Games Like Animal Crossing - Discover Great Simulators!

Games Like Animal Crossing - Discover Great Simulators!

Most Animal Crossing fans love the last installment of this beloved franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. But many of them were left with a void in their hearts upon finishing it. For those gamers, we’ve written this article. 


In this Games Like Animal Crossing article, you’ll discover many games that share some mechanics with the Nintendo Switch game. Or rather, with many games of the saga. 

The Best Games Like Animal Crossing


There are a lot of games like Animal Crossing. Not all of them are great, but some are really fun and will provide you with hundreds of hours of interaction with the environment. Here are the ones we believe are the best you can try, so have a look and decide which Animal Crossing game fits your taste the most!

Doraemon: Story of Seasons


Release Date

June 13, 2019

Developer

Brownies | Marvelous

Publisher

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4


Doraemon, the popular anime of the 80s, has returned in this new itineration for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4. But in this opportunity, the perspective is completely different. 


Doraemon: Story of Seasons is a farming sim role-playing game and a crossover between the Doraemon franchise and the Story of Season video game saga. The game combines a linear story with a big focus on familial love and farming simulation elements. You’ll have to tame wild animals, renovate the farm, catch bugs, and manage resources.


In Doraemon: Story of Seasons Steam CD Key, you follow the adventures of Nobita and Doraemon. As the main character, you’ll have to participate in farming activities and daily tasks across the joyous town of Natura.


You will plow fields, grow crops, breed cattle and hens, and even horses by creating a perfect bond. All of this at your own pace! Besides, this game integrates a day-night cycle, which changes the resources you can get and introduces seasonal events.

Hokko Life


Release Date  

June 2, 2021

Developer

Wonderscope

Publisher

Team 17

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, Steam


Hokko Life is a cozy, creativity-filled community sim game, where you control a personalized character by selecting the phenotype, hair, color of skin, and more. As your customized character, after falling asleep on a train, you step off the vehicle into the town of Hokko, which is full of anthropomorphic residents and set in your new home. 


In a few words, Hokko Life Steam CD Key is the closest you're going to get to Animal Crossing due to its interactions with the people of this charming rural town. 


Your main mission is to design, build, and decorate structures and all the town's houses. Thanks to this build mode, you can create the perfect environment for people to live in complete harmony with their neighbors. You have a hammer, paints, and crafting materials, which you can use to create wonderful furniture and items for your new friends. 


Hokko Life has charming visuals that make the game smoother and more enjoyable. It’s a solid choice if you want to repeat the experience of Animal Crossing.


Spiritfarer


Release Date  

August 18, 2020

Developer

Thunder Lotus Games

Publisher

Thunder Lotus Games

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, Steam


Spiritfarer is a management sim video game set in a sandbox world featuring Stella, a Spiritfarir whose job is to ferry spirits from this plane to the afterlife. In Spiritfarer, exploration is a key part of gameplay, and there are numerous islands to scour for resources.  


Although Spiritfarer is not a simulation game as such, it shares some elements with Animal Crossing, like the need to meet the requirements of the spirits aboard your ship, providing food, recourses, and accommodations for them.


To achieve your goals in Spiritfarer Steam CD Key, you need to collect materials in your journey. You’ll have to build gardens, kitchens, and other amenities so that the spirits feel more comfortable. The new sections you create are inserted like Tetris, putting one over another. You can also get materials and resources by playing mini-games and purchasing them from vendors. 


Additionally, Spiritfarer features mining, farming, harvesting, and cooking while crossing the mystical seas in the company of Daffodil, the cat. With this friend at your side, the game offers you a two-player cooperative play. 

Garden Paws


Release Date

October 18, 2020

Developer

Bitten Toast Games

Publisher

Bitten Toast Games

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Mac OS, Steam


Garden Paws is a farming simulator sandbox video game in which you inherit the house and farm of your grandparents while they travel the world. As the house is not in the best condition, your mission is to put the finishing touch on it. To do so, you’ll need to work with Frank at the local construction shop, helping him and Mayor Wilson in building up the town. 


In Garden Paws Steam CD Key, you can play as a bunny, cat, bird, horse, dog, chipmunk, and even a dragon. All of them are painfully adorable. In a few words, Garden Paws sits between Animal Crossing and farming sims. 


You need to explore the world to get all the resources to repair and build the old farm and town. Every area is full of new items to collect, sell or wear. You can also find hidden treasures that may contain secrets. 


But that’s not all! Head to dungeons and fight against monsters on ten epic levels, and visit the Halloween island to grab more resources. 


A multiplayer mode is also available! You can join up to three friends to play online or create a creative lobby with 32 people building the town. 

Stardew Valley


Release Date

February 16, 2016

Developer

ConcernedApe

Publisher

Concerned Ape

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, Steam


Stardew Valley is a simulation role-playing game in which you must take over the deceased grandfather’s farm in the magical place of Stardew Valley. 


You manage your farm and all that it involves. Raise animals and livestock, grow crops, forage, mine, sell products, and interact with the people of the small town called Pelican Town to create a fun story. 


In this life simulator, you can communicate with NPCs, engage in relationships, and even get married. Of course, you are also free to interact with the environment by gathering resources, fishing, cooking, crafting, and exploring procedurally-generated caves where you can find creatures to combat.  


Although Stardew Valley is a single-player game, it allows up to three other players to share activities and resources. 


In short, Stardew Valley Steam CD Key has an addictive gameplay thanks to its many quests that reward you with money or a collection of materials to restore the Community Center of the town or to complete JojaMart bundles. Fans who love Animal Crossing will also love this game!


My Time at Portia


Release Date

January 15, 2019

Developer

Pathea Games

Publisher

Team 17

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Steam


My Time at Portia is a simulation action role-playing game developed by the Chinese Studio Pathea Games and set in a post-apocalyptic world. In this context, your mission is to survive and expand the city of Portia. That said, you must become the best builder ever. 


The story of this relaxing open-world adventure starts when your father abandons the farm and its workshop you now have to care for. You’ll immerse in a quest to restore the working order and undertake commissions for the inhabitants of Portia, the local town. All these villagers have their own unique personalities and backstories.


In My Time At Portia Steam CD Key, just like most farming simulation games, you need to gather different kinds of items and resources and combine them in recipes to create items in your own way. 


To achieve the goal of building a new town called Portia, you’ll get new tools to harvest and gather resources faster. With items in your hands, you can look for rewards and money. But like other games of the genre, My Time At Portia has dungeons that ask you to solve puzzles, gather valuable loot, complete quests, and more!


Definitely, My Time at Portia is a nice cross between Stardew Valley, Rune Factory, and Animal Crossing, so if you enjoyed the latter, this game is for you!

Stranded Sails: Explorers of the Cursed Islands


Release Date

October 17, 2019

Developer

Alchemist Interactive

Publisher

Rokaplay, Maple Whispering Limited

Platforms

Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Mac OS, Steam, tvOS


Stranded Sails: Explorers of the Cursed Islands is a farming simulation game. It is set in a vast open-world where you follow a linear main quest throughout in-game events based on the adventures on a tropical island. The difference between this game and Animal Crossing: New Horizons is that, in Stranded Sails, you arrive at the island by shipwreck. 


In Stranded Sails: Explorers of the Cursed Islands Steam CD Key, you’re in charge of setting up camp for the survivors. Of course, you’ll not only need to provide food but also create buildings and furniture to accommodate them. To do so, resource management is fundamental, so farming crops is one of the necessary abilities. All things considered, you’ll have to create your new life in this new land, but the ultimate goal is building a boat to escape from your destiny.   


Give your fellow castaways side quests to complete, as they are the perfect excuse to explore the surroundings and find adorable creatures, resources, and dangers as well. 


Regarding the art style, Stranded Sails has cute visuals similar to those of the Animal Crossing series’ latest installment.

Honorable Mentions


It’s true that Animal Crossing is a franchise that provides a unique approach to farming, life simulation, and relaxation. However, the console and PC games you find below still provide a very similar sensation with some important differences.

Castaway Paradise


Developer: Stolen Couch Games

Publisher: Stolen Couch Games, Rokaplay GmbH

Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS, Android


Castaway Paradise is similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons or New Leaf in several ways. In the first place, players enter an island after being shipwrecked in a storm. There, you’ll find residents who are anthropomorphic animals like ducks and pigs. Help them earn money and form friendships to advance in your new life and build your own house. 

Cozy Grove


Developer: Spry Fox

Publisher: Spry Fox, The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, macOS, Windows PC.


Ozy Grove is an indie game based around real-world time. You will have to complete a huge amount daily quests. You take control of a Spirit Scout with the mission to run through the forest of the haunted island. You’ll search for wandering ghosts and hidden secrets while collecting spirit animals. Completing tasks for them will get you logs that you use to expand the island. 

A Short Hike


Developer: Adam Robinson-Yu

Publisher: Adamgryu, Whippoorwill Limited

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS, Mac OS


A short Hike is a light-hearted, delightful indie game about exploring the territories of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. Honestly, this is not very similar to Animal Crossing regarding mechanics but very much like it in vibe. There is no pressure, limited time or a specific goal, so just make friends, swim or wander around the cliffs.    


Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town


Developer: Marvelous Aqi Inc

Publisher: XSEED Games

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch


Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is the more expansive installment in the Story of Seasons series and one that is very similar to Animal Crossing in general terms. You move to a new town in order to start your own farm. Raising animals and growing crops is the shortest path to your new home. 


Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles


Developer: Prideful Sloth

Publisher: Prideful Sloth

Available: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch


Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a great adventure through the magical island called Yonder in Gemea. This game provides you with a slow-paced experience with no threats, so you can explore the open-world island freely. 


Ooblets


Developer: Glumberland

Publisher: Glumberland, Double Fine

Platforms: PC, Xbox One


Ooblets is a creature collecting adventure set in the world of Oob, a land inhabited by magical creatures. Your story starts when you’re transported to this new land. You’ll have to compete against these creatures in dance battles to level them up and talk with the other Ooblet keepers. Enjoy the company of these little friends–they’re gentle and remind you of some characters from Animal Crossing. 

Little Dragons Cafe


Developer: Aksys Games

Publisher: Aksys Games, Rising Star Games

Platforms: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch


In Little Dragon Cafe, you play as one of the two children, Rin and Ren, in an adventure with a little dragon friend. This is a relaxing game where you get a dragon egg, which you must nurture and raise. What’s more, your duty is to run a cafe when your mother falls ill. You can also explore the world, fulfill your final wishes, and discover what happened to your mother.  

Games Like Animal Crossing Final Thoughts


Animal Crossing is a special franchise whose latest title has sold more than 20 million copies all over the globe. Due to its charisma and relaxing activities – a big part of the game – many other titles have tried to adapt its gameplay and mechanics to their saga. 


In this article, you’ve seen some of these games. Of course, there are other ones presenting a great world for different platforms, but the titles mentioned above are the closest to the Nintendo classic.


If you want to play more games like Animal Crossing or many other games of different genres, browse our site and you’ll find the title you’re looking for. If you also want to read related topics to your favorite games, feel free to do so. Besides, if you have any questions about our services, don’t hesitate to send us a message through our contact form.