5 fun indie simulation games to escape reality

October 2023’s Steam NEXT brought us a bounty of games, including these five simulation games that help you get comfy AND cozy.

You may think you’re unfamiliar with simulation games, but you see them all the time with games like The Sims or in your casual mobile games. It’s about bringing gameplay to real-world activities. 

Here are just five simulation games coming out soon.

Garage Flipper

Steam tags for this game are simulation, automobile sim, sandbox, and realistic.

Games Incubator and PlayWay S.A. bring a familiar way to build the best garage that you can imagine. You’re likely familiar with the House Flipper simulation game and, while Garage Flipper is a different developer, the gameplay appears to be similar. 

This simulation game will have you flipping out.

The details set this flipper game apart from its inspiration. Throwing away items isn’t simply picking them up, you have to place them in the proper bins. And if you want to demolish walls, you have to consider the structural integrity of what you’re hitting, or else the ceiling may fall. Even when it comes to listing the property for sale, you have to be careful with your descriptions!

If you love car repair shops or just love remodeling, then this is definitely a game to keep on your radar. As a lover of these types of games myself, I’m looking forward to Garage Flipper’s release. 

There’s no word on when Garage Flipper will be out, only that it’s “coming soon”. Good thing there’s a demo available now ready for you to download and try on Steam!

The Dream Office

Steam tags for this game are immersive sim, design & illustration, and simulation.

Keeping with our renovation simulation games, Nesalis Games and FreeMind S.A. bring us The Dream Office! This time, instead of a car repair shop like Garage Flipper, you’ll be renovating office spaces!

The Dream Office brings a unique element by adding management to the table. Not only will you be buying up and renovating spaces, you’ll be renting them out as well! And it’s an active part of the game! You’ll want to make sure to keep up with your offices to avoid penalties.

I dream of office… design.

From earning fame for premium equipment to unleashing your creativity with a creative sandbox mode, there are several ways to enjoy The Dream Office.

The Dream Office has put a fresh spin on the renovation genre and I’m sold on it. This is one of the titles I’ll be adding to my wishlist to keep an eye on.

There’s no date for release, but thankfully there’s a demo over on Steam so you can try it out for yourself!

Estate Agent Simulator

Steam tags for this game are simulation, life sim, trading, FPS, and racing.

Kiki Games have added their hat into the renovation ring with Estate Agent Simulator. While The Dream Office lets you rent out spaces, Estate Agent Simulator brings you the whole market to lease out! 

Several things factor into the Estate Agent Simulator. You’ll need to pay attention to the news to see what may be affecting your neighborhoods and consider how that might fluctuate rent. 

Don’t rely just on the newspaper though. Get out into the community and chat with people or eavesdrop for all the hot goss. 

It’s all fun and games until someone gets punched in the face.

Estate Agent Simulator puts its own spin on this market of games by bringing in brawling, FPS, and racing elements. You’ll need to manage your relationship with your partner and keep track of your tenants!

It seems like there are a ton of ways to stay entertained with Estate Agent Simulator and I’m intrigued enough to keep it on my radar. The game doesn’t have a hard release date, but it is in early access. So, you can download the demo over on Steam to try it out for yourself for free!

Crime Scene Cleaner

Steam tags action, gore, crime, mature, and first-person.

Steering away from the suburbs of Estate Agent Simulator, President Studio and PlayWay S.A. brings us Crime Scene Cleaner. If you’ve ever played Viscera Cleanup Detail, then you’ll be familiar with the gameplay here.

I know you’re probably thinking, “How is murder and gore cozy?”. Have you ever seen how calm a woman listening to murder podcasts is? Trust me. It’s cozy.

In Crime Scene Cleaner, you’re a cleaner for the mob to help pay for your daughter’s hospital bills. You’ll enter crime scenes to clean up the mess, put things back where they go, and make sure there’s no evidence left for the police to trace back to the mob.

There is a dog. Yes, you can pet it.

Crime Scene Cleaner brings a fun spin to the clean-up gameplay by allowing you to steal valuables and sneak around the police. There may be some time elements to the game, however, so keep that in mind when you consider this game.

At the moment, there is no set release date, but we know Crime Scene Cleaner is coming in 2024. If you’re curious about the game, you can download the demo over on Steam. While you’re there, you can check out Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue for more about this expanding simulation game universe.

Repair This!

Steam tags for this game are simulation, first-person, exploration, and single-player.

Switching gears away from the vibe of Crime Scene Cleaner, hgiSoft brings us Repair This! It’s only technically more wholesome since there’s no murder. 

In Repair This!, you play as a diagnostician who has two choices. You can simply repair the various items brought to you and be on your way or you can alter them. 

Repair This! gives you the option to steal, spy, and intervene in the lives of your clients. Just be sure to pay your rent or you’ll be tossed out on your ass. 

That’s a nice item you got there. Be a shame if someone were to take it.

To be honest, there’s not much flourish to Repair This!. It’s a pretty straightforward simulation game, but it’s sure to be entertaining. 
There’s no solid release date, but you can expect Repair This! to be out before the end of 2023. If you’re curious about gameplay, you can download the demo over on Steam and try it out for yourself.