Who is the market for these simulator games? I don't know anyone who plays them. They don't look bad to me, but there must be a type of gamer I'm blind to.
It seems so niche but somehow more mainstream than horror games like Alan Wake. It always blows me away how popular simulators are despite not knowing anyone who plays them.
They get you in different ways. Maybe Dave the Diver hooks you with some fun farm and restaurant mechanics. Then you make a little garden in Valheim and that feels pretty good. You think maybe you'll experiment with a bit of Stardew. Then next thing you know, BAM you're mainlining Farming Simulator-- Ironically at first, and then not.