The 10 Best Real Life Simulation Games of All-Time

Life simulation is one of those genres that can be very divisive. It can be very boring for some people. In contrast, it can cause other people to spend hundreds and hundreds of hours upon them. Of course, there are some life simulation games that are better than others, meaning that interested individuals might want to check them out. Here are 10 of the best life simulation games that can be found out there:

Animal Crossing

A list of the best life simulation games would be incomplete without mentioning the Animal Crossing series. Simply put, it provides interested individuals with the chance to experience life in a village inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, which apparently consists of various activities such as fishing, fossil hunting, and bug catching. The latest release is Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch, which is apparently a winner by all accounts.

BitLife

For people looking for something simpler, there is BitLife. In short, interested individuals can run through the life of a player-character by making choices and playing mini-games. Their efforts will determine their character’s ultimate outcome. After which, they can either replay as the same character or start a new run using one of their kids.

Farming Simulator

Farming Simulator is exactly what it sounds like. In short, interested individuals can expect the chance to engage in a wide range of agricultural tasks before selling the sometimes literal and sometimes metaphorical fruits of their labor. The series started up in 2008. However, the latest Farming Simulator is Farming Simulator 20, so it should come as no surprise to learn that it has seen a lot of refinements over the course of its existence. Something that should come as welcome news for would-be players.

Graveyard Keeper

Graveyard Keeper is a more fantastical example of the life simulation genre. For those who are curious, its protagonist is someone who has been sent to an unfamiliar world upon being struck by a car, with the result that they are entrusted with the care of a local church and cemetary. If he wants to go home, he will need to befriend the locals while working in his new occupation.

Rune Factory

Rune Factory is a spinoff of the Story of Seasons series. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that it features farming. However, what makes it curious is that it combines this with a fantasy-themed action RPG, thus making for a rather quirky but nonetheless charming whole. The Rune Factory has been standing still for some time. However, a fifth installment is set to come out in 2021.

My Time at Portia

The setting of My Time at Portia is what one might call quirky. For instance, it is post-post-apocalypse. In other words, the previous civilization has collapsed. However, people have long since reemerged from hiding, meaning that the player is more responsible for the expansion of a new civilization than scrambling for survival in the ruins of the old. In any case, the basic pattern of the game is pretty simple and straightforward. They collect resources so that they can turn those resources into more refined products, which can be put to use, exchanged for benefits, and help the titular town reach its full potential.

Stardew Valley

People who have played the Story of Seasons series will have no problem recognizing its influence on Stardew Valley. However, while the title offers the familiar systems that make the Story of Seasons series so enjoyable, it is interesting in that it has a rather more mature presentation of its characters. Something that might intrigue people looking for something that feels more true-to-life when it comes to their farming simulation. Besides this, it is worth mentioning that Stardew Valley features combat as well. Some people might point to the Rune Factory series. However, others have pointed to the overhead titles in The Legend of Zelda series.

Story of Seasons

Story of Seasons is a long-running series of farming simulators. However, interested individuals might not know it under that name. This is because Story of Seasons was once marketed in the west as Harvest Moon. Ever since the creator changed the English distributor, the series has been called Story of Seasons rather than Harvest Moon. Regardless, the series saw the recent release of Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, which is a remake of one of the most beloved installments from previous generations.

The Sims

Technically, The Sims is a sub-series of the Sim series. Generally speaking, the latter is best-known for the SimCity series and The Sims series. However, it once included a much wider range of titles, as shown by names such as SimAnt, SimEarth, and SimCoaster. Regardless, The Sims is one of the most successful life simulation series ever released, so much so that it is counted as one of the best-selling video game series ever made. Currently, the series is still on The Sims 4, which has seen ten expansion packs since it came out in 2014. The downside means that people who want to get everything will need to spend quite a bit of money. However, the upside is that they can pick and choose the content that they want to create an experience that is right for them.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is an adventure game that offers interested individuals a great deal of freedom. Theoretically, they are supposed to be seeking out magical sprites for the purpose of driving back a supernatural force called the Murk. In practice, well, suffice to say that Yonder offers farming, fishing, and crafting, meaning that it is very easy for interested individuals to get distracted. Fortunately, there is no need to rush, meaning that interested individuals can set their own pace based on what appeals to them.