Highlights

• Slice of Life games provide a relaxing and wholesome experience, offering players a chance to enjoy relatable storylines and immersive atmospheres.
• Popular examples like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and The Sims 4 break the visual novel format and provide diverse gameplay options.
• These games have become go-to choices for players looking to escape real-world issues and find cozy and comforting experiences. There are plenty of options available to suit different preferences.

There are plenty of video games on the market that are full of thrills, fast pacing, and plenty of action. While these types of games are fun in their own right, sometimes players want a chance to relax and enjoy storylines that are relatable. Slice of Life games have the appeal that they do because they often have relaxing atmospheres and are great at eliciting certain emotions from the player.

Related: The Best Real-Life Simulation Games, According To Metacritic

Though games in this genre can often be found in a visual novel format, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and The Sims 4 are great examples that break that mold. There has been a surge of players looking for ways to take their minds off of real-world issues, and using gaming as a way to do that. Slice of Life games are becoming a go-to when it comes to finding something cozy and wholesome, and there are plenty of options to choose from.

Updated September 14, 2023 by Mark Sammut: In order to make it easier to play the best slice of life games, each project's specifications have been added, including links to store pages if they exist.

14 House Flipper

In House Flipper players will work their way up the renovation ladder before they can purchase their first property. Players can take on various jobs from nearby residents, to upgrade their office and save up for their first big property purchase.

Jobs can range from cleaning up, painting walls, installing appliances, and furnishing the entire property. Players can knock down walls and completely recreate the spaces. In House Flipper players will use various tools and their trusty tablet to tackle any job that comes their way. House Flipper also has several DLC available, that allow players to decorate apocalypse bunkers, gardens, and large mansions and factories.

13 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Even though debt is the primary objective of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is paying off debt, it is still a great example of a Slice of Life game. Players are able to create their own island paradise in the latest installment of the franchise.

While players' island homes may have plenty of resources, other isles can also be explored by hopping on a plane. There are also plenty of adorable animals to meet and befriend. Players can also visit the islands of other players making the deserted island getaway a little less deserted.

12 Calico

Players can manage their own cat cafe in Calico. Calico is a day-in-the-life community simulation game full of adorable cats and friendly neighbors. While cats are the primary animal type in-game, there are plenty of critters to find and fill the shop with. The main task in Calico is to bring the town's cafe back to life.

Players can unlock furniture and different recipes, and build their ideal café. There are also plenty of regions to explore, from snowy mountains to the big city. Calico is brimming with magic and players can even use potions to make their favorite character large enough to use as a ride.

11 Planet Zoo

Fans of classic games like Zoo Tycoon and Planet Coaster will enjoy Planet Zoo. In Planet Zoo, players are able to construct the ultimate zoo experience for the animals and guests. Unlike some games where animals just exist in the world, these animals have individual personalities.

Related: Planet Zoo: Things Every New Player Should Do First

Players are able to conduct research to better understand the needs of each species to help them thrive. Planet Zoo gives players the option to focus on the big picture or the smallest details. Players can also look forward to releasing future generations of animals back into the wild.

10 The Sims 4

The Sims franchise has been a fan favorite for years, and The Sims 4 continues that trend. The popular life simulation game allows players to unleash their imagination and create endless numbers of stories. In The Sims 4 players can customize their sims and watch and control all the big and small life events they experience.

Players are also able to build and decorate their sim's dream home, no matter how extravagant or simple it may be. Fan-made mods can also be added to the game to make an even more realistic gameplay experience.

The Sims 4's base game is free-to-play.

9 Haven Park

In Haven Park, players will help Flint take over his family's park. The player will need to gather resources as they explore the map and rebuild the broken features. Players will also have to fill each campsite with various amenities to make guests happy.

Haven Park also has plenty of side quests hidden around the park such as hunting for treasure. There are also plenty of campers to meet along the journey each with their own unique personalities.

8 Cozy Grove

Cozy Grove is a life simulation game that takes place on a constantly changing haunted island. Players take on the role of a Spirit Scout and must wander the island every day in search of hidden secrets. Players will also be tasked with helping the local ghosts around the island find peace.

Related: Games To Play If You Enjoyed Cozy Grove

In addition to camping and helping spirits, players can collect spirit animals, craft decorations, and much more. Cozy Grove also has plenty of side quests that are designed to provide months of entertainment.

7 Unpacking

Unpacking is a puzzle game that focuses on the experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and putting them into their new home. Players are able to decorate each room of their new home and create visually satisfying spaces.

In addition to decorating, Unpacking also invites players to learn more about the protagonist's previous life. Where other slice of life games immediately introduce players to the character they will live as Unpacking encourages players to discover who the character is through their belongings. Players will have a chance to uncover the character's story through eight different houses.

6 Stardew Valley

The widely popular country-life sim Stardew Valley gives players the chance to run their own farm. While building and maintaining the farm is one of the primary elements in the game, there are plenty of other things to do around the world. Players can talk with and potentially date and marry some of the NPCs in Stardew Valley.

There are also plenty of festivals to attend and mysteries to uncover. Stardew Valley also offers couch and online cooperative options, meaning players can experience the entire game with friends.

5 Bugsnax

Players will explore a whimsical island full of adorable creatures made of food in Bugsnax. Players will take on the role of a reporter, whose contact Elizabert Megafig has vanished leaving her camp in shambles. The residents of the camp have spread out around the island due to personal grievances with one another.

It is up to the player to help them overcome their disputes and personal hurdles, as well as to feed them Bugsnax. Players can explore the island at their own pace, cataloging the various creatures in every region. During that process, they will find there are plenty of mysteries and the occasional boss fight spread across Bugsnax's world.

4 Slime Rancher

In Slime Rancher players take on the role of Beatrix a young rancher who sets out for life in a distant world. The world is inhabited by colorful smiling slimes, and it is up to players to collect as many of the adorable creatures as they want.

Related: Best Slimes In Slime Rancher, Ranked

Players can grow crops and raise chickadoos to feed the hungry slimes. There are also daily quests that offer bonus rewards. The world is full of hidden secrets waiting to be found.

Slime Rancher 2 is also a great slice of life game.

3 My Time At Portia

In My Time At Portia, players will begin their new life in the eponymous town as they seek to restore their family's neglected workshop. Players can complete commissions, grow crops, raise animals, and befriend the other locals in the post-apocalyptic land. There are plenty of members of the town to befriend and potentially date.

To restore the workshop players must gather resources as they explore the world. Farming is another option as well. Players can grow and nurture their crops and animals in the empty woodland area around the workshop. In addition to working, players can also turn their new home into their dream space with furniture and other decorations. The community element in My Time At Portia also brings the game to life. NPCs have their own daily routines and stories to share.

2 A Short Hike

In A Short Hike, players can explore a small mountain and are free to choose whichever path they want. The game encourages players to hike at their own pace, and this is reflected by the story and its main theme.

There are plenty of characters to meet along the way who either help on the journey or add a bit of color and personality. Players can stop to fish, search for hidden treasure, or use cliffs to soar over the island.

1 Lake

Players will take on the role of Meredith Weiss, who exchanges her busy software company career to fill in for her dad at the local mail carrier in Lake. Lake takes place over a two-week span of time and invites players to explore Providence Oaks, Oregon. There are a few familiar faces as well as new people to meet in the town, and players can decide who they spend time with. In addition to befriending some locals, players can also start a romantic relationship.

Players have the option to drive around the scenic lake at their own pace or let autopilot do the work. There are various after-work activities to experience from hanging out with friends, helping neighbors, or just staying home with a book. Lake invites players to choose their own story, without worrying about wrong or right endings. At the end of the two weeks, players will be able to decide if Meredith will return to the city or stay in the town.

More: The Best Simulation Games Ever Made, According To Metacritic