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The Sims 4 and No Man’s Sky don’t look alike, but they are. Admittedly, I don’t remember the last time Bella Goth used a Photon Cannon to blast Vy’keen pirates into space dust, but I think we can all agree that she would. Get abstract enough, and they’re both about earning money, customizing your living space, exploring the world around you, and otherwise surviving. The absence of Nuclear Extermination events might make the Sylvan Glade more habitable, but they scratch a similar itch. With both games getting big, free updates, it’s worth looking at the cozy player experience in both universes.
The Unexpected Twins
Even without mods, The Sims 4 and No Man’s Sky are some of the most replayable games around, in part thanks to the endless drip of new content. Eight years after NMS launched, Hello Games is still dropping gigantic updates for free. The newest one (Worlds Part 1) improves everything from water and cloud visuals to planetary diversity. EA’s “What about second breakfast?” approach to microtransactions feels awful by comparison, but at least they’re both delivering. It’s a coincidence that the new Sims 4 update also features water (thank you, rounded pools), but what better way to get our feet wet?
If you want proof The Sims 4 and No Man’s Sky hold a similar appeal, look no further than their patch notes. Expanding customization options for housing? A cozier water-side experience? Check and check. It’s not about superficial similarities, however. NMS and The Sims could’ve been twins in a parallel universe. I get the same feeling from gossiping about Don Lothario that I do from watching monsters frolic in fields of alien flowers like kittens with a snoutful of catnip. My second life is comfy.
The Sims 4 and No Man’s Sky Win Summer
If you want to spend your time in No Man’s Sky making biscuits instead of battling space pirates, you can, and I have been. After reaching the center of the galaxy in No Man’s Sky, I’ve been playing The Sims in Hello Games’s universe. Sure, I’m unintentionally insulting my Gex language tutor instead of wooing my suburban neighbors, but it feels the same. What I want is a deep and customizable other life, a digital existence in a world brighter, bolder, and (somewhat) more compassionate than our own. That’s the reality Hello Games and Maxis are both inching toward.
Both games are great for living out your Frank Lloyd Wright fantasies or getting rich. That said, if all you want to do is let the tide of weirdness pull you along, you can embrace your inner jellyfish and do that, too. The Sims has vampires and mermaids. No Man’s Sky has flying islands and living ships. There’s already plenty of crossover between fans of the two, but it’s unclear how much the average gamer appreciates their similar vibes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re burnt out on one and haven’t tried the other, now’s a great time to let the cozy chaos take hold.
