The best game like The Sims is inZOI — the most feature-rich, visually impressive life sim available, with deep character creation, open-world neighbourhoods and steady updates. Paralives is the indie darling built around home-building and relationships, while Disney Dreamlight Valley and Stardew Valley cover the cosier side.
Here are the best games like The Sims — life sims about creating characters, building homes and living out everyday stories — and which one suits you.
Best games like The Sims
Eight life and social sims that capture The Sims’ mix of character creation, home-building and everyday storytelling.
| Game | Platforms | Why it’s like The Sims |
|---|---|---|
| inZOI | PC | Deep customisation and open-world life sim — the closest match |
| Paralives | PC | Life sim built around flexible home-building and relationships |
| Disney Dreamlight Valley | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Life-sim and adventure with Disney characters |
| Stardew Valley | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch, mobile | Farming, friendships and cosy daily routines |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Switch | Island life, decorating and real-time seasons |
| Tiny Life | PC | A pixel-art take that’s essentially The Sims, stripped back |
| MySims | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | A charming, family-friendly Sims spin-off |
| Coral Island | PC, PS, Xbox | A 3D farm-and-life sim with a warm island community |
How we picked them
The Sims is about three things: creating characters, building and decorating homes, and steering everyday lives and relationships. We prioritised games that deliver that sandbox of daily life. inZOI is the closest modern match — it’s the most complete, best-looking life sim you can play right now — while Paralives is the indie pick built around flexible building. For a cosier, gentler take, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing all offer the same wind-down life-sim feeling with a different focus.
The top picks explained
Four life sims to try first.
#1
Best indie
Cosiest
Best value
More life and cosy sims? See our best simulation games, games like Stardew Valley and best indie games guides.
Which one to play
Pick based on what you want from your next life sim.
| You want… | Play |
|---|---|
| The closest modern Sims | inZOI |
| Deep home-building | Paralives |
| Something cosy on console | Disney Dreamlight Valley |
| Farming and friendships | Stardew Valley or Coral Island |
