The best games like The Sims to play now

There is still no game like The Sims.

For over 20 years, the life simulation franchise has dominated its genre. Several similar games have been in development for years (and some like Paradox’s Living with you didn’t make it), but “The Sims” is and remains the biggest life simulation series on the market.

So if you’re looking for something like The Sims, it might be a little difficult to find, so we recommend focusing on exactly what you like about The Sims.

Sims players are typically drawn to one of the game’s three major themes:

1. Micromanagement, where they literally control every aspect of their Sims’ lives (and more)
2. Storytelling, a broad term for the live game part of Sims and designing a storyline with Sims, be it building their lives or creating juicy drama
3. The adaptation, i.e. the building, decorating and designing of the whole.

No matter what you love about The Sims, we’ve picked out some great games for you to try next.

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Micromanagement

RimWorld

Image: Ludeon Studios

Where to play: Mac, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One

RimWorld is an extremely customizable game with a storyteller who tells the story of your colony. Your job is to help your space colony survive, which includes giving them a nice place to sleep, plenty of food, and toys to keep them entertained. As more random events happen and you progress through the technology trees, your colonists’ wants and needs become more complex. You might need to rush to amputate a body part before an infection overwhelms your colony’s doctor, or develop transhumanist technology to appease an aging priest. Managing each character’s mood is crucial to success, as nervous breakdowns can lead to big problems — and even murder. –Cass Marshall

Stellaris

Image: Paradox Interactive

Where to play: Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC

Stellaris is my big micromanagement game of choice because I like space. There is a much to keep track of things, but I like games that look like I’m opening a worksheet. In Stellarisyou essentially build a spacefaring civilization from the moment it discovers space travel to the fall of its empire. You can choose what your aliens look like, and as you explore the vastness of space, you’ll encounter other civilizations ranging from friendly to xenophobic imperialists. You’ll establish colonies on new planets, balance your economy, manage diplomatic relations, and more – all while discovering what lurks in the galaxy. —Petrana Radulovic

Planet Zoo

Image: Frontier Developments

Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

They care for animals in Planet Zoonot people. How Zoo Tycoon And Zoo Tycoon 2 (or Maxis’ animal management games SimSafari or SimPark), you build enclosures for animals while keeping the zoo staffed and guests happy. There is a lot to keep in mind throughout the game, making it very similar The Sims 4 — Micromanagement everywhere! —Nicole Carpenter

Storytelling

Graphic novels

Image: Black Tabby Games

Where to play: Pretty much every platform!

Visual novels were my first foray into gaming after starting The Sims, and I still love them! I especially like visual novels because they offer so many choices and allow you to completely customize the protagonist and the progression of the story. For those who love The Sims because of the stories you can create yourself, visual novels are perfect for you – and they’re easy to access and run smoothly on most devices!

I play a much of them on different platforms, but I would like to highlight a few of my favorites: Scarlet Hollowa horror and romance visual novel from Black Tabby Games (the developers of Kill the princess!), which is set in a spooky town in the Appalachians; The Arcanaa freemium fantasy mobile game about a sorcerer’s apprentice caught up in a murder mystery, featuring some of the greatest illustrations anywhere; and I was a teenage exocolonista coming of age sci-fi game set on a faraway planet that emphasizes replayability with its time loop mechanics. (Also, kudos to Choice of Games for having some very cool text-based storytelling—not much happens visually, but that’s the power of imagination.) —PR

Baldur’s Gate 3 and other choice-based RPGs

Image: Larian Studios

Where to play: Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

If you spend hours creating Sims in Create-A-Sim, you will love thinking about the Baldur’s Gate 3 Character creation. Big, sprawling roleplaying games allow you to create your own character and really immerse yourself in a world. There is definitely more structure than in something like the Sims, but if you have a preferred character type or storyline that you want to play in the Sims, you can take that roleplaying mentality to Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pretty seamless transition. —PR

BitLife Online

Image: Candywriter

Where to play: Mobile and browser

BitLife is the live game aspect of Sims, stripped down and fast-forwarded. You start with a random life that then plays out in short text descriptions. Every so often a pop-up will prompt you to make a choice. But for the most part it’s pretty free-choice. You can send your little human to college, choose what they do in their free time, pursue certain relationships (or not!), buy property, and more. And like Sims, you can set them up for success or let their life go completely off the rails. It’s all up to you!

It’s also free and offers some completely optional extras as DLC (I’m a fan of the spy expansion myself). Plus, it’s the rare mobile game that works without a Wi-Fi connection – always a win in my book. —PR

Create/Customize

All the best, Nikki – Dress Up Queen

Where to play: Android, iOS

Dear Nikki Dress Up Queen is not a simulator game, but it captures an aspect of The Sims 4 — Customization. The Love Nikki franchise is known for its elaborate fashion systems; in All the best, Nikkiyou move through the world and solve its problems with fashion battles. The better your outfit, based on set parameters for each encounter, the more points you get. If you are looking for a game where you can play around with an avatar, like in The Sims, All the best, Nikki is your game: It has probably more Customization as The Sims. —NC

Coral Island – Zoe

Image: Stairway Games/Humble Games

Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

I started playing Coral Island During its early access period on Steam, and even when it was riddled with obstacles and in-game bugs, it became one of my favorite life sims. There are tons of things to work towards, and interacting with non-player characters is a pleasure due to the themes (environmental issues, LGBTQ+ identities, community care) and well-written dialogue. The animations make me want to move to an island in real life, and activities like cleaning up the coral in the sea offer a new take on the “spend energy to get things” cliche in simulation games. —Zoe Hannah

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Skye McEowen

Where to play: Nintendo Switch

If what you like about The Sims 4 is building a community or decorating rooms, try Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There isn’t the home customization you find in the Sims – at least not in terms of the exteriors – but there is a lot you can build in your own island home. The Happy Home Paradise DLCs ​​expand this experience even further and put the focus directly on decoration. Getting creative with your island design expands the possibilities of the world you can create: Some players created huge libraries, lush jungles and even exhibited iconic locations Ocarina of Time. —NC