One of the things that didn’t die (unlike my soul) when I entered adulthood was my love of gaming. After a day of dealing with adult responsibilities, wiping bums and school runs there’s nothing better for me than having a gaming session. It helps me to relax and unwind, as well as providing me with a bit of escapism.
Some people may believe that people over 30 or 40 are too old to play video games. Newsflash – they aren’t! Gaming can actually be highly beneficial for adults, helping to boost brain activity and reduce the risk of depression. After all, who wants to spend every day doing boring adulty stuff? We all need a bit of fun in our lives! There’s no reason why we should stop enjoying hobbies that made us happy as a kid just because we’re no longer a kid.
One of my favourite genres of video games is simulation. You might think this is odd. After all, if adulthood sucks so much then why would I want to play a game that simulates adult life? Answer – because simulation games are much more fun. You can build houses, restaurants, theme parks, and entire islands and make them look however you want. Admittedly you still have to earn money to do this in these games but it’s a much more enjoyable process than in real life!
As a parent, I’ve found that gaming has really helped to boost my mood. Knowing that I can still enjoy a hobby that I loved as a child has been beneficial. There’s never been a moment where I’ve believed I should stop gaming because I’m over the age of 35. If you love games, then game away!
Here are a few of the best simulation games for parents (or even non-parents):
The Sims
Undoubtedly one of the best simulation games out there. You have to do a LOT of the usual boring adulty stuff, such as getting a job and paying a mortgage, but you can also throw parties, have neighbourhood brawls and even have woohoo (the Sim version of sex). So it’s all good!
You can also decide to have children in the game. In some versions, it’s compulsory, with players being required to start a family to complete a goal. In others though, free play is an option, so you can choose to remain child-free if you wish.
Social services exist in the Sims world. So if you do have kids, be careful not to leave your baby crying for more than a couple of minutes (the social worker is incredibly efficient!) or you may end up having your child taken away from you!
It’s not all everyday adulty stuff though. Some versions of the Sims have aliens. You can become best friends with another life form (what better way to escape the mundanity of adult life). The latest versions even allow you to be an alien yourself, with new features and interactions such as disguises, feeling empathy and even probing! Perfect for those who love simulation games with a bit of sci-fi thrown in.
TIP: If you’re playing a version that offers a free play mode, don’t have kids. It’s just as much hard work in The Sims as it is in real life. Go and party with your neighbours or socialise with some aliens instead.
Animal Crossing
I ADORE the Animal Crossing series. Now this is one where you may think you’re far too old to be playing a simulation game that involves your character interacting with cute animals. The truth is, you can’t help but enjoy these games, no matter what age you are.
I was first introduced to Animal Crossing way back in 2005. The husband and I had the GameCube version and we were addicted! The music was awesome, you could catch bugs and fish, expand and decorate your own home and much more.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, enables you to create an ENTIRE island from scratch and make it look however you want. Sounds like bliss, right? It is! As a parent who sometimes daydreams about having an entire island to myself, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was perfect for me.
Released in 2020 at the start of the lockdown, the game quickly became popular worldwide. Unfortunately, Nintendo announced that they would no longer be providing any updates for the game, with the last major one taking place in 2021.
Still, there’s plenty to do on the island. You can decorate your home, build up a museum of bugs, fish, art and fossils and take part in tournaments. You can even create vacation homes and decorate them however you like with the Happy Home Academy expansion pack.
And the best part? Not an adult responsibility in sight. Apart from having to pay for the cost of expanding or moving your home, which is far easier to do than in real life.
A highly relaxing and therapeutic game for anyone!
TIP: Unfortunately, players are unable to have more than one Island, so choose your layout carefully when starting your island. You may find that it’s far easier to flatten and redesign your island if you want to start over, as that way, you won’t lose all of the items that you’ve collected or your achievements.
Two-Point Hospital
A successor to Bullfrog’s Theme Hospital, Two-Point Hospital is packed with challenges and plenty of humour.
Theme Hospital involved players having to treat patients with hilarious conditions such as Bloaty Head, Invisibility, King Complex (where people turn up at your hospital dressed as Elvis Presley) and Broken Wind. The medical conditions in Two-Point Hospital are just as creative, with patients wandering into your hospital with illnesses such as Mock Star (similar to King Complex, but patients are dressed as Freddie Mercury instead), Boneless Thighs, Brain Farts, Menace Elbow, Bodily Druids and many more.
One of the biggest challenges in Theme Hospital was having to deal with epidemics. Two-Point Hospital is just as challenging. Players not only have to deal with contagious diseases but also have to run a hospital that is on a tight budget, making it extra challenging to add new facilities, recruit top-tier staff and boost the hospital’s struggling reputation. There are plenty of hospitals on the map though and once you’ve completed all the tasks for one, you will be invited to move onto another.
It’s an ideal game for those looking for a bit of escapism. Ok, so running a hospital and watching some of your patients drop down dead might not sound particularly enjoyable, but it’s packed with humour and the medical conditions alone make this an enjoyable simulation game that is highly addictive!
TIP: The game can be played at different speeds. If you find things getting a bit challenging, change the speed to the slowest setting. Doing so will enable you to deal with individual patients more easily or even just fill your hospital with more facilities before you open it.
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life
Farming simulation games are one of the most popular in the genre. I first played Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life in the mid-2000s and loved it. There are several games in the series, but my favourite is Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. You get to have your own farm, where you can raise crops, breed animals and sell your produce.
It may not sound as adventurous as other games in the genre but it’s strangely addictive. There’s something satisfying about producing good quality fruit and vegetables, getting excellent quality milk from your cows and creating hybrid crops. It’s also a great one for parents due to the family elements of the game. Becoming a parent is compulsory in this one, but it’s a much sweeter experience than The Sims. The game has a bittersweet storyline, which is split into six chapters of gameplay.
There’s even a reboot, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, which is now available in the UK. This version has the same characters as the original game, but with a few adjustments. The gameplay is much smoother, crops and animals are easier to tend to and the social interactions between characters are much more satisfying. It’s worth playing if you are a fan of the original game or even if you’re new to the series and are looking for a relaxing simulation game.
TIP: There are lots of options for a potential spouse, with Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life even offering same-sex relationships. Choose your spouse carefully, as you will be with them for the remaining chapters of the game’s storyline!
Recommendations are welcome!
If you’re a parent gamer (or even just a gamer) like me and have any other simulation game recommendations then I’d love to hear them!
And if you’re fan of cosy games, feel free to have a look at my YouTube channel below! I create mostly Animal Crossing: New Horizons content but I’m hoping to include more in the future. My videos are all non-commentary – perfect for those looking for relaxing gaming content!
