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My Time at Sandrock has pretty much everything you could ask for in a life sim. Whether you’re interested in farming, crafting, or exploring, there’s something here for you to do. If decorating, romance, or RPG elements are more up your alley, those are options too. One of the best things about life sims is how many different types of gameplay they can merge together, allowing players to pivot from one pleasant task to another without needing to switch games. Given the depth of content, it will take a while to exhaust this excellent life sim. If you’re yearning for similar games and have already played My Time at Portia as well, here are five games like My Time at Sandrock to play next, in no particular order.
5. Stardew Valley
It’s almost a meme about how often gamers recommend Stardew Valley to one another. There’s a reason for that. ConcernedApe’s life sim is just that good. Though the pixel graphics and cutesy themes aren’t for everyone, there’s a staggering amount of content here. Deep relationships, surprising plot twists, farming, mining, combat, and dozens of other features can keep you busy for hundreds of hours or more. Whether you’re rushing to finish the community center your first year or learning how to use the preserves jar, Stardew Valley is definitely a game that fans of My Time at Sandrock should play next.
4. Graveyard Keeper
Okay, running a cemetery is admittedly more grim than running a farm. That said, Graveyard Keeper manages to nail just about everything that makes the genre great. Interesting townsfolk? Check. Deep crafting and construction? Check. A talking skull? It’s got that too. Despite its macabre premise, overseeing a creepy graveyard and making sure bodies are properly prepared for their final rest is weirdly soothing. Why does that scratch the same itch as planting crops? The answer is don’t think about it. Just enjoy the subdued aesthetic and weird plot as your funerary empire grows.
3. Sun Haven
If you’re looking for games like My Time at Sandrock, it doesn’t get much better than Sun Haven. It shares much in common with Stardew Valley, including its cute pixel graphics. There’s enough here to set Sun Haven apart, however. This game has magic, monsters, and a solid skill tree, and it’s continuing to receive patches and updates. With various magical races and starting professions to choose from, it’s easy to customize your experience and play your way. It doesn’t hurt that Sun Haven is multiplayer, so if handling all the crops by yourself sounds like a chore, you can always get some friends to lend a hand.
2. Disney Dreamlight Valley
If you’ve always wanted to live at Disney World, Disney Dreamlight Valley is the closest you’re going to get. This supremely cozy life sim lets you meet and help out iconic characters like Mickey, Merlin, Ariel, Wall-E, and more. It doesn’t introduce many new mechanics to the genre, focusing on nailing its Disney themes and presentation instead. The result is a top-tier life sim experience that’s absolutely flooded with color and nostalgia. If you’d rather relax with your cartoon friends than spend your day fighting for your life, DDV should be at the top of your list. Even if you aren’t a hardcore Disney fan, there’s enough meat to this game to warrant a look.
1. Project Zomboid
At first glance, Project Zomboid fills like the odd one out. It’s bloody, violent, and extremely difficult compared to most games in the genre. Don’t let that fool you. If you’re looking for games like My Time at Sandrock, this is one of the best. The usual crafting, farming, exploration, and resource-gathering mechanics are all here. What makes Zomboid truly special, however, is the depth of its simulated world, even before adding mods. Whether you’re clearing the glass from broken windows so you can climb through safely or microwaving your frozen dinner to make it edible, Project Zomboid gets the little details right. It makes for an immersive experience but a brutal one.
