For over 20 years, Animal Crossing has invited fans roleplay as interior decorators, town mayors, and most recently, island caretakers.
So while New Horizons may have plenty of furniture to craft, clothes to acquire, and loans to pay off, players will eventually run out of tasks and want to seek out novel games.
To help point you in the right direction, this list will highlight the top games like Animal Crossing for PC and Nintendo Switch.
For more gaming recommendations, we encourage you to check out our curated lists as well as comment below with your favorite Animal Crossing game!
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Dinkum
Platform: Windows
Dinkum is a comparatively recent game like Animal Crossing that sees you ditching city life to pursue a life of freedom in the Australian bush.
Throughout your journey, you’ll have opportunities to explore lush forests and sweltering deserts as you take care of animals and help build a town.
There are also NPC villagers to befriend, customization tools for designing paths and fencing, and many other features reminiscent of New Horizons.
Although it’s still in Steam Early Access, Dinkum is already showing a wealth of promise in terms of content and players can look forward to even more in upcoming updates.
Cozy Grove
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS
Anyone who enjoys Animal Crossing will have some fun with Cozy Grove, another life sim that sees you camping on an ever-evolving island.
Taking on the role of Spirit Scout, the game tasks you with exploring the island’s verdant woodland in search of secrets, fish, and favors for the genial spirits that haunt it.
Items you collect can be crafted into decorations to liven up the island’s appearance and restore some much-needed vibrancy and joy.
Completing the main story will take you roughly 40 hours, and since the game is synced to real-world time, you’ll find yourself checking in daily.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch
If you want more soothing games like Animal Crossing, look no further than Alba, a fun and peaceful adventure game about a young activist.
While visiting her grandparents’ islandic residence, Alba witnesses an animal in peril firsthand and decides to get involved with wildlife and environmental preservation.
This entails visiting the island’s beaches, woodlands, swamps, and even an ancient castle, recruiting volunteers and taking photographs of different animals.
Along the way, players will get to help out by picking up litter, treating sick animals, and repairing bridges to enhance the island residents’ lives.
Littlewood
Platforms: Windows, Switch, Mac, Linux
Our next suggestion for Animal Crossing fans is Littlewood, a 2D farming sim that takes advantage of its pixelated art visuals to create a sense of nostalgia.
In it, you play as a protagonist who forgets their memory after defeating a malevolent Wizard and bringing serenity to the town of Littlewood.
Similar to AC: NH, the game tasks you with constructing up the town by venturing out into the world, gathering resources, and recruit new residents.
As you explore enchanting forests, bustling fishing towns, and mysterious mining caves, you’ll meet unique characters and take up hobbies like farming and fishing.
My Time at Sandrock
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch
The follow-up to Pathea Games’ celebrated farming sim RPG sees you traveling to the desert community of Sandrock to take on the role of a novice Builder.
To be successful, players will have to learn the ropes and rely on their dependable tools to help gather resources, build machines, and get their dilapidated workshop in order.
Much like Animal Crossing, the game features an abundance of tasks and side activities for players to explore as they improve the town and get to know the inhabitants.
Whether you played the original My Time at Portia or you’re coming to the series completely fresh, you’re in for a good time.
Unpacking
Platforms: Windnows, Xbox One, Switch, Linux, Mac
If you take immense joy in decorating your home and arranging furniture in Animal Crossing, then you’ll love Unpacking.
This game is designed to simulate the familiar experience of organizing your personal possessions after moving into a new home.
Gameplay is a mix of block-fitting puzzles and home decoration, as players are encouraged to create satisfying and visually appealing living spaces.
The story unfolds across eight house moves throughout diverse stages in the main character’s life.
Travellers Rest
Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac
Next up, Travellers Rest is a part management part life sim that sees you running a small tavern with thirsty customers.
To keep things running smoothly, you’ll need to keep patrons’ glasses topped off while preparing food and upgrading your bar’s facilities.
Like Animal Crossing, the game provides plentiful opportunities for customization; from your character’s appearance to the bar’s layout.
As you get to know your bar’s regulars and hear local stories and gossip, you’ll begin to feel like part of the community and get invested in their lives.
Wobbledogs
Platforms: Windows, Mac
If there’s anything missing from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it’s the ability to keep adorable doggos as pets.
While it makes sense considering some villager NPCs are literal canines, we’re sure the minds at Nintendo could find a way to make it work.
In the meantime, that’s what we have Wobbledogs for, a virtual pet simulator that lets you accumulate and socialize vibrant pups to your hearts’ content.
This includes monitoring their diets, providing them with chewing toys, and arranging their living spaces so they always feel snug.
Longvinter
Platform: Windows
Sporting some remarkably Animal Crossing-inspired visuals, Longvinter is an online multiplayer survival game that’s currently in Steam Early Access.
In it, players must fish, farm, craft, gather, cook, plunder, and pilfer from other players while building a campsite to call home.
Like Animal Crossing, the game grants you the capacity to exchange items for money or uncommon goods.
Since it can be challenging in the early goings, especially as a solo player, its recommended you team up with a partner to fight for what’s yours.
Rune Factory 5
Platforms: Windows, Switch
Rune Factory 5 is the newest installment in the long-running fantasy-based farming game where growing crops is only a minor part of the experience.
In it, players are given a nice plot of land to call their own as they tend to crops, raise livestock, and get to know their neighbors.
Outside of farming, the game offers plenty of opportunities to form relationships, participate in town events, and explore dungeons in action-RPG-inspired quests.
Much like Animal Crossing, Rune Factory 5 rewards you for completing even the smallest of tasks, making it superb for some casual gaming on PC or Switch.
Core Keeper
Platforms: Windows, Linux
If you enjoy 2D sandbox games similar to Animal Crossing, you’ll definitely like Core Keeper, an indie survival game with a cool pixel art look.
In it, players set out to explore an underground cavern teeming with mystery and danger using only their mining tools.
The goal of the game is to construct a base, gather materials, and craft beneficial items while discovering new areas, bosses, and shortcuts.
Like Animal Crossing, the game supports online multiplayer, enabling you and your companions to collaborate to achieve your objectives.
Stardew Valley
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android
Inspired by the beloved Harvest Moon games, Stardew Valley is a farming sim RPG and lively pixel art graphics.
In it, you create your own character and set out to bring your grandfather’s old farm back to life by gathering seeds, planting crops, and selling them for a substantial profit.
Similar to New Horizons, most days are spent harvesting, gathering resources, and completing favors for the local villagers.
The citizens of Stardew have distinct personalities that really make them come to life and encourage you to make friends, single-out your rivals, and even get married.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Switch
In Dragon Quest Builders 2, players reprise their role as a celebrated builder tasked with rebuilding civilization.
As you learn new recipes and expand your village, you’ll attract more NPCs to your fledgling colony willing to lend you their expertise.
The sequel introduces a host of new features such as more natural-looking environments, new glide and dive abilities, dynamic water collection, and online multiplayer.
In co-op, players can visit each other’s island and start building together, or simply examine their friend’s creations.
The Sims 4
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Mac
The Sims is another legendary life sim franchise that lets players explore different careers and purchase obscene amounts of furniture.
So, whether you’re looking to build a criminal empire, explore outer space, or become the most renowned gardener in all of Willow Creek, The Sims 4 has you covered.
As the series has progressed, so too has its romance system, allowing for same-sex marriages and the ability to adopt children.
If you’re gaming on PC, you can unleash your ingenuity and get inventive with the top Sims 4 mods available to download.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Yonder is a calming open-world adventure game designed to be played at your own pace and offers an abundance of tranquil environments and diverse NPCs.
A lack of adversaries in the overworld means you’re free to explore to your heart’s desire as you complete tasks for characters in exchange for new skills.
The main quest sees you seeking out magical creatures called Sprites that have the power to rid the world of a noxious poison called Murk that’s afflicting the land.
In many ways, it’s reminiscent of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, with your character using charming treats and other gifts to win over NPCs.
Staxel
Platform: Windows
Staxel is a voxel-based sandbox game inspired by titles like Minecraft as well as Animal Crossing.
In it, you take on the role of an enterprising farmer who’s just moved to a new village in need of revitalizing.
As you set out to establish a flourishing farm, the rest of the villagers will give you advice and valuable tips in exchange for favors.
Tasks range from standard fetch quests requiring you to catch/hunt a specific animal to cooking a delectable new dish to building a new structure that enhances the village.
Garden Paws
Platforms: Windows, Switch
Garden Paws is a delightful sandbox game that combines management sim gameplay with exploration and adorable woodland creatures.
Your time is split between managing a farm, enhancing your island’s resources, and exploring caves, beaches, and forests for treasure.
You can also open up a shop to sell wares and take on a multitude of pastimes like fishing, cooking, and raising animals.
The more you enhance your island’s amenities, the more residents you’ll attract.
Castaway Paradise
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android
Here we have arguably the most Animal Crossing inspired game to ever exist, Castaway Paradise.
In it, you play as an original character that gets trapped in a tempest before washing ashore on a lush island.
Thankfully, the locals decide to help you out by setting up a tent and offering their camaraderie in exchange for the occasional favor or two.
The game features a vibrant island to explore with more areas unlocked as you progress and a plethora of items to collect and sell.
Ooblets
Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, Switch
Ooblets is a refreshing take on life sims that feels like a “greatest hits” mashup of many adjacent genres.
You have the lively social connections of Animal Crossing, farm management from Harvest Moon, and a touch of Pokémon-like turn-based combat.
The end result is a one of a kind life sim with cute visuals and a lot of ways to interact with your ooblet pals.
Ooblets come in all shapes and sizes and, after some persuasion, will join your party and follow you around everywhere you go.
Hokko Life
Platform: Windows
Our final recommendation to Animal Crossing fans is Hokko Life, another daring Animal Crossing clone with enormous shoes to fill.
This Steam Early Access title sees you transported to an enchanted town where animals can walk, talk, and request favors.
After taking over the old workshop, you’ll get started on crafting unique furniture and decorations for you and all your neighbors.
When you’re not hammering away at your workbench, you can explore activities like fishing, bug collecting, farming, and more.