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- Games Like Animal Crossing
- Games Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Best Simulator Games Like Animal Crossing
- Best Relaxing Games Like Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing is one of Nintendo’s most beloved properties, where players live in a village inhabited by anthropomorphic animals and carry out activities like fishing, bug catching, and fossil hunting. The game is known for its relaxing gameplay and charming characters.
If you enjoyed Animal Crossing and are looking for similar games to play, here are the top 10 games like Animal Crossing that you need to check out.
10 Best Games Like Animal Crossing
10. The Sims 4 (Free-To-Play)
- Release Date: 2 September 2014
- Developer/Publisher: Maxis (now part of EA)
- Platforms: PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
In The Sims 4, players can live something of a second life. It allows you to control your own virtual people, known as “Sims,” and help them fulfill their needs and desires.
Players can build and customize their own homes and interact with other Sims in the neighborhood. The game offers open-ended gameplay and endless customization options, great for anyone who’s a fan of the life simulation genre.
Take your second life to the next level with great games like Sims you can play right now.
9. Stardew Valley
- Release Date: 26 February 2016
- Developer/Publisher: ConcernedApe
- Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
In any conversation about the Animal Crossing franchise, the other game that always gets mentioned as being similar to it is ConcernedApe’s 2016 release Stardew Valley.
In Stardew Valley, players inherit a run-down farm and must restore it to its former glory by planting crops, raising animals, and interacting with the town’s charming characters. It offers the same relaxing gameplay and vibrant atmospheres as Animal Crossing.
8. Tomodachi Life
- Release Date: 6 June 2013
- Developer/Publisher: Nintendo SPD Group No. 1
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Tomodachi Life is another life simulation game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld console, and the similarities only start from here.
In Tomodachi Life, players control their own Mii characters and interact with others in real time while exploring a mysterious island. Players can perform various activities such as feeding their Mii, dressing them up, and helping them solve problems.
Tomodachi Life is a great choice for people looking for more of the same wacky characters and humorous gameplay in Animal Crossing.
7. Harvest Moon: Light of Hope
- Release Date: 29 May 2018
- Developer/Publisher: Natsume Inc
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
In Harvest Moon: Light of Hope, players control a character who is shipwrecked on a deserted island and must rebuild the island’s dilapidated town by farming, raising animals, and interacting with the town’s colorful characters.
If this reminds you of a certain Nintendo Switch title that just came out, you’re not alone. Animal Crossing also takes place in a variety of settings, most recently a deserted island in New Horizons, though it does have a more whimsical, cartoonish aesthetic.
Still, Harvest Moon does not lack in its cast of cute characters and charming gameplay, making it a perfect choice for fans of games like Animal Crossing.
Get Harvest Moon: Light of Hope
6. My Life Story: Adventures
- Release Date: 26 March 2021
- Developer/Publisher: Big Fish Games
- Platforms: PC
It may be a little older than some of our other entries on this list, but hear us out!
In My Life Story: Adventures, players control their own character as they navigate through the ups and downs of life. Players can choose their character’s career, relationships, and hobbies, and interact with other characters in the game.
This is a key feature of My Life Story: Adventures, where players can customize their character and their environment. To this end, they can alter their character’s appearance and personality, and then decorate their home and surroundings to reflect their character’s style.
All in all, the gameplay of My Life Story: Adventures offers a certain charm that you’ll rarely find anywhere else.
5. My Time At Portia
- Release Date: 16 April 2019
- Developer/Publisher: Pathea Games
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
In My Time At Portia, players control a character who inherits their deceased parent’s workshop in the charming town of Portia. Players must gather resources, craft items, and build relationships with the town’s inhabitants to restore the workshop to its former glory.
One of the standout features of My Time at Portia is its charming and immersive world. The town of Portia is filled with interesting characters and rich with history, and the game’s colorful, hand-drawn art style helps bring it to life.
If you enjoy games that allow you to build and create while also offering a rich story and engaging characters, My Time at Portia might be the game for you.
4. Castaway Paradise
- Release Date: 14 November 2019
- Developer/Publisher: Stolen Couch Games
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Castaway Paradise is a life simulation game that was originally released on mobile and PC and later came to console platforms.
The game has similar gameplay to Animal Crossing, where players find themselves stranded on an island and must explore, interact with anthropomorphic animal characters, and help the villagers with their activities.
Players can also participate in activities such as fishing, catching bugs, and growing crops, offering a similar experience to Animal Crossing for players to enjoy.
3. Forager
- Release Date: 18 April 2019
- Developer/Publisher: HopFrog
- Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
You will undoubtedly love playing Forager if you enjoy collecting resources and managing them efficiently in Animal Crossing. We are such fans of Forager that we recommend it as one of the best games like Roblox.
The game features cute graphics and an engaging gameplay loop that includes exploration, resource management, building, combat, crafting, and puzzle-solving.
You have the freedom to do and play as you please in Forager, so you can choose to spend your time in the game doing activities like dungeon raiding or building to your heart’s content.
The game has the potential to keep you entertained for hours, days, or even weeks, as you become immersed in its colorful world.
2. Coral Island
- Release Date: 29 April 2021
- Developer/Publisher: Stairway Games
- Platforms: PC
In Coral Island, you get to experience the life of a farmer, managing crops and caring for animals. You can also work to revitalize the nearby town and form relationships with the residents.
Like in Animal Crossing, you can customize your character’s appearance and choose your own outfits. Also, you can help improve the town’s ranking on Coral Island by contributing to the local museum’s expansion and helping restore heritage sites.
Similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you also have the option to go diving in the coral reef. The game offers loads of freedom and allows you to decide how you want to spend your time.
1. Staxel
- Release Date: 30 January 2019
- Developer/Publisher: Staxel Team
- Platforms: PC
In Staxel, players take on the role of a new resident in a charming blocky village, tasked with restoring a run-down farm.
In addition to farming and village-building, Staxel also includes sandbox elements that allow players to customize the world around them. Players can explore the wilderness and participate in activities such as catching bugs, fishing, and hunting.
Staxel offers a laid-back and enjoyable gameplay experience, with plenty of collectible items to find and hobbies to pursue. The game also includes co-op functionality, allowing players to team up with friends and play together online.
We hope you enjoyed this list of the 10 best games like Animal Crossing! Each of these games offers a unique take on the life simulation genre, and all of them are sure to provide hours of laid-back fun.
