Simulators are one of the earliest PC game genres, and remain compelling experiences to this day, even if they're not as popular as they used to be.
I like all kinds of combat flight sims; the MS Combat Flight Simulator from 1998 was something special, and I've had some similar fun in IL-2 Sturmovik. The newest civil air sims are pretty great too, I'll pop on a podcast and make a flight. They're particularly cool in VR.
I've also found the MechWarrior games to be fun, but I've only played 2 and 5. I got to play a bit of Steel Battalion with the full crazy controller at a con a few years back, and that's got to be a lot of fun once you really know what you're doing.
So what's your favorite sim?
I'm going to go with Euro truck simulator 2.
The experience of chill driving across europe and listening to podcasts is nice. The game isn't complicated enough to affect listening experience, but also engaging enough on it's own right that it stays interesting.
I have probably seen 80% or so of the roads and cities, bit they still feel fresh... Could be that I'm forgetting places faster than I'm getting familiar with them as well.
I do have a steering wheel and pedals, but they're just too cumbersome to get out and my wheel stand is made for someone at least 20 shorter than I am, so the experience is hampered a bit anyway. Because I'm lazy I've just resulted to driving witn mouse and keyboard combo.
Edit: typos. Typing on phone is butts
It's so good in VR. I call it a rubbernecking simulator. You're missing most of the game without it imo. I spend most of my time looking out the windows at the views.
It's great in VR, i just have an ancient oculus devkit 2 or so, its horrid mess of cables I don't want to deal with
Too early adopter issues. :P