Should You Give Architect Life: A House Design Simulator a Try?

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Architect Life: A House Design Simulator, developed by Shine Research and published by NACON, was released on June 19, 2025 for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. It might appeal to you if you enjoy creative simulation games focused on design and construction, but the real question is: Is it worth the 29,99€ price?

Architect Life puts you in charge of your own architectural firm, designing and building homes from 3D blueprints to final construction. It offers two main modes:

• Free Mode: Unrestricted creativity across 60 terrain types. Design homes without client demands or budget limits.
• Career Mode: Manage your firm through 60 unique missions. Design homes based on client needs, terrain, and budget.

Here’s the thing: NACON’s recent simulators have been questionable, and this one is no exception. I played the demo during Steam Next Fest and was disappointed by the poor tutorial and clumsy controls. While this is a subjective opinion, the Steam reviews from recent full release already tell the whole story.

It is supposed to let you design rooms, roofs, and balconies with precise measurements, choosing from various materials, coatings, and furniture. However, players are already noting that while the base game has solid foundations, it’s missing a lot of content. One review even stated: “I bought it to experiment some changes in my own home but it’s nearly impossible to do so.”

The most questionable thing is that Architect Life already has DLCs. The Supporter Edition includes the base game plus two content packs: the Sketch House Pack (for artistic 2D/3D illusions) and the Hobbies Pack (for leisure-themed rooms). You can also buy these DLCs separately. This game is part of NACON’s “Life” series, which has generally received mixed reviews.

In the end, it’s worth trying if you enjoy creative, relaxing building games like The Sims and love designing homes with extensive customization. But, if you’re sensitive to bugs, prefer deeper mechanics, or want more from a game, this one might not be for you. As one reviewer put it: “Good game for making floorplans, general layouts and and somewhat measurements.”