Best Life Simulation Games to Play

For those looking for a relaxing "other life" experience, real-life simulation games are a low-stakes starting point for unwinding. While other games are focused on saving the realm, the world, or the galaxy, simulation games focus on the ordinary experience.

Here are the best life simulation games!

Best Life Simulation Games 2024

The Good Life

From the unique mind of Swery, the developer behind games like Deadly Premonition, comes a distinctive life simulation game that has a main storyline while also tasking players with living their lives in a small town. That's exactly what The Good Life brings to the table, and given its director's history, it's easy to see why the game is so eccentric.

Unpacking this game's gameplay systems can be quite odd, and the story itself isn't all that gripping either. But this game adds a unique flavor that makes it worth checking out for fans of life simulation games. Players should be prepared for some confusing game design choices and unengaging gameplay, but there's still a lot of heart in The Good Life, and that's not immediately obvious at the start.

The Sims 4

The Sims 4 had the most difficult launch in the series; the game was almost entirely lacking in meaningful content, and it also had a number of its own issues that really held back the whole experience. Many fans felt the game was inferior to The Sims 3 in every way, which showed just how disappointing this release truly was.

Over time, the release of many patches, content packs, and expansions made The Sims 4 much more fun, but that still won't undo the damage caused by the game's disastrous launch. It may not have an impressive rating, but people who love the gameplay loop of life simulation games will find The Sims 4 to be one of the best games to check out in this space.

My Time At Portia

While this game won't appeal to everyone, fans of life simulation games will feel right at home with this charming indie title. My Time at Portia doesn't look all that impressive at first glance, but players who decide to immerse themselves in this game will have a truly great experience.

Exploring this world's history and taking part in crafting recipes is surprisingly engaging. This game's aesthetic is also quite pleasant, making for a pretty healthy package for players to unwind with after a long, stressful day.

Not Tonight

Brexit, the UK's decision to leave the European Union, was one of the biggest events in the political landscape, being extremely divisive. Not Tonight brings a rather interesting perspective to this major political event and its potential consequences.

Players who love Papers, Please and want to try more games in the same vein should definitely try Not Tonight. Its interesting perspective on the consequences of Brexit, seen through the eyes of a European security officer, creates a rather timely setting.

Reigns: Her Majesty

Reigns is one of the most innovative and simple simulation games players can check out. The idea of controlling an entire empire through nothing more than a Tinder-like swiping mechanism is surprisingly fun.

The sequel puts a queen at the center of events this time, but it definitely lacked some of the innovations of the first title. Still, it's a great game that brings a bit of novelty to its predecessor's established mechanics.