Reality is far from perfection. It's likely why so many of us seek that satisfaction from video games, where everything can be controlled and min-maxed into oblivion. We can create pristine homes and farmlands in worlds where there's very little misery or pain, or become exactly the person we've always wanted to be with just a few clicks. Skills are built through progress bars and XP. It's all simple, easy, and you have all the information you could need to be successful.
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The 2020s are far from over, but there have already been numerous fantastic life simulation games that are must-play for fans of the genre.
Honestly, after a long day or a stressful week, I can't blame anyone for wanting to just have a good time and not get particularly challenged by a video game. So, if you're looking to escape into a brand-new virtual life for a time, there are several games I warmly recommend exploring. They'll be particularly enticing to anyone who's a fan of life simulation games, but even if you haven't touched that genre before, they are intuitive enough for anyone to enjoy and jump into without a big introduction.
Stardew Valley
Escape The Corporate Dread To Become A Farmer
Stardew Valley is a miracle of an indie game that has reached near-impossible levels of popularity throughout the years. You might recognize its signature pixel art style and vibrant colors at a glance, but don't let its simplistic appearance fool you. The game is packed with deep messages, wholesome moments, and unexpectedly magical events.
The story goes that you're a city dweller tired of working at Joja Corp every day, and you choose to seek a simpler life by moving to Stardew Valley, to your grandfather's old farm that needs some serious TLC. Now, it's up to you to bring it back to its former glory, while getting to know the local inhabitants of the nearby Pelican Town. On top of that, Lewis, the mayor, asks for your help in restoring the Community Center, which is a grind of its own. From seasonal events to a myriad of crops you can grow, ranching, fishing, mining, and daily quests from villagers, you won't be out of things to do any time soon. The real joy comes from seeing your farm slowly grow over time, and with no hurry to perform, you can go about it all at your own pace. And, if you ever feel like Joja Corp may have been the correct choice after all, don't worry, you can always choose to demolish the Community Center and join Morris's efforts to spread the word of Joja everywhere.
Coral Island
Abandon Pokyo For Wonderful Island Life
In the same vein as Stardew Valley, Coral Island is a story about returning to a simpler life and leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind. As the farmer, you become the newest addition to Coral Island. A lot of the gameplay has parallels with Stardew Valley, so if you're familiar with those systems, you'll get sucked right into this game, too.
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However, there's an additional layer to the game that focuses on protecting and cleaning the oceans, as well as discovering their secrets. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say, you won't be disappointed with the variety of characters you meet during your playthrough. There's a ton of customization options for your house, your farm, and even your character, and with a myriad of bachelors to choose from, you're primed to start a new life on this tropical island. The pet options are something worth highlighting, too, as you can choose from a few different options instead of just cat and dog: lizards for any reptile fans, foxes, and even rabbits. If you've ever dreamed of creating the perfect orchard, a beautiful flower farm, or a large ranch, give this one a shot.
Fields of Mistria
A Lovely Retro Farm Sim With A Touch Of Magic
Still staying in the realm of farming sims, we have Fields of Mistria. One thing to keep in mind about this game is that it's in Early Access, so you won't have access to everything planned for the game just yet. However, jumping into it now already gives you quite a bit to sink your teeth into. It has a distinct, retro-RPG pixel art style that fans of Stardew Valley and old-school anime enjoyers will definitely adore.
All the bells and whistles of a traditional farming sim are to be found here: you're given a dilapidated farm and are tasked with helping the locals of Mistria in rebuilding their community after a tragic earthquake. There are NPCs to romance, customization that applies to both your new farmhouse and your character, as well as everything from fishing to mining and farming. As always, there's a bit of mystery and fantastical sprinkled in to keep things interesting, so my best advice is to just jump in and give it a try, even with the EA tag.
The Sims 4
Live Exactly The Life You've Always Dreamed Of
For full-on freedom in terms of the kind of life you'd want, without the farming aspect, I highly recommend The Sims franchise. More specifically, The Sims 4, though if you're okay with an older and more retro experience, The Sims 2 is the way to go for those immaculate, whimsical Maxis vibes. The base game of The Sims 4, however, is free to play, and with the abundance of free custom content and mods available, you technically don't need much more than that to enjoy it. However, each expansion does add some depth and flavor to your Sims' lives: you can become famous in Get Famous, you have active careers where you follow your Sims to work in Get To Work, you can go to university in Discover University, you can start your own farm with llamas in Cottage Life, and so much more. Maybe you're more into fantasy and supernatural gameplay? Don't worry, there are several DLC that touch upon that too, from vampires to werewolves, to even magic-wielding Sims.
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As I mentioned, with mods, this can be exponentially expanded with realistic moods, personality traits, and even some more adult themes like gangs, murderers, and sellers of illegal substances. You control whoever you want, and give them the life you want them to have. There's no wrong or right way. Use cheats to get rich quickly and build your dream mansion and completely remove the need to ever tend to your Sims' needs, or suffer through a rags-to-riches story to build a legacy that will last for years and test your patience and resilience. Truly, the only limit to The Sims 4 is the player's imagination.
InZOI
A More Intricate And Realistic Life Sim
Another major player on the life simulation scene right now is inZOI, an Early Access game from KRAFTON. While the game still has some ways to go, it has improved significantly from its initial Early Access release, and its developers have shown time and time again their dedication to community feedback. InZOI lets you create in great detail your kind of Zoi, and settle them down in one of its in-game worlds. So far, the customization is one of its biggest selling points, with highly realistic graphics, modern and well-fitting clothing, and the variety of patterns and colors thanks to the color wheel function. Thanks to the AI functionalities (which I know might raise some hackles), you can generate patterns, upload objects for the game to turn into 3D decor, and use a video of your own for an animation you'd like your Zoi to perform in the studio.
With so much nuance and detail in the personalities of Zois, it's a big step forward for the life simulation genre, and undoubtedly one of the best ways to live out your dream life in a highly detailed, gorgeous world. So far, you have a pretty decent variety of different jobs to tackle, and with the money cheat, you can build incredible mansions with staggering detail. While there are certainly imperfections here and there and some room for natural drama, as the god of the game, you make the calls on what goes and what doesn't.
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