The 10 best life sims on PlayStation, ranked
| # | Game | PS4 | PS5 | PS Store price (US) | What you do | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sims 4 | Yes | Yes, the PS4 version | Free base game | Create Sims, build homes, run careers and families | Almost everyone |
| 2 | Stardew Valley | Yes | Yes, the PS4 version | $14.99 | Farm, fish, mine and befriend a small town | Best value, co-op |
| 3 | Disney Dreamlight Valley | Yes | Yes | $39.99 | Quests and valley life with Disney and Pixar characters | Families |
| 4 | Palia | No | Yes | Free | Build a home in a shared online world | Playing free with friends |
| 5 | My Time at Sandrock | Yes | Yes | $39.99 | Run a workshop and rebuild a desert town | A long story with crafting |
| 6 | Coral Island | No | Yes | $29.99 | Farm and help revive an island town and its reefs | Farming with a big cast |
| 7 | Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time | Yes | Yes | $59.99 | Swap between 14 jobs and shape an island | Life sim plus action RPG |
| 8 | Hello Kitty Island Adventure | No | Yes | $39.99 | Befriend Hello Kitty and friends on an island | Younger players |
| 9 | Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar | No | Yes | $49.99 | Run a farm and a weekly market stall | Farming with romance |
| 10 | Tales of the Shire | No | Yes | $34.99 | Cook, garden and decorate as a Hobbit | A slow, small game |
US PlayStation Store list prices, checked on November 10, 2026. The ranking weighs how much everyday life a game simulates, how long it lasts and what it costs.
What to know about each one on PlayStation
- The Sims 4: the base game is free and packs are sold separately. EA says the console version has no mods or custom content, and saves from PC or Mac do not carry over.
- Stardew Valley: a PS4 game that also plays on PS5. Up to four players can farm together online, which needs PS Plus.
- Disney Dreamlight Valley: sold for PS4 and PS5. Up to four players can meet online, and expansions cost extra.
- Palia: free to play and online only, with up to 25 players in a shared world. Its store page lists no PS Plus requirement.
- My Time at Sandrock: you arrive as the town Builder, gather resources, make machines and befriend the locals. There is a free demo on PS5.
- Coral Island: a farm, a town of more than 70 residents and co-op for up to four players. It is also in the PS Plus Extra game catalog.
- Fantasy Life i: sold as one PS4 and PS5 product. Online play for up to four needs PS Plus.
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure: on PS5 since August 2025. Two players can explore together online with PS Plus.
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar: reached PS5 on May 28, 2026. Single-player and fully offline.
- Tales of the Shire: decorate a Hobbit hole, fish, forage and cook meals for your neighbors.
Also on the store: Cozy Grove ($14.99, PS4 and PS5), Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition ($29.99, PS4) and House Flipper 2 ($39.99, PS5), a renovation job sim.
Still on a PS4? What runs where
The PS4 games on this page also run on a PS5: the store pages for The Sims 4, Stardew Valley and Spiritfarer say so, and the rest are sold for both consoles. Games listed only for PS5 do not run on a PS4.
- Runs on a PS4: The Sims 4, Stardew Valley, Disney Dreamlight Valley, My Time at Sandrock, Fantasy Life i, Cozy Grove and Spiritfarer.
- PS5 only: Palia, Coral Island, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, Tales of the Shire and House Flipper 2.
Free · no download · LifeSim
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Free, on sale and in PS Plus
- Free: The Sims 4 base game and Palia.
- On sale until November 20: Stardew Valley $10.49, Coral Island $17.99, Tales of the Shire $20.99 and Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition $4.49.
- In a subscription: Coral Island is included with PlayStation Plus Extra.
More games that cost nothing on any device are on the free list.
Life sims that are not on PlayStation
- inZOI: PC and Mac only for now. The PS5 version is planned for the first half of 2027.
- Paralives: PC and Mac, with no console version announced.
- Animal Crossing and Tomodachi Life: Nintendo games, so look at the Switch list.
- LifeSim: not on PlayStation. It is a free life sim that runs in a phone or laptop browser, for when the console is busy.
If you also have a computer, the PC list adds more options, and the main ranking covers every platform.
FAQ
Is The Sims 4 free on PS4 and PS5?
Yes. The base game has been free since October 18, 2022, and the PlayStation Store lists it as a free download. Expansion, game and stuff packs are paid.
Is inZOI on PS5?
Not yet. inZOI is in Early Access on PC and Mac. Krafton has said the PS5 version will arrive in the first half of 2027.
Do I need PS Plus to play life sims online?
Often. The store lists PS Plus as required for online play in Stardew Valley, Fantasy Life i and Hello Kitty Island Adventure. Palia is free to play and its store page lists no PS Plus requirement. Check the game's store page before you buy.
Can I use mods in The Sims 4 on PlayStation?
No. EA says the console version does not support mods or custom content. Those are PC and Mac features.