Well, video games are there to escape from everyday life. For a change, with the help of the games, we can forget about watering flowers, shopping at the supermarket or other people. But what if we just slip into a different everyday life and virtually water flowers, go to the supermarket and make friends? This is where life simulation games come into play!
Obviously, the Sims series sits on the throne – but there are a number of exciting games around it that add their very own touch to virtual everyday life. From cyberpunk to post-apocalypse to sunny island, this is our round-up of some of the best life simulations for the PC that are great sims alternatives.
For cyberpunk fans: Nivalis
Release: tbd | Developer: ION LANDS | Platform: PC | Steam page
Many fans were hoping for a life simulation in a gloomy future setting when Cyberpunk 2077 was announced – because it certainly looked like it. Unfortunately, several years of development later, many of the life simulation elements were removed from the open-world game. Nivalis could now fill the gap in our hearts.
In this upcoming game by the Cloudpunk makers, you open your own restaurants and nightclubs, furnish your flat(s), make friends and love and lead an exciting life in the cyberpunk city of Nivalis. Because Cloudpunk has already turned out to be a really good genre game, we are very excited.
For post-apocalypse fans: No Place Like Home
Release: 23 December 2020 (Early Access) | Developer: Chicken Launcher | Platform: PC | Steam page
In No Place Like Home, you can run your own farm in the middle of the post-apocalypse. As you might have guessed, it’s more than just breeding animals, tending fields and decorating your house. In the meantime, No Place Like Home turns into a little role-playing game as you fight scrap and rubbish, craft with it and explore the open world.
The game has already gathered a sizeable following on Steam in Early Access, who have given the game an overall rating of “Very Positive”. Its final release, however, is scheduled for the end of 2021. Can it be one of the best Sims alternatives?
For Sims fans: Paralives
Release: tbd | Developer: Alex Masseé | Platform: PC | Steam page
While Paralives is not yet released, it is the absolute hottest candidate for long-time Sims fans – who, in spite of all their love, also have a lot of criticism to offer for the mother of all life sims ganes. After all, Paralives seems like the Sims dream come true: endless design possibilities for characters and buildings that will make even The Sims 3 jealous. Plus free new content. And plenty of gameplay details that Sims players have been wishing for for years:
As of yet, there’s no telling if the one-man project can really become the ultimate life simulation utopia it looks like in its numerous trailers. However, genre fans should definitely put the game at the top of their watch list as it is going to be one of the best Sims alternatives.
For Ghibli fans: Summer in Mara
Release: 16 June 2020 | Developer: Chibig | Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch | Steam page
All of you know that very special charm of Studio Ghibli films. The chirping of cicadas, the feeling of summer sun on your skin and dreamy journeys over the water. With Summer in Mara, you can capture this atmosphere in game form and live out your own Ghibli film.
A whole sunny island, a small boat and a cottage are yours to look after. You will meet lovely characters, fish, farm and complete missions. In contrast to many other life simulation games, Summer in Mara has an ongoing story about the secret of the island.
For Farming Fans: Stardew Valley
Release: 26 February 2016 | Developer: ConcernedApe | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile | Steam page
Chances are, if you’ve never played Stardew Valley before, then you have a very misguided idea of what to expect. The farming simulation looks like a simple Harvest Moon clone at first glance – but behind it there is so much more.
An elaborate economic simulation, a small role-playing game, complicated relationships, a terrific co-op multiplayer, new content that has been free for years. There are new maps, new quest lines, new buildings, new end-game content and so on. All in all: a great life simulation.
Do you know any other good Sims alternatives? Let us know in the comments section below.
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