The Best Parenting Simulator Games

Key Takeaways

Parenting simulators offer unique gameplay, storytelling, and character-building potential in video games.
My Lovely Daughter
explores a macabre, disturbing take on a parenting simulator with dark themes.
The Sims 4
revolutionizes virtual parenting through detailed character values and family dynamics.

As a seasoned gamer with a heart for story-driven and emotionally resonant games, I must say that my personal favorite among these two captivating titles is My Child Lebensborn. The reason behind my preference lies not only in its unique premise but also in the profound impact it has on players as they navigate through the challenging journey of raising a child under unforgiving circumstances.

Experiencing parenthood can encompass a multitude of feelings – it’s incredibly rewarding, yet draining, stressful, potentially traumatic, and heartwarming all at once. Believe it or not, even the most ordinary ideas, such as office simulator games in real life, have evolved into some of the most captivating, entertaining, and addictive digital creations. Characters like Joel and Ellie, Big Boss and Snake, whose relationships often revolve around parenthood or parent-child dynamics, have a profound impact on gamers. Given this, it’s only natural to acknowledge that parenting simulation games, with their remarkable narrative prowess, gameplay mechanics, and character development, deserve recognition for the emotional journeys they provide.

The joy of parenting simulators is the combination of a management simulator, a cozy, endearing narrative, and the excitement of raising a character from scratch and seeing them succeed (or fail) in the lives their parents (the player) have built for them. Some parenting simulators even incorporate endless cycles, so that child characters grow up to become playable characters and have children of their own for the player to raise, allowing players to build long-lasting legacies that outlive the original parents, such as in The Sims 4. Whether these virtual parents are super Moms and Dads or at risk of having CPS called, here is a selection of the most inventive, enjoyable parenting simulators out there.

6 My Lovely Daughter

Being A Dad And Raising Good Kids Is Killer

Release Date: 03-08-2018
Developer: GameChanger Studio
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Horror, Parenting Simulator RPG

Fans of horror genres will find delight in this gruesome retelling of a parenting simulator titled “My Lovely Daughter.” In this chilling narrative, a mourning father named Faustus endeavors to revive his deceased daughter by creating homunculi daughters instead. As these daughters mature and reach their potential, Faustus is compelled to sacrifice them. The game seamlessly blends elements of a parenting simulator, such as gifting, spending time together, and overseeing their village jobs. Players assume the role of Faustus, witnessing his cold, heartless thoughts towards his “daughters” or “sacrifices,” and his disregard for their impending fate. Despite this, players develop an emotional bond with each daughter, seeing them as unique entities that they would wish to cherish eternally if not for the game’s grim requirement of their eventual demise.

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5 Volcano Princess

Every Dad Thinks Their Virtual Daughter Is A Princess

Release Date: 04-21-2023
Developer: Egg Catcher
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Switch, Xbox One
Genre: Parenting Simulator RPG

Raising the Volcano Princess

In the game titled “Volcano Princess,” some mini-games are more enjoyable than others, ranging from cooking, acting, and fishing to the trickier aspects of gambling, combat, and socializing. Even mastering horse-catching and racing in “Volcano Princess” may necessitate a guide or tutorial. The game offers a variety of choices, allowing players to tailor their experience towards their preferred outcomes, such as becoming a crime boss, cultist, knight, Queen, or even a Goddess. Despite some translation issues, typos, and a few underdeveloped stories, “Volcano Princess” is not a perfect parenting game. However, this somewhat raw title from Chinese developer Egg Catcher offers an engaging life management simulation experience focused on nurturing a daughter from childhood to a accomplished princess.

4 Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Are Eight Arms Enough To Hold Your Family Close?

Back in 2014, I found myself immersed in an extraordinary gaming experience with Octodad: Dadliest Catch – a hilarious take on parenting simulators that adds a dash of chaos to the usual routine. Instead of a human, you control an octopus disguised as a man, trying to keep his crazed sushi chef pursuer at bay while maintaining the facade of a normal life for his unsuspecting wife and kids.

In an unusual twist to traditional daily management games, Octodad: Dadliest Catch offers a unique parenting simulator experience. The game’s controls are intentionally tricky and awkward, leading players to stumble, trip, and skid in a frenzied manner as they strive to accomplish ordinary tasks like grilling barbecues, grocery shopping, and saving their family from a dangerous blaze. This humorous game, which doesn’t follow the standard daily management format, focuses on more outlandish adventures where the care of his children is Octodad’s primary objective. Ideal for gamers who don’t take life, fatherhood, or being pursued by a murderous chef too gravely, this amusing little game serves as an entertaining introduction to parenthood.

3 The Shelter Series

Don’t Mess With Mother Nature (Please)

Characters in games don’t have to be human to take on the role of a parent. Gamers can experience this through the Shelter series, developed by Might and Delight. In the tranquil-looking game Shelter from 2013, players control a mother badger tasked with feeding, safeguarding, and guiding her five offspring across challenging landscapes. The sequel, Shelter 2, focuses on a mother lynx and her four cubs, with the common goal of survival, though this time, the progression involves watching them grow up and venture out independently (if the player manages to keep enough of them alive).

2021 sees the relocation of Shelter 3 into the dense jungle, where players take on the role of a matriarch elephant, leading her herd with her timeless wisdom and unwavering protection. Navigating various terrains, settings, and mothers throughout the game, players are repeatedly struck by the heart-wrenching loss of a calf. It’s difficult not to develop feelings for these pixelated characters in this storybook-like environment. The Shelter series resonates deeply with any parenting simulator, as it emphasizes the fundamental value: ensuring the safety, nourishment, and survival of offspring amidst all perils.

2 My Child Lebensborn

Parents Shield Their Child From Bullies And Warfare

Release Date: 06-01-2018
Developer: Sarepta Studio
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Android and iOS
Genre: Social Simulation, Parenting Simulator RPG

“Not many parenting simulators delve into the complexities of caring for and shielding a fragile child’s emotional wellbeing quite like ‘My Child Lebensborn’. In post-war Norway, players take on the role of adopting either Klaus or Karin, children who were born and abandoned as part of the Lebensborn project – a scheme initiated by the Nazis to produce Aryan offspring. Sarepta Studio created ‘My Child Lebensborn’ in 2018 as an alternative to making a documentary about the actual hardships faced by these innocent children, who suffered abuse and neglect due to their connection to the controversial Nazi legacy.

Regardless of its somber theme, “My Child Lebensborn” offers a soothing, heartwarming experience as a point-and-click management sim. As a parent, you’ll navigate daily tasks while interacting sensitively with dialogue options to maintain your child’s wellbeing. This includes cooking meals, fishing, sewing clothes, playing games, and reading bedtime stories. However, tranquility is disrupted when the child encounters intense, heart-wrenching bullying that has profound and devastating effects on their mental health and perspective on life. Sarepta Studio is currently working on a sequel, focusing on the recovery and healing process of both parent and child following traumatic experiences. Essentially, “My Child Lebensborn” is a heartfelt game about nurturing a hopeful, kind-hearted child in challenging circumstances.

1 The Sims 4

Social Worker Sims Are Out Of A Job Now

Since the debut of the first virtual offspring in The Sims back in 2000, this series has evolved into an exceptionally comprehensive simulator for life and parenthood experiences. By 2018, The Sims 4 franchise had established itself as one of the market’s most detailed, thanks to the introduction of the expansion pack called The Sims 4: Parenthood. This update significantly enhanced the representation of toddlers and children, incorporating Character Values such as empathy, manners, conflict resolution, responsibility, and emotional control. For the first time, parents were given the tools to reward good behavior, impose discipline, set curfews, and participate in aspirations, traits, multiple choice dialogues, and activities that all contribute to a child’s development and personality molding.

In the world of Sims, the moral values exhibited during childhood lead to the acquisition of traits that persist into adulthood, allowing players to truly experience the consequences of their parental decisions. The franchise took a leap forward in 2023 with the release of The Sims 4: Growing Together, enhancing its unique, family-focused gameplay. This expansion introduced new aspirations, milestones, and events that added depth to Sim families.

2024-10-26 14:05