Based on Metacritic ratings, these are the best of the best real life simulation games. For those who want to relax in "another life", real life simulation games.
This is an opportunity to relax with minimal stakes. While other games focus on saving a kingdom, world, or galaxy, simulation games focus on the casual experience. The Sims 4: 5 things fans liked (and 5 things fans didn't like). From farms to suburban living, the options are myriad, but not all of these games provide the serene experience that high-quality games provide. With the endless number of simulation games available and new additions popping up, it can be difficult to know what to play. Here are the best real life simulation games.
Updated October 18th, 2020 by Tanner Kinney: Life simulation games are a great form of escapism in a world that is getting crazier every day. These stable fictional worlds provide a sense of peace and tranquility that some people may not find in real life. In addition, they are enjoyable in and of themselves. The best life simulation games offer a varied experience that either fully recreates real life or focuses on one job or lifestyle. These games can be relaxing and addictive in equal measure. For those looking to try their hand at new and old games, we've added even more options to consider.
15. Mega Mall Story (85)
Now a relic of the past, shopping mall tycoon games offered immersive department store management experiences to keep guests happy. It may not be as exciting as creating mind-blowing roller coasters in Roller Coaster Tycoon, but it's still nice to see that number grow.
Kairosoft's Mega Mall Story, available on iOS and eventually ported to Nintendo Switch, offers just that. Reviews find her incredibly charming, easy to learn and addictive. The Switch port has received little coverage, but given how few shopping mall tycoon games exist today, it's nice to see a slice of what is slowly becoming ancient cultural history.
14. Two Point Hospital (85)
One of the many games inspired by classic VR simulators, Two Point Hospital lives on as the spiritual successor to Bullfrog's Theme Hospital. The game went through a tumultuous development period as the team tried to find investment from a publisher or people, but was released to the fanfare of a niche community rejoicing in the return of the classic hospital simulation game.
Each version of the game received relatively similar ratings, with the Switch version receiving the highest rating. Reviews praise her funny personality and hilarious gameplay, creating a laid-back vibe in a theme that can often be quite dark. While this game is not for everyone, those for whom it is intended will love it.
13.VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action (85)
Metacritic considers VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action a simulation game. Perhaps this is a stretch, but visual novels can be considered simulators of dialogue and communication with people. Since a lot of conversations are conducted virtually these days, it might be worth going further and chatting with fictional people, right?
VA-11 HALL-A has an incredibly well-written storytelling with tons of interesting characters to hang out with while you run your bar. The reviews praise the roller coaster of emotions that the game evokes in the player. In addition, reviews often cite it as one of the best visual novels, especially on consoles. It may not be exactly a simulation game, but it is still a piece of dystopian life that people might want to experience.
12. Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale (86)
VR games are, at their best, capable of offering some of the very best life simulations currently available. When VR works, it seems like you are transported to another reality. But when it doesn't work, dissonance can be a serious problem. Fortunately, Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale seems to be considered a solid enough VR challenge.
Four players will work together and serve a series of increasingly demanding clients on insane levels in a fantasy world. This is a step away from the traditional cooking game, but can be seen in the same realm as Overcooked! or Cook, Serve, Delicious. Reviews mention that the game is great for multi-person play and fun for groups of friends with multiple VR headsets.
11. Game Dev Story (86)
Game Dev Story, available on PC, Switch and mobile, is one of the many Story games from Kairosoft. As the name suggests, the game is all about video game development, but it focuses more on studio management than on the intricacies of game creation. From hiring the right mix of staff, picking a good genre in pre-production, to fixing bugs before release, your studio can rise to the top of the industry by releasing better quality games. Over time, new consoles come out and you have to adapt to them. For anyone who loves business simulations and video games, this is the perfect little game.
10. The Sims 3 (86)
It seems like there is a new Sims game coming out for every generation of consoles, and The Sims 3 appeared during the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 generations. Sequels to simulation games can be weird, with limited space to expand ideas, usually focusing instead on improving the existing one. formulas. While technically true, the game expands customization tools, interactions with other Sims (and people), and life goals and aspirations in a way that feels like a leap forward rather than just a step.
9. Animal Crossing: Wild World (86)
For a game that has nothing but capitalist self-interest in acquiring debt, paying it off, and repeating the process to get a bigger home, the series is loved by many and is a solid sequel.
8. Reigns (87)
In Reigns, the crossroads between the royal monarch and Tinder, you take on the role of the monarch of a fictional medieval kingdom, who can choose to listen to or ignore advisers by swiping right or left in this game for mobile, PC and Switch. Every decision has consequences and a balance between the four pillars of the kingdom - the church, the people, the army, and wealth. If one of them becomes too powerful or absent altogether, the reign of the king comes to an untimely end. Other random scenario events can affect the kingdom and need to be considered as a good ruler should.
7. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator (88)
Dating Sims is one of the more prolific subgenres, with a huge selection of games to choose from, with new ones being added every day. Rarely does a game stand out as much as Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, but it deserves it. The visual novel, developed by Game Grumps, follows a single father who has just moved with his daughter to a dead end where several other single fathers live. After that, a romantic relationship begins. At first glance, the game looks like dads meet dads and uses a well-crafted and compelling story of social anxiety and toxic masculinity to tell the story.
6. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (88)
This is the fourth iteration of the series, so it makes sense that the last handheld installment in the series is the highest rated Animal Crossing game.
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The series recognized that people are proud of their cities and empowered them to make all kinds of changes, giving the player the role of mayor. Full authority over urban projects was a welcome addition, and charming Isabelle acted as a devoted assistant and secretary.
5. Stardew Valley (89)
Sometimes a series of simulators doesn't manage to make the improvements and iterations that fans want, and then another developer comes in. This is exactly what happened with Stardew Valley, a small-town farming simulation created by Harvest Moon-inspired lonely man Eric Barone. The game takes the formula set by Harvest Moon, gives it a 2D pixel art style, and almost refines every aspect of the game. Farming, mining, fishing, and relationships are all complex systems with rewarding progress. The addition of monster fighting and a "main quest" makes the game a complete package that can take you out of your corporate life.
4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (90)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game released on a perfect theme at (as Nintendo envisioned) the perfect time. It may not be as extensive in features and customization as New Leaf, at least at launch, but New Horizons has finally brought fans of the series a console game. Divided into a handheld / console game, the nature fits perfectly into the game and has been extremely successful commercially.
In the game, players will have to turn a desert island into a real paradise. Players have every right to change the terrain and create exactly the world they want to create, with a little hitch in the process. The series may not be considered the best game by fans of the series, but newcomers and casual audiences alike loved everything New Horizons had to offer.
3. The Sims 2 (90)
Perhaps as a result of the smaller iterations becoming less impressive as the series progressed, The Sims 2 scored higher than The Sims 3 and lower than The Sims. The Sims 2 was an exercise in adding depth, giving Sims more specific personality types and even influencing them with horoscopes and aspirations. The game also has the ability to directly control Sims, which was missing in the original. There is no "plot" in the game, but some of the pre-built districts have character arcs and small storylines.
2. Epic Astro Story (91)
Another game from Kairosoft, Epic Astro Story is one of their best work. The game is a combination of city management and space exploration game. Players will have to build a space colony and ensure its prosperity in this sci-fi setting.
To get more loot and land, players must explore space. The system that sets this game apart from other Kairosoft games is the combat system that breaks down the typical city management gameplay.
1. The Sims (92)
Naming your game after the genre it belongs to is bold but original, and The Sims confirms that. The 2000 game had a big impact on subsequent games. This microscopic view of SimCity allowed players to control and influence the lives of their Sims, from the actions they could force them to take to the home environment they provided them with. The game was new in most of its actions at the time, even if it seems outdated now.
