A virtual family game is a game where you can create your own virtual family. You may start as one person, and then be given the option to expand your family through marriage and children. Sometimes you can even follow certain families through generations of people.
Characteristics of a good Virtual Family Game:
- Freedom to explore the world.
- Ability to choose a spouse.
- Ability to have children.
- Different occupations are available.
- Customize or choose your avatar.
1. The Sims 4 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
The ultimate life simulation game, where you can be anything or anyone you want to be. With over 10 DLCs, be a rockstar, a police officer, a doctor, etc. Fall in love, start a family, and follow them throughout the generations.
With the seasons DLC experience all the different climates, and enjoy different worlds based upon actual cities inside and outside the US. With this game, you can make your own choice and do anything you’d like.
Want to have 10 kids? Go for it. Want to be a single mother? You can do it. Want to live a single lifestyle and just work? By all means.
The unique thing about this game is that it allows you to create the life you want. Live out your wildest fantasy with this life simulation game. Will you be a normal citizen or a criminal? All the choices are yours and the opportunities are endless.
This family is living it up.
I would love to live in a place that looks this good.
2. The Sims 3 (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS & 3DS)
Similar to The Sims 4, The Sims 3 has the same features with an open-world concept. Explore different cities and live different lives. Create a unique sim, or join an existing Sims family.
With multiple DLCs, you have the option to live in different towns based on multiple styles of living. Want to live in a farm town, a big city, or maybe a ranch area featuring wild horses? The season's expansion pack allows you to experience different weather conditions, and dress for the elements.
Become a witch, a vampire, a werewolf, or a fairy. Why be a regular sim when you can be supernatural? Work your way up to a million simoleons, or cheat your way there. The options are limitless and you’re in control.
Living as a vampire looks exciting.
Such a lovely family.
3. Guild 2(PC)
It’s time to return to the Middle Ages in this life simulation game. Care for yourself, start a family, and watch events unfold in front of your eyes. But remember your enemies never sleep.
Set in 1400-century Europe, everything in this game occurs in real time. See people get robbed or perhaps even someone being executed. And choose what path you’d like to go down.
Found your dynasty, make friends, marry, and have children. Then hand your skills down to the next generation. In this game, you can be who you want to be and experience history firsthand.
This is a lovely town.
What an interesting family tree.
4. BitLife (PC, Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android)
Start life over as an infant and relive all of the major life stages. Choose to be anything you want. Will you make your parents proud or embarrass them all over again?
This game is all about choices, kind of like life. And you get to decide what choices you make. Want to live out your fantasy of being a model citizen?
The goal is just to live your best, or worst, life. Want to become your alter ego? The most unique thing about this game is that you control the choices you make and those choiceswill affect your life and the way it plays out.
This looks like a successful lineage.
What choice would you make?
5. Paralives (PC)
Similar to the well-known Sims games, this is a new indie life simulation game with an open-world concept. Build homes, make friends, choose a career, fall in love, and have kids. Choose who you want to be and how you want to live.
Complete with seasons and the opportunity to discover a new world with fun activities and venues. You can truly immerse yourself in this virtual world. Did we mention there are pets?
Live the life you want, just like with most simulation games, you are in control. The unique opportunity to create anyone you’d like, with height and face sliders available, makes this a different experience for players. In this world, create the family and life you wish you had.
How will your character look?
Life could really be this simple.
6. Skyrim (PC, PlayStation 3/4/5, Xbox One/ Series X/ Series X/ 360, Nintendo Switch)
Life is not easy for the Dragonborn, especially when these creatures run rampant and can burn down entire towns. Complete quests, engage in combat, and explore the open world. You can even marry certain NPCs and adopt children.
Set in the tumultuous northern province of Tuamriel in the year 201, this game features an open-world concept where you can explore the fantasy world of Tamriel while completing quests to defeat the all-powerful dragon before he destroys everything. Though the player has the freedom to play any way they’d like, the ultimate goal as the Dragonborn is to defeat the evil dragon before he can cause any more harm to your kingdom.
However, with this game, you have the unique opportunity to focus on other aspects of playing while attempting to achieve your main goal. This is where the aspect of starting a family and exploring the land comes into play. You are more than just a warrior, or the dragonbord, you are capable of having a life outside of the quests and stakes involved with the game.
That dragon looks vicious.
I wonder what these children are up to.
7. Fable 2 (Xbox One & 360)
Live the life of a hero starting from childhood. Grow into the hero that you want to become, earning money through side quests, changing your outfit, and making decisions that will define who you are. You can even choose to marry and start a family once you get older.
Set in the land of Albion, a forested area, you are the hero who survived. It is your job to end the tyrant's rule throughout the land. In this open-world game, you can explore the area around you, create relationships, complete jobs, and eventually marry and have children.
The goal is to take down the ruler who attempted to kill you as a child, but in the meantime, you can complete side quests and determine what kind of hero you are. You have the unique opportunity to explore the world and experience it outside of the main goal.
I wonder what these two are up to.
What a cute companion.
8. Second Life (PC)
You can be sure to expect the unexpected with this 3D virtual world and metaverse. Create the character you want to become, chat with others, and connect inside this virtual universe. You can even have children, get married, or date within the metaverse.
The world is expansive and filled with things to do, places to go, and new people to meet up with. There are no cumbersome missions or external goals here. Just create your avatar and enjoy the world available to you.
The thing that makes this game unique is the opportunity to meet and chat with others in a virtual world setting. You can also choose to make your avatar anyone you want, with animals and vampires being options as well. This game takes multiplayer aspects to a whole new level, allowing you to connect with people from anywhere while exploring the vast world.
Well, they look very close.
Look how cute that baby is.
9. My Time At Portia (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android)
The town of Portia is bustling with people when you arrive to inherit your father's old workshop building. This means, you become a helping hand around town and are paid commission for the tasks that you accomplish. Befriend the citizens, and maybe even find your one true love who can help you with the workshop.
Set in the quaint town of Portia this simulation game is more story-based than others but still has an open-world concept and so much for you to explore. Earn money by mining, fishing, crafting, etc. And settle down with someone from the town to start a family.
You want to turn your father's dilapidated workshop into a thriving business, but how you go about it is up to you. This game offers wholesome storylines and the freedom to explore this cute open world. How will you choose to live your life in Portia?
Such a nice little family.
They look like they’re in love.
10. Virtual Families 3 (iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One)
Start by adopting anyone you want. If you want someone with an advanced career, start with them. Want someone who is living on the edge of poverty, start there.
You’ll live alone at first, focussing on your career, but then the marriage requests will start rolling in. Will you marry someone with a lot of money in the bank, who wants kids, and is the same age? Or will you marry someone for love who barely has two pennies to scrape together and doesn’t want to start a family?
Whether you decide to marry at all, is up to you. Marry someone and have kids to continue on your legacy and grow up in the family home, or stay single and die alone.
Set in a new family house that needs major improvements before being considered a home. This simulation game allows you to control what kind of life you choose to live. And create as many generations as you’d like.
It takes place in real time which gives you the unique opportunity to watch your family grow older around you. Watch the kids go off to college. Or watch your player retire from their job.
And build a resort that will remain in your family for generations. How will you choose to create your virtual family?
Such a good-looking family.
Now that’s a lot of babies.
