Though its origins aren't as well documented as other video game genres, the life simulation genre has been around since at least the early 1980s, with the Commodore 64 game Little Computer People being one of the genre's first truly popular examples. This little game paved the way for some of the best life simulation games, and though a good few came out over the next 15 years or so, it wasn't until The Sims was released in 2000 that the genre hit the mainstream.

Letting players customize their character, create their very own house, and live out their wildest suburban fantasies, The Sims became an immediate smash-hit and revolutionized the life simulation genre. With every new The Sims or expansion pack, new mechanics and features are added that enhance the experience, and while every fan has their own favorite entry, there's no denying that each one is at the very top of the life sim genre. But The Sims isn't the only life sim series, and there are a few franchises that Sims fans just need to check out.

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The Best Homemaking Life Sim - Animal Crossing: New Horizons

new-horizons-animal-crossing

A franchise that needs no introduction, Nintendo's Animal Crossing series is one of the most popular life sims out there, and for good reason. Since its debut in 2001, Animal Crossing has transported players away to their own fantastical village, filled with colorful residents. Each Animal Crossing game has given fans something new, from the ability to upgrade shops to the ability to craft new items and furniture. For those who still haven't tried Animal Crossing, the most accessible game in the franchise is the most recent release, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which sees players sculpt and grow their very own island village. While some fans prefer the 3DS' Animal Crossing: New Leaf, New Horizons does still offer a complete, addictive Animal Crossing experience, especially following all the free updates added over the last few years.

The Best Farming Life Sim - Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley Loading Screen

Another life sim that doesn't really need explaining, Stardew Valley is one of the best comfort games out there, and it is also widely considered to be the best farming sim around. With a bright and beautiful pixel art style, Stardew Valley immediately set itself apart from the crowd when it was released all the way back in 2016. Since then, Stardew Valley has become renowned for its wealth of content, and its addictive core gameplay loop that sees players tend to their farm and visit the local town. As all good life sims should, Stardew Valley gives players plenty of solo adventures and social interactions to enjoy, with tons of complex characters to meet around every corner.

The Best Dating Sim - Arcade Spirits

The character customization for Arcade Spirit

Set in an alternate timeline where the 1983 video game crash never happened, Arcade Spirits may not be the first dating sim fans think of, but it's certainly one of the best. Aside from an incredibly unique setting, Arcade Spirits also boasts some of the best gameplay of any visual novel, with plenty of customization, and a great variety of different choices to make, each one affecting the game's story significantly. Arcade Spirits is fun, lighthearted, well-written, and the perfect dating sim for a casual player looking to try out something new.

The Best Supernatural Life Sim - Graveyard Keeper

Graveyard Keeper Logo title screen

Possibly the most complex game on this list, Graveyard Keeper is often viewed as a simple Stardew Valley clone, but it's so much more. In Graveyard Keeper, rather than tend a farm, players tend a gravesite and are tasked with growing their funeral business by any means necessary. Graveyard Keeper is a much darker game than Stardew Valley, with players being allowed to make some ethically questionable decisions, such as using human meat for the town's food supply or polluting the water by throwing bodies in it. It may not be perfect, but Graveyard Keeper is definitely unique.

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