Summary
- The Sims franchise's enduring popularity showcases the love for creating and growing virtual families.
- Disappointment in The Sims 4 not being on the Nintendo Switch opens opportunities for similar games.
- Games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley provide unique, engaging alternatives to The Sims.
The Sims is one of the most beloved life simulation franchises of all time. The sheer amount of love this game receives even after the botched launch of the fourth mainline entry shows the passion people have for this series. The allure of creating virtual people and helping them grow from toddlers to adults while establishing a family of their own makes for a highly captivating gameplay loop that continues to capture the attention of many fans to this day.
The Sims 4: 25 Mods That Improve Child Gameplay
Child Sims can sometimes feel limited in The Sims 4. These mods help enrich gameplay and liven things up for the kids.
It's a shame that EA didn't make the effort of porting The Sims to the Nintendo Switch. While it's true that this portable console is far from a graphical powerhouse, it should be more than competent enough to run The Sims 4. However, even if players can't play one of the biggest life simulation games around on the Switch, they can always check out other video games that channel a lot of the energy that makes The Sims such a special game.
5 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Befriend Villages And Turn A Desolate Island Into Something Beautiful
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the greatest video games that came at a perfect time. When the entire world was quarantining in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest Animal Crossing game let them enjoy a peaceful and zen time as they turned a dilapidated island into the retreat of their dreams. Players can visit other islands and hang out with their friends, which was a boon during the quarantine period.
While the post-launch support for this title may have disappointed many fans, there's still a lot to enjoy for players who check out New Horizons now. Players can spend days decorating their island into something magical while interacting with the townsfolk and forming bonds with the island residents. It plays like The Sims on a smaller scale, making it more of a personal game than EA's popular life sim title.
4 Stardew Valley
Maintain A Farm And Form Relationships With The Townsfolk, Leading To Something Special
Stardew Valley
The beauty of indie games can be seen in the rampant success of Stardew Valley, with Eric Barone's masterpiece challenging a lot of Harvest Moon's magic around a time when this IP was going through a tough time. The charming pixel graphics, the relaxing gameplay of tending to a farm, and the endearing nature of the townsfolk ensure that players can spend hundreds of hours in this title without getting bored.
While Stardew Valley may lack the multi-dimensional gameplay of The Sims, it more than makes up for it with a lot of heart. The simple act of interacting with other characters and helping a relationship blossom into something special is way more compelling than it has any right to be. This, coupled with some RPG-lite elements and zen farming gameplay, ensures that Stardew Valley will occupy a soft spot in the hearts of many Sims fans looking for something comfortable yet different at the same time.
3 Fallout Shelter
Help A Bunch Of Survivors Live In A Nuclear Shelter, Keeping Them Happy In The Process
Fallout Shelter
Most people scoff at the idea of spinoff mobile games of their favorite franchises, and certain issues did crop up for Fallout Shelter when it launched for mobile phones. However, once the aggressive monetization model was toned down a bit, players were treated to a unique game that let players conduct a humane Vault experiment of their own. Unlike the twisted nature of the Vaults that players are familiar with, Fallout Shelter lets players try out a fun spin on this concept.
The Sims 4: 12 Best Celebrity Storylines
Fans can partake in a variety of celebrity storylines in their Sims 4 playthroughs with the following ideas.
Players are tasked with helping numerous Vault Dwellers live out a satisfying life in these nuclear fallout shelters by ensuring that their wants are taken care of. This is easier said than done, especially since resources are scarce and must be replenished at all times while improving a Vault. The SPECIAL system is used brilliantly to add some personality to each Vault Dweller, which makes Fallout Shelter a game perfect for fans of The Sims who want to check out a similar game set in the post-apocalypse.
2 Two Point Hospital
Forming Hospitals And Curing Patients Is More Engaging Than Most People Would Assume
Two Point Hospital
- Released
- August 30, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Two Point Studios
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
It's clear after the first few hours of Two Point Hospital that the developers at Two Point Studios were channeling everything they learned from their work on RollerCoaster Tycoon. Implementing these gameplay systems to the working of a hospital made for an interesting simulation game where players had to construct rooms, form a diagnosis, and provide treatments for comical illnesses.
Despite the game seeming rather simple at first glance, it doesn't take long for Two Point Hospital to show the true depth of its gameplay. Being economical about using spaces and giving patients satisfactory treatment is critical to ensure that the player's hospital can turn over a profit and complete its additional goals with ease. Fans of The Sims will love the management side of things in this game, with Two Point Campus serving as a much-welcome evolution of this formula.
1 Virtual Families 3: Our Country Home
Control A Virtual Character And Help Them Become A Part Of A Loving Family
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, Mobile
- Release Date: September 17, 2020
- Developer: Last Day of Work
- Genre: Life simulation
The Virtual Families series may lack polish, but it makes up for this with a lot of heart. It's unfair to expect the same level of technical fidelity as The Sims, but fans who don't mind checking out a life simulation game that was made on a budget will love what Virtual Families 3: Our Country Home brings to the table. The game's difficulty can be hard to get used to but is something that channels the energy of the first Sims game.
Players must be on top of their character at all times if they don't want them to run out of money, starve, or fail to form meaningful bonds. It can feel unfair to meet an end time and time again, but players will get the hang of things after a few failures and finally embark on a rewarding journey to form a legacy.
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The Sims
Display card tags widget Display card system widgetDisplay card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widgetSystems
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Released
- February 4, 2000
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS2, GameCube, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
3 Images -
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The Sims 2
Display card tags widget Display card system widgetDisplay card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widgetDisplay card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Released
- September 14, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALPHYSICAL- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Platform(s)
- PC, macOS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS, PS2, PSP, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
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Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra infoRating block community and brand ratings Image
The Sims 3
Display card tags widget Display card system widgetDisplay card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widgetDisplay card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Released
- June 2, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALPHYSICAL- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
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Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra infoRating block community and brand ratings Image
The Sims 4
Display card tags widget Display card system widgetDisplay card community and brand rating widgetDisplay card open critics widget Display card main info widget
7 /10Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Released
- September 2, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONDIGITALPHYSICAL
