Paralives has just hit early access, and while it is very much a work-in-progress right now, it's also the most fun I've had playing a life sim in a hot sec. As a lifelong Sims player, I've been noticing loads of neat stuff in Paralives that you just won't find in The Sims 4, even after all these years. Not that the two games have to be exactly the same or completely different, but the Venn diagram between Simmers and Paralivers is basically a circle, y'know?

It's been really cool seeing unique little things in Paralives, stuff that I either wish was in The Sims (without needing mods!) or stuff I never knew I wanted out of a life sim until now. I've gathered up the coolest bits about Paralives you won't find in The Sims (or at least, in The Sims 4) for those of you who are interested in what stands out about this new cosy newcomer in the genre.

Neat stuff in Paralives that isn't in The Sims 4

Spider-Noir has arrived, and it stars Nicolas Cage as a down-on-his-luck detective who doesn't really want to use his spider powers anymore... until a case comes across his desk that more or less forces him to do so.

We were first introduced to the character of Spider-Man Noir in the animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, who was also voiced by Cage. Does this mean the new Prime Video show is connected to Sony's Spider-Verse movies?

We've broken it all down, spoiler-free, below. For even more, you can check out our guide on whether you should watch Spider-Noir in black and white or in color; or read our full Spider-Noir review.

How is Spider-Noir connected to the Spider-Verse movies?

As of right now, the answer is not at all: Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Noir are two different characters.

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Kingpin builds a collider with the intent to kidnap alternate versions of his wife, Vanessa, and son, Richard, from another universe. Because of the collider, Miles Morales ends up meeting a bunch of Spideys from different universes. One of these Spideys is Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man Noir.

Now, while Nicolas Cage does voice Spider-Man Noir in Into the Spider-Verse and will reprise the role for Beyond the Spider-Verse... Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Noir are two completely different characters. In Spider-Noir, Cage plays Ben Reilly, not Peter Parker. In the comics, Ben Reilly was created as a clone of Peter Parker and became the Scarlet Spider.

In the Spider-Man Noir comics, Spider-Man Noir is a version of Peter Parker who is a young adult in 1930s New York City and is dealing with a Depression-Era Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. But before you get confused: Spider-Man Noir in Into the Spider-Verse is a Peter Parker variant, and the Spidey in the live-action Spider-Noir is a Spider-Man variant named Ben Reilly.

"It's a different flavour of that character, even though it’s still Nick’s voice," showrunner Oren Uziel told Empire. "It's not a continuation of Into the Spider-Verse. Once Phil and Chris introduced the idea of the multiverse, I think you’re allowed to take things and make them your own."

Whether the live-action show does end up having its own surprise twist that connects to Into the Spider-Verse remains to be seen... but we'll keep you posted.

Spider-Noir premieres on MGM Plus in the US on May 25, before arriving on Prime Video globally on May 27. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other best new TV shows on the way in 2026.