History Main / SimulationGame

Probably the first game in this tradition is ''Lemonade Stand'', written by Bob Jamison sometime between 1973 and 1979. The player, based on the daily weather report, decided what supplies to buy and how much to charge customers at their virtual lemonade stand. Variations appeared for years on various platforms, even surviving into the 1990s as their requirements were so low that ports could even run on programmable calculators. More complicated simulations started appearing in the early 1980s, such as the Platform/Commodore64 game ''VideoGame/LittleComputerPeople'', where the player was responsible for the care and feeding of a virtual person. "Digital pet" keychain devices, such as ''Toys/{{Tamagotchi}}'', descended from this line.

* ''VideoGame/RootsOfPacha''

* ''{{VideoGame/Redshirt}}''

* ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' (with DatingSim/Social Management elements)
** ''VideoGame/StoryOfSeasons''
** ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonNatsume''

** ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonTheLostValley''
** ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonSkytreeVillage''
** ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonLightOfHope''
** ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonOneWorld''
** ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonTheWindsOfAnthos''

** ''VideoGame/StroyOfSeasonsPioneersOfOliveTown''

* ''{{VideoGame/Finch}}''

Probably the first game in this tradition is ''Lemonade Stand'', written by Bob Jamison sometime between 1973 and 1979. The player, based on the daily weather report, decided what supplies to buy and how much to charge customers at their virtual lemonade stand. Variations appeared for years on various platforms, even surviving into the 1990s as their requirements were so low that ports could even run on programmable calculators. More complicated simulations started appearing in the early 1980s, such as the UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}} game ''VideoGame/LittleComputerPeople'', where the player was responsible for the care and feeding of a virtual person. "Digital pet" keychain devices, such as ''Toys/{{Tamagotchi}}'', descended from this line.

* ''VideoGame/PostScriptum''

Probably the first game in this tradition is ''Lemonade Stand'', written by Bob Jamison sometime between 1973 and 1979: The player, based on the daily weather report, decided what supplies to buy and how much to charge customers at their virtual lemonade stand. Variations appeared for years on various platforms, even surviving into the 1990s as their requirements were so low that ports could even run on programmable calculators. More complicated simulations started appearing in the early 1980s, such as the UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}} game ''VideoGame/LittleComputerPeople'', where the player was responsible for the care and feeding of a virtual person. "Digital pet" keychain devices, such as ''Toys/{{Tamagotchi}}'', descended from this line.

* ''VideoGame/FalloutShelter'' puts you in the shoes of an ''overseer'' [[note]]and your vault's social experiment is to run it as well as possible despite being understaffed- most vaults are allowed 1000-2000 dwellers. You're allowed 200 max.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/GasStationSimulator'', puts the player into the role of a gas station manager and they must restore a deserted gas station and then run it to satisfy customers' needs.

* ''VideoGame/WorldsDawn'', though it could be argued that the Social[=/=]DatingSim elements get more attention.

* ''Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer'' and ''Chuck Yeager's Air Combat''

* ''VideoGame/{{Banished}}''

With that in mind, this can [[StealthPun virtually]] apply to any job or activity. Even something as low-end as "gas station attendant" still needs to watch over money earned, fuel supply, car and gas pump maintenance, consumer satisfaction, etc, to make sure operations run smoothly. The obvious advantage of the simulation is that you're unikely to get in trouble for failing stuff that could lead to disastrous results in real life.

With that in mind, this can virtually apply to any job or activity. Even something as low-end as "gas station attendant" still needs to watch over money earned, fuel supply, car and gas pump maintenance, consumer satisfaction, etc, to make sure operations run smoothly. The obvious advantage of the simulation is that you're unikely to get in trouble for failing stuff that could lead to disastrous results in real life.

With that in mind, this can virtually apply to any job. Even something as low-end as "gas station attendant" still needs to watch over money earned, fuel supply, car and gas pump maintenance, consumer satisfaction, etc, to make sure operations run smoothly. The obvious advantage of the simulation is that you're unikely to get in trouble for failing stuff that could lead to disastrous results in real life.

[[caption-width-right:349:It's like I'm really there... doing chores no one wants to do...]]

With that in mind, this can virtually apply to any job. Even something as low-end as "gas station attendant" still needs to watch over money earned, fuel supply, car and gas pump maintenance, consumer satisfaction, etc, to make sure operations run smoothly.

Probably the first game in this tradition is ''Lemonade Stand'', written by Bob Jamison sometime between 1973 and 1979: The player, based on the daily weather report, decided what supplies to buy and how much to charge customers at their virtual lemonade stand. Variations appeared for years on various platforms, even surviving into the 1990s as their requirements were so low that ports could even run on programmable calculators.

More complicated simulations started appearing in the early 1980s, such as the UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}} game ''VideoGame/LittleComputerPeople'', where the player was responsible for the care and feeding of a virtual person. "Digital pet" keychain devices, such as ''Toys/{{Tamagotchi}}'', descended from this line.

[[caption-width-right:349:It's like I'm really there... doing chores...]]]]

[[quoteright:349:[[VideoGame/MowingSimulator https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_mowing_simulator.png]]