Deciding on the best Sims game can be a challenging task. Even seasoned players often go back and forth between different titles depending on what mood they are in or what kind of story they want to tell.
With the first game released in 2000, there are countless titles out there for all kinds of platforms. Moreover, each new game or release came with some sort of innovative extras, ready to promise a unique and rejuvenated life simulation experience.
All in all, there are more than 100 different games. That includes spin-offs, mobile versions and various expansion-focused experiences that cater to specific play styles.
With so many options to choose from, you clearly don’t want to waste your time on one that disappoints. This being said, let’s take a look through some of the best Sims games to play today, including both modern releases and classic games.
- The Sims 3, 2009
The Sims 3 came out in 2009. It was available on a variety of platforms. But in terms of gameplay, it changed everything with its open world access. Basically, it gave players the option to do literally anything they wanted.
Simply put, this game was all about freedom. There were no loading screens, but just access in an unlimited virtual world. traits and skills also made more sense. Besides, they actually made a difference. Customization was quite a thing as well.
You could change everything, from fabrics and objects to surfaces and colors. Each neighborhood or town had its own identity.
Now, while The Sims 3 took five years to come out, it was well worth it. And believe it or not, it’s still a massive title in today’s gaming industry. Because of that, every save file felt like a completely different universe with its own stories and atmosphere.
The 2000 release is basically the original one. In today’s gaming world, pretty much everything revolves around life simulation. However, this concept was originally introduced by The Sims, so this is how it all started.
Back then, the idea of managing virtual people and their daily routines felt fresh and slightly revolutionary.
The Sims allowed players to customize a wide variety of things in terms of life simulation. Basically, you could build the perfect home for your family, but also find a job, meet new people, manage relationships and so on.
It invited you to experiment, fail, and try again without any real-world consequences, which was a big part of its charm.
Creating a virtual family was a big thing in 2000, so everyone embraced the idea. You could climb the career ladder, but also interact socially. Everything mattered because each action had a reaction. Totally worth trying the game today as well, just to see where it all started.
- The Sims 2, 2004
The original was something new, but the second release expanded the unique experience of life simulation. The gameplay took everything to another level, so it was much more complex. Besides, The Sims 2 was the first release to introduce genetics.
Some of the main updates included a series of new life stages. Besides, babies would also inherit some of the parents’ traits. Some of them were physical, others covered the actual personality. You could basically watch your babies grow into seniors, simple as that.
In terms of personality, you had to work on fears, aspirations and goals. And then, there were also those special things that blew your mind. In The Sims 2, being abducted by aliens was by far the funniest thing that could happen to you.
- MySims, 2007
MySims pushed things a bit further. Times were changing, so a new generation of gamers was taking over. This means the approach had to change as well. This new release brought in the chibi art style, but the mechanics were also much simpler.
In other words, MySims was aimed at younger gamers.
MySims didn’t bring in as much drama as other releases. Instead, it was more about building a community. It was also about survival, so you had to do certain things in order to see your people thrive and grow.
The essences were some of the main things in the gameplay, allowing you to customize a better system for your people. As for challenging elements, sleep and hunger were the main issues.
- The Sims 4, 2014
The Sims 4 went a bit further and made the game pretty realistic. While previous games featured robotic movements, this version made the game look real. If you looked at people, you could see facial reactions. They could also multitask, not to mention reacting to all sorts of situations.
Emotions are probably the main updates, since each interaction with someone else triggered something. For example, flirting while hungry was mission impossible. Talking about a realistic approach, your Sims could also eat while watching TV.
While initially The Sims 4 was covered in bugs and had a rough start, a series of updates and patches fixed everything. Within months only, it became one of the most appreciated games in the series, with a massive fan community still active today.
- The Sims Stories, 2007
This release took The Sims to a completely different stage. It changed everything in the gameplay, meaning players gained access to a bunch of different games in one release. Each story had its own gameplay and requirements.
You were thrown from one scenario to another. The focus wasn’t necessarily on mechanics or your goals, but on the actual narrative. Simply put, this game was more accessible to younger audiences.
The Sims Stories was a nice release before The Sims 3. However, it might’ve been more successful if it came out first in the series, before everything else. It’s still playable today and offers a casual touch to life simulation.
Bottom line, these are by far some of the best Sims games out there. While you can try other niche releases too, the truth is the open universe is the most attractive part in the series, let alone the possibility of doing whatever you feel like.
