15 best games like The Sims: dive into new simulation worlds

The Sims series has captured the hearts of millions of gamers with its ability to control characters' lives, build homes, form relationships, and manage daily routines. The game offers flexibility and creativity within a virtual sandbox, making it one of the most popular life simulation games.

However, if you’ve mastered all the mechanics of The Sims and are looking for something new, there are plenty of projects offering similar experiences but with unique mechanics. In this article, we will explore 15 of the best alternatives, each worth your attention.

RimWorld

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RimWorld is the perfect choice for those who want to combine life simulation with survival and colony management. Instead of a cozy home on a green lawn, you find yourself on a remote planet, where the survival of colonists depends solely on you.

Players will have to tackle a variety of tasks: building a base, managing resources, interacting with colony residents, and even defending against pirate or wild animal attacks. Every action can affect the outcome, and the "storyteller" system adds an element of unpredictability.

Users face a multitude of events, from mental breakdowns to catastrophic fires, turning the game into a chaos simulator. But the most important aspect here is the people. Every character has unique traits, skills, and habits. Immersing yourself in the atmosphere of RimWorld, you’ll forget that it’s just a game.

Stardew Valley

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Don't let the pixelated graphics fool you: Stardew Valley offers deep gameplay worthy of the most captivating life simulations. In this game, you inherit a farm, where you must restore it, take care of crops and animals, and build relationships with the townspeople. But it’s not just a farming simulator: it includes elements of dungeons, magic, and even romance.

Stardew Valley allows you to fully control your life, deciding how you want to spend each day: working on the farm, fishing, exploring caves, or participating in festivals.

The cozy atmosphere and constant sense of progress make it an excellent choice for those seeking calm and relaxing gameplay. The variety of characters and quests ensures you’ll have plenty to do for hours.

My Time at Portia

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In this game, you find yourself in a colorful world full of broken technology and ancient secrets. As the heir to a workshop, your task is to restore the former glory of the city of Portia.

Engaging in crafting, exploring ancient ruins, and building relationships with the townspeople, you’ll discover countless creative possibilities, with building projects almost as fascinating as in The Sims, but with a greater focus on craftsmanship and technology development.

The simulator offers players vast areas to explore and many characters to interact with. An interesting feature is the ability to not only improve your workshop but also participate in social events, such as festivals or romantic meetings. There are also plenty of quests and mysteries, making this title a true adventure in a post-apocalyptic world.

Clanfolk

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For those seeking a survival simulator with a historical context, Clanfolk is a real find. The game immerses players in the harsh conditions of medieval Scotland, where they manage an entire clan, striving to survive in challenging environments.

You’ll need to engage in farming, building, and caring for your family, while defending against hunger, disease, and the ruthless nature around you. You must monitor each clan member, assign tasks, and plan for future generations.

The game stands out with its well-thought-out character development and economy system. Every mistake can lead to catastrophic consequences: you delay building a house, and the clan freezes in winter. Natural disasters, food shortages, and competing tribes add an element of danger, keeping the user on edge, so you’ll need to think carefully and plan each move.

Sun Haven

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Sun Haven is not just a farming simulator but a whole magical world where you’ll develop your farm, manage magic, and interact with many interesting characters.

It has everything gamers love: growing crops and animals, exploring dungeons, completing quests, and much more. The magic system adds depth and variety to the game: you can use spells to make life easier or speed up the growth of crops.

Sun Haven offers a rich relationship system with NPCs, providing interesting interactions and quests. You can date someone and even start a family — almost like in The Sims but with added fantasy elements. The picturesque graphics and cozy atmosphere allow players to immerse themselves in this fairytale world for a long time.

Roots of Pacha

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This project transports players to a prehistoric world, where they lead a tribe and guide it toward prosperity. You’ll need to explore the surrounding world, develop agriculture, discover technologies, and build a community. Unlike most simulators, the actions take place in the Stone Age, adding a unique primal atmosphere to the game. You’ll also be able to tame animals and build complex structures using ancient methods.

One of the most interesting mechanics is collective development. Instead of building just for yourself, you help develop the whole tribe, creating new inventions and improving the lives of others. Crafting and economic elements are smartly implemented: every player’s decision affects the tribe’s future.

Additionally, the game offers multiplayer mode, allowing you to develop your civilization alongside friends.

Dinkum

Ever wanted to move to virtual Australia? Then meet Dinkum! In this bright and entertaining game, you’ll build and develop your settlement while completing various tasks. For instance, fishing or catching a crocodile. You know, just typical Aussie life.

Unlike classic simulators, this one has survival elements, but they are so subtle that they only add extra interest.

Players can develop their settlement, invite NPCs, and improve infrastructure. One of the unique features is the dynamic weather and seasons system, which affects available resources and tasks. You can also explore the surrounding lands, find treasures, and even participate in balloon races.

Potion Permit

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If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a village alchemist, Potion Permit is the perfect choice. You’ll play as a young healer who arrives in a small village to heal residents using potions and magic. But of course, it’s not that simple: to create potions, players must gather ingredients in the wild, fight monsters, and solve complex puzzles.

In addition to exploring the world and creating potions, you’ll build relationships with the villagers, helping them solve personal problems and improve their quality of life. You’ll also need to bring the hospital back to order.

The pixel-art graphics add charm and coziness to the game. Don’t let the graphics turn you away from the project: just give it a try. Potion Permit is an excellent mix of life simulation and RPG, with a unique focus on medicine and alchemy.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons is probably the most popular life simulation game in recent years. Players are thrown onto a tropical island where they create their own paradise. The charm lies in the freedom: you can build houses, plant gardens, fish, catch bugs, and even invite other players to your island. The game has no clear goal or end time, making it the perfect place for relaxation and meditation.

The project is appealing with its laid-back and relaxing pace. The ability to decorate and change the world around you creates endless room for creativity. Moreover, interacting with cute anthropomorphic animals who become your neighbors adds to its charm. Animal Crossing is a whole world you’ll want to return to again and again.

Medieval Dynasty

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Medieval Dynasty sends players to medieval Europe, where they start their life from scratch. From a young peasant striving to survive to the head of their own dynasty — the journey will be tough but exciting. The game combines elements of survival simulation, settlement management, and RPG.

The main goal is to build a prosperous settlement and ensure the future of your family. You’ll engage in farming, hunting, building, marrying, and finding residents, assigning them roles such as hunter or cook.

However, the economic mechanics play a key role: managing resources and planning for future generations become important elements of gameplay.

Second Life

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This game is a whole virtual universe where players can create their lives from scratch. Don’t confuse it with a regular MMORPG: there are no quests or linear plot. Everything that happens is created by the players themselves.

You can do anything: build, work, travel, communicate with other users, attend virtual concerts, or even develop your own business. But the main thing is that users can generate their own content, using built-in scripting or third-party applications.

The main advantage of Second Life is its limitless freedom and huge community. The ability to do anything creates a unique experience for each player. Although many years have passed since the game’s release, it remains popular with those seeking an alternative reality for living and socializing.

inZOI

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The next game on our list is inZOI. Many bloggers have already reviewed the gameplay, and personally, I have to say that I was impressed because the demo version offers many possibilities.

The gameplay is quite similar to The Sims: first, the player creates a character, then chooses a city and housing for the hero to organize their life. Work, relationships, family, problems — all of this awaits players in the title.

Previously, I reviewed the character customization in inZOI, and it was so impressive that I started eagerly awaiting the release. The vast customization options that are sorely missing in The Sims 4 are finally here.

Live the Life

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If you’ve ever dreamed of immersing yourself in an ultra-realistic life simulation, this title offers exactly that. Here you’ll not only control your character but also feel every action on a deeper level. The simulation begins with the player moving to a new city, where they must find a job, establish social connections, and, of course, build a career and create their own home.

The main feature is the realistic mechanics of interacting with objects. For example, to cook food, the player doesn’t just press a button but performs a series of actions: take ingredients, cut them, fry them, and so on.

Moreover, every action affects the surrounding characters, and you’ll have to carefully monitor your reputation in society. The graphics and detailing of actions are impressive, and the full freedom to choose life paths makes Live the Life a great choice for fans of deep simulations.

Farmer’s Dynasty

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Tired of office buildings and urban plots? In Farmer's Dynasty, users will find rural bliss and the opportunity to become a real farmer. The project combines elements of a classic life simulation with farm management.

Here you not only tend to crops and animals but also build your farm from scratch, developing it into a successful enterprise. The difference between this title and standard farming simulators lies in its deep social interaction with neighbors, construction, and family matters.

You can engage in farming, repair and improve your buildings, and form friendships or romantic relationships with other characters. In addition to farming, the game offers many other activities, such as fishing, hunting, and participating in local fairs.

Founders' Fortune

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Meet Founders' Fortune! This isn’t just a construction and survival simulator but a whole strategy game where you’ll manage colonists, develop a settlement, and fight various threats. The game offers immense pleasure from managing a small group of people trying to survive and create a thriving community on a new, unknown island.

The main feature is that every colonist has their own desires, fears, and goals. Fulfilling their needs and achieving their desires is a crucial part of gameplay. Players must build homes, cultivate fields, defend against attacks, and explore surrounding lands. Social interactions add depth to the gameplay.

In the world of life simulators, there are many projects that can overshadow even legends like The Sims. Every project in this list offers unique gameplay mechanics and unforgettable experiences, allowing players not only to control characters but also to create entire worlds, build relationships, explore new territories, and survive in various conditions.

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