The Animal Crossing franchise has become a well-known fixture in the cozy gaming genre, so much so that it’s been incredibly disappointing that a new game for the series has not been announced yet. Of course, the 3.0 update and Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is exciting, but if you’re looking for something a little different or to fill the time until 3.0 launches, there are many other life sims with a similar feel.
Hopefully, the 3.0 update is just a little taste, and a new Animal Crossing game will be announced soon. Until then, this could be the perfect time to check out some of these other titles with very similar gameplay styles. Although none are exactly like Animal Crossing, you may find you like one of these even better.
Castaway Paradise Is An Older Game With Lots To Offer
Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And iOS
If one of the things you love about Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the tropical feeling, something I desperately need as I look out my window at a blizzard currently happening, Castaway Paradise can give you just that.
This is an older game, originally released in 2014, but its gameplay still holds up well. The graphics are of a style where you’re either going to love it or hate it, with a very blocky, voxel-like artwork.
After getting stranded on a tropical island that has been devastated by a recent storm, it’s up to you to help renovate the island into your own paradise. There are plenty of quirky villagers to chat with and do little quests for, and seasonal events to enjoy.
Dinkum Takes You To The Australian Outback
Available On PC And Nintendo Switch
For a change of scenery, Dinkum offers us a life sim experience set in the Australian outback. Once again, we get to build up a town, encouraging new villagers to come and join us in our newly growing town, while we decorate, farm, and raise animals.
It is important to note, however, that although Dinkum offers many cozy vibes in a beautiful world, it isn’t all entirely peaceful. There is a small aspect of survival game included, with crocodiles and other animals that would very much like to attack you. And, sadly, they will also attack, and kill, your pets and livestock.
Although Dinkum has been ported to run on Nintendo Switch, at the time of writing there have been many complaints about the quality of how it runs on that platform.
Galactic Getaway Has An Animal Crossing Feeling, But In Space
Available On PC In Early Access, And Announced For Nintendo Switch
If you’re looking for a game that’s been heavily inspired by Animal Crossing but takes us to a faraway world in space, Galactic Getaway could be exactly what you need. In your own peaceful pocket of space, you can start from scratch to build up your home and invite creatures to come settle in with you.
Galactic Getaway has a strong focus on multiplayer, although you can still have a great time playing solo. The game is the first title by Daniel Luu, the creator of the popular ACNH trading site, Nookazon, and is said to have originated due to his disappointment in the multiplayer options of Animal Crossing, despite his love for it otherwise.
Hokko Life Has More Farming Sim Aspects, But Still Very Life Sim
Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, And Xbox One
Hokko Life is a bit of a farming sim mixed with a cozy life sim, and has many similar mechanics to Animal Crossing. Here, we get to work on building a small town from the ground up with some unique and fun animal villagers, and some obvious inspiration or shared mechanics with ACNH.
One of the features that our reviewer unfortunately did not appreciate was that its in-game time is similar to Animal Crossing‘s real-time system, which led to her running out of things to do in a day.
However, for those of us who enjoy the building and decorating aspects, this can be a benefit, giving us plenty of time to enjoy creating our vision without having to constantly be interrupted by needing to send our character to bed or do daily tasks over and over in one session.
Critter Cove Brings Us A Cozy Post-Apocalyptic Paradise
Available On PC In Early Access
Similar to Animal Crossing, once again, players get to build up a town to attract new villagers and tourists from all over the world. The main difference is that here we are exploring a post-apocalyptic open world where we can rescue shipwrecked critters and scuba dive to salvage the remains of a destroyed civilization.
As you build up your friendships with your neighbors, you can help them find jobs to help run the community as the town grows. And, there’s plenty of humor in the game from the fun personalities of NPCs and even getting to watch tourists dive 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
Okay, I’ll admit when I first heard that the premise of Cozy Grove was to play as a young Spirit Scout stuck on an island where you have to help soothe local ghosts, I didn’t expect it to be very cozy. However, these ghosts aren’t scary; they’re simply neighbors who need a little help.
In many ways, Cozy Grove is a lot like Animal Crossing, including a clock that moves in real time. Each day, you can tackle new goals, as well as plenty of fishing, gathering, crafting, and decorating to enjoy.
Unlike Animal Crossing, there is a much greater emphasis on the overarching story taking place around you. This includes uncovering some very moving histories of these ghosts and the island itself, which adds so much to the whole experience.
Amber Isle: Where Animal Crossing Meets Dinosaurs
Available On PC And Nintendo Switch
There are so many good things to say about Amber Isle, a shop management and social life sim that lets you live alongside wonderful prehistoric animal villagers. They aren’t just dinosaurs either, with 48 different characters including dinos, Ice Age mammals, Permian amphibians, marine life, invertebrates, and more.
Unlike Animal Crossing, here you are running the only store on Amber Isle, and you need to gather, craft, and sell items to your Paleofolk neighbors. There is so much to do, from decorating and expanding your shop to helping rebuild the entire island.
Petit Planet Will Be A Free-To-Play Cosmic Life Sim
Not Yet Available, Currently Doing Playtests
I hesitated to add Petit Planet to this list, as the game is not yet available and has not announced its release date. However, it is one of the best games I have come across for its similarities to Animal Crossing, along with new game mechanics and beautiful graphics. Plus, it is going to be free-to-play.
In Petit Planet, players get their own planet to invite anthropomorphic neighbors to move to, while you make the world your own. There are lots of tasks to complete each day, including fishing and bug-catching, and as you get to know your neighbors, there will be deep and unique stories to uncover.
Although you can’t play Petit Planet yet, many streamers have been able to show what the game will be like, including streamer Min’s Meadow, who has several videos detailing the gameplay, planet design, and more for the game.
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
A must-play for Disney fans who enjoy Animal Crossing gameplay is Disney Dreamlight Valley. Much like Animal Crossing, you get to fish, gather, craft, and decorate. However, your neighbors in this valley are all familiar friends from a variety of Disney franchises.
Many players have actually swapped Animal Crossing for DDV, due to the added depth of story and constantly having so many quests to choose from in the game. It’s continuing to grow with new updates and DLC, although it can get pricey to purchase all the expansions and the main game.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Is My Number One Animal Crossing Replacement
Available On PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, And Apple Arcade
Personally, if I were to completely swap Animal Crossing for a different cozy game, it would have to be Hello Kitty Island Adventure. This cozy life sim started as an Apple Arcade exclusive game, but has since come to several platforms and has even recently released a full expansion DLC.
In Hello Kitty Island Adventure, we get to be friends and neighbors with familiar Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty herself, while also completing quests, decorating, fishing, exploring and more. It offers a little bit of everything, with a much larger map than ACNH and a bit more depth to its story.
As a relaxing life sim that is similar to Animal Crossing games, this one is my personal choice. Of course, everyone has different things they like to focus on in games, and different reasons to love cozy gaming, so take the time to look around and find what speaks to you!
- Released
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July 28, 2023
- ESRB
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E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
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Sunblink
- Publisher(s)
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Sunblink
- Engine
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Unity
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
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