Best Value Simulation Games Under $5

The Simulation games on Steam games under $5 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. 3Ropuka's Idle Island33 h/$
  4. 4BidKing30 h/$
  5. 5shapez27 h/$
  6. 6CryoFall27 h/$
  7. 7Cookie Clicker23 h/$
  8. 8Tiny Pasture17 h/$
  9. 9Don't Starve14 h/$
  10. 10Football, Tactics & Glory13 h/$
  11. 11Ultimate Fishing Simulator13 h/$
  12. 12Graveyard Keeper13 h/$
  13. 13Trailmakers12 h/$
  14. 14Chill Pulse12 h/$
  15. 15Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator10 h/$
  16. 16Garry's Mod9.3 h/$
  17. 17Settlement Survival8.9 h/$
  18. 18Green Hell8.8 h/$
  19. 19Placid Plastic Duck Simulator8.7 h/$
  20. 20rFactor 27.8 h/$
  21. 21Hacknet7.7 h/$
  22. 22Car Mechanic Simulator 20217.6 h/$
  23. 23Tank Mechanic Simulator7.5 h/$
  24. 24Thief Simulator7.4 h/$
  25. 25Assetto Corsa7.3 h/$
  26. 26Niche - a genetics survival game6.6 h/$
  27. 27Reigns6.4 h/$
  28. 28FlatOut6.3 h/$
  29. 29Tavern Master5.6 h/$
  30. 30SKYHILL5.6 h/$
  31. 31Car Mechanic Simulator 20155.5 h/$
  32. 32State of Decay: YOSE5.0 h/$
  33. 33Slime Rancher4.8 h/$
  34. 34Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition4.8 h/$
  35. 35Overcooked4.7 h/$
  36. 36Bus Simulator 184.6 h/$
  37. 37Animal Shelter4.3 h/$
  38. 38MudRunner4.0 h/$
  39. 39Your Only Move Is HUSTLE3.7 h/$
  40. 40Cyber Manhunt3.6 h/$
  41. 41F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch3.6 h/$
  42. 42Gold Mining Simulator3.2 h/$
  43. 43Unheard - Voices of Crime2.8 h/$
  44. 44The Escapists 22.7 h/$
  45. 45VillageRhapsody2.6 h/$
  46. 46Retrowave2.5 h/$
  47. 47Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You2.5 h/$
  48. 48Car Mechanic Simulator 20182.4 h/$
  49. 49112 Operator2.3 h/$
  50. 50Cooking Simulator2.2 h/$
  51. 51Surgeon Simulator2.2 h/$
  52. 52The Escapists2.1 h/$
  53. 53Gladiator Guild Manager2.1 h/$
  54. 54Outpath2.1 h/$
  55. 55Progressbar952.0 h/$
  56. 56WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship2.0 h/$
  57. 57That's not my Neighbor2.0 h/$
  58. 58Drunken Wrestlers 21.9 h/$
  59. 59911 Operator1.9 h/$
  60. 60Hand Simulator1.9 h/$
  61. 61Cardboard Town1.8 h/$
  62. 62THE GAME OF LIFE 21.6 h/$
  63. 63House of Detention1.6 h/$
  64. 64Nodebuster1.6 h/$
  65. 65Ravenous Devils1.5 h/$
  66. 66Gang Beasts1.5 h/$
  67. 67Buckshot Roulette1.5 h/$
  68. 68Gourdlets1.5 h/$
  69. 69Chained Together1.4 h/$
  70. 70Comedy Night1.3 h/$
  71. 71Click Mage1.2 h/$
  72. 72Summon1.1 h/$
  73. 73Digseum1.0 h/$
  74. 74Mister Furry: Hot Muscles1.0 h/$
  75. 75Maniac0.9 h/$
  76. 76LoveChoice0.9 h/$
  77. 77Minami Lane0.8 h/$
  78. 78Dystopika0.7 h/$
  79. 79Kiosk0.7 h/$
  80. 80Russian Life Simulator0.7 h/$
  81. 81RUSSIAPHOBIA0.7 h/$
  82. 82Chushpan Simulator0.7 h/$
  83. 83Kabuto Park0.7 h/$
  84. 84ABZU0.6 h/$
  85. 85Five Nights at Freddy's0.6 h/$
  86. 86SUMMERHOUSE0.5 h/$
  87. 87Achievement Clicker0.5 h/$
  88. 88Insomnia: Theater in the Head0.4 h/$
  89. 89The Exit 80.4 h/$
  90. 90DR LIVESEY ROM AND DEATH EDITION0.3 h/$
  91. 91The Test0.2 h/$
  92. 92Cooking Simulator VR0.2 h/$
  93. 93Initial Drift Online0.1 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.