12 Best Games Like Animal Crossing To Play

Animal Crossing is arguably the king of social simulation video games. Since its release, it has grown a very healthy and loyal player base of millions.

In Animal Crossing, the main character is a human, living with animals that are anthropomorphized.

This series of video games is famous for its open-ended gameplay and use of the console’s internal clock and calendar in order to replicate real-time.

Versions of Animal Crossing can be played on Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch.

The fifth main installment in the hit series is Animal Crossing: New Horizons which was critically acclaimed. The game has, so far, sold over 39 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.

The game has been praised for its social interaction, cute characters, and easy-to-understand gameplay.

Best Games Like Animal Crossing (Updated 2023)

1. Stardew Valley

Let us start this list of best games similar to Animal Crossing with the ever-famous Stardew Valley. It is an excellent game like Animal Crossing that offers a similar gameplay experience.

In the game, you take control of a character who has inherited their grandfather’s farm. It’s up to you to restore the farm to its former glory by growing crops, raising animals, and interacting with the villagers in town.

Like Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley is a relaxing game that you can play at your own pace.

There’s no rush to complete objectives, and you can take your time to enjoy the game’s charming world.

Recommended read for the lovers of animal crossing video game – 10 Things To Know Before Playing Animal Crossing Pocket Camp

2. Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope is another great game like Animal Crossing that takes place on a farm.

It is an excellent choice for fans of Animal Crossing that are looking for a more traditional farming experience.

In the game, you must help your character, a farmer, rebuild the farm after a devastating storm and make it prosper.

You’ll need to grow crops, raise animals, and interact with the townspeople to succeed. You can easily scratch your itch for Animal Crossing with this title.

3. Story of Seasons

Story of Seasons is another excellent farming simulation game that features similar gameplay to Animal Crossing. Like Animal Crossing, Story of Seasons also includes some town management gameplay, allowing you to shape your town to your liking.

The game also includes a robust dating system, allowing you to pursue relationships with the town’s eligible bachelors and bachelorettes.

While Story of Seasons doesn’t have quite as many customization options as Animal Crossing, it more than makes up for it with its deep and engaging gameplay.

If you’re looking for a farming simulation game with a little bit of everything, Story of Seasons is the game for you.

4. Disney Dreamlight Valley

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a life simulation adventure video game similar to Animal Crossing. The game is played from a first-person perspective, and players explore the valley, interact with characters, and perform tasks to progress the story.

The game is non-linear, and players can explore the valley at their own pace.

The game features various Disney and Pixar characters, who players can interact with. Characters will request tasks from players, which must be completed to progress the story.

Players can also collect items and sell them to other characters to earn money. Disney Dreamlight Valley has earned its place in this list of games like Animal Crossing.

5. My Time at Portia

In My Time at Portia, you assume the role of a kid whose father was a renowned builder, who has left for traveling and thus passed on his workshop to you.

This game is similar to Animal Crossing and takes place in the future after civilization has been ruined. You must use different resources to craft items and build up the city-state of Portia with the goal of becoming its best builder.

With time you will collect more and more tools that will help you to harvest resources faster. The game also features dungeons filled with monsters that the player character will have to fight.

6. Coral Island

Coral Island is one of the best Animal Crossing clones. It terms itself as a “reimagining of farming games”, but in reality, it doesn’t alter the Animal Crossing template too much.

The layout of the island and its farmland is almost identical to that of Animal Crossing, and the activities you engage in – cultivating plants, caring for animals, socializing with locals, navigating through a five-level mine, and pleasing local spirits with bundles of produce – will be quite recognizable to any fan of Animal Crossing.

If you’re looking for games like Animal Crossing, then you should definitely give Coral Island a shot, because it’s worth it.

7. Doraemon Story of Seasons

The List of farming simulation role-playing games similar to Animal Crossing cannot be completed without Doraemon’s Story of Seasons.

After planting the mysterious seed found by Nobita, Doraemon and their friends get transported to Shizen Town.

Along the way, most of Doraemon’s gadgets that would help them go back home are lost.

In the end, they opt to stay in Shizen Town as they search for a way back. Lunch, who is from Shizen Town, gives Nobita a farm to live on while he’s there.

For the fans of Animal Crossing, this is an absolutely must-play game.

8. My time at Sandrock

My time at Sandrock is a sequel to My time at Portia. Similar to previous titles, there are elements borrowed from Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley but with slight alterations.

Players take on the role of a builder who holds a workshop in the town of Sandrock. Through taking up commissions from both citizens and government representatives, they discover more about the storyline.

To fulfill their requests, gathering resources is necessary; this includes digging, scavenging, harvesting, cooking, and battling.

In addition to this new interactive characters have been added which were absent in its prequel.

9. Minecraft

Minecraft is a bit of an anomaly on this list of games similar to Animal Crossing.

While it may not be a “farming” game in the traditional sense, it does feature a robust crop-growing system, allowing you to grow everything from wheat to potatoes.

Minecraft also features a large open world to explore, giving you plenty of room to expand your farm.

Minecraft is a bit of a different game than the others on this list, but it’s still an excellent farming simulation game.

10. Garden Paws

In Garden Paws, you take on the role of a cute animal that has inherited a grandparent’s farm. You can choose between foxes, rabbits, badgers, and even a dragon – all incredibly adorable.

The game is more straightforward than others: you need to set up shop to improve the nearby village.

To do this, explore the world and gather objects to sell for money which will be reinvested into the local community. Garden Paws is one of the top games similar to the famous Animal Crossing. Now we will answer some FAQs down below.

11. Staxel

Another game on our list is Staxel and it is a sandbox game where there are no monsters in the open world environment and players can roam freely as their heart desires.

Players in this game will start their journey with a run-down farm and they will need to start making money using that land.

The game doesn’t feature any paid DLC and there are numerous mods available for this game which can be downloaded for free.

12. The Sims 4

Sims 4 is the final game on our list and as Sims 5 is around the corner, we believe that this might be the perfect time to go back and enjoy this game.

The first thing that every player in this game needs to do is create their sim and customize him/her according to the player’s preference.

Then your sim would need to eat, sleep and get some rest just like you and you would also need to build or purchase a house for him/her.

Later players can engage with other sims in the game and build relationships with them. If you’re a fan of Animal Crossing then we’re sure that you would have an exquisite time playing this game as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

So there you have it, the list of the best games like Animal Crossing, and now that you’re here at Benettonplay, you might also want to check out our latest posts.