Systems (200, 230, 240) and methods (700) for controlling a simulation of an operation of a Fieldbus system (100) comprising at least one FIM (114, 116) communicatively coupled to field devices (122, 124). The methods involve initiating a current simulation (CS) of an operation of the FIM and/or field devices. The methods also involve obtaining intermediate simulation information (ISI) indicating a status/progress of CS. The methods further involve displaying ISI to a user of a simulation system and displaying visual elements (610, . . . , 620) for controlling the progress of CS to the user. Gantt charts (672, 674) for the FIM/field devices and visual content showing data exchanges between software elements and/or hardware elements of the simulation system can further be displayed to the user. The visual elements can facilitate speeding up CS, slowing down CS, moving the progress of CS backwards/forwards, and/or stopping/re-starting the CS.