10 HARDEST Simulator Games

10 Hardest Simulator Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we are getting so real that it’s too close to real life. I want to enjoy myself, not spend 10 minutes showering before I make toast, burn it, and lose 10xp. These are the 10 Hardest Simulator Games. Let’s go!

“Europa Universalis IV” (2013)

If you've ever wanted to turn a tiny medieval nation into the biggest bullies on the planet, then "Europa Universalis IV" is more than happy to hand you the keys. This massive strategy game throws you into centuries of history, beginning in the Late Middle Ages and stretching all the way to the Napoleonic Era. Building an empire isn't as simple as pointing at a map and yelling "mine!" either. You'll be balancing trade, diplomacy, colonization, and plenty of wars while trying not to accidentally ruin your economy, which is shockingly easy to do. There's a lot to learn, but once everything starts clicking together, watching your nation grow into a global powerhouse is incredibly satisfying. Unfortunately, watching your nation crumble into the dirt is equally unsatisfying.

“Hearts of Iron IV” (2016)

Jumping into "Hearts of Iron IV" for the first time can feel like being handed control of an entire war with nothing but a confusing stack of paperwork. That makes sense, though, because it's built around the enormous scale and complexity of World War II. There are countless mechanics to understand, and even one small mistake can throw your grand strategy into chaos while the enemy takes advantage of any gaps you leave open, that’s what she said. Expect to lose... probably a lot. The good news is that every disaster teaches you something new, and before long the systems begin to make sense. It asks for patience, but once it clicks, it clicks. Can’t wait for that to happen.

“Green Hell” (2019)

At first glance, the jungle in "Green Hell" looks beautiful. Give it five minutes and it'll be doing everything it can to make sure you never leave. Set deep in the Amazon rainforest, this survival simulator doesn't hold your hand or explain much, leaving you to figure things out through plenty of painful trial and error. Hungry? That's your problem. Bitten by something with way too many legs? Also your problem. Staying alive means learning how to craft, hunt, heal, and avoid the countless dangers hiding behind every tree. It plays brilliantly on PlayStation 5, but don't mistake that for an easy ride. You’ll get a bite, and go “hmmm, I’ll have to work out how to treat that”, and before you even get close it’s snowballed into 6 other problems you need to solve, then you die, rinse and repeat.

“Two Point Hospital” (2018)

Don't let the bright colours and goofy humour fool you, because "Two Point Hospital" can turn into absolute mayhem before you know it. What starts as a relaxed management game full of ridiculous illnesses soon becomes a frantic balancing act where every decision matters. It’s not “Overcooked”, it’s burnt to shreds. As your hospital expands and new departments become available, you'll constantly be juggling limited space, busy staff, and patients who seem determined to arrive all at once. Emergencies can completely throw your carefully planned layout into chaos, forcing you to decide who gets treated first while hoping nobody storms out or, you know, dies. Behind all the silly jokes is a surprisingly demanding management sim that can keep you stressing for hours.

“Frostpunk” (2018)

Life is already hard in "Frostpunk," and then the game decides things still aren't miserable enough. You're placed in charge of humanity's last surviving city, where every decision could mean the difference between keeping everyone alive or watching the whole place freeze over. Resources are always running low, the weather keeps getting worse, and your citizens somehow expect you to solve every problem without making them work too hard. Good luck with that. Although it made a successful jump to PlayStation 5, the challenge didn't become any kinder. Managing food, heat, laws, and public morale all at once is somehow even harder without a mouse and keyboard.

“Cities: Skylines” (2015)

Building a city sounds nice and relaxing until "Cities: Skylines" reminds you that absolutely everyone has a complaint, this ain’t “SimCity”, this is “SimSh**ty” .. I’ll stake my reputation on that joke. One neighbourhood wants better roads, another is demanding schools, and somehow the power has gone out again because you forgot to plan ahead. Growing a successful city takes far more than placing a few buildings and hoping for the best. You'll need to manage traffic, emergency services, utilities, zoning, and a budget that always seems one bad decision away from disaster. Keeping thousands of virtual citizens happy while avoiding bankruptcy is a much bigger challenge than it first appears.

“Crusader Kings III” (2020)

Ever wanted to host the world's biggest family reunion, except everyone secretly wants your throne? Then you’d be great at "Crusader Kings III". Originally a PC favourite before making its way to PlayStation 5, this Paradox Interactive strategy game (who developed half this list) is packed with systems that take plenty of practice to understand. Expect to restart more than once after your carefully planned dynasty falls apart in spectacular fashion. Set throughout the medieval era, including the age of the Vikings, you'll be fighting wars, making political alliances, dealing with suspicious relatives, surviving assassination plots, and attending lavish feasts. Sometimes your greatest enemy isn't the kingdom next door, it's your own family deciding you've lived long enough.

“Factorio” (2020)

Looking at the incredible factory designs people build in "Factorio" can give you a dangerous amount of confidence. You might think, "Yeah, I can make that," and then five minutes later your conveyor belts resemble a bowl of spaghetti and nothing works. The game offers very little guidance, so learning comes through plenty of experimentation, mistakes, and the occasional complete production meltdown. The smartest approach is to keep things simple at first by gathering resources and slowly introducing automation as you go. Every new system builds on the last, making the learning curve much easier to handle. Rush ahead too quickly, though, and you'll end up with a massive headache and an industrial disaster that could end up on Liveleak.

“Dwarf Fortress” (2006)

The visuals in "Dwarf Fortress" won't be the reason you stick around. The real attraction is the staggering amount of depth packed into every single system. After spending years in development, the game earned a reputation for being one of the most detailed simulations ever made, and it absolutely lives up to it. New players often discover they spend almost as much time reading guides and community wikis as they do actually building their fortress. That's just part of the experience. Success requires an incredible understanding of the game's mechanics, along with enough patience to survive countless disasters. If you're willing to put in the effort, it's unbelievably rewarding. I’ll skip it, cheers.

“RimWorld” (2018)

Just when you think everything is finally under control in "RimWorld," the game finds a brand-new way to ruin your day. Originally released on PC before making its way to PlayStation 5, this colony simulator is all about keeping a group of survivors alive on a dangerous alien world. Building a strong base is only half the battle. One minute your colonists are happily farming crops, and the next they're defending against raiders, hostile creatures, or both at the same time. Even peaceful days can fall apart when arguments break out between colonists, turning friends into enemies. Throw in food shortages and desperate survival decisions, and it's amazing your colony lasts longer than a week.