TOP 5 Best Games for Fans of The Sims in 2022

by Mike Alexander / Lists, Articles, The Sims 4 / 30 Apr 2022

Maxis’ and EA’s life simulator game The Sims has been delighting fans for over 20 years. In that time, there have only been 4 main releases, but each title has had a years-long tail full of new content and support thanks to expansion packs and later DLCs.

If you’re still squeezing some enjoyment out of The Sims 4, which came out in 2014, then you’re probably either going back to create new characters or wringing every last drop of fun out of the many DLCs available for it.

But, if you’ve done everything there is to do there, and you’re looking for a new game to scratch that life simulator itch, then I have a few helpful suggestions on this list of the Top 5 Best Games for Fans of The Sims in 2022. If you’re ready to get back to building and micro-managing, then let’s get started!

Two Point Hospital

Two Point Hospital, the hospital tycoon-style game from Two Point Studios and SEGA, isn’t exactly like the Sims. There’s no family unit to watch over or houses to build. However, it does share the same spirit of silly fun, allows for the creation of wacky hospitals and equipment, and requires careful management of your workers and patients.

It has many differences, but Two Point Hospital definitely scratches that same itch that The Sims does, and it’s a ton of silly fun to play. It is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Farm Together

Milkstone Studios’ Farm Together is a life simulator of sorts. Instead of focusing on domestic, suburban life, it focuses on farm life. In it, you will build your farm from the ground up, diligently planting and tending to your many plants and adorable animals in hopes to become the best farmer you can be.

Farm Together, like The Sims, can be incredibly relaxing as you go about your daily chores and fix any small issues that come up. Another thing that Farm Together shares with The Sims is in-depth building and customization! Build and decorate your farm and the surrounding land however you like, with an array of materials and decorations. Farm Together is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Project Zomboid

At first glance, The Indie Stone’s zombie game from 2013, Project Zomboid, isn’t immediately similar to The Sims. But, once you dive into this world and you see what it takes to survive, the two games do share quite a lot in common. In Project Zomboid, you are required to tend to your survival needs, such as cooking and learning important skills. Like The Sims, this is done by practice and reading books to increase your knowledge.

In action, Project Zomboid feels like a typical life sim, but with the added stress of surviving a zombie apocalypse and going out to scavenge for resources. If you love The Sims but want something with a little more “bite”, then look no further than Project Zomboid, which is available on PC.

Fallout Shelter

Bethesda Softworks’ Fallout Shelter is a game that is both bigger and smaller than The Sims simultaneously. In it, you will do your best to build a perfectly optimized vault to house and protect as many wasteland survivors as you possibly can. The Sim’s similarities begin to show when you’re managing your citizens.

Each one has a set number of points in each skill, and each of those skills can be trained by building special rooms and sending them there to learn and grow. You’ll also add levels to your vault, build facilities to manage housing, food, and water, and occasionally fight off a hostile invasion of irradiated monsters. Ok, maybe The Sims doesn’t have that last one, but it’s here in Fallout Shelter, and it adds a layer of danger that makes the rest of the gameplay weighty and impactful. Fallout Shelter can be played on Android and iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Animal Crossing

If you play The Sims for the good vibes, light management, and endearing character interactions, then hoo boy does Nintendo have something just for you. Their Animal Crossing series has been delivering those good feelings and experiences to players since the Nintendo 64 days. In each Animal Crossing, you’ll play as a new villager in a town full of anthropomorphized animals, each with their own personality. You’ll complete day-to-day activities and help build out your village with new citizens, locations, and things to do!

Each entry in the series has added to experiences that amplify the fun and relaxation to be had, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons from 2020 is the latest and the best entry in the franchise. It is only available on Nintendo Switch, but if you have one and you want a fun, sweet life simulator game, then New Horizons is the game for you.

Mike Alexander

Mike has been playing video games since he was able to hold a controller, having been fascinated by Sonic 2 on his mom’s Sega Genesis. That fascination and passion for the art form has grown exponentially nearly 30 years later, and he doesn’t see that fading away anytime soon.
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