4 Hardcore games like Plane Mechanic Simulator that you should try

Games like Plane Mechanic Simulator · Find similar →

Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

Filter by:Hardcore×← Back to home

We filtered the 22 games similar to Plane Mechanic Simulator down to the 4 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Papers, Please, Papers, Please - The Short Film and Human Resource Machine top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Plane Mechanic Simulator.

iRank57/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

The best hardcore games like Plane Mechanic Simulator

4 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Plane Mechanic Simulator. Each one has been evaluated across 11 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Papers, PleaseClosest overall match

iRank91

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeCasualHardcoreFirst Person

Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5

Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ If you enjoyed Plane Mechanic Simulator, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, dark, oppressive atmosphere and visual pixel, while skipping combat tactical

The creator of the game often travelled through Asia and made the observation that the work of an immigration officer checking documents for entry is simultaneously very monotonous and very responsible.

It predates Plane Mechanic Simulator by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone77Visuals59

Details →

Steam GOG PS

#2Papers, Please - The Short Film

iRank91

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeCasualHardcoreFirst Person

Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5

Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Like Plane Mechanic Simulator, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, dark, oppressive atmosphere and visual pixel, while skipping combat tactical

It predates Plane Mechanic Simulator by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone77Visuals59

Details →

Steam GOG PS

#3Human Resource MachineClosest on tone

iRank83

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloCasualHardcoreIsometric

Steam👍 94%· 4.6KIGDB74· 6OC71· 21

Year 2015Dev Tomorrow CorporationOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Like Plane Mechanic Simulator, it's known for deep simulation, vibe casual and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design and visual isometric, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Plane Mechanic Simulator: visuals.

It predates Plane Mechanic Simulator by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone91Visuals0

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#4TIS-100

iRank85

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloHardcore

Steam👍 97%· 4.1KRAWG👍 66%· 123

Year 2015Dev ZachtronicsPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Shared with Plane Mechanic Simulator: deep simulation, punishing difficulty and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, while skipping adventure storytelling

###The hacker setting Another puzzle game that uses the corrupted computer from the 1980s as the basis for its gameplay. The game uses the Unity graphics engine and came out on three operating systems: Windows, OS X, and Linux.

It predates Plane Mechanic Simulator by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone58

Details →

Steam GOG itch.io

Explore games similar to Plane Mechanic Simulator by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Job Sim Games Best Simulation Games