I’m on the hunt for simulator games that can teach me real-world skills. You know, the kind that might come in handy if I ever found myself in a strange situation where I needed to operate heavy machinery or something.
I’ve heard about those super detailed work vehicle sims, like crane operators or subway drivers. But I have no clue which ones are actually good and which are just cheap cash grabs.
It doesn’t have to be just vehicles though. I’m open to any type of simulator that could give me some useful knowledge.
Oh, and I should mention - I’m not really worried about it being fun or having a cool career mode. I’m more interested in the learning aspect. Like, if I suddenly needed to fly a plane or use a backhoe in real life, I’d want to have some idea of what I’m doing.
Anyone have any suggestions? What are your favorite realistic simulator games that actually teach you something useful?
Car Mechanic Simulator is pretty cool if you want to learn about fixing cars. It’s got real parts and procedures. Not as good as working on a real engine, but you pick up a lot about how cars work and common issues. Might come in handy someday.
Flight Simulator is pretty realistic. You learn a lot about cockpit controls and flight procedures. Not sure it’d prepare you for a real emergency, but it’s cool to understand how planes work.
I’d suggest Farming Simulator. It’s pretty detailed with different crops, machinery, and farm management. Might not save your life, but you’ll learn a lot about modern agriculture.
I’ve played a bunch of simulator games over the years. For realistic vehicle operation, Euro Truck Simulator 2 is surprisingly detailed. You learn about gear shifting, backing up trailers, and following traffic laws.
PC Building Simulator is another good one if you want to learn about computer hardware. It teaches you how to assemble PCs and diagnose issues.
But yeah, these games can only teach you so much. They’re no substitute for hands-on training with the real thing.