The Sims franchise has been incredibly successful since its release in the early 2000s. While the series has largely been without any real competitors, there has been a huge expansion of the life simulation genre, which continues to grow every year with even more incredible games.
It's a tough task to find that fine balance between fun and realistic while offering players the possibility to build the life they want. If any fans are looking for something to do while waiting for The Sims 5 to be released, there are plenty of games like The Sims 4 that should hit the spot.
Updated on May 13, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The Sims 4 is one of the most popular video games ever made, with a poor launch being remedied with a wealth of updates and content that have made this game the most feature-packed Sims game to date. Despite some issues that have cropped up during its development, fans are hoping that The Sims 5 remedies a lot of these issues and lets players enjoy a huge improvement over the previous title. If players find this wait to be agonizing, then there are some games that scratch the same itch in some form or the other.
27 Two Point Campus
Constructing A Campus Itches The Scratch Players Have If They Miss Sims 4's Build Mode
Two Point Campus
- Released
- August 9, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Two Point Studios
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Fans of Two Point Hospital will love playing through a sequel that takes things in a new direction while still letting players enjoy a familiar gameplay loop. Instead of a hospital, players are tasked with creating a college campus and building the facilities required to teach people the tricks of the trade and excel in their chosen field.
Players who want to enjoy a more commercial take on Sims 4's fun Build Mode will love expanding their university and making it as prestigious as possible. The elusive 3-star rating becomes harder and harder to achieve as levels become more complex, but players will love putting in the extra hours to ensure that their campus is as efficiently constructed as possible.
26 Animal Crossing: New Leaf
A Social Simulation Game That's Just As Charming As The Sims, If Not More
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
- Released
- June 9, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Platform(s)
- 3DS
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is considered by many to be the best game in the series, which is no small statement to make. The success of New Horizons could've made it the game that finally unseated this title from its throne, but a lack of post-launch support meant that New Leaf continues to be held in a higher regard by most fans.
Fans of The Sims 4 will love the charming vibe of this title, letting players control the life of a solitary boy or girl as they become a town's mayor and help turn into into a beautiful place to live. Sims 4 players may not be used to gathering materials to craft items, but players can just think of this as an elaborate way to earn Simoleons that they can use to turn a dilapidated town into something special.
25 Terraria
Fans Of Sims 4's Build Mode Will Find This 2D Take To Be Refreshing
Terraria
- Released
- May 16, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Re-Logic
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Vita, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, 3DS, Stadia, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Although Terraria may seem like a far cry from The Sims in terms of gameplay, there is still a pretty great building and town-creation mechanic here for those who are interested in crafting their own world. Terraria features a hefty dose of combat but players can always choose to peacefully build homes for themselves and their NPCs if they so wish.
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Terraria is plenty of fun as it is, but these are the best mods to download for those looking to get even more out of it.
With so much content to see and explore, players could find themselves engaged for hours. Terraria is made even better by the ability to play multiplayer, allowing players to bring their friends along for the journey.
24 Dinkum
Create A Farm And Influence The Town Around The Player, Charming In The Same Ways As The Sims
Dinkum
- Released
- April 23, 2025
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer
- James Bendon
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Survival, Crafting, Farming
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One of the best aspects of The Sims is that players can freely craft their own town if they see fit. Although they will create their own character or family at the start, they are free to explore the other pre-established families in the neighborhood and even meddle in their lives if they see fit. It's fun to have control over multiple aspects of the world and there are other games that give players this same freedom.
Dinkum is one good example, giving players the ability to make their own farm, while simultaneously helping to build and influence the surrounding town. Although this title is currently in Early Access (at the time of writing) it still has quite a bit of content to sift through.
23 Alter Ego
Control The Life Of One Person Instead Of An Entire Household
- Released: May 1, 1986
- Developer: Choose Multiple LLC
- Platforms: PC
It's amazing that a game that is solely text-driven can allow players to enjoy a great time as they simulate the life of one particular individual. Alter Ego succeeds in this regard and is easily one of the most immersive life simulation games around.
While the events present in this game might vary in quality, the addictive nature of Alter Ego mainly stems from its replay value and great writing. It's a fun and brief experience as players zoom through the life of a custom character and imagine the various scenarios that play out in this great CYOA. It may just be a single life compared to the fate of an entire household that players control in The Sims 4, but Alter Ego is a perfect game for fans of this title regardless.
22 Fallout Shelter
Build A Massive Shelter And Ensure That Its Residents Are Happy And Have All Their Needs Fulfilled
Fallout Shelter
At a glance, Fallout Shelter might seem like nothing more than a soulless cash-in mobile game that besmirches the name of one of gaming's most beloved IPs. However, it's only after players check this title out for themselves that they'll see just how engaging this game really is.
Fallout Shelter: Best Stats For Defense
Increasing a vault dweller's defense in Fallout Shelter through these stats will help them survive while questing and exploring the wasteland.
While the game does partake in some detestable freemium video game design at times, the overall experience is pretty solid and addictive. Trying to manage a shelter following the nuclear apocalypse is a blast — no pun intended — and makes for a great time indeed. Fans of The Sims 4 who want to engage with the home-building gameplay but with the context of a nuclear apocalypse will love what this title has to offer.
21 Starbound
A Sci-Fi Adventure With Shades Of Simulation Gameplay Much Like Everyone's Favorite Franchise
Starbound
- Released
- July 22, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Chucklefish
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Sandbox
Developed by Chucklefish, Starbound is very similar to Terraria in its design but features a much larger world than the hit Indie release. In fact, it features multiple worlds, scattered across a galaxy and gives players the freedom to pick and choose what and where they explore. Gamers will gain access to a spaceship that they can customize to their liking, traveling across the cosmos and landing on different planets to collect resources and complete quests.
They can even find their own personal planet and build a base just like in Terraria. It's a blast to play, features quite a bit of combat, and will keep players entertained for hours. Players who love creating entire towns in The Sims 4 will love the settlement-building elements of this game.
20 Grounded
Adds A Level Of Stress To Building A Home, Incorporating Elements Of The Survival Genre
Grounded
- Released
- September 27, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, RPG
It's rather combat-heavy compared to The Sims but players who enjoy building their own home from scratch may want to consider playing Grounded. This cooperative title sees players shrunk down to near-microscopic size and forced to contend with an array of vicious bugs that plague an expansive backyard.
Players will be able to craft items, unlock abilities, and even construct bases to help keep themselves safe from the prying eyes that stalk the tall grass. Grounded is a ton of fun to play alone but it's an absolute blast with friends.
19 Two Point Hospital
Construct A Huge Commercial Building, Serving As A Fresh Change Of Pace From The Sims 4's Domiciles
Two Point Hospital
- Released
- August 30, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Two Point Studios
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
The creators behind the amazing RollerCoaster Tycoon also came out with a brilliant title called Two Point Hospital. At a glance, managing a hospital might sound like the most boring thing in the world, but Two Point Hospital completely destroys this preconception with its imaginative gameplay.
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The hilarious diseases and addictive management gameplay on offer in Two Point Hospital make it an absolute blast. Players who want to enjoy a more commercial take on the building elements of The Sims 4 will find this title to be a blast.
18 The Partners
A Lawyer-Focused Clone Of The Sims Series
- Released: 2002
- Developer: Monte Cristo Multimedia
- Platforms: PC
The Partners is probably the most blatant clone of The Sims on the market today, but that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. It lacks the levels of polish that are present in its inspiration, but the sheer heart put into this game is pretty noticeable and its biggest saving grace.
Players control lawyers in a law firm as they strive to solve cases while also managing their personal lives as well. Once players manage to look past the somewhat janky gameplay, they can definitely have a pretty fun time with the title.