The best games like the Sims to play right now

There is still no game that is comparable to The Sims.

For over 20 years, the life simulation franchise has dominated the genre. Some similar games have been in development for years (and some like Paradox’s Living through you didn’t make it), but The Sims remains the greatest life simulation series out there.

So if you’re looking for something similar to The Sims, it can be hard to find it. That’s why we recommend really focusing on what it is that you like about The Sims.

Sims players are typically drawn to one of the game’s three main pillars:

1. The micromanaging, where they literally control every aspect of their Sims’ lives (and then some)
2. Storytelling, a broad term for the live gameplay portion of The Sims and creating a storyline with Sims, whether it’s building their lives or creating juicy dramas
3. The personalization, that is to say the building, decorating and dressing of the whole.

No matter what your Sims favorite is, we’ve picked out some great games for you to try out.

The micromanaging

RimWorld

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

RimWorld is an extremely customizable game, with a storyteller narrating the story of your colony. Your job is to help your space colony survive, which means providing them with a nice place to sleep, enough food, and toys to entertain them. As more random events occur and you progress through technology trees, your colonists will have more involved wants and needs. You might have to rush to amputate a limb before an infection overwhelms your colony’s doctor, or create transhumanist technology to appease an aging priest. Managing each character’s mood is crucial to success, as mental ruptures can lead to great trouble—even murder.Cass Marshall

Constellation

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

Constellation is my big micromanagement game of choice because I love space. There is a lot to keep track of, but I like games that feel like I’m opening a work spreadsheet. In ConstellationYou essentially raise a spacefaring civilization, from the moment they discover space travel to the fall of their empire. You get to choose what your aliens look like, and as you explore the vast expanses of space, you’ll encounter other civilizations ranging from friendly to xenophobic imperialists. You’ll create colonies on new planets, balance your economy, manage diplomatic relations, and more — all while discovering what’s out there in the galaxy.Petrana Radulovic

Planet Zoo

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

You manage animals in Planet Zoono people. Like zoo magnate And Zoo Tycoon 2 (or Maxis’ animal management games SimSafari or SimPark), you build habitats for animals while also making sure the zoo is staffed and the guests are happy. There is a lot to keep track of as you play the game, which makes it feel a bit like The Sims 4 — micromanagement on all fronts! —Nicole Timmerman

Telling the story

Visual novels

Where to play: Almost any platform!

Visual novels were my introduction to gaming after discovering The Sims. And I still love them! I especially like visual novels that offer tons of choice and allow you to completely customize your main character and the way the story unfolds. For anyone who loves The Sims for the stories you create, visual novels are a godsend — while also being easy to get into and play on most devices!

I play a lot of this on various platforms, but I’d like to mention a few of my favorites: Scarlet Hollowa horror and also romantic visual novel from Black Tabby Games (the developers of Kill the princess!) set in a creepy Appalachian town; The Arcanaa freemium fantasy mobile game about a magician’s apprentice who gets caught up in a murder mystery with some of the most beautiful artwork out there; and I was a teenage exocolonista coming-of-age sci-fi game set on a distant planet with an emphasis on replayability with its time loop mechanic. (Also a shout-out to Choice of Games, which hosts some really cool text-based storytelling – not much happens visually, but that’s the power of imagination.) —PR

Baldur’s Gate 3 and Other Choice-Driven RPGs

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

If you spend hours creating Sims in Create-A-Sim, you’ll love diving into the Baldurs Gate 3 character creator. Big, expansive roleplaying games let you create your own character and really dive into a world. There’s definitely more structure than something like the Sims, but if you have a favorite type of character or storyline to play in the Sims, you can bring that roleplaying mentality over to Baldurs Gate 3 is a fairly seamless transition. —PR

BitLife Online

Where to play: Mobile and browser

BitLife is the live play aspect of the Sims, stripped down and speedrun. You start with a random life, which then plays out in short textual descriptions. Every now and then a pop-up asks you to make a choice. But overall it’s pretty freeform. You can send your little one to college, choose what activities they do in their free time, nurture specific relationships (or not!), buy properties, and more. And just like in the 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, with some completely optional extras as DLC (I’m a fan of the espionage expansion myself), and it’s the rare mobile game that works without a Wi-Fi connection – always a win in my book.PR

Build/Modify

Love Nikki Dress Up Queen

Where to play: Android, iOS

Love Nikki Dress Up Queen is not a simulation game, but it does touch on an aspect of The Sims 4 — customization. The Love Nikki franchise is known for its extensive fashion systems; in Love Nikkiyou move through the world and solve problems with fashion battles. The better your outfit, based on set parameters for each encounter, the more points you score. If you are looking for a game that lets you play with an avatar like you do in The Sims, Love Nikki is your game: You could say that it more more customization options than The Sims. —NC

Coral Island – Zoe

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

I started playing Coral Island during its Early Access on Steam, and even when it was riddled with in-game obstacles and bugs, it became one of my favorite life sims. There is a lot to work toward, and interacting with non-player characters is a delight due to the themes (environmental issues, LGBTQ+ identities, community outreach) and well-written dialogue. The animations make me want to move to an island in real life, and activities like cleaning the ocean coral offer a fresh take on the spending-energy-to-get-items trope in simulation games. —Zoë Hannah

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Where to play: Nintendo Switch

If the thing you like about The Sims 4 is it building a community or decorating spaces, try Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There isn’t the home customization you find in the sims — at least not with the exterior — but there is plenty to build on in your own island home. The Happy Home Paradise DLC only takes that experience further, by putting the focus directly on decorating. Being creative with your island design also increases the possibilities of the world you can create: Some players created huge libraries, lush jungles, and even iconic locations from Ocarina of Time. —North Carolina