Creating the ultimate life sim: Which game's environments would you incorporate?

Hey everyone! We’re on day 5 of our quest to design the perfect life simulation game. We’ve already decided that The Sims 3 has the best customization options. Now let’s talk about the game world and maps.

Which game do you think has the most inspiring environments that we could use as a reference? Maybe you love the sprawling cities of GTA, the cozy villages in Animal Crossing, or the vast landscapes of Skyrim?

Share your top pick in the comments below. Make sure to clearly state the game name, and feel free to explain why you think it would work well for our dream life sim.

We’ll keep this discussion open for about a day before moving on to the next aspect of our ideal game. Can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

Yakuza games have awesome environments for a life sim. The city districts feel super real and packed with stuff to do. You got shops, arcades, restaurants, and all kinds of wacky side activities. It’d be fun to live in that kind of detailed urban setting.

Stardew Valley’s environments would be awesome for a life sim. The mix of town, farm, and wild areas gives lots of variety. Plus the seasonal changes make the world feel alive and dynamic. It’d be cool to have that level of detail in a bigger world.

Gotta say, Fallout 4’s environments would be killer for a life sim. The mix of post-apocalyptic ruins and rebuilt settlements gives you tons of options. You could live in a high-tech vault, a scrappy town, or build your own place from scratch. Plus, all the random encounters make the world feel alive and unpredictable. It’d be wild to see that level of environmental storytelling in a life sim.

I’d pick Breath of the Wild. The landscapes are gorgeous and diverse. Mountains, forests, deserts, towns. So many places to explore and build a life in. Perfect for an open-world life sim.

Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City would be amazing for a life sim.

Tons of districts with unique vibes. High-tech apartments, seedy bars, corporate offices.

So many career and lifestyle options in that world.

Minecraft’s world would be perfect for a life sim. You can build anything, anywhere. The biomes are super varied too. Imagine having that kind of freedom in a life game, but with more detailed graphics and NPCs. You could live in a city or make your own from scratch.

I’d go with Red Dead Redemption 2 for environments. The world is insanely detailed and alive. You’ve got bustling towns, quiet homesteads, and vast wilderness areas. The weather and day/night cycles add so much atmosphere too. Imagine having that level of realism and variety in a life sim. You could live in town, set up a ranch, or be a hermit in the woods. Tons of possibilities.