The five, side by side
Prices are US prices on November 10, 2026.
| Game | Price | Runs on | Like Tomodachi Life because | Different because |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LifeSim | Free | Any browser on PC, Mac or phone; no download | The people around you are AI characters with jobs, homes and routines who act on their own and text you first | You play one person in a real city instead of watching an island from above |
| The Sims 4 | Base game free; packs cost extra | Windows on Steam; PC and Mac through the EA app | Make a household and watch friendships, romances and arguments | You steer every Sim closely, and much of the content is paid packs |
| Paralives | $39.99 | Windows, Mac (Steam Early Access since May 25, 2026) | A detailed character creator and relationships between the people you make | Still in Early Access; more about building homes |
| inZOI | $39.99 | Windows, Mac (Steam Early Access) | Create characters and watch them go about city life | Realistic look and tone, no cartoon humor |
| Stardew Valley | $14.99 | Windows, Mac, Linux | A town of over 30 residents to befriend, 12 of them to date | You farm for a living, and residents are written characters, not ones you create |
Pick by what you liked in Tomodachi Life
- Watching little people surprise you. The Sims 4 with autonomy left on is the nearest thing on PC. LifeSim gets at the same feeling from inside the town: its residents are driven by AI, so they make plans, hold grudges and message you without being told to.
- Making characters of friends and family. Paralives and inZOI have the deepest creators. In LifeSim you type a description or upload a photo and the game draws the character.
- Romance and drama. The Sims 4 is built around relationships and family drama, and Stardew Valley has 12 residents you can date.
- Something relaxed to check in on daily. Stardew Valley, played a day at a time.
- A school laptop or a Chromebook. LifeSim, because it runs in a browser tab with nothing to install.
The free ones
Two of the five cost nothing to start.
- LifeSim is free with nothing to buy and no download. It is a life simulator, not a Tomodachi Life clone: you become one person in any real city on Earth, on a real 3D map, and live day by day.
- The Sims 4 base game has been free since October 18, 2022. Steam lists it as free to play with in-app purchases, which are the expansion, game and stuff packs.
Be wary of anything else that claims to be a free Tomodachi Life for PC. Nintendo has never released one, as the main page explains, and the emulator page covers why download sites are a bad idea.
Free · no download · LifeSim
Neighbors with their own lives, free in your browser
In LifeSim every person is an AI character with a job, a home, a routine and a memory of you. Type who you are and the game draws you and starts your life in a real city.
Closest games that are not on PC
The nearest relatives of Tomodachi Life are other Nintendo games, and they stay on Nintendo consoles. Miitopia stars the Mii characters you make in a comedy adventure, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons is island life at your own pace. Neither is sold for PC. Tomodachi Life itself is not on Steam.
FAQ
What is the closest PC game to Tomodachi Life?
The Sims 4 is the closest in spirit: you create people, put them together and watch what happens, and the base game is free. No PC game has Miis or the same absurd humor.
Is there a free game like Tomodachi Life on PC?
Yes, two. LifeSim is free in any browser with no download, and The Sims 4 base game is a free download on PC.
Is there a game like Tomodachi Life on Steam?
The Sims 4 (free), Paralives ($39.99), inZOI ($39.99) and Stardew Valley ($14.99) are all on Steam. Tomodachi Life itself is not.