The best games like The Sims 4 are those that offer a sense of community and perhaps even involve some virtual chores too. What makes The Sims so great is it offers escapism, allowing you to indulge in some interior decorating if you like, or perhaps cultivate a more vivid digital social life. Fortunately, there are numerous games that can provide similar experiences, and we have compiled a list of their names for you.
There are a lot of games to choose from, many of which allow you to do specific things that you might enjoy from The Sims, but not many games that let you trap people in swimming pools by removing the ladder. That's probably for the best though as that's just evil.
So from renovating a home to building and maintaining a farm, these are some of the closest and best alternatives to the Sims 4...
Best games like The Sims 4
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- House Flipper
- My Time at Sandrock
- Stardew Valley
- Cities: Skylines
- Disney Dreamlight Valley
- Jurassic World Evolution 2
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the latest game in the series, and during the lockdowns shortly after COVID hit, was a lifeline for many of us who needed a sense of community that was sorely lacking otherwise. That's because you get to do things like pick weeds, hit rocks, and pay off debts.
Look, there's no way of describing a lot of what happens in Animal Crossing without making it sound like just more chores for most adults, but it's a lot more chill because your work can actually all be done in AC. You also get to meet and chat with loads of adorable animal friends, and you can build up your own village too, customising various aspects to create something that's personal to you. It's a great game, one we'd highly recommend.
2. House Flipper
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If your favourite thing to do in The Sims 4 is to decorate the houses, then you're going to love House Flipper. This game is all about buying, renovating, decorating, then selling houses. You get to be in charge of the whole thing, managing your funds and resources throughout.
The result is a weirdly satisfying game about a lifestyle that the vast majority of us will never get anywhere near, and it's one that acts as an outlet for all of those creative and decorative urges that you might be full of. It's a lot of fun, and if you're someone who likes seeing your hard work pay off, then House Flipper will definitely satisfy you.
3. My Time at Sandrock
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My Time at Sandrock is still in its infancy, but it's the follow-up to My Time at Portia, and it's already very good, so we've got high hopes for the full release. What's interesting about these games is that they're actually set in a post-apocalyptic world, but one that's not filled to the brim with zombies or mutants trying to eat you.
Instead, you get to take control of a builder who's been tasked with reinvigorating a desert community. You do this by fixing buildings, creating machines to help you out, and creating production lines. There's some combat and exploration to enjoy as well, so you can get stuck in however you like. So, while it's not exactly the same as The Sims with a bit of fighting chucked in there, it's still a great alternative to check out.
4. Stardew Valley
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Stardew Valley is likely one of the most famous indie games in existence, and it breathed new life into the farming/life sim genre, which had been flagging a little at the time. That's hard to believe now when you think about the sheer volume of farming games there are, but it's true.
Stardew Valley lets you rebuild a farm left to you by a dead relative, but the thing that makes it one of the best games like The Sims 4 is the interactions with other characters. You can flirt with, dance with, and even marry NPCs in Stardew Valley, and you can decorate your house as you go too. There are also some monsters to fight, but that's just when you want to take a break from figuring out which parsnip everyone likes. So, as far as building a virtual life goes, this is a pretty close fit to The Sims.
5. Cities: Skylines
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Cities: Skylines is a revitalised city builder. It's another genre, much like farming sims, that sort of fell off, but one that fills a very important niche in the world, and we're very glad it not only exists but is also incredible. There's just something intensely moreish about building a city and keeping it running, and it's a lot like the buildings themselves are your Sims.
You get to plan and build everything exactly as you want, from power plants and waste factories to roads and residential buildings. The game just keeps growing as you keep going, and every new thing you build presents new challenges to overcome and things to think about. It's a great way to spend a few days. Or months. We won't judge.
6. Disney Dreamlight Valley
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Disney Dreamlight Valley dares to ask "But what if you could be mates with Disney characters?" This life sim game is another in its early stages, but it already stands out as an excellent title to spend time playing. You get to create your own character and then try and restore a crumbling village filled with Disney pals.
The game is surprisingly good, with a lot of Disney games being less than sub-par. And, if you're looking for a cutesy life sim, then this one has you covered. It's especially good for families, because parents can help their kids play it, and kids will obviously adore it with all the familiar Disney characters they can interact with. What's not to like?
7. Jurassic World Evolution 2
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Finally, we have Jurassic World Evolution 2. This game is exactly like The Sims 4, it's just that the Sims here are dinosaurs, and occasionally they try and break out of their enclosures to eat people. Honestly though, who among us isn't a velociraptor that's chowed down on someone gawking at us while we're trying to nap?
There are a lot of big management decisions to make in this game, with you having to decide what things to research next, how to best keep your dinosaurs happy, and where to put them to keep visitors entertained. It's the perfect simulation game for dinosaur lovers of all ages, and you don't even need to watch the films to enjoy it. You may not be controlling or managing a human in this one, but still, the mechanics of the game are incredibly akin to The Sims.