Games similar to The Sims

[it's a gabe]

I've wondered for years now what games were close to the Sims experience, but it turns out no developer has attempted to replicate it yet (as opposed to Harvest Moon, which has plenty of pretty good clones out there). However, there are lots of simulation games with aspects that are reminiscent of something in the TS franchise. So I thought I'd start a little discussion where everyone gives their list of games they think come close to replicating an aspect of The Sims and maybe even why if you feel like it I'll go first, obviously.

• Style Savvy (Style Boutique in Europe): The latest one (Styling Star) in particular, cuz not only does it have male clients, but you can also decoarte your apartment (though the interface is very limited) and your boutique. I gave a shot at the stylist profession in TS3 and it immediately reminded me of Style Savvy; except, if you enjoy the styling aspect, SS is a much better game than the stylist profession. It is designed primarily for girls, though, (it's known as Girls Mode in Japan) so it's girly to the point where the playable character can't be a man. But if you can get over that, it's one of the best styling sims out there. The series started on the DS and moved on to the 3DS with Trendsetters, but Styling Star is the best in the series as it encompasses mechanics introduced in both TS and Fashion Forward.
  
• Circadian City: I don't know much about this game because it isn't even out yet, but it already has a Steam page. It's basically a city life sim with some whackiness for spice, such as the ability to have lucid dreams (dreams play an important part in the game flow from what I could gather).
  
• Damnview: Another city life sim, except it's gritty and all characters are bipedal animals (or we could call them furries, but they look nothing like what furries are known for). All I know is that it was inspired primarily by GTA, but it's meant to focus less on an established story and more on your custom character and the life you make for them. The career premise is the same as The Sims' where you can be anything. Don't quote me on much, though, cuz I stopped using Twitter and as a result, lost touch with this game's development.
  
• Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld: Two in one cuz they're similar games. I haven't played Rimworld, but I know it's like Dwarf Fortress. DF is basically a community management sim where you must build and care for a community of dwarves. It can be played for free and there's a pretty darn active modding community. The version that's coming to Steam is more of an easily accessible one as the original release is quite uninviting, even if you use tilesets to change the ASCII aesthetic into something that's easier to interpret. Despite its difficult interface and convoluted mechanics, it's one of the best simulation games out there. You can dictate what your dwarves do to an extent and there are a lot of whacky occurences, such as when elves visit and everything goes wrong because they notice you've been cutting down trees, or when you awaken an ancient demon from digging too deep. It's highly addictive and amusing if you got the patience to learn how to play it, which is gonna take hundreds of hours. The little I know of Rimworld, on the other hand, points to it being far more accessible.
  
• House Flipper: As the name implies. Most of you might know of it. I haven't played it either, but I've seen videos. Not much to say, really. It's literally a simulator where you buy rundown houses, renovate and decorate them, and put them up for sale.
  
• Stardew Valley and Verdant Skies: I guess SDV needs no introduction. Verdant Skies is pretty similar to SDV, but it reminded me of Fire Emblem: Awakening in how you interact with NPCs. Actually, it draws from SDV even on that aspect, but the way the characters are written is what reminded me of FE. The writing is interesting, but the game is quite rough. The decorating mechanic is clunky and the player character model doesn't look too nice (worse than vanilla Sims 3 models imo). But it's like sci-fi SDV with gene splicing and whatnot. Oh, and a procedurally generated open world. I got it on a sale a while ago and while I didn't play too much, I didn't regret the purchase either.
  
• Animal Crossing: 'Nuff said.
  
• Tower Unite: Mainly a multiplayer theme park sim, but you can also have your own apartment which you can decorate at will (so long as you got the coin, which you can acquire by playing different activities).
  
• Nintendogs: Never played it, though I want to at some point. It's a pet sim and some versions even come with cats.
  
• Tomodachi Llife: This is another 3DS one. You have little to no control over your characters, but I see people saying that it's pretty amusing to watch events unfold. Basically, you create miis that go and live in an apartment building (I think) together with other miis. I think you have to have other users registered as friends on your 3DS in order for the game to work as intended, though. But I've never played it, so all I know is stuff I saw in reviews and gameplay videos. The novelty seems to wear off quickly, but still. It looks interesting.
  
• Kenshi: Perhaps the most unusual recommendation from me, Kenshi is a squad-based open world and open ended sandbox RPG taking place in a post-apocalyptic world. It has town building, decorating (though nothing impressive and mods add to that), a robust character creator, a reputation system (faction-based, though), and everything can go wrong at any given time. It's a difficult and violent game, but its interface and the way you control your characters is similar to TS. Except clunkier. The modding community is wonderful, btw. Most mods I played with felt like expansions to the game rather than stuff made by fans.

I clearly have too much time on my hands, but oh well...

Do y'all have any recommendations that remind you of The Sims for one reason or another? I'm curious about such games I'm not aware of, so lemme know as I might give them a shot when I'm able to!

[matantemetal]

I had a lot of expectations about a game called Identity.

It seemed to me to offer a lifestyle simulation with great potential. An adult game more than a kid game. But for the moment the game seems to be in very bad shape and still in early access for now.

But who knows, maybe the small team of developers behind will end up having funding and more opportunity for this crazy dream they imagined.

Have or take a look.


https://store.steampowered.com/app/792990/Identity/




I can not help thinking that if a whole community of fans like the one of the sims3 encouraged them, this game could become the game where we can create and lead the game in our own way.

Without the graphics of the era of dinosaurs, childish expressions and bugs so numerous and sometimes invasive that they simply make us give up the game.

I hope that the developers continue to work on the project and that they did not just give up following the many bad comments.

[cruinne]

For me, as always, it's Space Colony. You get a bunch of pre-made colonists and some scenarios in which to accomplish things (or there is a sandbox mode). What's Sims-like about it is that you spend your time managing their hunger, cleanliness, bathroom, sleep, and social needs while also keeping their environment nice and trying to keep them working at their various space colony jobs (so that the colony has, like, air). It's also pretty funny, so that helps.

It's older, so it's a bit more like Sims 1/2 than Sims 3/4.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/297920/Space_Colony_Steam_Edition/

[Aturchomicz]

Paralives though https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118520/Paralives/

[it's a gabe]

引用自 Aturchomicz：

Paralives though https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118520/Paralives/

omg wishlisted!

[matantemetal]

I don't really know this one but it's really talking about sims !


https://store.steampowered.com/app/867290/Crossroads_Inn/

[=CrimsoN=]

引用自 matantemetal：

I don't really know this one but it's really talking about sims !


https://store.steampowered.com/app/867290/Crossroads_Inn/

Looks a lot like the Guild series, except you only manage a tavern.

Skyrim with mods comes close to being fantasy Sims after awhile. Especially once you add something as simple as a needs mod. With the DLC, you can already buy or build your own home, marry and "have children" (although you can only technically adopt in the dlc, but mods can alleviate that).

[matantemetal]

引用自 -CrimsoN-：

Skyrim with mods comes close to being fantasy Sims after awhile. Especially once you add something as simple as a needs mod. With the DLC, you can already buy or build your own home, marry and "have children" (although you can only technically adopt in the dlc, but mods can alleviate that).

Oh thanks a lot for the infos ! Your right, i think with mods skyrim could be a very beautiful game similar to sims in a way an adding interresting quest options.