultimate animal empire - until the lions escape, the penguins riot, and your guests storm out because ...
Air Bucks
DOS1992 business simulation
In Air Force Commander (1992), you don’t just fly planes - you run the whole air force. Think of it as being a general with a spreadsheet addiction. Assign squadrons, manage budgets, and try not to start World War III. It's ...
Railroad Tycoon 2
Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac OS1998 business simulation
Railroad Tycoon 2 is an abandoned train simulation game designed by Phil Steinmeyer, developed by Pop Software and released by Gathering of Developers for Windows, Linux and Mac in 1998. As the title suggests, Railroad Tycoon 2 is...
Zeus: Master of Olympus
Windows XP/98/952000protected sandbox strategy, city building
Move over, Caesar — Zeus: Master of Olympus is here to show you that ancient city-building is better with gods throwing tantrums. In this mythological city sim, you don’t just deal with taxes and unemployment; you&rsqu...
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Windows XP/98/951999protected sandbox strategy, business simulation
SimEarth
DOSWindows 3.x1990 sandbox strategy, god game
SimEarth is a simulation in which you can shape and mold a planet in almost every way you can imagine. In SimEarth our planet is simulated as a whole: life, climate, atmosphere are all aspects of a single Gaia-like Earth. SimEarth...
Dope Wars
Windows XP/98/951998 business simulation
Dope Wars is a text-based simulation game that originated as a DOS program in the early 1980s, but gained popularity in its Windows version released in 1998. The game puts players in the role of a drug dealer navigating the underg...
Free Enterprise
Windows XP/98/951996 business simulation
Dehumanizing offices? Check. Depressing environment? Check. No windows in the whole place? Check. Good, I'm ready to exploit my workers and become great entrepreneur. All of this thanks to Free Enterprise, a simulation for Windows...
Balance of Power: The 1990 Edition
Windows 3.x1989freeware political simulation
Balance of Power: The 1990 Edition is a geopolitical strategy game developed by Chris Crawford and released in 1985. It is considered a classic in the genre of political and strategic simulation games. The game is set during ...
Transport Tycoon
DOS1994 sandbox strategy, business simulation
Transport Tycoon is a business simulation game that puts the player at the head of a transport company to compete against rival companies. The player can build stations, airports, railroads to transport passengers, mail and variou...
SimFarm
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1993 business simulation
SimFarm is a simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts in 1993. In SimFarm, players take on the role of a farmer and manage various aspects of running a farm, including planting crops, raising lives...
SimCity
DOSWindows 3.xWindows XP/98/951989protected sandbox strategy, city building
SimCity (or SimCity Classic) is a popular city building simulation in which you, the mayor of a city, have to build a metropolis from the ground up. You can build police and fire departments, assign industrial, residential or comm...
AIV Networks
DOS1995 business simulation
Released in 1995, AIV Networks dares to ask: what if the real hero of industrialization was... logistics? Here, you’re not conquering worlds - you’re routing freight. Build railroads, connect factories, and ensure that...
Gloriana
DOS1996 business simulation
Lego Loco
Windows XP/98/951998 city building
Railroad Tycoon Deluxe
DOS1993 business simulation
Uncharted Waters
DOS1990
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
DOS1995
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons is an abandoned simulation game, sequel of Uncharted Waters, developed and released by KOEI in 1995. The Uncharted Waters series is set in the Age of Discovery and gives the player the freedom to s...
Infiltrator 2
DOS1988 flight simulation, third-person shooter
Patrician 2: Quest for Power
Windows XP/98/952000protected business simulation