MySims on Nintendo Switch Review – A Nostalgic Spin-off Returns

Now available as part of the MySims Cozy Bundle, MySims on the Nintendo Switch revives the beloved 2007 life-simulation spin-off for a new generation. This comprehensive MySims Switch review covers the game’s origins, unique gameplay mechanics, audio-visual presentation, and the pros and cons of the Switch version, giving readers an in-depth look at whether this charming title still holds up in 2025.

Historical Context: From The Sims to MySims

MySims launched on the Wii (and Nintendo DS) in 2007 as a spin-off of The Sims, designed as a more approachable, family-friendly take on the life sim genre. Eschewing the realistic style and detailed micromanagement of its parent series, MySims adopted a cute, chibi-inspired look and simplified gameplay focused on creativity and town-building. Players are tasked with restoring a rundown town – building homes and amenities to attract quirky new residents – instead of managing the daily needs of individual Sims. This Sims-meets-Animal Crossing concept carved out its own niche, and the game’s success led to several follow-up titles in the MySims series. Now, over a decade later, MySims returns on the Nintendo Switch (bundled with its sequel MySims Kingdom) as part of the Cozy Bundle, aiming to recapture its whimsical charm for both nostalgic fans and newcomers.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Creative Building and Customization

Building is the heart of MySims. Using a workbench and blueprints, you construct houses and furniture piece by piece on a 3D grid rather than simply buying pre-made items. Each project has a basic template of required blocks, but you’re free to add extra pieces and decorative flair as you wish. This flexible, Lego-like system encourages imaginative designs and truly makes your creations your own. Completing building requests for the townsfolk raises your town’s star level, which in turn attracts more residents and unlocks new areas to develop. The more you build, the more the town grows — a satisfying loop that rewards creativity. On Switch, the controls have been adapted from the Wii’s motion-based interface. Using the joystick to move an on-screen cursor works, albeit not quite as fluidly as point-and-click did. Fortunately, in handheld mode you can use the touchscreen to drag and place objects, which feels more intuitive.

Essence Collection and Quests

To add personality to your creations, MySims uses collectible Essences – special items that embody themes like Cute, Spooky, Geeky, or Tasty. You gather essences by exploring the environment and interacting with objects or characters (for example, shaking a tree might yield apples, a “Tasty” essence). These act as resources for decorating and painting your buildings. Many requests require furniture to include certain essences, effectively turning them into fetch quests for the right materials. This mechanic encourages you to venture into new areas to find different essence types and gives purpose to the game’s exploration. It can become repetitive over time, but it also provides a sense of progression as you discover new essences and customization options. Notably, unlike the main Sims games, there are no hunger, sleep, or hygiene meters to worry about – the gameplay stays focused entirely on creative tasks and town improvement.

Mini-Games and Activities

One thing MySims does not emphasize much is mini-games. The Wii/Switch version sticks to the core loop of building and collecting rather than side activities. Unlike the Nintendo DS iteration (which had a few simple mini-games), here the variety comes from the creative tasks themselves. The included sequel, MySims Kingdom, adds some puzzle-like challenges and an adventure storyline for extra variety, but in the base game you won’t find many mini-games beyond the occasional simple interaction.

Visuals and Audio on the Switch

MySims has a bright, whimsical aesthetic that holds up well. The visuals are simple and cartoonish by design, and on Switch they benefit from a higher resolution that makes everything look cleaner and sharper than on the Wii. Characters and objects have a blocky, toy-like charm, now free of the jagged edges and low-res textures of the original release. Performance is also improved – load times are much quicker and the frame rate is solid, with none of the stuttering or long waits that players might remember from the Wii version.

Audio-wise, the game delivers lighthearted, looping background music and the trademark Simlish babble for its characters, just as in other Sims titles. The Nintendo Switch release has an occasionally uneven sound mix (for example, collectible item chimes can be surprisingly loud while character murmurs are quiet), but this is a minor quibble. For better or worse, this version also forgoes the Wii’s motion controls entirely, so all interactions use buttons or touch input – a change that takes some getting used to but ultimately doesn’t hinder the experience.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
✅ Charming art style and characters: The cute visual design and whimsical cast give MySims a delightful, family-friendly appeal.
✅ Creative building gameplay: Designing furniture and houses block-by-block offers a level of customization that encourages imaginative play.
✅ Relaxed, accessible simulation: With no stressful micromanagement, the gameplay is easygoing and perfect for casual or younger players.
✅ Improved Switch performance: Short load times and a smooth framerate make the Switch version more enjoyable than the original Wii release.

Cons:
❌ Clunky controls at times: Without the Wii’s pointer, using analog sticks for the cursor can feel unwieldy, and there’s no optional motion control on Switch.
❌ Repetitive tasks: The loop of gathering essences and building similar items for each villager can become monotonous after a while.
❌ Lacks depth for some players: The simplistic gameplay and limited objectives may not satisfy those looking for a more complex or realistic life sim experience.

See another review of MySims on Nintendo Switch from SwitchUp here.

Conclusion

In summary, MySims on Nintendo Switch is a successful revival of a unique Sims spin-off that remains as charming and easygoing as ever. It stays true to its original vision – a creative, low-pressure sandbox – while benefiting from the Switch’s portability and technical improvements. Some aspects of the design (like the repetitive quests) do feel dated next to modern games, but there’s a comforting nostalgia in its simplicity.

For fans of the original, this release is a welcome trip down memory lane that plays better than before. For newcomers, it’s an opportunity to enjoy a different kind of life sim that emphasizes creativity and whimsy over realism. If you missed MySims back in the day, the Switch edition offers a convenient, cozy experience akin to a lighthearted Animal Crossing session – demonstrating that this charming classic still has a place in today’s gaming landscape.