What Else Do You Sim?

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Most of us come to RaceDepartment to discuss and learn about racing simulations and racing games, but we want to know what other simulators you play.

We are experiencing one of the best periods in the history of sim racing. Sim hardware quality is improving while software options are plentiful and growing. But even in this amazing time, we all need breaks from sim racing, and we turn to other avenues of virtual entertainment.

We want to hear from you in the comments below. Let us know what else you enjoy simulating. From flight sims to farming to bus driving, whatever it is that you love to play outside the world of racing, share it with us.

Microsoft’s latest edition of Flight Simulator is a popular option amongst many in the racing community, and even allows us to repurpose our racing rigs as cockpits. Many videos have even been shared on popular sim racing channels featuring fly-overs of major racing circuits from around the world.

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Another widely loved sim that many of you are enjoying is Farm Simulator. On the surface, farming seems like an uneventful pastime, but Farm Sim has managed to make virtual farming fun and engaging. So much so, in fact, that there are Farm Simulator eSports championships.

For those who can’t get enough of driving, there are many choices outside of racing. Euro and American Truck Sims are a great way to relax the mind and pass an afternoon. Taxis and buses are also well represented in the sim world, or you can patrol the streets as an officer of the law. The choices for simulations seem limitless.

Share your personal favourites below. Whether your other sim favourites have you repairing cars, long-haul trucking, boating, mowing grass or anything else, share it below.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Lunar Flight is another interesting, and hard as hell simulation of a lunar transport module which also has a beta VR mode.

I played this for a while in VR.. Pretty good fun but haven't touched it in years.

Let me bring Derail Valley to every VR simmer'S attention. Its a hidden gem.

The physics keep you constantly on your guard. This is one of those games that was developed aorund VR from beginning on - the 2D option was added later only due to loud public demand. So, the 2D lives with an interface that was optimised for VR in the first.

How does this perform in VR these days. I always had it on my wish list but there were always complaints about performance in VR and whilst I bought it after the first big "Overhaul" patch, I quickly refunded because its performance near the major town was appalling. I loved the original demo as for some reason I quite liked "shunting".. It almost had a slight puzzle element to it. I know its moved on leaps and bounds since then. Mind you I have become pretty lazy and only play sit down VR these days so not sure if it suits that style of play..

As far as other sims go.. well I am playing MSFS 2020 (just like everyone else), DCS, IL2 Sturmovik, AMS2, ACC, RF2, DR2, Re-Entry (Mercury/Gemini/Apollo sim) , ATS2.. All in VR of course.

I also play TSW2 and Snowrunner (Fantastic graphics) and U-Boat (Early access). I am also playing "Art Of Rally" using 3DVision on a 3DTV.

Oh and I am also into Pinball sims.. Also in VR only. Zaccaria, VPX, Future Pinball (BAM) etc

I am old and have short attention span so tend to play lots of things all at once and perhaps none of them particularly well :)
 
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Probably much more of an “accurately simulated sandbox” than a competition or objective-oriented sim, but I spend a fair amount of time just wandering around the universe in Space Engine.
 
When I need a break from AC i get into Cities: Skylines, a fantastic traffic congestion simulator. :D
 
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Planes, ships, submarines, carriers.
I mean, Stormworks is probably one of the best games to my taste i've ever had.
 
Planes, ships, submarines, carriers.
I mean, Stormworks is probably one of the best games to my taste i've ever had.
Carrier Command 2 was just released, and based on the stormworks engine - it's by the same developer. It's still early days and has a few rough edges, but it's shaping up to be good.

 
Carrier Command 2 was just released, and based on the stormworks engine - it's by the same developer. It's still early days and has a few rough edges, but it's shaping up to be good.

Honestly it's quite surprising to see Microprose make a comeback. They're not publishing insanely big titles or anything, yet, but it's a name that means a lot.
 
Honestly it's quite surprising to see Microprose make a comeback. They're not publishing insanely big titles or anything, yet, but it's a name that means a lot.
Yeah, it's great to see the name back again. To be honest I think Microprose always published mostly niche titles albeit high quality titles, it's just that back in the day there wasn't that much competition in the video game market so the titles went big.

They've got a couple of interesting games coming up, the first of which I'm particularly interested in.


 
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Kerbal Space Program and Simple Rockets 2 are some really interesting ballistic simulations even though you play them mostly in 3rd person
KSP is like crack.... Lost count of the number of times I found myself playing until the sun came up

Which leads me to the Outer Wilds which has many of the sim elements of Lunar Flight but incorporated into a really good game as well.
Oh wow! I didn't realise it had a VR mod! One of the finest games I have ever played. That has made me think though, I have No Mans Sky and that supports VR too...
 
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They've got a couple of interesting games coming up, the first of which I'm particularly interested in.
Damn, this thread is adding to my already burgeoning backlog! Tiny Combat Arena reminds me so much of the old Amiga F/A-18. If they are doing Carrier Command in VR, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll add it to this one too

Nice to see Microprose around again. I spent many an hour on their games in my youth.
 
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Oh wow! I didn't realise it had a VR mod! One of the finest games I have ever played. That has made me think though, I have No Mans Sky and that supports VR too...
It's actually optimised really well for VR - Hell they even managed to get it into VR on the PS4.

My main problem with NMS, and one that makes it unplayable for me, is the control implementation for the ships. I simply cannot get my head round the ships rolling and yawing at the same time.
 
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Always been into racing sims and flight sims. Currently, when I have time, I like to launch the IL2 series (1946, Stalingrad, Kuban, CoD, and the amazing Tobruk), and Wings over Flanders Fields (which is more accessible as the WW2 airplanes require a lotnof practice ; when you lack time, it's a good option). I'm trying to learn to flight on Lock On (I have some DCS modules but not the space on my laptop ; as they share the same controls, my effort will be useful in DCS) and Falcon BMS (for the price of Falcon 4 on gog, you are able to fly the F16 and various versions of the Rafale! Also the Harrier...). But these modern jets require a lot of free time and consistent training. Wings of Prey is a good cheap option but sometimes the missions are not compatible with the simulation difficulty. Its sequel, the pacific campaigns for War Thunder, seem good (remakes of an X box game) but Ive just bought them ans sid not have time to play. X plane 11 for civilian flight is still impressive, I play from time to time, although the former flight simulator rose the bar graphically to unexpected levels.
Choppers should not be forgotten, I still need to really train on DCS but, lacking space, Comanche vs Hokum with the last mod is really fun. Take on helicopters is quiet good too, although it's badly optimized (arma2 engine). X plane 11 does have good physics for helicopters too.

Other sims I like, tactical shooters, swat4, more recently Ground Branch and Zero Hour (both becoming really interesting). I sometimes launch codemasters' operation flashpoint games, arma 2 (not enpugh space for arma3, i cant play anymore). It's been some tome I haven't launched Squad, it said to be more accessible than before. The first Insurgency and its brother Day of infamy (and the WW1 mod) are semi realstic but a good experience in coop. Speaking of WW2, I like to launch from time to time the red orchestra games (these are really tough when you don't play often). And one last milsim, Rising Storm 2 Vietnam, a really immersive experience.

Well, having listed so much titles makes me understand why I'm not an expert on any of them, there are too much to enjoy only one or 2!

Edit : I forgot this original and amazing title Take on Mars! An absolute immersive experience (although sometimes clunky).
 
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I play cars simulators of course :) but also: civil (MSFS) and military planes from the 1st ww to today ((rowan Flying corps is my first plane sim), Red baron 3d, Rise of flight, IL2, Jane's, Falcon 4 BMS, DCS ...),helicopters (Longbow 1 and 2, EECH EEAH), trains (train simulator 2021 .. .), trucks (ETS2 or ATS), tanks (Steel Beast PRO or steel fury kharkov 1942 ...), sailboat (virtual skipper, sailway), submarine (Silent hunter, dangerous water ...), space shuttle (Space Shuttle Mission 2007 is really good), X-wing Alliance, Wing commander :) ... Arma ... management games (Pro cycling manager), I try Farming simulator 19. The list is long but I'm not always young;)
 
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Mainly dabble in flight sims outside of racing but really should concentrate on one really to get the best out of it. Play a bit of DCS, MSFS2020 and also IL2 but never enough to get particularly competent. I think once dynamic campaigns are available in DCS I will try and knuckle down to some long sessions.
I also have Steel Beasts Pro, another sim that I should really spend more time with but seems to be best with multiplayer and don't have any friends who play this. It's also another sim that requires very long hours to learn properly.
Really need to work on retiring early :D
 
Nothing really, just driving sims. Even those, less than before

I tried to get into IL-2 (I was kinda fascinated by it, since my relative was a ww2 combat pilot), but I just didn't have the time/energy, so ended up selling the HOTAS
 
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I'm not into flight sims. However, yesterday I tried VTOL VR, just out of curiosity. It's not too bad. Now I mainly play VR games. So, if they count as simulators, I would like to mention Eleven Table tennis, a very intuitive and fun game, NoLimits 2, a roller coaster simulator, which is so much fun now with VR + shakers + wind simulator + motion platform, and, of course, the masterpiece called Surgeon Simulator.
 

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What's needed for simracing in 2024?

  • More games, period

  • Better graphics/visuals

  • Advanced physics and handling

  • More cars and tracks

  • AI improvements

  • AI engineering

  • Cross-platform play

  • New game Modes

  • Other, post your idea


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