Any cool 'Life sim' games out there?

Second Life could almost fit the bill, but there are no quests or leveling up for you to do. The best way I can describe it is basically The Sims combined with WoW, and all of the content is made by the players who actually play the game like it's their second life.

Why don't you play The Sims ?

Fallout 3 or Fallout : New Vegas
It's Skyrim, with gun..

The 虚拟人生 (Virtual Life) series (not to be confused with Simulated Life/The Sims). It has school, magic, monsters, stats, marriage, random events, equipments, jobs, battle, life evaluation, etc.

Arma 3 altis life?

Real life? Kappa

Have you checked out Fantasy Life on the 3DS? Or alternately (though a bit less hands-on) Tomodachi Life.

Harvest Moon? Or the Rune Factory games, if you want a little bit of fighting and action with your farming and villager befriending. Rune Factory 4 is a great game.

Besides The Sims 3 (which I know you said more of a control once character, I find The Sims a lot more fun just having one character. Dating instead of getting married, etc. Much more fun/manageable with only one person)..

Harvest Moon is kind of like what you said, but in a casual farm setting (still talk to people/date) rather than a city. Last one I completely played through was on the N64 but Harvest Moon: A New Beginning on the 3DS has super high ratings (and the series doesn't change much).

edit: Ok I'm the worst, both my games were suggested but my eyes are blurry from tiredness. I've got nothing. ;__;