In recent decades, science fiction in both print and visual media has produced an outpouring of story lines that feature forms of simulated reality. These depictions appear so often that fictional portrayals of simulated worlds have become a popular SF trope-one that prompts timeless questions about the nature of reality while also tapping into contemporary debates about emerging technologies. In combination with tech-driven tensions, this study shows that our collective sense of living in politically uncertain times also propels the popularity of these story lines. These fictional representations provide a window into contemporary culture and demonstrate how we are reassessing our own reality.