Summary
Although we’re only halfway through the 2020s, there have been plenty ofinteresting new releases since the start of 2020. Across each and every genre of gaming, great new titles have been released.
The life simulator genre has had many exciting new titles so that players aren’t stuck enjoying the likes ofStardew Valley, even though this game has also received plenty of updates in recent years. Though the 2020s are nowhere near ending, these are some of the best life simulators released so far, ranked by how enjoyable they have been for players.
While the majority of life simulators have players creating a life for themselves solo, there are a few games in the life simulator genre that allow the player to simulate their life with others.Paliais one great example of this, which was released in 2023, where players were able to explore a world in which they could also visit other players in.
The game relies heavily on the community and, therefore, to earn certain resourcesin this cozy simulator, a player will have to work with other real-life players to chop down a tree or mine a rock. However, there are plenty of other relaxing activities to do together inPalia.
My Time at Sandrockis another life sim title from Pathea Games, with this title taking playersto a desert communitywhere the town is rundown and the water supply is draining.
Besides the incredible story unraveling inMy Time at Sandrock, players are also able to spend time by themselves by meeting the townsfolk of Sandrock that they can perhaps start a family with or even explore the desert to do a spot of sandfishing.
Fans of Disney who wish they could live in the magical worlds that these characters are from were lucky to be introduced to an all-new life simulator game in the 2020s calledDisney Dreamlight Valley. As the name of this game suggests,Disney Dreamlight Valleyis a life simulator title that puts the player into a valley where they must tend to the world and make it inhabitable so that they can finally bring back the various Disney Mascots.
Players can define their Disney style by decorating themselves and the Valley however they see fit while also forming bonds with the Disney and Pixar characters of their childhood, as well as plenty of Disney characters from the new films.
The 2020s have been a great time for players who enjoy farming simulators with life simulator mechanics.Coral Islandhas impressed players with its interesting take on the farming simulator genre, but also due to the large amount of content that has continued to be added, even after its full release.
Coral Islandhas plenty of captivating characters for the player to meet, withlots of potential bachelors and bachelorettes. Like any life simulator, players are able to give gifts to befriend and then eventually marry one of these characters to finally start a family while running their farm. This is only one element ofCoral Islandto enjoy, with cleaning the ocean being incredibly fulfilling.
Players may be surprised to see a Grand Strategy title likeCrusader Kings 3when talking about life simulator games. However, although players are expected to wage wars inCrusader Kings 3,there are plenty of life-simulator elements to the game, too, as players must go much deeper than wars as they have to manage their kingdom and the intrigue of court.
Those who want to successfully keep their kingdom whole will need to quickly find themselves a potential spouse to start having children to keep the kingdom to their blood. Players can even host various parties or even encounter various events that may see certain things happen to themselves or their family.
WhileFields of Mistriamaynot have been fully released yet, the current content within the game already highlights it as an incredible life simulator that will take players by storm when it eventually fully releases during the 2020s.
With an adorable pixel art style that mimics the likes of classic simulators such asHarvest Moon,Fields of Mistriaalready has plenty to keep players enthralled. Even if the characters cannot be fully bonded with yet, they already have staple personalities, and the player is already tasked with lots of activities to see the town of Mistria flourish once more.
Few games have been a possible contender against the popularity ofThe Simsfranchise, thoughInZOIshows itself to be a potential competitor for this life sim that has surprised players. Releasing in early access in 2025,InZOIalready has a lot of content for players to enjoy, from creating their own characters and starting a life for themselves.
With the player taking on the role of the creator of this world, they can freely take control of not only their own made characters but also any others they meet in the world, as well as customize the world around them. WithInZOIalso taking a more realistic approach to allowing players to make lifelike people, players can make some of the most throughout stories as long as they have the creativity.
Unsurprisingly, out of all the life simulators to be released so far in the 2020s, the best that players have continued to return to isAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. As the only Animal Crossinggame available on the Nintendo Switch, players have become entirely invested in their island, as this life simulator has given players the most control out of all theAnimal Crossinggames.
Not only can players be a little pickier about which animals are allowed to set up on their island inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, but players are also given the tools to create ponds and cliffs to sculpt the island to look like their perfect vacation spot. In between all this, players can once againspend their days catching bugs, fishing, or digging up fossils.
