The best games like the Sims to play right now

There’s still not a game out there quite like the Sims.

For over 20 years, the life simulation franchise has dominated its genre. Some similar games have been in development for years (and some like Paradox’s Life By You didn’t make it), but the Sims remains the biggest life simulation series out there.

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:

1. The micromanaging, wherein they control literally every aspect of their Sims’ lives (and then some)
2. 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
3. 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

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

Stellaris

Image: Paradox Interactive

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

Planet Zoo

Image: Frontier Developments

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

The Storytelling

Visual Novels

Image: Black Tabby Games

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

Image: Larian Studios

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

BitLife Online

Image: Candywriter

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

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

Coral Island – Zoe

Image: Stairway Games/Humble Games

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

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Skye McEowen

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