I came for The Sims. I stayed for the chaos.
1,295 hours played (with Biotech, Anomaly, and Odyssey).
I’ve never really considered myself a “gamer.” I grew up playing The Sims, Nintendo DS games, Bratz, interior design games, and whatever else my 90s childhood threw at me. What I loved most was creating something, watching it grow, and escaping into a world I could shape.
Then I found RimWorld.
At first, I almost didn’t buy it because it looked… overwhelming. Every screenshot made me think, There is no way I’m smart enough for this game. Turns out, I was completely wrong. RimWorld has incredible depth, but it doesn’t expect you to learn everything at once. You start by trying to keep three crash-landed people alive. Before you know it, you’re debating research priorities, redesigning your freezer for the fifth time, and wondering how it’s suddenly 2:00 a.m.
What surprised me most is how much freedom the game gives you. You can micromanage every colonist, carefully assigning jobs, paying attention to their backstories, moods, and needs—or you can zoom out and run your colony like a well-oiled machine. Neither way is “correct,” and that’s one of the reasons this game has so much staying power. My playstyle has evolved several times over the last 1,295 hours, and every new colony somehow feels like a fresh challenge instead of a repeat.
No two runs are ever the same. Sometimes I’m peacefully building my little settlement. Sometimes I’m fending off raids. Sometimes I’m recruiting the same people who tried to kill me five minutes earlier. Sometimes my entire colony collapses spectacularly… and instead of rage quitting, I’m already clicking “New Colony” because I know exactly what I want to try next.
I also love that RimWorld fits into real life. I can slow time down while I’m planning, crank it up to 3x speed when everything’s running smoothly, and pause whenever life inevitably interrupts. It’s one of the few games that feels completely immersive without demanding my full attention every second.
And then there’s the personality.
This game has me talking to my laptop more than almost any other game I’ve played.
“What are you doing?!”
“What the…?”
“Are you serious right now?”
…usually followed by laughing because whatever just happened somehow makes perfect RimWorld sense.
Your colonists don’t feel like little robots waiting for orders. They have moods, personalities, quirks, and occasionally decide to go completely off script. Ignore someone’s needs a little too long, and they’ll remind you in the most chaotic way possible. Those unexpected moments are what make every colony feel less like a strategy game and more like a story you’ll end up telling someone later.
The soundtrack lives rent-free in my head. The quirky names, strange events, rituals, animals, and constant “I did not see that coming” moments give the game so much charm.
After 1,295 hours, I’m only recently getting into ship travel. That’s honestly one of the best compliments I can give this game. I’m still discovering new mechanics, setting new goals, and finding new ways to play. Very few games can keep surprising me after this much time.
I came looking for another game that scratched the same creative itch The Sims gave me.
Instead, I found a game that has me muttering “what the actual…” at my screen, laughing at the absolute nonsense my colonists get themselves into, and immediately starting over after catastrophic failure because I already have a better plan.
If you’ve been staring at the Steam page thinking, This looks way too complicated for me, I was you.
1,295 hours later…
I’m really glad I clicked “Buy.”
