Step into a world where you craft lives, build dream homes, and watch your virtual stories unfold-just like in The Sims, but with fresh twists and new adventures. In 2025, the life simulation genre is bursting with exciting alternatives that capture the charm and creativity of The Sims while offering unique features and fresh gameplay. Whether you’re craving open-world freedom, charming indie vibes, or innovative life management, these are the best games like The Sims to dive into right now.
So, if you’re looking for something like The Sims, it might be a little tricky to find – which is why we recommend really zeroing in on just what it is about The Sims that you like.
Sims players tend to be drawn to one of three big tentpoles of the game:
- The micromanaging, wherein they control literally every aspect of their Sims’ lives (and then some);
- the storytelling, a broad term for the live-play part of The Sims and crafting a storyline with Sims, be it building up their lives or creating juicy drama;
- the customization, which is the building, decorating, and dressing up of it all.
So no matter what it is about The Sims that you love, we’ve picked out some great games for you to try next.
The Micromanaging
In games like The Sims, micromanaging is a core gameplay element where players meticulously control every aspect of their Sims’ lives-from managing their daily routines and social interactions to building and decorating homes. This level of detailed oversight allows players to craft unique stories and perfect virtual worlds, but it can also become overwhelming if taken to an extreme. Some players find joy in carefully planning every action and outcome, while others are encouraged to loosen control and let their Sims live more spontaneously for a richer, more organic experience. Whether you prefer full control or a more hands-off approach, micromanaging remains a defining feature of life simulation games that lets you shape your virtual world exactly how you want it.
RimWorld
Where to play: Mac, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
RimWorld is an extremely customizable game, with a storyteller that spins the tale of your colony. Your job is to help your space colony survive, which includes giving them a nice place to sleep, plenty of food to eat, and toys for entertainment. As more random events happen, and you progress through technology trees, your colonists have more involved wants and needs. You may need to hustle to amputate a limb before an infection overwhelms your colony’s doctor, or make transhumanist technology to appease an aging priest. Managing the mood of each character is crucial to success, as mental breaks can lead to major issues – and even murder. –Cass Marshall
RimWorld
$28$3520% off $28 $28 at Steam
Stellaris
Where to play: Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC
Stellaris is my big micromanaging game of choice because I like space. There is a lot to keep track of, but I like games that look like I’m opening up a work spreadsheet. In Stellaris, you basically raise a spacefaring civilization, from the moment they discover space travel to the fall of their empire. You get to pick how your aliens look like, and as you explore the vast expanse of space, you encounter other civilizations, which range from friendly to xenophobic imperialists . You create colonies on new planets, balance your economy, manage diplomatic relations, and more – all while also discovering what lies out in the galaxy. –Petrana Radulovic
Stellaris
$40 $40 $40 at Steam
Planet Zoo
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
You manage animals in Planet Zoo, not people. Like Zoo Tycoon 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 up and guests are happy. There’s a lot to keep track of throughout the game, which makes it a lot like The Sims 4 – micromanaging all around! –Nicole Carpenter
Planet Zoo
$16$4564% off $16 $16 at Steam
The Storytelling
The storytelling in games like The Sims thrives on the organic, player-driven narratives that emerge from the unique personalities, choices, and interactions of the characters. Players can craft intricate backstories and motivations for their Sims, allowing for imperfect, realistic decisions that shape compelling and emotional story arcs. This approach, often called gameplay-driven storytelling, lets stories unfold naturally based on Sims’ traits and free will, creating unexpected twists and deep world-building through rotational gameplay across multiple households. Alternatively, some players prefer scripted stories, carefully planning narratives to push specific themes or drama. Both methods enrich the gameplay experience, offering endless possibilities for creativity and immersion in the lives of virtual characters. This dynamic storytelling is what makes games like The Sims captivating and inspires similar games to focus on narrative depth alongside simulation.
Visual Novels
Where to play: Just about any platform!
Visual novels were my first foray into gaming after getting into The Sims. And I still love ’em! I particularly like visual novels that are super choice-heavy, and let you totally customize your protagonist and how the storyline unfolds. For anyone who loves The Sims because of the stories you get to curate, visual novels scratch that itch – while also having a low barrier to entry and running very easily on most devices!
I play a lot of these on various platforms, but want to shout out a few of my favorites: Scarlet Hollow, a horror and also romance visual novel from Black Tabby Games (the developers of Slay the Princess!) that takes place in a spooky Appalachian town; The Arcana, a freemium fantasy mobile game about a magician’s apprentice caught up in a murder mystery that has some of the most gorgeous art out there; and I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, a coming-of-age sci-fi game taking place on a distant planet with an emphasis on replayability with its time loop mechanic. (Also shout out to Choice of Games, which hosts some very cool text-based stories – not a lot visually going on, 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 making Sims in Create-A-Sim, you’ll love poring over the Baldur’s Gate 3 character creator. Big sprawling 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 out in The Sims, migrating that roleplaying mindset over to Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pretty seamless transition. –PR
Baldur’s Gate 3
$60 $60 $70 at Playstation Store$60 at Steam
BitLife Online
Where to play: Mobile and browser
BitLife is the live-play aspect of The Sims stripped down and speedrunned. You start off with a random life, which then plays out in short textual descriptions. Every so often, a pop up prompts you to make a choice. But for the most part, it’s pretty free range. You can send your little person off to college, pick what activities they do in their free time, nurture specific relationships (or not!), buy property or more. And like in The Sims, you can prime them for success, or have their life go totally off the rails. It’s completely up to you!
It’s also free, with some totally optional perks as DLC (I’m a fan of the spy expansion, myself). Also, it’s the rare mobile game that works without any Wi-Fi connection – always a win in my opinion. –PR
Building/Customization
The building and customization aspect is at the heart of games like The Sims, offering players the freedom to create and personalize their virtual worlds. Titles such as Paralives and Inzoi are pushing this further in 2025, featuring highly adaptable build systems that allow resizing windows, grid-free wall construction, and detailed character creation, providing a fresh take on the classic Build Mode. For those who love the creative side without the simulation pressure, games like House Flipper or Cities: Skylines offer extensive building and decorating options, while Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets players customize nearly every part of their island paradise. This focus on creative freedom and detailed customization makes these games compelling alternatives for fans of The Sims’ building mechanics.
Love Nikki-Dress Up Queen
Where to play: Android, iOS
Love Nikki Dress Up Queen isn’t a simulator game, but it does hit on one aspect of The Sims 4 – customization. The Love Nikki franchise is known for its elaborate fashion systems; in Love Nikki, you 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 score. If you’re looking for a game that lets you play around with an avatar like you do in The Sims, Love Nikki is your game: Arguably, it’s got more customization than The Sims. -NC
Love Nikki-Dress Up Queen
$0 $0 at Apple$0 at Google Play
Coral Island
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
I started playing Coral Island during its Early Access phase on Steam, and even when it was fraught with in-game roadblocks and bugs, it became one of my favorite life sims. There are tons of things to work toward and interacting with non-player characters is delightful due to the themes (environmental issues, LGBTQ identities, community care) and the 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 ocean offer a fresh take on the spend-energy-to-get-items trope in simulation games. -Zoë Hannah
Coral Island
$30 $30 $30 at Steam
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Where to play: Nintendo Switch
If the thing you like about The Sims 4 is building out a community or decorating spaces, try Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There isn’t the house customization you’ll find in The Sims – at least with exteriors – but there’s plenty to build out inside your own island home. The Happy Home Paradise DLC only takes that experience further, putting the focus directly on decorating. Getting creative with your island design, too, expands the possibilities of the world you can create: Some players created huge libraries, lush jungles, and even recreated iconic spots from Ocarina of Time. –NC
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
$55 $55 $60 at Nintendo$60 at Amazon$55 at GameStop
Which upcoming game in 2025 rivals The Sims’ full simulation experience
The most notable upcoming game in 2025 that rivals The Sims’ full simulation experience is inZOI by Krafton. Released into early access in March 2025, inZOI offers a comprehensive life simulation with detailed character creation, an advanced Build Mode, and a Live Mode simulation that includes features Sims fans have long wanted, such as wedding ceremonies, pregnancy gameplay, and an open world with drivable cars. Its realistic graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5 and AI-driven character expressions set it apart as a strong competitor to The Sims series.
Another promising contender is Paralives, also entering early access in 2025. Paralives emphasizes a highly adaptable and creative building system with grid-free construction and customizable object sizes. It focuses on character development through skill growth and career progression, aiming to capture the evolving life simulation experience that The Sims fans enjoy.
Additionally, Vivaland is an upcoming multiplayer-focused life simulator launching in 2025, featuring character creation, house building, and social interactions in a small-town setting, offering a fresh multiplayer angle on the life sim genre.
Among these, inZOI currently stands out as the most complete and visually advanced rival to The Sims’ full life simulation experience in 2025.
How does Vivaland’s multiplayer focus compare to The Sims’ simulation depth
Vivaland’s multiplayer focus sets it apart from The Sims by allowing up to eight players to collaboratively build and live in a shared town, emphasizing social interaction and cooperative gameplay from the ground up. This contrasts with The Sims’ primarily single-player experience, where the simulation depth revolves around detailed individual character management and story-driven gameplay.
However, while Vivaland offers a fresh multiplayer angle, its simulation depth is currently more limited compared to The Sims. The game features a closed-world structure with a fixed number of lots and less customizable town environments, which some players find restrictive compared to The Sims’ more flexible open-world options and extensive live mode features. The building tools in Vivaland are praised for their freedom and realism, with features like curved walls and a color wheel, but the live mode gameplay and simulation complexity are still developing and less mature than The Sims’ rich life simulation systems.
In summary, Vivaland innovates with multiplayer collaboration but does not yet match The Sims in simulation depth and customization, making it appealing for players seeking a social life sim experience but less so for those wanting the full single-player simulation complexity The Sims is known for.
