life simulation
Digital living game
A life simulation is a video game genre where players manage virtual characters through daily activities—careers, relationships, home-building, and personal development.
The Sims franchise dominates the category.
Unlike goal-driven games, life simulations emphasize open-ended play and emergent storytelling: I spent six hours in my life simulation just redecorating.
The genre appeals to players who enjoy creating narratives rather than completing objectives.
- daily routineRecurring set of activities
- aging upPortraying someone as older
- character creationBuilding a playable persona
- virtual realityComputer-created interactive environment
- emergent behaviorPatterns arising from interactions
social interactions · aspirations · free will · careers · virtual pets · role-playing games · expansion packs · modding community · world-building · household management · complex systems · resource management · artificial intelligence · sandbox game · open world · avatars · interactive storytelling · immersive experiences
- sandbox gamesMinecraft, building, No Man's Sky, Roblox, creative mode
life simulationfirst-person shooter
Combat game, protagonist's viewpoint
fighting game · beat 'em up · run and gun · battle royale · survival horror
life simulationstrategy game
Competition requiring planning
real-time strategy · grand strategy · war game · empire builder · tower defense
life, simulation, lives, living, lively, liveliness, lifelong, lifelike, lifetime