Best Value Simulation Games Under $40

The Simulation games on Steam games under $40 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. 35Soulmask7.5 h/$
  36. 36Cities: Skylines7.5 h/$
  37. 37Thief Simulator7.4 h/$
  38. 38Assetto Corsa7.3 h/$
  39. 39Disney Dreamlight Valley7.0 h/$
  40. 40The Riftbreaker7.0 h/$
  41. 41Touhou Mystia's Izakaya6.9 h/$
  42. 42Avorion6.8 h/$
  43. 43RimWorld6.8 h/$
  44. 44Niche - a genetics survival game6.6 h/$
  45. 45Reigns6.4 h/$
  46. 46FlatOut6.3 h/$
  47. 47UBOAT6.3 h/$
  48. 48Factorio6.3 h/$
  49. 49EA SPORTS FC™ 266.2 h/$
  50. 50gogh: Focus with Your Avatar6.0 h/$
  51. 51State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition6.0 h/$
  52. 52Dyson Sphere Program5.9 h/$
  53. 53Naval Action5.8 h/$
  54. 54Sun Haven5.8 h/$
  55. 55Terra Invicta5.7 h/$
  56. 56Spirit City: Lofi Sessions5.7 h/$
  57. 57The Guild II Renaissance5.6 h/$
  58. 58Tavern Master5.6 h/$
  59. 59SKYHILL5.6 h/$
  60. 60People Playground5.6 h/$
  61. 61Project Zomboid5.5 h/$
  62. 62Car Mechanic Simulator 20155.5 h/$
  63. 63The Long Dark5.5 h/$
  64. 64Chillquarium5.5 h/$
  65. 65Beasts of Bermuda5.4 h/$
  66. 66Feed the Cups5.4 h/$
  67. 67Dragon Cliff5.3 h/$
  68. 68Rise of Nations: Extended Edition5.3 h/$
  69. 69From the Depths5.3 h/$
  70. 70Software Inc.5.2 h/$
  71. 71Airport CEO5.1 h/$
  72. 72SnowRunner5.0 h/$
  73. 73State of Decay: YOSE5.0 h/$
  74. 74Arma 35.0 h/$
  75. 75Slime Rancher4.8 h/$
  76. 76Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition4.8 h/$
  77. 77Overcooked4.7 h/$
  78. 78Fields of Mistria4.7 h/$
  79. 79Satisfactory4.6 h/$
  80. 80Bus Simulator 184.6 h/$
  81. 81The Isle4.6 h/$
  82. 82鬼谷八荒 Tale of Immortal4.5 h/$
  83. 83Holdfast: Nations At War4.5 h/$
  84. 84Captain of Industry4.5 h/$
  85. 85Pax Dei4.4 h/$
  86. 86Ostranauts4.4 h/$
  87. 87Cauldron4.4 h/$
  88. 88FTL: Faster Than Light4.4 h/$
  89. 89Dome Keeper4.3 h/$
  90. 90Noita4.3 h/$
  91. 91Football Manager 264.3 h/$
  92. 92Scrap Mechanic4.3 h/$
  93. 93Empyrion - Galactic Survival4.3 h/$
  94. 94Animal Shelter4.3 h/$
  95. 95METAL SLUG ATTACK RELOADED4.2 h/$
  96. 96Hell Let Loose4.2 h/$
  97. 97KovaaK's4.2 h/$
  98. 98Papa's Freezeria Deluxe4.2 h/$
  99. 99Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander4.2 h/$
  100. 100Conan Exiles Enhanced4.1 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.