Summary
- The Sims 4 might be showing its age, but Project Rene is in development, offering a mysterious future for fans.
- The cancellation of The Sims 5 has fans anxiously awaiting Project Rene, but in the meantime, players can enjoy life-sims like InZOI and Animal Crossing.
- Until Project Rene releases, players can satisfy their urge for building with games like Cities: Skylines and Paralives, or enjoy dramatic management sims like Lakeburg Legacies and Crusader Kings.
Although The Sims 4 has received constant updates and creative DLC expansions that widen gameplay options, some in The Sims fandom may argue that the game is starting to show its age. With The Sims 4 becoming a little over a decade old, Sims players are anxiously looking forward to what lies next for The Sims franchise. The future of The Sims holds a title that remains shrouded in mystery: Project Rene.
When it comes to the future of The Sims franchise, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that The Sims 5 has been canceled, and Maxis has cleared the air surrounding a definitive successor to The Sims 4. However, not all is doom and gloom for The Sims, since Maxis finds itself in the early developmental stages of a game for The Sims franchise called Project Rene. Maxis has tightened the reins of information on Project Rene, and players know very little about this title. The wait can make anyone antsy, so a curated playlist of titles is necessary to keep Simmers sane as they ache for some new content.
Even Without Project Rene's Release Window, The Sims Fans May Have a Great Month
The Sims' 25th anniversary didn't include a release window for Project Rene, but another March release may tide The Sims' fans over for a while.
Life-Sims To Play While Waiting For The Reigning Monarch of Life-Sims
Some Sims players itching for something new to play may simply want to replicate the same magic they feel when in complete control over digital avatars. Luckily, plenty of life-sims on the market offer the same quirky gameplay formula that long-time Simmers know and love. These games are comparatively fresher on the market than The Sims 4 and offer gameplay loops that keep players coming back for more and more.
InZOI
This flashy newcomer to the life-sim genre has already drawn comparisons to The Sims 4, and for good reason. Developed by Krafton, InZOI blends realistic visuals with open-ended sandbox gameplay. Players manage the lives of characters called Zois, complete with careers, relationships, social status in the form of Karma, and plenty of customization.
Where InZOI shines is its attention to detail and real-world systems. Weather, pollution, and even vehicle traffic all play roles in how a Zoi's life unfolds. With a system of status effects and multiple types of death for Zois, including car accidents, disease, and even loneliness , InZOI taps into a more grounded approach to simulation. And with the game’s roadmap promising continued updates, InZOI feels like a dynamic world still in motion. For Simmers used to controlling every little aspect of life, InZOI scratches the same itch while offering a layer of modernity.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If cozy vibes and community-building are more of the speed a player wishes for, Animal Crossing: New Horizons still reigns as a go-to life sim. It swaps out the career ladder and social system for gardening, bug-catching, and relationship-building with adorable Animal Crossing neighbors with unique personalities. Unlike The Sims, there's no real aging or death—just peaceful, open-ended play.
New Horizons gives players nearly complete control over the design of their island homes and villages. The terraforming tools and pattern systems opened up massive possibilities for creative expression. Decorating homes, visiting friends’ islands, and customizing outfits all echo the customization elements that The Sims fans adore. Though social interactions are more limited in scope than The Sims, the game offers an early rhythm that rewards daily engagement, crafting, and seasonal activities. For players burnt out on managing chaos in The Sims, Animal Crossing offers a calm, curated version of life simulation that’s equally addicting.
Why Project Rene Dodging 2025 Would Be a Blessing in Disguise
EA's next Sims entry, Project Rene, doesn't have a confirmed release date just yet, and it dodging 2025 altogether might actually be for the best.
Spin-Offs That Will Make Players Remember Why They Love The Sims
While Maxis proudly declares Project Rene as an experimental title, players who hesitate at this piece of news would benefit from looking at other The Sims titles that were equally uncharted territory. Spin-off titles in The Sims franchise were more common than most modern Sims players may think, spanning a list of titles that graced the Nintendo DS, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and even Facebook. These titles may not be for everyone, but they’re certainly full of the whimsy that makes The Sims, well, The Sims.
MySims Cozy Bundle
MySims took a bold detour from the realism of the mainline series by leaning into a chibi art style and simplified gameplay. While the Cozy Bundle is best known for its relaxed pace, it still offers customization, social interaction, and the kind of quirky storytelling that Simmers love.
In this spin-off, players help build a town from the ground up, attracting new residents based on the items and facilities they create. The emphasis is on crafting and exploration rather than status bars or career tracks. This gives MySims a more focused sense of progression. Though it’s far removed from the systems of The Sims 4, MySims remains a surprisingly fun way to enjoy the spirit of the franchise in a more bite-sized format. It’s a reminder that not all Sims titles must be cookie-cutter life simulations to be memorable, and fans may want to see more MySims titles come back.
The Sims: Medieval
The Sims: Medieval combined the fantasy of epic quests with the familiar life-sim mechanics Simmers expect. This tie-in from The Sims 3 era is a game where a Sim might rule a kingdom, solve a courtly mystery, or go on a dangerous pilgrimage—all while still needing to eat, sleep, and maintain social status. The game was such a unique take on The Sims that fans still clamor for a The Sims: Medieval sequel.
Each kingdom-building decision one makes impacts the realm’s fate, offering branching storyline possibilities and moral dilemmas. Despite being a significant departure, The Sims: Medieval proved just how flexible the franchise could be while still preserving a healthy dose of fun. If Maxis wants to be experimental for future projects, there’s a case to be made that Medieval already walked so Project Rene could run.
Games For The Builders That The Sims Raised
The Sims is well-regarded for its building mechanics, which got more impressive with every installment. Designing dream homes became its own form of gameplay, often completely divorced from household drama. While every new DLC adds Build Mode content for The Sims 4, players waiting for Project Rene can rest assured that they are games that will address their yearning to build digital homes or landscapes.
Cities: Skylines
If a player has ever spent hours tweaking floor plans in The Sims, Cities: Skylines and its 10th anniversary content might be their next obsession. Rather than households, players oversee entire city layouts—zoning neighborhoods, placing services, and managing traffic. It’s urban planning at its nerdiest, and it’s brilliant.
Unlike many city builders, Skylines offers intuitive tools and mod support that enhance the builder’s experience. It’s not about micro-managing citizens’ needs directly; instead, it’s about sculpting a living, breathing world where systems and infrastructure determine success. For Simmers who took great pride in neighborhood planning in Newcrest and terrain manipulation, Cities: Skylines is the perfect opportunity to go big or go home.
Paralives
Paralives is an indie game that hasn't even launched yet, but it's already earned a massive following. The game promises robust build tools, life simulation mechanics, and an emotional AI system that mirrors the everyday unpredictability of life. Those begging to give the game a try don’t have to wait long, since Paralives launches in Early Access later this year.
What makes Paralives worthy to compete against The Sims is its promise of build freedom. Players can manipulate walls freely, adjust object dimensions, and use curved or diagonal layouts without mods. It's basically everything The Sims 4 players have been asking for, built into the base game. For Simmers craving a fresh start with modern features, Paralives represents the most exciting new entry on the horizon without the need to wait for Project Rene.
Management Games For The Sims Players Who Live For Drama
Some Sims players don’t care about neat layouts or career tracks. They might want betrayal, seduction, scandal, and sudden death. And while The Sims 4 accommodates drama, several other management sims have raised the stakes even higher. Project Rene will most likely offer the same chances to create chaos. Still, until it rolls around, players get to enjoy the following titles while clutching their pearls over the debauchery they’ve caused.
Lakeburg Legacies
In Lakeburg Legacies, matchmaking is the core game mechanic. Players pair villagers based on personality, compatibility, and ambition—all while managing the growth of a small kingdom. The wrong couple can tank an entire town's productivity, while the right one might produce heirs with stat-boosting lineage traits. The generational gameplay and procedurally generated drama make every playthrough unique. It’s a game where social dynamics drive the simulation, much like The Sims, but with a higher focus on long-term strategy. If one has ever paired Sims just to see what kind of drama might unfold, Lakeburg Legacies feels like a distilled version of that chaos.
Crusader Kings 3
Where The Sims 4 lets a player trap their virtual ex in a pool with no ladder, Crusader Kings 3 enables a player to marry them off for political gain while plotting their downfall. This grand strategy game features dynastic storytelling, alliances, betrayals, and all the intergenerational drama a Sims player who embraces the hardcore could want. Despite its more serious tone, CK3 shares a surprising amount of DNA with The Sims. Players are still responsible for shaping the lives and legacies of digital people in CK3, complete with needs, ambitions, and quirks. It’s simply a little more murdery. If a Sims player is looking to take family drama to empire-shaking heights, this is the game to try out.
The Sims 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 26%
- Released
- September 2, 2014
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
