The best games that let you live the best new life

Reality is far from perfect. This is probably why many of us seek that satisfaction from video games, where everything can be controlled and min-maxed into oblivion. We can create old houses and farms in a world with very little suffering or pain, or become exactly the person we've always wanted to be with just a few clicks. Skills are built through a progress bar and XP. It's all simple, easy, and you have all the information you need to succeed.

Honestly, after a long day or stressful week, I can't blame anyone for just wanting to have a good time and not be particularly challenged by a video game. So, if you're looking to escape into a brand new virtual life for a while, there are several games that I warmly recommend exploring. They'll be particularly appealing to anyone who's a fan of life simulation games, but even if you've never touched the genre before, they're easy enough to jump into and enjoy without much introduction.

Stardew Valley

Avoid the corporate fear of becoming a farmer

Stardew Valley It's a miracle of indie games that have reached almost impossible levels of popularity throughout the years. You may recognize its signature pixel art style and vibrant colors at a glance, but don't let its simple appearance fool you. The game is full of deep messages, wholesome moments, and unexpectedly magical events.

The story is that you are a city dweller tired of working every day at Zoja Corp, and you choose to find a simpler life by moving to Stardew Valley at your grandfather's old farm that needs some serious TLC. Now, while getting to know the local residents of nearby Pelican Town, it's up to you to bring it back to its former glory. On top of that, Louis, the mayor, asks for your help in restoring the community center, which is a grind of its own. From seasonal events to the myriad of crops you can grow, ranching, fishing, mining, and daily quests from villagers, you'll never run out of things to do anytime soon. The real joy comes from watching your farm slowly grow over time, and with no rush to perform, you can do it all at your own pace. And, if you ever feel like Joja Corp is the right choice, don't worry, you can always choose to demolish the community center and join Morris in his efforts to spread Joja's word everywhere.

Coral Island

Abandon pokéo for the wonderful island life

such as in veins Stardew Valley, Coral Island A story of returning to a simpler life and leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind. As a farmer, you become the newest addition to Coral Island. A lot of the gameplay has similarities to Stardew Valley, so if you're familiar with those systems, you'll enjoy this game as well.

However, there is an additional layer to the game that focuses on protecting and cleaning the oceans, as well as discovering their secrets. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say, you won't be disappointed with the various characters you'll meet during your playthrough. There are a ton of customization options for your home, your farm, and your character, and with countless bachelors to choose from, you're primed to start a new life on this tropical island. The pet options are something worth highlighting, as you can choose from a few different options instead of just cats and dogs: lizards for any reptile fans, foxes and rabbits. If you've ever dreamed of creating a perfect garden, a beautiful flower farm, or a large farm, give it a shot.

The regions of Egypt

A cute retro farm sim with a touch of magic

Still staying within the realm of farming sims, we have The regions of Egypt. One thing to keep in mind about this game is that it's in early access, so you won't have access to everything planned for the game. However, jumping into it now already gives you very little to sink your teeth into. It has a distinct, retro-RPG pixel art style that has fans Stardew Valley And old-school anime fans will definitely love it.

All the bells and whistles of a traditional farming sim can be found here: You are given a dilapidated farm and tasked with helping the locals of Mystria rebuild their community after a tragic earthquake. There are NPCs for romance, customization that applies to both your new farmhouse and your character, as well as everything from fishing to mining and farming. As always, there's a bit of mystery and fantasy sprinkled in to keep things interesting, so my best advice is to jump in and give it a try, even with the EA tag.

The Sims 4

Live the exact life you've always dreamed of

For complete freedom in terms of living the life you want, without the farming aspect, I highly recommend it The Sims suffrage more specifically, The Sims 4However if you are fine with an older and more retro feel, The Sims 2 Those immaculate, whimsical Maxis vibes are the way to go. The base game The Sims 4Although, it's free to play, and with free custom content and mods available, you don't technically need more than that to enjoy it. However, each expansion adds some depth and flavor to your Sims' lives: you can become famous in Get Famous, you have active careers where you follow your Sims to work in Get to Work, you can go to Discover University, you can start your own farm with llamas in Cottage Life, and many more. Maybe you're more into fantasy and supernatural gameplay? Don't worry, there's plenty of DLC that touches on this too, from vampires to werewolves to magic-wielding sims.

As I mentioned, with mods, it can be expanded upon with realistic moods, personality traits, and more adult themes such as gangs, murderers, and drug dealers. Control who you want, and give them the life you want. There is no wrong or right way. Use cheats to get rich quick and build your dream mansion and completely eliminate the need to cater to your Sims, or suffer through a rags-to-riches story to build a legacy that will last for years and test your patience and resilience. Really, the only limit The Sims 4 It's the player's imagination.

in the ZOI

A more complex and realistic life sim

Now is another major player in the life simulation scene in the ZOIAn early access game from KRAFTON. While the game still has a ways to go, it has improved significantly since its initial Early Access release, and its developers show their dedication to community feedback time and time again. in the ZOI Lets you create a detailed description of your kind of Zoi, and let them inhabit one of its in-game worlds. By far, customization is one of its biggest selling points, with highly realistic graphics, modern and well-fitting clothing, and a variety of patterns and colors for the color wheel function. Thanks to the AI ​​functionalities (which I know can raise some hackles), you can generate patterns, upload objects to turn the game into 3D decorations, and use your own video for animations you want your Zoi to perform in the studio.

With so much nuance and detail in Zois' personalities, it's a huge step forward for the life simulation genre, and is undoubtedly a great way to live out your dream life in a highly detailed, gorgeous world. So far, you have a pretty decent variety of different jobs to tackle, and with money cheats, you can build incredible mansions with stunning details. While there are certainly flaws here and there and some room for natural drama, as the god of the game, you call what goes and what doesn't.