Simulators that don't nag you to come back

The worst thing a simulation game can do is treat your attention like a resource to farm. Timers, energy meters, and 'come back in three hours' popups turn a relaxing genre into a chore.

Harbor Keeper is the sim we kept coming back to precisely because it never nags. You grow a fishing port at your own pace, and when you close the app, nothing punishes you for it. That's how it should be.

When you're browsing sim games, watch for the word 'idle' and read a few reviews. Idle isn't automatically bad, but it often hides aggressive timers designed to pull you back constantly.

Offline sims are a smaller pool than they should be, but the good ones are perfect phone companions. Low stress, steady progress, and no dependence on a signal.