Life simulators are titles that allow players to take on an existence that is different from their own. This usually means taking on a different job that could be incredibly important or something quite basic. Many of these life simulator titles are quite cheap, though some players may still be considering what life simulators are the best value for their money.

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There is an impressive variety of life simulation games available, and these are easily the best out of all of them.

Thanks to these titles, players are sure to be enjoying countless hours of fun that continues to be entertaining or even relaxing without regretting the amount of money they have spent on them. To make these life simulators ever more of value than they already were, the entries mentioned in this article all cost money with no free games included. That means no Palia, and no The Sims 4, though both titles are also great life simulators.

10 I Was A Teenage Exocolonist

Countless Endings And Choices To Make

Although I Was a Teenage Exocolonist can be completed in 11 hours, there are countless routes players can take during their adventure as they grow up as a part of a space colony. Players make countless decisions throughout growing up which can change how their characters' life plays out as well as who they possibly come to befriend or fall in love with in the future.

Therefore, players that are looking for a life simulation title that has plenty of adventure as well as the occasional puzzle to solve, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist has it all, to make it great value for any player that has decided to purchase it.

9 Disney Dreamlight Valley

27 Hours Of Story But Countless Hours Of Decorating

Players that are fans of the creations of Disney should look no further than the value that comes from playing Disney Dreamlight Valley. While the story of the game lasts 27 hours, if a player focuses on only completing that aspect of the life simulator. However, besides trying to bring back all the friends of the Disney World, players can also spend countless hours fishing, farming, and decorating to turn the once corrupted areas into something magical once more.

Players are able to approach all this, including the story, at their own pace, since the game also has an energy bar which replenishes over time, players may feel encouraged to make their experience last.

8 Roots Of Pacha

Improving The Tribe Takes Plenty Of Time

Some life simulators don't have to be about modern jobs or entirely fantasy worlds, some instead take players back to being cave people, working together to keep their clan alive. Roots of Pacha is a great life simulator and RPG that allows players to uncover new things to help their clan. This includes discovering seeds that can then be grown on the field provided to the player, domesticating the various wildlife, as well as discovering plenty of other things that will help the clan advance.

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Not to mention that the player can also fall in love with folks from both their own and other clans to make a life for themselves as they progress through the story that can take the player as soon as 31 hours to complete. Combing this story with the various other activities available to the player makes Roots of Pacha great value for the money it costs, keeping players occupied no matter the in-game season.

7 Graveyard Keeper

An Interesting Story That Takes 45 Hours To Complete

• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, and IOS
• Released: 2018-08-15
• Developer(s): Lazy Bear Games
• Genre(s): Simulation

This simulator is unlike any other simulation game on the list, as players are tasked with managing dead bodies and making sure they are put neatly into the ground, or sent down the river if the player doesn't want to do their job properly. While the life simulation aspect of the game will have players once again tending to their own farm or helping other villagers of the town.

Graveyard Keeper is predominantly a management simulator, which means players are likely to spend countless hours tending to the space they have to bury bodies, or making the most of the corpses to instead turn them into the undead that can work for them. If this wasn't enough value for players, there is even a 45-hour-long story for players to complete through growing their graveyard business that may finally end with them seeing their lost love again.

6 Sun Haven

Building Three Farms Isn't Short

Players that are looking for a game to put countless hours into should look no further than Sun Haven. This life simulation has all the charm of what makes the genre great, through starting a family, meeting plenty of friends, and being left to do their own thing, as well as having a story that travels across three different towns. The story of Sun Haven as a whole could take a player 49 hours to complete. However, besides completing this story, there are plenty of other ways players can make their time in Sun Haven worthwhile.

One way is through the three farms players unlock through the story. Managing to make these farms work can take some time, especially if players want to build three successful farms that require little-to-no attention from themselves to keep functioning. Players can then also take part in other activities like fishing, combat, and mining, which is only made better through the various fantasy races players can also choose between.

5 Coral Island

Live Life By The Sea And Clean The Ocean

Continuing on the theme of farming sims, which do a lot more than just allow the player to farm, Coral Island is a life simulator that not only allows players to run a farm on a tropical island, but they are also able to bring the town back to its former glory. When the player first arrives at the island, they will see that the town has a ranking of F and that the ocean of this island is completely polluted.

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Through cleaning the ocean, getting to know the townsfolk, and completing various sets at the shrine, the town of Coral Island is returned to its former glory. The game is also set to receive plenty of updates that will continue the story of Coral Island, with players eventually even getting to have a farm under the water with the Merfolk, more romances, and players will eventually be able to get the Town Rank to S too.

4 Stardew Valley

Plenty To Explore Than Just The Main Story

Stardew Valley is arguably deemed one of the best simulation titles for players to enjoy. This is the case not only because of its easy-to-understand gameplay, but also because the game has the best value for its money due to the amount of content that has been added to the title since its original release in 2016. Players have likely started Stardew Valley over repeatedly even if they have managed the 53-hour-long story of the title due to wanting to try out the assortment of other starting farms too.

Alongside this, the game encourages players to grow their farm past the original story of the game, which includes completing the bundles for the community center, by instead attempting to impress their own Grandpa with the work they have done. Stardew Valley is also a great title to play casually, as players spend countless hours decorating their farm to be presentable as well as functional too.

3 My Time At Portia

Watch The Town Be Built And Improved Over Time

My Time at Portia is another great option for players that are looking for a life simulator title that will give them countless hours of content to enjoy. While players are able to grow various crops at their workshop, the player's main goal in My Time at Portia is to help support the town of Portia through building the various equipment and resources required by the townsfolk within.

Like many other games that allow players to create a life for themselves, as they are working with the story, players can take extra time away from this to instead expand their workshop, or create things for the people in the town of Portia that aren't connected to the main story. Players can even improve their social life through falling in love and starting a family with one of the townsfolk within. This is certain to encourage people to spend even more time in My Time at Portia as they start a new life for themselves as a builder.

2 Crusader Kings 3

Strategy Takes Place Both On The Battlefield And Within The Family

Crusader Kings 3 isn't predominantly a life simulation title, with the game mostly about players strategizing as they plan on what kingdom to invade next to expand their own. However, Crusader Kings 3 does have life simulation elements, as players must make sure their lineage continues on once their current king or queen has passed away. Within this management of the game, players can also form bonds with others as they befriend other kingdoms, get to know their wife better, or make fond memories away from the battlefield.

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This strategy title also has plenty of scenarios that players can get involved in, such as real historical people that existed as well as making their own royalty. With so much for players to do, it's no surprise that many players deem Crusader Kings 3 one of the best games to offer the best value for the money it costs.

1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A Life Simulator That Uses Real Time

Out of all the available life simulation titles in gaming, one of the best players can purchase that will have them enjoying the year for potentially years after they start is the Nintendo title, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Unlike any other title mentioned in this article, Animal Crossing: New Horizons uses real time to allow the world of Animal Crossing to mimic the one outside the screen. This means that when it's nighttime in real life, it will also be dark in Animal Crossing.

Therefore, players are likely to spend days alongside their fellow island dwellers as certain bugs or fish to catch only appear at certain times. Besides this, the game also has seasons and various holidays for players to get involved with that means that players are likely to be picking up New Horizons again at the end of the year to be a part of the festivities.

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