The best games to let you live a perfect new life

Reality is far from perfect. It's probably why so many of us seek satisfaction in video games, where everything can be controlled and minimized into oblivion. We can create pristine homes and farms in worlds with very little unhappiness or pain, or become the exact person we've always wanted to be with just a few clicks. Skills are built using progress and experience indicators. It's all simple, easy, and you have all the information you could possibly need to be successful.

Honestly, after a long day or a stressful week, I can't blame anyone for just wanting to have a good time and not get particularly obsessed with a video game. So if you're looking to escape into a whole new virtual life for a while, there are a few games that I highly recommend checking out. They'll be especially appealing to anyone who's a fan of life simulation games, but even if you're new to the genre, they're intuitive enough to enjoy and jump into without much of an introduction.

Stardew Valley

Escape the corporate fear and become a farmer

Stardew Valley is a marvel of indie gaming that has reached almost impossible levels of popularity over the years. You may recognize its signature pixel art style and vibrant colors at first glance, but don't let its simplistic appearance fool you. The game is full of deep messages, wholesome moments and unexpectedly magical events.

The story goes that you're a city dweller tired of your day job at Joja Corp and decide to seek a simpler life by moving to Stardew Valley, to your grandfather's old farm that needs some serious TLC. Now it's up to you to restore it to its former glory while getting to know the locals of nearby Pelican Town. Plus, Mayor Lewis is asking for your help in restoring the Community Center, which is a blast in itself. From seasonal events to countless crops to grow, farming, fishing, mining, and daily tasks from villagers, you'll soon run out of things to do. The real joy comes from seeing your farm slowly grow over time, and you can do everything at your own pace without having to rush out. And if you ever feel like Joja Corp might have been the right choice after all, don't worry, you can always choose to tear down the Community Center and join Morris in his efforts to spread the Joja word everywhere.

Coral island

Leave Pokyo for the wonderful island life

In the same vein as Stardew Valley, Coral island is a story about returning to a simpler life and leaving the hustle and bustle of the big city behind. As a farmer, you become the newest addition to Coral Island. A lot of gameplay elements have parallels with Stardew Valley, so if you're familiar with those systems, you'll be drawn into this game as well.

However, there is another layer at play that focuses on protecting and cleaning the oceans, as well as uncovering their secrets. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say that you won't be disappointed by the variety of characters you'll meet during your gameplay. There are tons of customization options for your house, your farm, and even your character, and with countless bachelors to choose from, you're ready to start a new life on this tropical island. The pet options are also worth noting, as you can choose from several different options instead of just a cat and a dog: lizards for all reptile fans, foxes and even rabbits. If you've ever dreamed of creating a perfect orchard, a beautiful flower farm or a large ranch, try this.

Fields in Mistria

Beautiful Retro Farm Sim With A Touch Of Magic

We still remain in the realm of farming sims Fields in Mistria. One thing to keep in mind with this game is that it's in early access, so you won't have access to everything planned for the game yet. However, jumping into it now will take quite a bit of work. It has a distinctive, retro-RPG pixel art style that fans love Stardew Valley and old-time anime lovers will surely adore.

You'll find all the bells and whistles of a traditional farming sim: you're given a dilapidated farm and tasked with helping the locals of Mistria rebuild their community after a tragic earthquake. There are NPCs to romance, customization that applies to both your new farm and your character, as well as everything from fishing to mining and farming. As always, there's a bit of mystery and fantasy thrown in to keep things interesting, so my best advice is to just jump in and give it a go, even with the EA label.

The Sims 4

Live exactly the life you've always dreamed of

For full freedom to live the kind of life you want without the farming aspect, I highly recommend The Sims franchise. more precisely The Sims 4but if you don't mind an older and retro experience, The Sims 2 is the way to get those pristine, whimsical Maxis vibes. Basic game The Sims 4however, it's free to play, and with the amount of free custom content and mods available, you technically don't need anything more to enjoy it. However, each expansion adds some depth and flavor to your Sims' lives: you can become famous in Get Famous, have an active career following your Sims to work in Get To Work, study at Discover University, start your own llama farm in Cottage Life, and much more. Maybe you're more into fantasy and supernatural games? Don't worry, there are several DLCs that touch on this too, from vampires to werewolves to magic-wielding Sims.

As I mentioned before, with mods this can be expanded exponentially with realistic moods, personality traits, and even some adult themes like gangs, murderers, and drug dealers. You control who you want and give them the life you want them to have. There is no wrong or right way. Use cheats to get rich quick and build your dream mansion and completely eliminate the need to care for 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 is the player's imagination.

inZOI

A more complex and realistic life Sim

Another major player in the life simulation scene is Right Now inZOIan 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 have proven time and time again their dedication to community feedback. inZOI allows you to create your Zoi species in great detail and settle them in one of his game worlds. Customization is one of its biggest assets so far, with highly realistic graphics, modern and well-fitting clothing, and a variety of patterns and colors thanks to the color wheel feature. With AI features (which I know can cause some hiccups), you can generate patterns, upload game objects to turn into 3D decor, and use your own video for an animation you'd like your Zoi to perform in the studio.

With so much nuance and detail in Zois' personalities, it's a big step forward for the life simulation genre and undoubtedly one of the best ways to live out your dream life in a highly detailed, gorgeous world. So far, you have a pretty decent range of different tasks to tackle, and you can use the money cheat to build incredible mansions with stunning details. While there are sure to be imperfections here and there and some room for natural drama, as the god of the game you'll be questioning what works and what doesn't.