Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,000 most recommended games across 827 critic lists from 134 publications.
Updated: October 26, 2025
Most Acclaimed Life Simulation Games of All Time
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#1 Persona 5 (2016) (#86)
P Studio | WIN, 3, XB1, XBXS, SW | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~98h | 59 lists
#2 Persona 4 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008) (#87)
Atlus | WIN, PS2, PSV | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~72h | 33 lists
#3 Stardew Valley (2016) (#94)
ConcernedApe | 3, XB1, PS4, SW | Life Simulation | ~53h | 49 lists
#4 The Sims (2000) (#96)
Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~20h | 42 lists
#5 Shenmue (1999) (#120)
Sega AM2 | DC | Action-Adventure / Life Simulation | ~19h | 27 lists
#6 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) (#144)
Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5 | SW | Life Simulation | ~61h | 44 lists
#7 Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012) (#250)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 | 3DS | Life Simulation | ~79h | 28 lists
#8 Animal Crossing (2001) (#260)
Nintendo EAD | N64, GC | Life Simulation | ~66h | 16 lists
#9 The Sims 2 (2004) (#281)
Maxis | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~26h | 13 lists
#10 The Sims 3 (2009) (#334)
The Sims Studio | MAC, WIN | Life Simulation | ~53h | 16 lists
#11 Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005) (#658)
Nintendo EAD | DS | Life Simulation | ~68h | 7 lists
#12 Harvest Moon (1996) (#789)
Amccus, Pack-In-Video | SNES | Life Simulation | ~24h | 6 lists
#13 Persona 3 / Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (2006) (#907)
Atlus | PS2 | Role-Playing / Life Simulation | ~82h | 3 lists
#1
#86
Persona 5
2016
#2
#87
#3
#94
Stardew Valley
2016
#4
#96
The Sims
2000
#5
#120
Shenmue
1999
#6
#144
#7
#250
#8
#260
Animal Crossing
2001
#9
#281
The Sims 2
2004
#10
#334
The Sims 3
2009
#11
#658
#12
#789
Harvest Moon
1996
#13
#907
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