For those needing a break from binging medical drama The Pitt, there are plenty of video games that let you step into the shoes of a hospital manager, surgeon, paramedic, or even a demonic morgue assistant. Here are eight of the best hospital games spanning over 40 years of interactive surgery.
One early oddity, Microsurgeon (1982), shrinks players down and sends them into a patient's bloodstream to blast diseased cells and unclog arteries, inspired by the film Fantastic Voyage. Another classic, Life & Death (1988), is a point-and-click abdominal surgery simulation known for its realism, requiring diagnosis and operation while monitoring the patient's heart rate.
For horror fans, Sanitarium (1998) offers a disturbing psychological thriller where a bandaged patient wakes up in an abandoned asylum, recovering memories through playable hallucinations. Emergency Call Ambulance (1999) is a hectic driving game where you rush desperately ill passengers to hospital, with their vital signs fading if you crash.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife (2005) on Nintendo DS combines surgery simulation with a visual novel, using the touchscreen for realistic operations. Surgeon Simulator (2013) is a ridiculous hit with intentionally awkward controls, letting you fumble through operations with hilarious results.
Project Hospital (2018) provides a deep management simulation, letting you build and run every aspect of a medical facility. Finally, The Mortuary Assistant (2022) has you embalming bodies in a demonically possessed morgue while performing occult rituals, adapted into a film this year.
