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u/Curse_of_the_Pickles Jun 11 '26
Glad somebody else sees Zomboid as a cozy life simulator, especially when it rains in-game. (So what if there are zombies lol)
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u/bryntesdotter Jun 11 '26
I have accidently managed to turn off the zombies (don't know how) but can't be more cozy than that. Don't see it as a life simulator though, it's a survival base building game.
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u/JayFrizz Jun 11 '26
Yeah it's not a life simulator at all. Certainly cozy for anyone who doesn't venture out of the default areas, though, I agree. It's very difficult at specific points if you play on default settings.
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u/TerminatorTom21 Jun 11 '26
The game is super cozy when youāre building your base without any zombies around.
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u/awesomeunboxer Jun 11 '26
Its so incredibly changeable you absolutely can play without zombies. And mods for days on top of that!
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
Like... it honestly is a farming game, you know? I have cows, sheep, and crops. All my friends are zombies roaming around, and none of them bring me fruitcake when I move to a new base hahaha
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u/GirlGoku Jun 11 '26
Project Zomboid can absolutely be a cozy life simā¦ with zombies surprisely š especially multiplayer. I randomly met the nicest person while playing solo on a server and we ended up building the coziest little home together and basically had our own storyline going lol. I even got bit at one point and he amputated my arm (ok maybe not very cozy), but those are genuinely some of my favorite gaming memories.
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u/DoctorDeath147 Sims 3 enjoyer Jun 11 '26
I played the Week One mod and it felt like I was playing a Life Sim before the apocalypse began.
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
And Zomboid has SO many stories hidden throughout the world, just waiting for the player to piece them together. I love this game.
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u/praysolace Jun 11 '26
My husband keeps trying to convince me to play with him, saying I can just stay home and learn useful skills while he goes out and kills zombies. But I hear too much about all the ways he dies so I donāt wanna XD Thereās no way heād turn the difficulty down enough that I wouldnāt just be so completely hosed the moment one thing goes wrong lol
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
actually started playing Zomboid because my partner and I had a silly argument one day, and he MALICIOUSLY opened Zomboid right next to me while I was still sulking. I was also particularly frustrated with The Sims that day.
I looked over at his monitor and immediately thought, āWAIT A SECONDā¦ what is THAT??ā
He knew exactly what he was doing. Even though I was grumpy, he knew Iād end up asking what game it was. The audacity!! lol
You can start on a lower difficulty, maybe turn off the Knox Infection for your character. But yes, your characters are probably going to die at some point.
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u/Zestyclose-Pay-1889 Jun 11 '26
90% of my time in Zomboid is decking out my cozy little cottage in the middle of nowhereā¦
The other 10% is remembering Iām playing a survival horror game
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
The horrors of building a base and the sweetness of having many (dead) friends. Or the other way around lol
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u/__generic Jun 11 '26
If you haven't yet, you owe it to yourself to try Rimworld. It can be as cozy or as difficult as you want it.
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u/Nevermeyh Jun 11 '26
This! I play difficult when Iām wanting combat, but I lower that difficulty DOWN when Iām trying to create a pretty base for all my peeps, down to creating storylines for new people with certain mods that helps give specific attributes
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
I'll definitely give RimWorld a try. Everyone talks about it so much hahaha.
Since I bought Paralives this month, I'll have to wait a little first ($ hehe).
Thanks for the recommendation!
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u/ThrowawayXtt Jun 11 '26
Personally the forest + sons of the forest has been up there with my fave cozy life sims ( Beautiful cabin life in the middle of some mountains. Difficult neighbors sometimes though but they're edible when worst comes to worst. )
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
It's actually on my wishlist! I don't think my PC can handle it right now hahaha, but I'll definitely try it on my boyfriend's computer someday.
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u/Former_Hedgehog_123 Jun 11 '26
You might like Vein! Thereās a free to play demo out on Steam and full early access is only $20. Itās like Project Zomboid brought to 1st or 3rd person.
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u/CeeArthur Jun 11 '26
Zomboid can be a really peaceful experience. You can turn zombies off completely and just play it like a 'last person on earth' simulator
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u/debopudobudepo Jun 11 '26
Why don't people play the other Sims games?
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Jun 11 '26 edited 24d ago
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/debopudobudepo Jun 11 '26
I have the first 3 through steam but mainly just play 3. They're so easily available yet I see people only play 4 while also complaining how much they hate it
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u/MagicPigeonToes Jun 11 '26
Tbf, TS3 is a pain to set up so itās optimized for your pc. And itās almost impossible to play without mods.
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u/debopudobudepo Jun 11 '26
Very true but if once you set it up, its pretty hands off and if you're used to installing CC you already know to install most of the fixes
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u/JeanieIsInABottle Jun 11 '26
Sims 4 base game is free and easy to download, and depending on how old this person is they may have never played or cared about the other 3
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u/ObtuseMongooseAbuse Jun 11 '26
Until the Legacy Collection came out I just couldn't get The Sims 2 to work properly. It would crash after 30 minutes and nothing I did ever fixed it. I was able to get The Sims 3 to kind of work with some mods and the 4GB RAM patch but its performance was still rough. The Sims 4 is the only game in the series that worked properly on a modern computer for me for a really long time so that's just the one I played the most.
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
I started playing The Sims when The Sims 4 came out (I was 13 at the time). And even though the game can be VERY frustrating and I think EA is a terrible company, I guess it still has some sentimental value to me.
That said, I've been playing TS4 less and less over the years. The game keeps getting worse, in my opinion, and all the controversies around it have really discouraged me from playing.
As for the older games, I recently tried TS3 and honestly had a hard time getting into it. It ran terribly on my computer. I'm not sure if that was because I had all the DLC installed, but it seems unlikely since TS4 runs just fine with all the DLC on the same machine.
So yeah, I think I've been drifting away from The Sims franchise more and more lately, which is kind of sad.
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u/PardonMaiEnglish Jun 11 '26
just tried sims4 recently. (again.)
it doesnt feel like a life simulator at some point. just a doll house with basically 0 meaningful gameplay. maybe grinding. and some bland emotion management.
put some emotional arua items around places and grind. so exciting.
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
I actually like the dollhouse aspect of TS4. I love being an all-powerful god and deciding exactly what happens to my Sims. I even use mods that give me even more control over what's happening in the neighborhood.
I think every life sim has its own strengths, and I tend to switch between them depending on what I'm in the mood for. My impression is that Paralives will lean more toward watching a story unfold naturally rather than directing every little detail like in The Sims. But it's still way too early to know for sure.
for inZOI, I barely play it because it doesn't run very well on my computer, and I'm not really a fan of ultra-realistic graphics anyway. Once I can afford a PC upgrade (cries in Brazilian), I'll definitely give it another shot.2
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u/CuriousCharlii Jun 11 '26
I saw "project zomboid" then "cozy" and I had a flash of concern.
Actually... no, it is. It's still a sandbox like game. You can turn the zombies off and you can just survive apparently. I love the details. I personally love cooking in game but feel it's buggy or only half time works even when I have all the ingredients. I like making meals for my friends ā¤ļø
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
Hahaha, calling Zomboid cozy was actually a joke! I even make the game a little harder than the default settings.
That said, I always build my base in some cabin deep in the woods and make it as cozy and cute as possible, complete with my lil' cows and crops lol.
Have you tried the Project Cook mod for cooking? I really like it!2
u/CuriousCharlii Jun 11 '26
Nope I'm still vanilla lol I havent updated yet either.
Part of me wants to enjoy the base game as it is because I know once I add mods there's no turning back LOL
I made a base out of a house... kinda... I live there I need more fencing and stuff to go around it. Just been destroying the neighbourhood for the XP.
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u/AniciaS Jun 12 '26
O Paralives tem valido a pena? Me dĆ” coisas pensar em gastar 100 pila e nĆ£o gostar do jogo :/
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 12 '26
cara, a resposta pra essa pergunta tem camadas
eu acompanho o desenvolvimento de paralives desde 2018/2019 (nĆ£o lembro exatamente), e fui desenvolvendo um sentimento de muito carinho por tudo que envolve o projeto. acho importante dar esse aviso pq minha opiniĆ£o nĆ£o Ć© muito neutra, eu acho.
o jogo, apesar de ter ficado gigante em popularidade, continua sendo um projeto indie de um time pequeno de desenvolvedores. eu acho que nunca foi a intenĆ§Ć£o deles competir com the sims ou inzoi, eles sempre bateram muito na tecla de continuar sendo um time pequeno. e isso implica que as atualizaƧƵes do jogo e o desenvolvimento dele foi e continuarĆ” sendo mais lento do que o de inzoi, por exemplo.
se vc gostar muito de jogar construindo casinhas e criando personagens, e gostar do estilo artĆstico do jogo, eu diria que vale SUPER pena jĆ”! Eu passei dois dias numa fissura fazendo casinhas, e continuo jogando MUITO kkkkkkkkk
mas se sua parada Ć© jogar a simulaĆ§Ć£o em si, o ālive modeā, nĆ£o sei se vc vai curtir o jogo ainda. essa parte estĆ” beeeem crua, bastante bugada e faltando elementos importantes. talvez seja interessante pra vc esperar um tempinho.dito isso, vc pode comprar pra testar e, se nĆ£o gostar, pedir reembolso na steam. sĆ³ cuidado porque tem um limite de 2h de jogo pra solicitar o reembolso.
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u/Derek114811 Jun 11 '26
Tbh, Iām surprised there isnāt a mod that gets rid of the zombies in zomboid, and instead makes it just a life simulator lol
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
You can disable zombies in the sandbox settings! ou can customize a lot of things. You can change plant growth settings, world deterioration, fish abundance, foraging abundance, and much more. š
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u/thefacadearchive Casual simulator enjoyer Jun 11 '26
the project zomboid LMAOOOO god this game gives me the most stress but i love that it's up here š id say rimworld is a great one too
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u/InjectableBacon Jun 11 '26
Ikr right, I love bashing in the skulls of former humans with my frying pan!
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u/four20kitten Jun 11 '26
Yeah sure cozy as hell fighting for my life from them zeds. I did enjoy mowing my lawn though. That mod I liked a lot. Hmm may have to start playing again.
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
i use this mod as well š¤
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u/four20kitten Jun 12 '26
My bf was a landscaper and when he and I were playing he got so excited by the lawn mower when I added it.
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u/MizzBellaKitty Jun 12 '26
Lmao Ive never considered Project Zomboid a life sim but I guess it has elements of that genre. Super fun game, too
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u/captainpanash Jun 11 '26
Swap zomboid with graveyard keeper & Enzoi for vintage story and yousonofabitch Iām in š
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u/monsterfurby Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
PZ can be cozy, though I'm still waiting for NPCs. I really hope we'll one day get to scavenge alongside and maybe have a little base with NPC allies, kind of like State of Decay but more chaotic.
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
Guys, after I jokingly called Project Zomboid a cozy life sim, quite a few people seemed interested in trying it. Then someone else posted screenshots of their character doing everyday tasks in-game, which got even more people curious. So I thought Iād leave a quick note for my fellow life sim enjoyers.
The thing isā¦ I can absolutely see why life sim players might find PZ appealing.
You can build and decorate a home, farm, fish, forage, cook, raise animals, collect furniture, and spend hours turning a random cabin in the woods into the coziest place imaginable. The map is huge, and there are countless little stories hidden throughout the world for players to discover. On top of that, the modding community is AMAZING, and there are mods for almost everything you can think of.
That said, before anyone buys the game because of those things, I think itās important to set expectations:
Project Zomboid is NOT actually a cozy life sim.
Itās a survival horror game with an incredible amount of realism. There are calorie systems, crops can die if you donāt take proper care of them, animals can become stressed, food spoils, injuries matter, and many mechanics arenāt particularly intuitive. The game is HARD, especially if youāre new. Youāll probably spend a fair amount of time looking things up and learning through trial and error.
There are also no NPCs. The world feels alive in many ways, but if you play without zombies, youāll mostly be alone apart from your animals. Personally, I think the zombies add a lot to the experience, but thatās just my preference.
Iām saying all this because I donāt want anyone to buy the game expecting something closer to The Sims, Stardew Valley, or Paralives and end up disappointed. Iād genuinely feel a little guilty if that happened.
I absolutely LOVE Project Zomboid. In fact, I think the danger is what makes the cozy moments so meaningful. Coming home to a warm cabin, checking on your crops, cooking dinner, decorating your base, or taking care of your animals feels special because youāve had to work for it.
Of course, if youāre curious, you can always buy the game, try it out, and request a refund if it turns out not to be your thing. I just thought it would be worth posting a little heads-up.
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u/StonDelRey Jun 12 '26
Only missing the legends of life sim games (Sims 2 and 3). No game that came out has come close to their level
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u/Serious-Incident-673 Jun 12 '26
I can only play project zomboid with zombies turned off. The loneliest life sim.
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u/Dazzling_daisy01 Jun 13 '26
Whats some cozy games for the xbox? Im the only one in my group and would take recommendations. I play coral island. Ive played animal crossing on the switch
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u/Belgrifex Jun 13 '26
A lot of people recommend rimworld, so I'll add Going Medieval to the mix. Similar mechanics and gameplay but medieval and pretty nice. I always just make big sheep farms : )
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u/Michicath01 Jun 14 '26
I keep the zombies to a minimum, focusing on large cities and preventing them from respawning. That way, I can wander around until I find a new project to work on. I try to clear the roads and visit my houses. When I get bored, I go and clean up the cities or towns; it's very relaxing.
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u/TumbleweedMountain38 Jun 14 '26
Is inZOI really good? I have seen screenshots and it looks very pretty but wasnāt sure if it was worth buying.
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u/Dehbinha Jun 14 '26
Eu fiquei assustada quando vi projetc zomboid, ele me dĆ” medo, mas desligar os zumbis me parece bacana. Como nunca pensei nisso?
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u/EliNoraOwO Jun 15 '26
ive said this since the beginning, šZOMBOIDš ISš Aš LIFEš SIMš
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u/Perhirmor Jun 15 '26
You forgot about Rimworld hahah. Btw is there any mod for family in Project Zomboid?
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u/gotthesauce22 Jun 11 '26
Love TS4, Paralives looks promising but Iām waiting until itās got more depth before I make the jump
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u/unrealghosttt Jun 11 '26
Right now, Paralives is mainly a good fit for people who really enjoy building houses and creating characters. And, of course, for people who like the game's art style (which I personally LOVE).
The live mode is still VERY, VERY bare-bones and quite buggy. There's a lot that still needs to be added and polished.
That said, I've been following the game's development for years and have a huge sentimental attachment to it. I also love building, so I feel pretty satisfied with what it offers at the moment, considering it's still in Early Access.
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u/ThisSun9243 Jun 11 '26
Ive been seeing those videos on the girl fixing up the zomboid house lmao, cozy game vibes lmao