Best Value Simulation Games Under $20

The Simulation games on Steam games under $20 that deliver the most playtime per dollar: median reviewer hours divided by current price.

All Indie Action Adventure Simulation RPG Strategy Co-op Open World Story Rich Casual Funny Survival Difficult Pixel Graphics PvP Horror Anime Puzzle Rogue-like Relaxing Turn-Based Strategy Local Co-Op Psychological Horror Hack and Slash Platformer MMO RTS Immersive Sim Post-apocalyptic Action Roguelike City Builder Life Sim Zombies Sports Racing Survival Horror Stealth Bullet Hell Dungeon Crawler Visual Novel JRPG Deckbuilding Grand Strategy Cyberpunk Tower Defense Clicker Fighting Open World Survival Craft Boomer Shooter Colony Sim Farming Sim Cozy Auto Battler Cooking Twin Stick Shooter Metroidvania 4X Souls-like Dating Sim MMORPG

By price

Any priceUnder $5Under $10Under $20Under $40
Median reviewer playtime divided by price. Reviewers tend to sink more hours in than the average owner, so treat this as an optimistic estimate. Free games are excluded because there's no price to divide by.
  1. 1Don't Starve Together62 h/$
  2. 2Cornerpond58 h/$
  3. 3Hearts of Iron IV39 h/$
  4. 4Ropuka's Idle Island33 h/$
  5. 5BidKing30 h/$
  6. 6Oxygen Not Included30 h/$
  7. 7shapez27 h/$
  8. 8CryoFall27 h/$
  9. 9Cookie Clicker23 h/$
  10. 10X4: Foundations20 h/$
  11. 11Victoria 317 h/$
  12. 12Tiny Pasture17 h/$
  13. 13Don't Starve14 h/$
  14. 14Football, Tactics & Glory13 h/$
  15. 15Ultimate Fishing Simulator13 h/$
  16. 16Graveyard Keeper13 h/$
  17. 17Trailmakers12 h/$
  18. 18Chill Pulse12 h/$
  19. 19Space Engineers11 h/$
  20. 20Rusty's Retirement10 h/$
  21. 21Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator10 h/$
  22. 22Mechabellum9.9 h/$
  23. 23DSX9.5 h/$
  24. 24Garry's Mod9.3 h/$
  25. 25Survivalist: Invisible Strain8.9 h/$
  26. 26Settlement Survival8.9 h/$
  27. 27Green Hell8.8 h/$
  28. 28Placid Plastic Duck Simulator8.7 h/$
  29. 29Stardew Valley8.7 h/$
  30. 30My Time at Sandrock8.5 h/$
  31. 31rFactor 27.8 h/$
  32. 32Hacknet7.7 h/$
  33. 33Car Mechanic Simulator 20217.6 h/$
  34. 34Tank Mechanic Simulator7.5 h/$
  35. 35Cities: Skylines7.5 h/$
  36. 36Thief Simulator7.4 h/$
  37. 37Assetto Corsa7.3 h/$
  38. 38The Riftbreaker7.0 h/$
  39. 39Touhou Mystia's Izakaya6.9 h/$
  40. 40Niche - a genetics survival game6.6 h/$
  41. 41Reigns6.4 h/$
  42. 42FlatOut6.3 h/$
  43. 43UBOAT6.3 h/$
  44. 44EA SPORTS FC™ 266.2 h/$
  45. 45gogh: Focus with Your Avatar6.0 h/$
  46. 46State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition6.0 h/$
  47. 47Dyson Sphere Program5.9 h/$
  48. 48Naval Action5.8 h/$
  49. 49Sun Haven5.8 h/$
  50. 50Spirit City: Lofi Sessions5.7 h/$
  51. 51The Guild II Renaissance5.6 h/$
  52. 52Tavern Master5.6 h/$
  53. 53SKYHILL5.6 h/$
  54. 54People Playground5.6 h/$
  55. 55Project Zomboid5.5 h/$
  56. 56Car Mechanic Simulator 20155.5 h/$
  57. 57The Long Dark5.5 h/$
  58. 58Chillquarium5.5 h/$
  59. 59Beasts of Bermuda5.4 h/$
  60. 60Feed the Cups5.4 h/$
  61. 61Dragon Cliff5.3 h/$
  62. 62Rise of Nations: Extended Edition5.3 h/$
  63. 63Software Inc.5.2 h/$
  64. 64Airport CEO5.1 h/$
  65. 65SnowRunner5.0 h/$
  66. 66State of Decay: YOSE5.0 h/$
  67. 67Slime Rancher4.8 h/$
  68. 68Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition4.8 h/$
  69. 69Overcooked4.7 h/$
  70. 70Fields of Mistria4.7 h/$
  71. 71Bus Simulator 184.6 h/$
  72. 72The Isle4.6 h/$
  73. 73鬼谷八荒 Tale of Immortal4.5 h/$
  74. 74Holdfast: Nations At War4.5 h/$
  75. 75Ostranauts4.4 h/$
  76. 76Cauldron4.4 h/$
  77. 77FTL: Faster Than Light4.4 h/$
  78. 78Dome Keeper4.3 h/$
  79. 79Noita4.3 h/$
  80. 80Scrap Mechanic4.3 h/$
  81. 81Empyrion - Galactic Survival4.3 h/$
  82. 82Animal Shelter4.3 h/$
  83. 83METAL SLUG ATTACK RELOADED4.2 h/$
  84. 84Hell Let Loose4.2 h/$
  85. 85KovaaK's4.2 h/$
  86. 86Papa's Freezeria Deluxe4.2 h/$
  87. 87Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander4.2 h/$
  88. 88Super Robot Wars 304.1 h/$
  89. 89Big Ambitions4.1 h/$
  90. 90Barotrauma4.1 h/$
  91. 91Paleo Pines4.0 h/$
  92. 92MudRunner4.0 h/$
  93. 93Motorsport Manager3.9 h/$
  94. 94The Sims 33.9 h/$
  95. 95Elin3.9 h/$
  96. 96Sailwind3.9 h/$
  97. 97Motor Town: Behind The Wheel3.9 h/$
  98. 98(the) Gnorp Apologue3.8 h/$
  99. 99Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion3.8 h/$
  100. 100Esports Godfather3.8 h/$

How the math works: we sample each game’s Steam reviewers, take the median of their total recorded playtime (lifetime hours, not hours at the time of review), and divide it by the game’s current price in your selected currency. Reviewers usually sink more hours in than the average owner, so the numbers run generous. Free games aren’t listed because there’s no price to divide by, and a game needs playtime data from at least 20 reviewers before it qualifies. All prices are Steam’s own regional prices, never exchange-rate conversions.