The Sims 4 vs Paralives vs Life by You – Similar, But Different

What is the difference between The Sims 4, Paralives and Life by You? It’s not just the size! We compared these life simulators and here are our findings.

The Sims series has dominated the life simulator market for 23 years, but truth be told, the game has never faced serious competition in the genre. It might be hard to imagine that changing anytime soon, but at least two new games have been announced recently that will throw down the gauntlet to Maxis’ iconic series.

The first is called Paralives, announced in 2020, created by an independent team of just 11 people. The keystone of the game is simulation. from and for the community, in which we will control the lives of characters called Parafolk. The release date is not yet known.

The second is Life By You, which is due for early access on September 12, 2023. It is a life simulation developed by a newly created faction of Paradox Interactive called Paradox Tectonic. Includes, among others, Rod Humble, producer of The Sims 2 there The Sims 3.

The Sims 4, for its part, is the last installment (aged already 9 years) of the cult series, to which these two titles are compared since their announcement. Well Named ? All three share the same genre, but as we know, the devil is in the details. SO, we wanted to analyze the specific differences between them.

Chart

The most notable differences between The Sims 4, Paralives, and Life By You are in their distinct art styles.

1. The Sims 4 has much more stylized graphics than previous entries, which initially sparked controversy among fans. However, the game is only slightly cartoonish and runs well on many devices. keep its charm even at lower graphics settings.
2. Paralives, on the other hand, will feature charming graphics reminiscent of a comic book. It’s less realistic, with a warm color palette, very nice lighting and shadows, and smooth animations.
3. Life By You is similar, but is based on more realistic textures and models. The objects and models look a lot like Paradox’s hit Cities Skylines, but the nondescript character models probably leave a lot to be desired for some.

character creator

One of the most important elements of any life simulator is undoubtedly the character assistant. Graphics are one thing, but the wizard itself can offer access to many body shapes, different clothes, items, accessories, and traits that make virtual people unique.

1. The Sims 4 brought many tools to model the body of the characters. Thanks to the many improvements made over the years, the creation mode also makes it possible to determine aspirations, characteristics, approach, favorite topics of conversation, favorite musical genres or even gender identity.
2. The materials released so far by the creators of Paralives show that the character creation system, just like in The Sims 4, will allow us to use sliders to shape the body. However, we will also be able to enter numbers for the height and size of the different body parts. Skin type and clothing can be freely customized using the color palette, and it will be possible to modify elements such as eyes or tattoos without maintaining symmetry. Parafolk’s character creation mechanic remains a mystery for now.
3. Promotional material for Life By You did not contain much information about the character’s wizard. We know for sure that it will contain an unlimited selection of colors and, as befits a Paradox game, a very extensive character system. The game trailer is displayed. characters with up to 10 traits, including those that define their upbringing, where they grew up, and what family secrets they keep.

Buildings and interior design

Whether we just want our little humans to have a nice house, customize existing models, or play architect without worrying about other mechanics, construction is an inseparable part of life simulators.

1. The Sims 4 building system has as many fans as it does opponents. Without cheats, it’s quite limited and buggy, but on the other hand, it allows to create quite sophisticated builds. Buildings can be placed on predestined fields, using many types of plots.
2. One of the first aspects of Paralives that the team proudly announced was the house building and furnishing system. It’s supposed to offer a lot of freedom, allowing you to install walls at any angle and change the length, size and color of elements. If Sims mesh is your biggest enemy, Paralives can be your salvation.
3. The best way to describe the abilities of the building creator in Life By You, in turn, is total freedom. According to the announcements, we will be able to modify the characteristics of individual objects ourselves, or even create our own elements in addition to designing and building houses. It will also be possible to place buildings anywhere on the map, without plot restrictions..

game world

The individual aspects of each game are located in its world and are limited by its rules. In the case of life simulations, the neighborhood we live in often determines our commitment to the simulated life and the level of attachment to our characters.

1. The Sims 4 surprised fans of the series accustomed to previous installments by leaving the open world. Therefore, to visit individual places, we have to go through the inevitable loading screens. Individual worlds, however, offer plenty of interaction with the environment (e.g. places to fish, treasure to dig, or secret passages), without demanding as much from our computers and consoles. Unfortunately, the basic version of the game offers only 3 worlds, but with all the additions there are already 23 of them, each with its own unique attractions and characteristic atmosphere.
2. We don’t have much information about the Paralives game world. However, it is meant to be open-ended, allowing players to freely create individual packs and adjust its shape and size. They will be available for purchase, renewal and are also supposed to have a history recorded by the game. In many game documents, we could also notice the different seasons and weather conditions in the virtual city.
3. Looking at the early Life By You trailers, one of the game’s highlights is the detailed and highly developed world. Our neighborhood is supposed to be open and we should be able to walk through it or drive a car. The creators also suggest that we can create our neighborhood practically from scratch and adapt it to our taste. At any point in the game, we should be able to look inside other buildings, enter working shops or offices, and take control of each person.

character interactions

Social interactions are the basis of all human life, even virtual (except hermits). If your heroes’ relationships are an important part of life-sim gaming, here’s a breakdown of those mechanics for each of the games discussed.

1. Sims’ relationships are primarily conversation-based, but can also be built through interactions such as giving gifts or taking photos together. However, they have poor memories and are unresponsive to long-term social events.
2. Relationships are another element of Parafolks that the developers haven’t explained in detail so far. Most likely, they work in a familiar way, giving us control over individual situations, like in The Sims 4.
3. Life By You is supposed to feature a dialogue system similar to those found in visual novels. We can be trusted to look for the consequences of certain actions. Additionally, the game will supposedly allow write dialogue lines by ourselvesand see character bubbles anywhere on the map at any time.

The most unique elements of each

As you can see, the games feature gameplay elements of varying similarity. However, each of them has several characteristics that make them unique. Below is a roundup of notable features of these games that don’t fit into the categories above, or just deserve special mention.

1. The Sims 4, with the community developed over the years, benefits from countless mods that customize every aspect of the game. The growing number of expansions, despite their price and the varying degree of functionality they introduce, also gives us the ability to make the game perfect for our individual needs. The famous game is also the most reliable, because after all it is the only one on the market. In the case of upcoming titles, all we have for now are promises from the developers that they will be supported and updated for a few years after release. Additionally, it’s also the only game of the three (according to current information) that will be available on both PC and consoles.
2. Paralives is the only game on this list made by an independent team which will naturally be closest to the needs of the fanbase. Although he is the most mysterious of the three, you too can have the opportunity to contribute to its creationthanks to the impressive relationship the developers build with the community.
3. Life By You, for its part, offers the most advanced in the world. The first trailer announced unique systems, providing additional opportunities to diversify our expertise, including create events, shops, contests, quests, recipes, skills, traits and collectibles. It also contains many gameplay elements that are only available in The Sims 4 after paying for the DLC.

A full comparison will only be possible after the release of Paralives and Life By You. It is possible that At that time, it will already be possible to compare them with the next Rene Projectinstead of The Sims 4 9 years. Still, we can at least see that there are significant differences between the upcoming life sims that will make them more than just a copy of The Sims.