Games Compilations The best life simulators of all time

The best life simulators of all time

VGTimes has compiled a list of the best life simulation games of all time. A life simulation game (from English Life simulation games) is a genre of games where you manage the life of a person, animal, or fictional creature. Essentially, it is a subset of strategy games. The most well-known games in the genre are Spore and The Sims.

Simulators can touch on various aspects of real life. While Spore focuses on biology, The Sims emphasizes the social component. However, there is also a broader understanding of the term. For example, there are games that address specific themes. These include life simulators of a YouTuber, cleaner, builder, cat, or even a tree. There can also be games touching on the theme of life in Russia or completely exotic ones like the homeless simulator Hobo: Tough Life.

As for animal life simulators, there can be various options. Tamagotchi games, where you need to raise a pet, are quite popular.

The Sims 4

Strategy, God Simulator, In real time, Business / Management, Isometric, Adult game, Free game

September 2, 2014

VGTimes: 7.2/10

Players: 7.5/10

Steam: 87/100

Metacritic: 67/100

A simulator of social and public life, a continuation of the popular game series The Sims. The character builder will open new facets of creativity thanks to an...

Stardew Valley

Role-playing game, Simulation, Business / Management, Indie

February 26, 2016

Players: 8.9/10

Steam: 98/100

Metacritic: 88/100

Stardew Valley is a farmer simulator with elements of a role-playing system, a sandbox in an open world with an isometric camera and a visual style reminiscent of...

Farming Simulator 22

Business / Management, First-person view, Third-person view

November 22, 2021

Players: 7.2/10

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 75/100

Farming Simulator 22 is a continuation of the Farming Simulator line of annual farmer simulators. The new part has taken a big step forward: new crops and machines...

Crusader Kings 3

Strategy, In real time, Historical, Top-down view, Simulation

September 1, 2020

VGTimes: 8.5/10

Players: 8.6/10

Steam: 91/100

Metacritic: 86/100

Crusader Kings 3 is a continuation of the series of global strategies by Paradox about the Middle Ages. When creating it, historically accurate customs and morals...

Fallout Shelter

Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, Post-apocalyptic, Free game

June 14, 2015

Players: 7.5/10

Steam: 88/100

Metacritic: 71/100

Fallout Shelter is a free-to-play side-view management strategy game set in the Fallout universe. In the game you have to build your own shelter and take care of...

Farming Simulator 19

Simulation, Business / Management, Third-person view

November 19, 2018

Players: 7.1/10

Steam: 94/100

Metacritic: 69/100

Farming Simulator 19 is a continuation of the Farming Simulator line of annual farmer simulators. The game includes three different open worlds in which you can...

The Planet Crafter

Simulation, Adventure, First-person view, Futurism (Future), Action, Cooperative (co-op)

March 24, 2022

Players: 8.7/10

Steam: 96/100

Metacritic: 81/100

An adventure survival simulator set on a hostile planet. The main task is to make the planet suitable for life. To do this, you have to explore it, collect minerals...

Spore

Role-playing game, Simulation, Action, Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, Third-person view, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Sandbox

September 4, 2008

Players: 8.7/10

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 84/100

Car Mechanic Simulator 2021

Business / Management, First-person view, Simulation, Educational game (Education), Third-person view

August 11, 2021

Players: 8.3/10

Steam: 96/100

Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 is an educational car simulator with elements of a racing arcade with a first-person view. The sequel features new modes “Barn Finds...

The Sims 3

Strategy, God Simulator, In real time, Business / Management, Isometric

June 2, 2009

Players: 7.7/10

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 73/100

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator

Simulation, Indie, Side view, Fantasy, Medieval era, Exploration, Casual game

September 21, 2021

Players: 8.9/10

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 74/100

A...

Sims 2

Strategy, God Simulator, In real time, Business / Management, Isometric

September 14, 2004

Players: 8.1/10

Sims 2 — a real life simulator in which the player controls little people (sims) and arranges their homes. Sims need to go to work, furnish their home...

Graveyard Keeper

Simulation, Action, Business / Management, Top-down view, Fantasy / Medieval, Indie

August 15, 2018

Players: 8.4/10

Steam: 76/100

Metacritic: 68/100

Graveyard Keeper is a simulator of a true medieval cemetery manager. In the game world, heroes await death in coffins and entire tombs of your cemetery. Each new...

House Flipper

Simulation, First-person view, Arcade, Indie, Business / Management

May 17, 2018

Players: 7.4/10

Steam: 94/100

Metacritic: 62/100

House Flipper is a fun management simulator with a first-person view, where you become a one-man repair crew. In the game you will buy abandoned houses that are in...

Youtubers Life

Simulation, Strategy, Business / Management, Isometric

February 2, 2017

VGTimes: 5.6/10

Players: 6.9/10

Steam: 77/100

Youtubers Life is a management simulator with an isometric camera view. The game is very similar in gameplay to the Sims series, only here you have to become a...

Plague Inc: Evolved

Strategy, Futurism (Future), Indie, Business / Management, Simulation

September 18, 2015

Players: 8.7/10

Steam: 94/100

Plague Inc: Evolved is an updated version of an unusual simulator with elements of management strategy for modern platforms. The game will give you the opportunity...

My Time at Portia

Role-playing game, Simulation, Action, Adventure, Business / Management, Third-person view

January 15, 2019

Players: 8.4/10

Steam: 91/100

Metacritic: 73/100

My Time at Portia is an action-adventure role-playing game with a third-person view and elements of a management simulator. You have to go to a colorful open world...

Hobo: Tough Life

Role-playing game, Simulation, First-person view, Cooperative (co-op), Survival, Open world

July 25, 2017

Players: 8.7/10

Steam: 84/100

A survival simulator where you can experience the essence of the life of a homeless person and try on this difficult role. The events of the game take place in the...

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante

Role-playing game, Indie, Simulation, Adventure

March 4, 2021

VGTimes: 7.5/10

Players: 8.8/10

Steam: 90/100

Metacritic: 82/100

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is a narrative role-playing game set in the pages of the protagonist's diary. You will find a story about a ruthless world...

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Arcade, Simulation, Adventure, In real time, Business / Management

March 20, 2020

VGTimes: 9.0/10

Players: 8.5/10

Metacritic: 90/100

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a continuation of the Animal Crossing series of exciting management simulators. This time you will enjoy life on a beautiful desert...

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

Action, Adventure, First-person view, Puzzle, Indie

April 27, 2022

Players: 9/10

Steam: 94/100

Metacritic: 90/100

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is an improved version of the office adventure with a first-person view. You will play the role of office plankton Stanley, who...

The Isle

Online, Action, MMO, Third-person view

December 2, 2015

Players: 7.4/10

Steam: 81/100

The Isle is a multiplayer action game with a third-person view and survival elements. You have to plunge into the prehistoric world and try on the role of various...

Reigns: Her Majesty

Board / Group Game, Fantasy / Medieval, Card game, Visual novel, Logic

December 6, 2017

Players: 8.3/10

Steam: 83/100

Metacritic: 81/100

Reigns: Her Majesty is a continuation of the card board game, where you will become the ruler of a small kingdom and take part in deciding important elections on...

Gone Home

Adventure, First-person view, Visual novel, Indie

August 15, 2013

Players: 5.6/10

Steam: 77/100

Metacritic: 86/100

Gone Home is an atmospheric adventure with a first-person view. The game tells the story of Caitlin Greenbriar, who returned home from a trip to Europe. She soon...

The Sims: Medieval

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval

March 22, 2011

Players: 8.4/10

Metacritic: 78/100

Sims: Medieval is a real-time medieval simulation game. Your adventures determine the future of your kingdom, transforming it into a prosperous utopia or a war-torn...

VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

Action, Adventure, Anime / Manga, Visual novel

June 21, 2016

Players: 9/10

Steam: 97/100

Metacritic: 81/100

VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is a unique adventure bartender simulator in a sci-fi cyberpunk setting. The events of the game take place in the distant...

7 Sins

Simulation, In real time, Third-person view, Adult game

May 10, 2005

Players: 5/10

7 Sins is a real-time game for adults with simulation elements. The main character of the game, Luke (real name Jay Falcon), wanting to achieve popularity in the...

Monster Prom

Simulation, Adventure, Business / Management, Visual novel

April 27, 2018

Players: 9.6/10

Steam: 93/100

Metacritic: 73/100

Monster Prom is a multiplayer visual novel with dating simulator elements, designed for four players. The game takes place in a high school for monsters, where you...

Second Life

Online, MMO, First-person view, Third-person view, Virtual Reality (VR)

June 23, 2003

Players: 7.9/10

Second Life is a virtual space in which account holders can spend time and choose activities of interest. A large world opens up before each player, through which...

Animal Crossing: Wild World

Simulation, Third-person view

March 31, 2005

Players: 10/10

Metacritic: 86/100

Animal Crossing: Wild World is a third-person simulation game from Nintendo EAD. The game is published by Nintendo of Europe GmbH. Sometimes the game is also called...

Singles: Flirt Up Your Life!

Simulation, Strategy, In real time, Third-person view, Isometric, Top-down view, Adult game

February 11, 2004

Players: 10/10

Singles: Flirt Up Your Life! — game for adults with an isometric view. You have to choose one of the available characters (there are more than 10 male and...

Guild (Gold Edition)

Simulation, Strategy, Business / Management, Third-person view, Isometric, Top-down view, Collection, Fantasy / Medieval, Historical

February 10, 2009

Guild (Gold Edition) is a historical strategy game with an isometric view. At the age of 13, you leave your parents, go to the city to get a job and with the goal...

Virtual Villagers: The Secret City

Strategy, In real time, Business / Management, Isometric

May 14, 2008

Steam: 90/100

Virtual Villagers: The Secret City is an isometric strategy game with business simulation elements from LDW Software, LLC. The game is published by LDW Software...