Almost Like The Sims: 11 Life Sims You Might Like

When it comes to life simulation, all gamers inevitably think of The Sims. After all, the popular series has dominated the genre for more than 20 years. But what if you need a change of scenery from the EA hit? Then we have a few possible alternatives for you!

Life simulations like The Sims 4

If you browse the market of the genre, it quickly becomes clear: The Sims is the undisputed number one. Still, there is real competition creeping up on it. In addition, there are many games that, in their essence and with their relaxation factor, can also offer what the hit from EA demonstrates.

Therefore, here you will find 12 life simulations that you should definitely check out. Have fun!

Let’s start with a very obvious alternative: Animal Crossing. New Horizons took the world by storm in early 2020, and even today, hordes of Switch players still maintain their elaborately decorated islands and homes.

If you also want to sell beets at Nook, you can take a look at Animal Crossing: New Horizons at Saturn:

When it comes to cosiness and the feel-good factor, Stardew Valley can definitely hold a candle to The Sims. The Steam hit is now also available on the Nintendo Switch and makes your farming life dreams come true.

You can check out Stardew Valley on Amazon here:

If you’re a fan of pixel graphics, you should take a look at Sun Haven. A whole lot more fantasy awaits you in it than is the case in Stardew Valley, for example, but the aspects of a life simulation are also given here.

Take a look at the trailer:

With this Sims alternative, EA has to dress very warmly. For several years, the community has been eagerly awaiting this life simulation from Alex Massé’s small development studio.

In it, players should have even more freedom than in the big role model and features that have been desired by The Sims 4 for ages are on board right from the start. Unfortunately there is no release date for Paralives yet, but you should definitely keep it on your toes. It’s best to put Paralives on your Steam wish list.

What is the career of a YouTuber like? This is revealed by YouTubers Life 2. In this life simulation, you can relive the path of a video producer in a colorful and chaotic way.

Get a better overview of the game on Steam:

Stardew Valley meets cute 3D graphics. In No Place Like Home, you slip into the role of Disney hero Wall-E as Ellen Newland, because it’s your job to clean up the world. Everyone else fled to Mars.

Explore the world, clean up the environment, and craft new items from recycled resources. Of course you can also set up and design your own home.

Here you can get an impression of No Place like Home:

The Sims in a cyberpunk world? But hello! While Nivalis hasn’t been released yet, it promises to be an absolute sci-fi dream. In Nivalis you have a lot of freedom: set up a business, manage restaurants, find the love of your life or comfortably decorate your apartment.

Of course, everything in Nivalis is bathed in neon lights and the atmosphere promises to be darker and more mature than in The Sims 4.

If you want to read more from Nivalis, we recommend this detailed article:

Do you think The Sims build mode is the best anyway? Then you should definitely check out The Tenants. In it you become a real estate owner.

Expand your apartments according to your wishes and decorate them impressively. You can then choose the right tenants for your property.

There’s more to manage here than The Sims demands. Be sure to check out The Tenants’ Steam shop page.

A lot of hustle and bustle awaits you here, a friendly atmosphere and creativity is also taken care of. Definitely a feel-good game, Disney Dreamlight Valley hits many aspects of a life sim as well. You have to set up your house, make social contacts and take care of various things in everyday life. All this is of course accompanied by the typical Disney magic and the well-known characters.

You can relax and watch Disney Dreamlight Valley on Steam:

Another candidate where EA has to tremble quite a bit: Life by You. Paradox Interactive is pursuing an ambitious goal with the life simulation. The world should be as open and modifiable as possible. Complex game worlds are the studio and the first trailers promise real Sims feeling with its own touch.

Unfortunately, you still have to be patient for the life simulation, it is scheduled to start in September 2023 in an early access phase. But you can already put the game on your Steam wish list.

As a little icing on the cake, we want to introduce you to the really simple Chill Corner. This might be of interest to anyone who is particularly into the building and design aspect of The Sims. Because the free Steam game lets you set up a small room with a cute pet while listening to gentle Lofi sounds. Perfect for running on a second screen on the side.

Want more side games like this? Then we have the next photo series recommendation for you here: