When you sit down to play a video game, is it to escape the stress of daily life? Many people turn to games as a form of relaxation, immersing themselves in other worlds to take a break from reality.
A 2023 study declared escapism as a significant motivation for gamers as they achieve goals in fantasy worlds. The Microsoft Flight Simulator helped the simulator genre take off in 1982, as the 1980s saw numerous aircraft and space games.
However, in recent years, an interesting trend has emerged: players are gravitating toward life simulator games where they perform everyday tasks like driving city buses or mowing lawns.
Why do people spend their free time simulating real-life jobs? These games offer a mix of curiosity and relaxation, allowing players to try and fail at tasks without real-world consequences.
Modern life simulator games that people love date back to The Sims and Animal Crossing. In the last few years, developers have leaned into everyday tasks like washing windows.
Powerwash Simulator is a fan favorite, as it lets you clean houses, run a business and earn money. The concept is simple, though it was among the first games of its kind, and it became such a surprise hit that just recently had a sequel announced by FuturLab.
Director James Mardsen said his team tried to develop a first-person shooter title before heading in the opposite direction — a game with less stress.
“It would have no antagonisms, no timers, no threats or anything like that,” he told GamesIndustry.biz. “Just all you’re doing is the equivalent of what these power-washing porn videos were, which is elegantly power washing in neat little streams and making everything tidy.”
Similar ideas are present in games like Lawn Mowing Simulator and American Truck Simulator. You can emulate the jobs of your friends and neighbors from the comfort of your gaming chair.
From Virtual Jobs to Real-Life Careers
The rise of life simulator games coincides with the demand for skilled trades. Community colleges have experienced a 16% jump in vocational program enrollment, demonstrating rising interest in more hands-on experiences like farming, truck driving and power washing.
Young people enjoy video games, so these life simulators are an excellent tool for trial and error. If a player doesn’t like the experience, they can move to another interest.
However, enjoying these titles could lead to exploring a real-life career. A gamer who spends a lot of time on a train simulator may realize their passion for mass transit and turn it into their life’s work. Some life simulators focus on 9-5 jobs and try to be as realistic as possible. Other games are not as based on reality while still offering lessons about the workforce.
For example, Kerbal Space Program released in 2011, challenging players to craft and launch their own space ships. Along the way, it teaches the ideas behind trajectories and the physics of space travel. In doing so, it resparked a newfound interest in space exploration, with one aeronautics and astronautics professor suggesting that half of his engineering graduates were there because they’d been inspired by the game.
Life Simulators in the Streaming Era
From farming to power washing, the younger generation has become attracted to games with these mundane tasks. In the streaming era, celebrities in and around the gaming world have made them more popular.
In 2023, AJ Dillon of the Green Bay Packers went viral for playing Farming Simulator on Twitch. Dillon leaned into the farmer persona by putting on a cowboy hat while playing the game. Likewise, music artist Doja Cat has dabbled in life simulators, drawing even more attention to the genre.
These games are more accessible than ever, available on Steam and major consoles. While life simulators have existed for decades, advancements in graphics, physics, and interactivity have transformed them into an increasingly immersive experience.
Life simulators are more accessible than ever, as they’re available on Steam and the popular consoles. However, these games emulating real-life occupations have existed for decades. Life simulators have drastically improved since the 1980s, so the future is bright as these games continue to evolve.
