12 Games like Animal Crossing You Must Try
Aug. 2, 2024The Animal Crossing games have become quite a hit among Nintendo gamers, and many games have tried to provide a similar experience to the Nintendo life-sim! After all, while fast-paced games are always fun, some days you want to take care of a farm and house at your pace and befriend people. And, if you can’t have that Animal Crossing experience, these few games will undoubtedly help achieve something similar. So with that, let’s take a look at the best games like Animal Crossing right here!
1. Stardew Valley
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
The first game on this list is Stardew Valley, which some might find odd. However, Stardew Valley is one game that shares a cozy vibe similar to Animal Crossing. The goal is simple – you inherit your Grandfather’s old farm and try to maintain it by reviving the dead farm field.
Ultimately, you also get to befriend townsfolk, create a large farm, and manage its upkeep through various seasons! Extremely cozy, this is one of those games like Animal Crossing that lets you play it at your own pace.
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
Cozy Grove is a lovely life-sim game that resembles Animal Crossing from the get-go. You play as a Spirit Scout, helping ghostly campers on a haunted island.
With charming hand-drawn visuals, you explore the island, complete quests, and cultivate relationships with the adorable island inhabitants. The game features relaxing gameplay and a heartwarming storyline, just like the Animal Crossing games!
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
If you want games that feel pretty similar to the experience Animal Crossing provides, Hokko Life is the closest you can get! It is a charming life-simulation game where you can unleash creativity as you build and customize your dream town.
With colorful,voxel-based visualsand a wide range of customization options, you can enjoy a relaxing experience, bringing your dream town to life.
Platforms:PC
Dinkum is another game on this list that shares a stark similarity to the gameplay of Animal Crossing. And if you’ve played either of these two games, you’ll immediately notice them! It is a charming, immersive video game set in a world with colorful characters, lush landscapes, and captivating adventures.
You can explore, build, and customize homes while interacting with friendly NPCs and embarking on delightful quests. And yes, you also haverotating seasonswhich makes the entire deal even better.
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
A 3D simulation RPG, My Time at Portia is a charming experience set in a lovely world. As a builder, you restore your father’s workshop and fulfill commissions to expand the town of Portia. You uncover the town’s secrets through farming, crafting, and exploration while interacting with its quirky inhabitants.
Portia shares some similarities with games like Animal Crossing, where you have to build things, meet with people, and overall try to have a cozy experience.
Platforms:PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Coral Island is another farming and life simulation game similar to certain features of Animal Crossing. This relatively newer entry is set on a picturesque island. Players can farm, fish, mine, and build relationships with the island’s inhabitants.
With a beautiful setting and diverse activities, the game offers a tranquil escape, allowing players to create their ideal tropical paradise.
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a charming farming simulation game where you can build and manage your farms in a delightful rural town. Cultivate crops, raise animals, and even form relationships with the townsfolk in this game.
Your ultimate goal is tocreate your own idyllic countryside life, focusing on creativity and exploration. And yes, while it doesn’t feature the exact gameplay of Animal Crossing, you can still experience certain portions of that game.
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a life simulation game in which players explore a world inspired by the Disney universe! The game features enchanting landscapes, allows players to interact with beloved Disney characters, and embarks on exciting adventures.
From building and customizing their own dream home to participating in fun activities and events, players can create unforgettable memories in this immersive and delightful experience. If you do decide to try one of the best games like Animal Crossing, you should also check out newDisney Dreamlight Valley codes.
Platforms:PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Ooblets is a whimsical farming and creature-collecting game where players cultivate crops, befriend quirky creatures called Ooblets, and engage indance-offswith other characters in charming, vibrant environments. With its delightful art style and lighthearted gameplay, Ooblets offers a relaxing and adorable experience for players of all ages.
We’ve previously featured Ooblets ingames like Pokemon, and we feel it deserves an entry in this list, especially considering how similar it feels to the gameplay of Animal Crossing in some aspects.
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
While on the tenth position, an amazing game like Animal Crossing is Castaway Paradise. It is a vibrant life simulation game set on a tropical island. You can farm, fish, and explore the beautiful surroundings while interacting with anthropomorphic animal villagers.
With its amazing art and relaxing gameplay, Castaway Paradise offers a delightful escape to a sunny paradise filled with activities and friendships.
Platforms:PC
A reasonably new game on this list, Go-Go Town! is a city-builder and a life-sim that draws inspiration from games like Animal Crossing and city builders. As mayor, you ensure the town’s growth by creating housing and tackling various time-sensitive tasks. If you don’t want to do tasks, you can always chill out and catch some fish!
Platforms:PC
The last game is a cozy farming sim similar to games like Animal Crossing. Sun Haven allows you to build and manage virtual farms while interacting with various characters. It offers a relaxing yet immersive experience with colorful visuals, engaging gameplay, and an emphasis on community-building. A perfect game if you want to just breathe.
And that wraps it up for the best games like Animal Crossing! While you won’t find an exact 1:1 experience, you will see the coziness that exudes from the Nintendo life-sim in these games. So, let us know in the comments below if you’ve tried these games or plan on trying them!
Meet Sampad, Beebom’s in-house video game enthusiast and writer. With two years of freelance experience, he has passionately crafted articles about the games he loves. You can find his writings on Sportskeeda, Gamingbolt, and GGTalks.
During work hours, he covers the latest gaming news, creates how-to guides, and occasionally shares video game reviews. In his free time, he enjoys building Gundam model kits, planning his next cosplay, and play his favorite RPG games.
