10 Cozy Life Sims to Play While Waiting for a New Animal Crossing Game

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The Animal Crossing series is hugely popular and known for its relaxing gameplay, which is why fans are eagerly awaiting a new installment. While the upcoming 3.0 update and a version for the Switch 2 are great news, if you’re looking for something fresh to play or to keep you occupied until then, there are plenty of other life simulation games that offer a similar experience.

We hope the recent 3.0 update is just a preview of what’s to come, and that a new Animal Crossing game will be announced soon. In the meantime, why not try some similar games? While none are quite the same as Animal Crossing, you might even discover a new favorite!

Castaway Paradise Is An Older Game With Lots To Offer

Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And iOS

If you enjoy the tropical vibe of Animal Crossing: New Horizons – which is especially welcome when you’re stuck looking at snow, like I am right now – Castaway Paradise offers a similar experience.

Although this game first came out in 2014, it’s still fun to play today. The art style is quite unique – it uses a blocky, almost pixelated look that some people will really enjoy, while others might not.

So, I just got shipwrecked on this tropical island that got totally wrecked by a storm, and now it’s my job to rebuild it into something awesome! There are tons of really interesting villagers to talk to and help out with small tasks, plus they have cool seasonal events happening all the time. It’s a lot of fun getting to know everyone and making the island my own little paradise.

Dinkum Takes You To The Australian Outback

Available On PC And Nintendo Switch

I’m really excited about Dinkum! It’s a life sim where you get to live in the Australian outback, which is a cool change of pace. Basically, you build up a little town and try to get people to move in. It’s all about decorating, farming, and taking care of animals – the usual cozy stuff, but with an Aussie twist!

I absolutely love how cozy and beautiful Dinkum is, but it’s not totally peaceful, which is actually kind of cool! There’s a bit of a survival element to it – you’ve got to watch out for crocodiles and other wildlife that will try to attack you. It’s a little heartbreaking, but they’ll also go after your pets and farm animals, so you really need to protect them!

Galactic Getaway Has An Animal Crossing Feeling, But In Space

Available On PC In Early Access, And Announced For Nintendo Switch

If you enjoy games like Animal Crossing and are looking for something set in space, Galactic Getaway might be perfect. You’ll get your own quiet corner of the galaxy where you can build a home and attract alien creatures to live with you.

Galactic Getaway is designed with multiplayer in mind, but it’s also enjoyable to play by yourself. It’s the first game created by Daniel Luu, who also made the well-known Animal Crossing trading site, Nookazon. He was inspired to create Galactic Getaway because he wished Animal Crossing had better multiplayer features, even though he loves the game.

Hokko Life Has More Farming Sim Aspects, But Still Very Life Sim

Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, And Xbox One

Hokko Life blends the farming simulation genre with the relaxing elements of a cozy life sim, sharing similarities with Animal Crossing. In the game, you rebuild a town from scratch, populated by charming animal villagers, and you’ll notice some familiar gameplay elements inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Our reviewer wasn’t a fan of the game’s time system, which, like in Animal Crossing, progresses at the same rate as real time. This meant she quickly exhausted all the available daily activities.

For players who like building and decorating, this is a good thing. It allows them to focus on creating without constantly being interrupted by repetitive tasks like putting their character to bed or doing the same chores over and over again.

Critter Cove Brings Us A Cozy Post-Apocalyptic Paradise

Available On PC In Early Access

Like the game Animal Crossing, you’ll build and grow a town to welcome new residents and visitors. However, this game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where you’ll rescue stranded creatures and dive underwater to find treasures from a lost civilization.

As you get to know your neighbors, you can help them find work, which is great as the town expands. The game is also full of funny moments, thanks to the quirky characters you’ll meet and even the silly things tourists do – like jumping into the ocean!

Cozy Grove Tasks You With Helping Bring Back Joy While Soothing Local Ghosts

Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, And iOS

Honestly, when I first heard about Cozy Grove, I wasn’t sure what to think. The idea of being a Spirit Scout stuck on an island helping ghosts didn’t exactly scream “cozy” to me. But let me tell you, these aren’t the spooky, jump-scare kind of ghosts! They’re more like neighbors who just need a little help getting their lives back on track.

Cozy Grove shares a lot of similarities with Animal Crossing, like a game clock that matches real-world time. Every day brings fresh tasks, and you can spend your time fishing, collecting items, making crafts, and decorating – there’s always something to do!

Compared to Animal Crossing, this game focuses a lot more on a central storyline. You’ll discover touching stories about the ghosts and the island, which really enhances the overall experience.

Amber Isle: Where Animal Crossing Meets Dinosaurs

Available On PC And Nintendo Switch

Amber Isle is a charming shop management and life simulation game where you get to live with a delightful community of prehistoric creatures. It’s not just dinosaurs, though! You’ll meet 48 unique villagers, including everything from Ice Age mammals and ancient amphibians to marine life and invertebrates.

This game is different from Animal Crossing – you manage the only shop on Amber Isle! You’ll need to collect materials, make items, and sell them to the people who live there. There’s plenty to do, including customizing and growing your shop, and even helping to restore the whole island.

Petit Planet Will Be A Free-To-Play Cosmic Life Sim

Not Yet Available, Currently Doing Playtests

I was reluctant to include Petit Planet because it isn’t out yet and doesn’t have a release date. Still, it’s easily one of the best games I’ve seen that feels like Animal Crossing, with fresh gameplay ideas and stunning visuals. Best of all, it’s planned to be free to play.

In Petit Planet, you create and customize your own little world, inviting cute, animal-like characters to live there. Each day brings new things to do, like fishing and catching bugs, and you’ll build relationships with your neighbors, revealing heartwarming and personal stories along the way.

Even though Petit Planet isn’t available to play yet, several streamers have given viewers a preview of the game. For example, Min’s Meadow has shared multiple videos showing off the gameplay, planet designs, and other features.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Brings Familiar Disney Characters To A Cozy Life Sim

Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and iOS

If you love Disney and enjoy games like Animal Crossing, you’ll definitely want to check out Disney Dreamlight Valley. It’s similar to Animal Crossing – you can fish, collect items, make things, and customize your surroundings. But instead of random villagers, your neighbors are beloved characters from all your favorite Disney movies!

A lot of players are now choosing DDV over Animal Crossing because DDV has a more engaging storyline and always offers plenty of quests. The game is still expanding with new updates and downloadable content, but buying everything can become expensive.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Is My Number One Animal Crossing Replacement

Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, And Apple Arcade

If I had to pick another relaxing game to play instead of Animal Crossing, it would definitely be Hello Kitty Island Adventure. It began as a game only available on Apple Arcade, but now you can find it on many different platforms, and they just released a big expansion pack!

Hello Kitty Island Adventure lets you become friends with Hello Kitty and other beloved Sanrio characters as you build a life alongside them. You can go on quests, decorate your space, fish, explore, and enjoy lots of different activities. It has a bigger world to discover and a more involved story than Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

If you’re looking for a relaxing game like Animal Crossing, this is my top pick! But everyone enjoys different things in games, and has their own reasons for loving a cozy experience. So, take some time to explore and find the game that’s perfect for you!

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2025-12-01 05:04