Looking for new games like Animal Crossing? Check out these PC alternatives!
The list of games that emulate Nintendo’s iconic village-building series is constantly growing, and there are now more than enough alternatives to keep you busy until the next Animal Crossing game arrives.
From farming sims to RPG games, there are a lot of options out there, but we’ve picked out the ones that we think best capture the spirit of Animal Crossing. From deep and complex experiences like Stardew Valley to cute, casual games like Yonder, there’s something for everyone on this list of games like Animal Crossing.
Rune Factory 4
Rune Factory 4 transforms farming from a means to an end into the core of its vibrant visuals, addictive gameplay, and rewarding farming and crafting mechanics. The game takes place in the Harvest Moon universe, but instead of running a ranch, you’ll be managing a farm and hiring assistants to help you with their unique skills. There are also some RPG battle mechanics to mix things up. If you’re looking to dive into a farming game with some action-based mechanics, this is one of the best in the genre.
Graveyard Keeper
If you’re looking for something a little darker, Graveyard Keeper is a darkly humorous sim where you clean and maintain an abandoned graveyard. Although it starts out simple enough, it quickly becomes apparent that your character’s motives aren’t quite as pure as they first appear. While the gameplay is mostly standard farming sim fare, there are some management elements from survival games, and you can even get married if you please.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
If you’re looking for an Animal Crossing-like game with a little less… farming, check out Disney Dreamlight Valley. You’ll save a magical valley full of colorful characters with the help of beloved Disney characters as you build and decorate homes, befriend residents, and complete quests. Dreamlight Valley is a great choice if you want a more story-driven experience that still focuses on building, decorating, and interacting with neighbors in a bustling town.
Big Farm Story
Big Farm Story is what it sounds like: a game with an art style and exploration mechanics similar to Animal Crossing, but instead of building the town, you’re building your farm and crafting specific things to fill it with. It focuses on building, decorating, and interacting with your neighbors in a bustling town.
Dinkum
Despite being a roguelike with plenty of random elements, Dinkum manages to capture the magic of Animal Crossing with its cute aesthetics, town design, and crafting. Set up a shop and sell items to travelers, or use your crafting skills to make useful items for your neighbors. Dinkum is a great alternative if you’re looking for a relaxing farming game, and it’s completely free to play.
Alchemy Story
Alchemy Story combines farming with potion brewing to offer a delightful village-saving adventure. After a decade away, you’ve returned to your hometown of Clarity to find it a shadow of its former self and only have 90 days to save it. You can get all the ingredients you need by growing crops and gathering materials from the environment and by mining.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a farming game that, like Harvest Moon itself, is a part of the wider series of games that focus on cultivating a specific town. However, unlike Harvest Moon, the game has a western feel and is more focused on farming than relationships. You’ll tame animals, grow crops, and build relationships with the townsfolk in a seaside village.
Coral Island
Coral Island is a reimagined farming sim experience as you’re farming underwater. You’ll still get to do all the usual farming activities like mining, cooking, and crafting, but you’ll also be able to take part in some underwater exploration.
Hokko Life
Hokko Life is a mix of Animal Crossing and farming sims. You’ll do a fair bit of farming, as well as fishing and a few other minigames. Like Animal Crossing, you’ll also get adorable aesthetics, town design, and crafting. The game is still in early access, but it already has a lot of content to get through.
Garden Paws
Garden Paws is another farming game that’s a mix between Animal Crossing and farming sims. You’ll farm and fish, but you’ll also complete quests and complete dungeons. It’s a cute indie game that offers ghost bears.
Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove is an indie game that’s similar to Animal Crossing in that you’ll have to farm and craft, but instead of a town, you’ll be building your own ghost island to live in. You can explore, expand your island, and complete quests in this atmospheric exploration game.
Yonder
Yonder is an exploration-focused game that you can play solo or co-op with a friend. You’ll embark on a journey of self-discovery as you expand your world and get to know the residents of this colorful adventure game.
Little Dragons Cafe
Little Dragons Cafe combines running your family cafe with adventuring and raising a dragon. The cafe-management part of the game has you working the counter, taking orders, cooking meals, and keeping the place clean. As your menu grows, you can hire and train new staff members to help you run the restaurant.
My Time at Sandrock
My Time at Sandrock is a unique building experience as every player will have a different island to explore. You’ll build your farm, set up shops, and get to know your neighbors as you explore this quirky RPG game. You’ll also have the option to marry, so if you’re looking for some romance, this might be the game for you.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
The first in the series of games that focus on restoring a farm and getting to know the townsfolk is a remake of Harvest Moon: A New Beginning, which is often overlooked by fans of the series. You’ll work to restore a farm in ruins and get to know the residents of Mineral Town. The farming gameplay is familiar, but there aren’t many games that focus on farming, building relationships, and restoring a community.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a massive farming game with relaxing gameplay and a thriving mod community that offers endless ways to play. You can farm, mine, fish, explore, run your own shop, and even get married. There are so many ways to spend your time in Stardew Valley, and it’s one of the best PC games of the last few years.
The Sims 4
The Sims 4 is all about building your dream home and then indulging in the addictive nature of the franchise. You can decorate and furnish your home, meet and befriend new Sims, go out with Sims in your town, and even go on dates.
