<p>As an important unconventional oil and gas resource, oil shale faces challenges in conventional development due to its dense, low porosity and low permeability characteristics. Hydraulic fracturing technology is the core means to realize the economic development of oil shale by inducing and expanding the fracture network. However, the complexity of oil shale formations, such as natural fracture interference, rock anisotropy, and multi-scale-multi-physical field coupling challenges, make accurate prediction and optimal design of hydraulic fracturing processes extremely challenging. Numerical simulation is a key tool that can provide a controlled virtual experimental environment to deeply understand the fracture initiation, extension, and evolution processes to optimize the fracture design, reduce the risk, and enhance the recovery. This review systematically compiles the latest advances in the field of hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation in oil shale. Firstly, it discusses the theoretical foundations, characteristics, and scope of application of various types of hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation methods (continuous, discontinuous, and hybrid methods), and systematically describes various hydraulic fracturing models from 2D to full 3D and their adaptability in the complex geological context of oil shale. Subsequently, the functional modules, modeling capabilities, application cases and limitations of mainstream commercial software in oil shale hydraulic fracturing simulation are reviewed. Finally, the evolution path of multi-field coupling simulation of hydraulic fracturing in oil shale is discussed in depth, from hydraulic-mechanical (H-M) two-field coupling to thermal-hydraulic-mechanical (T-H-M) three-field coupling, up to the deepening research progress of thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (T-H-M-C) four-field coupling. This review fills the gap in the existing literature for a systematic review of chemical field interventions in hydraulic fracturing of oil shale, rather than a generalized discussion of generic hydraulic fracturing or a single physical field. Specifically, this review forms a clear main line of chemical field evolution, highlights the unique geological complexity of oil shale (e.g. natural fracture interference, stratigraphic anisotropy, and the effect of casein pyrolysis-shrinkage on fracture extension), and covers a complete chain from micro-chemical mechanisms to macro-engineering validation, as well as a review on the applicability of mainstream commercial software in the oil shale scenarios, and critically reviews the applicability of mainstream commercial software in the oil shale scenarios is critically reviewed.</p>