The 10 Best Games Like Sims

What are the best games like Sims?

The Sims is one of the most successful series in gaming, and it has set the bar high for every real-life simulation game.

However, there are also other games that have managed to include similar gameplay and be just as entertaining.

Although there is nothing quite like the Sims, we’ve rounded up 10 comparable games that capture the franchise’s charm.

The 10 Best Games Like Sims

Each of these games has been chosen based on their similarity to the Sims, either in mechanics or gameplay.

However, they also introduce new elements that help make them engaging and unique in their own ways.

So, if you’re ready to find your next favorite game, here’s our list of the 10 best games like Sims:

10. Paralives

Inspired by the Sims franchise, Paralives is a game like the Sims that includes elements of building and character management.

Seen as the first real competitor to the Sims, Paralives isn’t released yet, and it’s been in the works since 2019.

However, it has been regularly earning $40k per month on Patreon, and sneak peeks of the gameplay look extremely promising.

Once this game is released, you will be able to build homes, create custom characters and live out their lives.

This makes it extremely similar to the Sims but with arguably more customization options, if previews are anything to go by.

According to the developers, this game will have everything from in-depth character creation to thousands of home decorating options.

You can follow the development of Paralives on its official website to learn more about what the creators are adding and when it could go live!

9. The Tenants

Up next, we have one of the best video games of all time for gamers who want to test their skills at being a landlord.

This game challenges players to build their own apartment empire by designing buildings and choosing who gets to live there.

However, along with building and designing individual apartments, you will also have to make business decisions and deal with difficult tenants.

In The Tenants, you will have to handle a variety of situations ranging from annoyed neighbors to potential police involvement.

Along with this, you will also need to maintain your individual units, and the better they look, the more money you can make.

There is also a pet DLC coming soon, which will add a whole new level of complexity to this already incredibly engaging game.

If you’re someone who particularly loves the designing aspects of the Sims, this is a game you definitely should check out!

8. House Flipper

House Flipper is up next, and it is a game like the Sims that you can play on the PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.

This game is geared towards Sims players who enjoy the designing portion of building homes, and House Flipper provides a ton of options.

It is also incredibly satisfying in that you get to clean up dilapidated homes and turn them into high-class luxury dwellings.

You can tear down all interior walls to make the layout completely different and even add new doors, windows, and fixtures.

The goal is to fix up houses and sell them for as much money as possible so that you can buy bigger and more expensive properties.

Numerous DLC has also been released for this game, including Garden Flipper, Cyberpunk Flipper, Luxury Flipper, and Pets.

There are even HGTV and Apocalypse DLCs that add new items, properties, and gameplay mechanics.

If you’re someone who spends more time designing homes in Sims than dictating the lives of characters, this game is for you!

7. SimCity

SimCity was released in 2013 as an urban planning and city building simulation and a reboot of the SimCity Series.

The previous game in the series, SimCity 4, was released in 2003, and this new installation sought to revitalize the almost-forgotten franchise.

In this reboot, players can create a small town and gradually grow it into a booming metropolis.

There are tons of customization options, including terraforming, transportation options, and modding support.

As you progress, additional buildings will unlock, including more advanced medical and police departments to handle your growing city.

Considered a solid reboot of one of the best retro games of all time, SimCity is a must-play for fans of the Sims franchise.

While it isn’t without its faults, such as the need for an internet connection, you can easily spend hours building huge cities.

However, this Sims title has been overshadowed by Cities: Skylines, which you can find further down on our list.

That said, it remains a classic city builder and one that still has tons of dedicated fans who can’t put it down!

6. Planet Zoo

Planet Zoon is a unique management and construction simulator that serves as a spiritual successor to Zoo Tycoon.

Similar to Planet Coaster, this game features realistic animals, and the needs of each species pose unique requirements while building.

For example, players can place African plains animals together in the same habitat so long as they aren’t predators.

Likewise, predators will attack other animals if given the chance, but can’t attack guests like in Zoo Tycoon.

This game also boasts an in-depth breeding system that uses every animal’s unique genome when producing offspring.

There are also over a thousand building items that can be used to create truly creative structures and landscapes.

If that wasn’t enough, there are several DLC packs, including the Twilight Pack, Aquatic Pack, and Arctic Pack.

Each of these adds new challenges, animals, and building options that can help you further expand your zoo!

Planet Zoo definitely has something for every Sims fan to enjoy, and the creativity is nearly endless in this game!

5. Two Point Hospital

Two Point Hospital is one of the best real-life simulation games, and it revolves around building and maintaining a hospital.

This includes building interior facilities for treating specific ailments, as well as bathrooms, cafes, and seating areas.

You will also be responsible for hiring and managing the entire staff, and you will need to choose carefully!

Patients can die in this game, and if they do, they can come back and haunt your hospital by terrorizing staff and patients.

As the game goes on, things will also become more difficult as infectious diseases are introduced that can spread through your hospital.

Running your own hospital is definitely tricky, but Two Point Hospital also comes filled with many hilarious moments as well.

There are also co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, as well as a sandbox mode that gives you complete freedom.

Two Point Hospital combines many gameplay elements that have made the Sims addicting and tossed them into a brand new setting.

If you’re a fan of the Sims franchise, it’s really easy to become invested in this game and lose many hours playing it!

4. Disney Dreamlight Valley

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a brand new adventure life simulation that allows you to create your own character to live alongside Disney classics.

This game takes place in a world where Disney and Pixar characters live together and are threatened by a dark power.

It is up to players to explore, solve puzzles, and bring harmony back to the world, though it also contains life sim mechanics.

Players can build their own homes and interact with various heroes and villains, building up friendship levels with them all.

Many of the original voice actors have also returned, so it really is like interacting with your favorite Disney movie characters!  

While this game is currently in early access, it has already enthralled players around the world and holds a Very Positive score on Steam.

There are a ton of customization options in Dreamlight Valley to allow you to create your home however you want.

However, the added exploration and adventure mechanics make it really hard to stop paying once you start.

Even if you’re not a die-hard Disney fan, there is something for everyone to love in this incredibly engaging game!

3. Cities: Skylines

Along with being one of the best PS5 simulation games, Cities: Skylines is the perfect game for SimCity fans to play.

This game builds upon the foundation of SimCity and adds a number of new features that have arguably made it better.

While it maintains similar city-building elements, it also has over a million unique citizens that will interact with the world in different ways.

Mechanics like this make maintaining your city more dynamic, as not everyone will want the exact same things.

You will then need to think critically about the changes you make based on what you think your citizens need most.

Of course, there is also a sandbox mode where you can really get your creative juices flowing to make some truly spectacular cities!

You also have the option to completely torment your citizens if you want, building moats of sewage or unleashing natural disasters.

Like SimCity, Cities: Skylines comes with support for mods and user-created content, including custom maps.

Best of all, if you end up loving this game, you won’t have to wait long for its sequel to drop.

As of writing, Cities: Skylines II is set to release sometime in 2023, boasting an even more dynamic world to play in.

2. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley quickly became one of the best Nintendo Switch games thanks to its engaging life simulation gameplay.

While it was originally released in 2016, by May 2022, it has sold over 20 million copies across all platforms.

This surge in popularity was largely attributed to the global pandemic, which kept many people home.

Fortunately, Stardew Valley gave people the opportunity to focus on something positive, like building their own successful farms!

However, building a farm is only a small facet of this game, as there are also a number of NPCs to get to know.

There are also many other activities that players can take part in to earn money if farming isn’t their main focus.

While Stardew Valley is overall a very chill and relaxed game, it certainly isn’t lacking in content to keep players engaged.

Up to four players can also play online together, raising animals and crops, mining, foraging, and fishing.

Stardew Valley is a game you can play at your own pace, and it is really easy to become invested in your little virtual plot of land!

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The fifth entry in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, was released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch.

Like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing is one of the best games like the Sims which saw a lot of popularity during the Pandemic.

This life simulation game takes place in real-time, with in-game weather adjusting for the actual seasons of the hemisphere the player is in.

It revolves around the player character moving to an island populated by anthropomorphic animals.

Players have an open world to explore to gain natural resources that can be used for crafting and decorating homes.

As the game progresses, players are given more freedom to expand the village with shops and other services.

Updates to the game are frequent and often revolve around seasonal events and items to keep things fresh.

There is also DLC, including Happy Home Paradise and Happy Home Designer, which add new locations and customization options.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is our pick as the best game like Sims, and once you start playing it, you’ll never want to stop!

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the best games like the Sims, and found some new ones to play for yourself!

While all of these games are unique, they also have mechanics that will feel familiar to fans of the Sims franchise. 

That said, if you haven’t played Animal Crossing, we highly recommend giving it a try, as it is the best Sims-like game you can find! 

Here’s a quick recap of the best games like Sims:

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2. Stardew Valley
3. Cities: Skylines
4. Disney Dreamlight Valley
5. Two Point Hospital
6. Planet Zoo
7. SimCity
8. House Flipper
9. The Tenants
10. Paralives

If you enjoyed this list, you might want to check out the following articles:

• The 10 Best Games Like Civilization
• The 10 Best Games Like Age of Empires
• The 10 Best Games Like Stardew Valley
• The 10 Best Games Like Clash of Clans
• The 10 Best Games Like X-COM

Which of these games will you download first? Leave a comment below.