Top 14: Best mobile simulation games on Android and iOS

Get ready to experience many different and surprising things with this selection of the best mobile simulation games on Android and iOS. Whether you want to be a policeman, a farmer, a cook, an aeroplane pilot or just a goat, anything is possible. But in the vast catalogue of this kind of game, it can be difficult to find your way around. Especially since the quality of these games varies greatly. Don't worry, we've done the work for you.

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What exactly is a mobile simulation game?

The purpose of a simulation game is to allow you to virtually reproduce a multitude of situations. Often called Simulator, these games are countless and cover an astronomical number of themes. In these games, you play as one or more characters and have to carry out actions from their daily lives.

One of the first successful life simulators was Harvest Moon for Super Nintendo. But the one that really democratised the genre is of course The Sims, still the leader today. Since then, the genre has developed and is now divided into 2 main parts. On the one hand, there are the simulation games that aim for more realism, and on the other, those that focus on fun.

The 14 best mobile simulation games of the moment

Although they are part of the simulation games, we will not mention management games, racing games or sports games in this article, as they have already had their own dedicated top. We will focus on life, driving or professional simulators. Let's start without further ado our top of the best mobile simulation games on Android and iOS.

The Sims Mobile

Free game
Create the family and home of your dreams
Official website of The Sims Mobile

Playing on PC

The absolute reference in life simulation games had to have its mobile port. Released in 2017, The Sims Mobile is still technically very correct and regularly benefits from updates to add new content related to the seasons or holidays.

As in the original game, you can create your Sims family, take care of their careers and children's education, but also build the house of your dreams and decorate it as you wish.

On the other hand, the gameplay of The Sims Mobile is diminished by theabsence of your characters'need bars. It is therefore impossible to lose in this game. Nevertheless, this simplified version of the PC games will satisfy the less demanding players who want to play without getting bored.

Growing Up

Paying game at €3.49
Grow up in the 90s and decide your future
Official website of Coconut Island Studio

Playing on PC

Immerse yourself in the 90s in this life simulation that is close to a Visual Novel. Your adventure begins by choosing your parents, your gender and your values. Then you are born into the world. From there, you must go through childhood and adolescence by improving your skills in 5 main areas: Intelligence, Empathy, Physics, Memory and Imagination.

The game works in rounds, during which you have to make choices and manage your schedule to achieve the goals set by your parents or by school exams while taking care of your sanity. Once you turn 18, you have to decide which person you want to become.

Growing Up: Life of the '90s has excellent replayability as you can start over by making totally different choices. A little nugget that will appeal to nostalgics thanks to its references to an era without internet.

Real Flight Simulator

Paying game at €0.99
Fly an airliner
Official website of Real Flight Simulator

Playing on PC

Fasten your seatbelts and concentrate, because it's time to take off at the controls of your plane. Historically, flight simulators have been known to be extremely realistic and therefore very complicated to learn. Although it is a mobile game, Real Flight Simulator is no exception. Procedures must be followed to the letter and manoeuvres require a great deal of precision.

While you can access the game for less than one euro, unfortunately you will only get three planes for that price. To unlock additional planes, all 14,000 airports, air traffic control and multiplayer features, a monthly subscription of 3.99 euros is required.

Stardew Valley

Paying game at €4.89
Take care of your farm and your animals
What's new in the 1.5 update
Official website of Stardew Valley

Playing on PC

Let's continue with our fourth game: Stardew Valley. This farm life simulator has a retro look, you will have to take care of your animals, your fields, but also fish or explore the surroundings. However, be prepared before you set off, as the mine is full of monsters and traps. The game integrates RPG components and a management system that make it a complete game with a more than decent lifespan.

After a phenomenal success for an independent game on PC and consoles, Stardew Valley arrived on mobile in 2019 at a price of around 5 euros.

Goat Simulator

Free game
Play a clumsy goat
Official website of Goat Simulator

Playing on PC

Let's move on to a biggie. Released in 2014, Goat Simulator allows you, as the name suggests, to take control of a goat. Your goal is simply to cause as much damage as possible in the city by creating the most WTF situations possible with your tongue as a grappling hook.

This game is a clumsy simulator, a type of simulation game that is deliberately difficult to control, like I Am Bread, Octodad or Human: Fall Flat. Goat Simulator is a cult game that opened the door to more and more unusual simulators.

Farming Simulator 20

Paying game at €6.49
Become the best farmer
Official website of Farming Simulator

Playing on PC

Farming Simulator 20 had to be included in our ranking. The realistic agricultural simulation licence is a reference in the field, so much so that there is a very active esport scene. Special attention is paid to detail and connoisseurs will find the real tractor and equipment brands.

The mobile port of Farming Simulator 20 is equivalent to the Switch version. The game is therefore simplified compared to the console and PC games, which may be disappointing for those who know the game. However, it is a way for newcomers to discover the franchise at a lower cost.

Cooking Simulator Mobile

Free game
Become a cook and prepare the best dishes
Official website of PlayWay Studio

Playing on PC

Put on your apron and pretend you're a star chef in this cooking simulation. Cut up your food, cook it, season your dishes, set your plates and clean your utensils.

As you progress, you unlock new recipes, with the aim of one day being able to cook elaborate dishes, such as fusilli with Neapolitan sauce or tomato bruschetta. Still, there is a lack of content and the tasks quickly become repetitive.

Apart from that and the few control issues with picking up and releasing items, Cooking Simulator Mobile is a port that lives up to its PC version. So get cooking, your customers are waiting for you.

Police Sim 2022 Cop Simulator

Free game
Join the police and arrest criminals

Playing on PC

Join the police and enforce the law in the city. In this open-world game, you can use your radar to detect speeding, scan parked cars and fine motorists who haven't paid.

As a law enforcement officer, your activities include escorting convoys, stopping criminals from crossing roadblocks and engaging in car chases.

You will also have to take care of your patrol car by filling it up with fuel, but also take it to the garage to have it repaired and washed to show an exemplary image of the police. Police Sim 2022 Cop Simulator is a very good game with a variety of activities that will keep fans of the genre busy for many hours.

Operate Now Hospital - Surgery

Free game
Become a surgeon and save lives
Official website of Operate Now Hospital - Surgery

Playing on PC

Let's continue this top of the best mobile simulation games with Operate Now Hospital - Surgery. This medical simulation puts you in the shoes of a surgeon to perform operations on various diseases or injuries. Unlike many mobile simulation games, the gameplay is well adapted to the touch controls of the mobile.

In addition to being an outstanding surgeon, you also happen to be the director of the hospital. This means that you are responsible for managing the staff and thelayout of the rooms in your medical establishment.

Arm yourself with your scalpel, forceps and needle, because you have lives to save. But be careful, because every mistake you make will affect the health of your patients.

#10

Plague Inc.

Free game
Play as a virus
Official website of Plague Inc.

Playing on PC

In this top of the best mobile simulation games, we saw that you can play as various things. Well in Plague Inc, become a virus and infect all of humanity by strategically choosing your mutations.

The game starts with the infection of your patient zero. Your goal is to spread by all means and cause the most deadly symptoms possible. Make your little virus evolve into an epidemic and then into a pandemic and wipe out the human race.

If you prefer politics and the military to biology, the studio is also behind Rebel Inc, in which you must lead your country after a period of war by resisting the insurgency.

#11

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Free game
Help the people in your camp and decorate your house
Official website of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Playing on PC

I don't think there's any need to introduce the Nintendo licence that has brightened the confines of millions of people around the world. In Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, find all the characters of the license and farm to get the best decoration elements for your house.

Invite your friends to your camp and visit theirs for decoration ideas. However, this mobile version lacks depth and can become tiresome in the long run.

It does, however, allow players who don't have a Nintendo Switch to immerse themselves in thepeaceful, colourful, albeit capitalist Tom Nook-ledworld of Animal Crossing.

#12

Internet Cafe Simulator

Free game
Manage your Internet café
Official Twitter of Cheesecake Dev studio

Playing on PC

Wondering what the life of an Internet Cafe manager is like? If so, it's a little strange, but Internet Cafe Simulator is for you. You'll have the pleasure of picking up your customers' rubbish and ridding computers of viruses caught by dodgy customers.

This mobile port is similar in every way to the PC version. You have to set up and decorate your establishment, buy the necessary equipment and welcome your customers.

Internet Cafe Simulator is a nice game that is not content with an adaptation that has been stripped of most of its gameplay. On the other hand, the camera sensitivity is too low, even when set to maximum.

#13

Bus Simulator : Ultimate

Free game
Become a bus driver and get your passengers to their destination
Official website of Zuuks studio

Playing on PC

Create your own bus company in Bus Simulator: Ultimate. In this driving simulation game, you won't be asked to arrive as fast as possible, but rather to respect the rules of the road as much as possible and not cause any damage to your vehicle or your passengers. Use your turn signals, respect the right of way, use your cruise control on the main roads and be patient, because the road ahead is long.

There is also a variation of this game with a truck company: Truck Simulator. In the bus, you also have to manage theopening of the doors and the luggagecompartment, while with the truck, you have to manoeuvre with a trailer before you can unload.

It's up to you whether you prefer public transport or freight transport. In any case, we wish you a safe journey!

#14

PC Creator: Building Simulator

Free game
Mount and repair PCs

Playing on PC

In our fourteenth and final game, you become the manager of a PC repair shop. Your customers are asking for your help, and it's up to you to satisfy them as best you can. Assemble and repair their computers, taking care to make a profit for your company.

Being a niche game, one of its flaws is theabsence of brand licenses, but if you are interested in such a game, you will easily recognize the logos of Intel, AMD, Asus or Nvidia. For OS on the other hand, the logos of Linux, Windows and Apple are the real ones.

The game is quite well done, but it is a pity that the components are not up to date. For example, the version of Windows to be installed in the game is Windows 7. Finally, the ads are too present, but can be deactivated by opting for the pro version, available for 3.89 euros.

PC Creator: Building Simulator also offers a £5.89 season pass to unlock additional content. Clearly not up to the standard of its PC counterpart, this computer assembly and repair simulation remains the best mobile alternative for you component lovers.

To finish this top of the best mobile simulation games on Android and iOS, here are a few titles that don't belong in the ranking, but are worth mentioning just for their concept.

Mother Simulator: Family Life, to put you in the shoes of a young mother;
Car Mechanic Simulator, to repair cars ;
Hype Simulator, to become a TikTok star.

So now you know the best mobile simulation games and you have many hours of gameplay ahead of you. If you want to discover more, please visit our top games page.