The life-simulator genre is one without too much competition. For years, Maxis’ The Sims series has ruled the roost in regards to the best life-simulator games. However, in recent years, a few solid titles have been released, finally giving The Sims some real competitors. We’ve got the full list of the best life-simulation games ever, so you know which ones you should be playing in 2025 and beyond.
Credit: Gameloft
Disney Dreamlight Valley has one thing the other best life-simulation games can’t provide: Disney characters. As the title might imply, Disney Dreamlight Valley allows players to live out their dream lives alongside their favorite Disney characters, with everything from the iconic classics all the way to modern greats represented here. Better yet, the game continues to be updated with even more content, so if your favorite isn’t in Disney Dreamlight Valley yet, you can bet it will be in the future.
Originally an Early Access title, Disney Dreamlight Valley has come a long way since its launch. Gameloft looks set to support the game for a very long time to come, meaning you’re safe to hop into one of the best life-simulation games knowing you’ll always have something fresh to experience.
Credit: Nintendo
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the best life-simulation game Nintendo has to offer. You start off on a deserted island, before building it up to attract dozens of adorable islanders. It sounds simple on paper, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons has extensive customization features that allow every single island to be unique. Using the game’s Island Codes, you can even visit your friends’ islands and see what they’ve built.
While there are several games in the Animal Crossing series, New Horizons is a culmination of Nintendo’s efforts so far. If you’re looking to play the very best life-simulation games, this is one you need to try if you haven’t already.
Credit: Maxis
Yes, of course The Sims 3 was always making it onto this list. The title remains one of the best life-simulation games ever thanks to its extensive customization, powered by the Create-a-Style feature. This allowed players to customize their Sims and in-game items like never before. The level of freedom is exactly why we think The Sims 3 will always be among the best life-simulation games around. It even has features such as drivable cars, which never made its way back into The Sims 4.
Although there are some areas of The Sims 3 that feel a little dated at this point, it’s still among the best life-simulation games on the market. You can often find it on sale for pretty cheap, alongside its abundance of expansions, which are fundamental to expanding The Sims 3’s offerings.
Credit: ConcernedApe
Let’s talk about Stardew Valley next. This awesome farming life-simulator hands you a plot of land free of charge, which you need to clear. After this, you can develop it even further. Stardew Valley also features activities such as cooking, crafting, and exploring. The nearby town is filled with interesting NPCs for you to engage with. Get a little closer to them, and these relationships that you develop can even blossom into romance and marriage.
Thanks to its adorable pixel art style, Stardew Valley holds up almost a decade after launch. It will likely remain timeless, and with ConcernedApe still updating the game, it’s still well worth your time as one of the best life-simulation games on the market.
Credit: Maxis
The Sims 4 is, in our view, comfortably the best life-simulation game ever made. Eleven years after its initial release, it remains the newest game in the Sims series, and has been massively improved by numerous expansions to the game. It’s a series high, that’s for sure. The Sims 4 even features a massive modding scene, with a dedicated community adding tons of custom content, from gameplay improvements, graphics mods, and even new pieces of clothing to increase the realism in-game. The Sims 4 is the best life-simulation game around, and it will take some beating for another game to snatch the crown in the future.
While rumors continue to swirl about a sequel, Maxis seems to have no intention of moving on from The Sims 4 any time soon. With very few competitors up the required standard, why would Maxis rock the boat when the current title is still fit for purpose?
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