Want to play some Animal Crossing but can’t get your mitts on New Horizons? Don’t worry, we have your back. Here are games like Animal Crossing that will help fill in the time until your local retailer gets New Horizons back in stock. …Or Ring Fit Adventure, you lazy slob!
The Sims 4
Games Like Animal Crossing
That’s right, we’re coming in hot with the most Simsational experience in gaming. Pretty sure we’re legally obligated to mention The Sims 4 at least once per week, or else Yami will beat us with a stick.
Since we’re all working remotely, that actually means we have to beat ourselves with sticks while she supervises via Skype. It’s super unsettling.
In any event, The Sims 4 takes the same principle of chirpy life simulator and raises the stakes. In Animal Crossing, your worst fear is being stung by wasps or assaulted by creepy crawlies in the night, but in The Sims 4, you’re liable to starve, drown, catch fire or be judged for your shabby attire.
On the plus side though, you can raise a family and/or hang out with baby Yoda, as seen above. Ahh, the joys of modding…
Garden Paws
Games Like Animal Crossing
Do you love the idea of hanging out in a community of animals, but abhor the fact that you have to be a lousy human?
If so, you might just be a furry. You might just also like this totes endearing indie game, that casts you as a kawaii kitty, frisky fox, brisk bunny or a god-forsaken bear.
Move into grandparents’ farm and live your life as you see fit; explore caves for treasure, open a store to sell your wares, craft new tools, even catch and tame animals to keep as pets. That last one is kinda sick, considering the circumstances, but it’s still pretty darn cute.
Stardew Valley
Games Like Animal Crossing
Of course we were going to include Stardew Valley. It’s our go-to, and with good reason. Games like Animal Crossing? This game. Games like Harvest Moon? This game. Games like Barbie’s Sparkling Ice Show? This game. Just trust us on this.
Obviously, Stardew Valley isn’t quite as laidback as Animal Crossing, but its cheery atmosphere and bustling township will evoke familiar feelings deep within you. There just happens to be a bit more pressure, what with your farming duties and daily routine, as opposed to Tom Nook’s ‘pay me back when you feel like it’ demeanor.
Fun fact: there is no punishment for never paying off your debt. Spend your money on furniture and fake paintings instead, like all the cool kids.
Harvest Moon
Games Like Animal Crossing
You gotta give props to the OG. Harvest Moon has had almost thirty entries since its inception in the mid ’90s, but despite this, millennials will still dismiss it as being a ‘Stardew Valley clone’. Feel free to attack them, if you’re so inclined.
As to which one of them you should play, it’s a very subjective matter, and hard to narrow down. Friends of Mineral Town on the GBA is one of the most popular editions among fans, but the newer titles are much more streamlined and intuitive. The only drawback is you have to deal with the title being Story of Seasons instead of HM, and it just sounds wrong no matter how many times you say it.
Seabeard
Games Like Animal Crossing
No, we aren’t just going to rely on farming sims.
In Seabeard, you are a swashbuckling captain following in your grandfather’s storied steps as you sail from place to place, trying to restore dilapidated islands. This free-to-play title has many parallels to Animal Crossing, with a major emphasis on completing quests assigned by the locals.
In exchange, you’ll receive rewards, and eventually add more members to your merry crew. Frankly, it makes us long for the opportunity to set off on a pirate adventure with Goldie, Erik and Alfonso, but if they can’t even pluck a few weeds in our absence, we shudder to think how they’d fair on the open seas…
Fantasy Life
Games Like Animal Crossing
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Is this a pigeon? Wait, I’m getting mixed up now.
Should you want your simulator to be a little bit more action-packed, Fantasy Life is a wonderful alternative that combines RPG-style combat and progression with the community aspects found in Animal Crossing. When you begin, you select from a variety of different jobs that operate similarly to classes. Herein lies the beauty: each job has very different tasks and playstyles that really set them apart.
Want to protect the town? Become a paladin and vanquish woodland creatures. After a more equable approach? Opt for an angler and take up the rod. It’s up to you, and if you grow tired of your current job, you can swap things up by changing professions whenever you please. If only it were that easy to escape the horrors of retail.
Castaway Paradise
Games Like Animal Crossing
Alright, so you want a game that’s like Animal Crossing.
That’s really, really, reeeeeeeally like Animal Crossing, to a shameless extent. If you’re that resolute on your desire to scratch that itch, you have two options.
The first, is to just play Animal Crossing. Like, come on, it’s even on your phone now. The second is to play Castaway Paradise, an indie game from Stolen Couch Studios.
In it, you wash ashore on an idyllic paradise populated by animals. Make your town the best it can possibly be, while catching bugs, shaking trees, and casting your reel out to snag the big fish.
It’s kind of like playing Animal Crossing if you crossed your eyes; it all looks and feels the same, but it’s slightly different and you’re a little bit ashamed of yourself for bothering in the first place.
Castaway Home Designer
Games Like Animal Crossing
But wait, there’s more!
If you love customizing bedrooms and making imaginary critters happy, you will be thrilled to know that there’s even an imitation for Animal Crossing’s spinoff title, Happy Home Designer! It’s exactly the same, except without the Happy. I suppose Sad Home Designer wouldn’t have as much marketability, though.
In this free-to-play title, you focus on making the island’s cribs as swagtastic as possible. Listen to the residents’ likes and dislikes, earn gems for more items, and grow your monopoly until you lord over everyone with an iron fist. Ahh, the power of interior design.
Fingers crossed for Castaway amiibo Festival to be announced soon.
That’s all for games like Animal Crossing! Hope you enjoyed the list. If not, Zipper T. Bunny will find you tonight.
