Tehran life simulator

Tehran sits at the foot of the Alborz mountains, with tree-lined avenues like Valiasr Street running from south to north. Residents spend their days working in offices and workshops, studying at universities, and buying fresh bread at neighborhood markets. In the evenings, families and friends gather in parks, cafes, and mountain foothills.

In the real city, people take the Tehran Metro to avoid heavy traffic on highways like Hemmat and Chamran. Line 1 runs north to south from Tajrish to Kahrizak. Buses run 24 hours a day in dedicated lanes, including Line 7 along Valiasr Street. Residents also use shared corridor taxis called savari or ride apps like Snapp and Tapsi.

In LifeSim, you do not drive cars or ride the metro. You move around on a 3D map of the real streets. Use the place search to find a station, a park, or a cafe, and walk there with friends.

Reza, 20, starts classes at Amirkabir University of Technology and lives in District 6. He sets two life goals: make close friends in his department and explore every neighborhood along Valiasr Street.

In week one, Reza searches the map for a cafe near Park-e Honarmandan and goes there after class. The barista remembers his name and asks about his studies the next day. In week two, a classmate texts him to join a group outing to Tabiat Bridge.

In week three, a house party happening appears on the map in Sa'adat Abad, and Reza joins. Each day ends with a recap of his moments, and his new friends remember what he said.

Daily meals in Tehran include chelo kabab, which is saffron rice with grilled meat, and herb stews like ghormeh sabzi. Friends also gather for dizi, a lamb and chickpea broth mashed at the table, or thick ash reshteh soup. On winter evenings, street carts sell hot steamed beets called laboo and boiled fava beans called baghali.

In LifeSim, there is no cooking mini-game. You search the map for spots around Bab-Homayoun Street, Enghelab Street, or the mountain trail at Darband. You plan an outing, invite your friends or family by text, and walk there to talk.

You can search for famous landmarks across the city and visit them from the outside. Look up Azadi Tower at the western entrance, Milad Tower, or the historic courtyards of Golestan Palace. You can also walk across Tabiat Bridge, which connects Taleghani Park and Abo-Atash Park.

In the northern foothills, search for Tajrish Bazaar, the wooded Sa'dabad Complex, or the Tochal Telecabin in Velenjak. Pick any of these real spots for a group outing or a walk with a neighbor.

In real life, living costs in Tehran rise from south to north. Northern hillside neighborhoods like Zaferanieh, Elahiyeh, and Niavaran have the highest living costs. Central and eastern areas like Yousef Abad, Sattarkhan, and Narmak sit in the middle. Southern districts like Nazi Abad, Javadiyeh, and Khazaneh are cheaper.

The official currency is the Iranian Rial, though people quote daily prices in Tomans. Residents pay for almost everything with domestic debit cards on the Shetab network. People also use mobile payment apps like Asan Pardakht and carry cash for small purchases in traditional bazaars.

LifeSim does not charge rent or pay a regular salary. You do not pay bills or buy property. Instead, your cash goes up or down through your daily activities and your chats with other people.