5 Best Sims Games of All Time

The Sims video game series has grown to a staggering amount of critical acclaim. Since its first release in 2000, developer Maxis and publisher Electronic Arts have sold about 200 million copies worldwide. 

The concept is simple. As a life simulation game, your goal is to manage people’s lives in a virtual world. From building their house and their career to organizing meals, there are plenty of options to consider. 

Because of the stand-out charm and a wide variety of peculiar characters, the franchise is one to hold dear. And like any other long-running franchise, not all releases hit the mark with fans. 

So whether you’re a newcomer looking for where to start from, or a hardcore fan curious about the best Sims game of all time, this article has got you covered. Here’s to ranking five of the best Sims games of all time.

5. The Sims 4 (2014)

Hardcore fans of The Sims can attest to the disappointing release of The Sims 4. On the other hand, newcomers will appreciate it simply because it’s an excellent game to play. 

Let’s back up a bit. 

The Sims 4 is the most recent installment to the mainline series of the franchise. On its own, it is a polished game with beautiful graphics and no lags. The game also upgraded the series’ staples to a modern standard using advanced AI.

However, the game also got rid of staples that make the franchise fun to play. For starters, there is lesser content compared to its predecessors. Features like swimming pools, ghosts, toddlers, and fun interactions are non-existent. 

The game took away too many features traditionally known to The Sims franchise. And while the graphics and gameplay still stand above board, simplifying customized features only makes the franchise fall several steps back. 

4. The Sims 2 (2004)

While the most recent Sims 4 mainline game took the franchise steps back, earlier consecutive releases maintained constant advancement throughout the series. 

To begin with, The Sims 2 did a remarkable job of advancing its prequel, The Sims. It amplified everything that worked in its predecessor. These include incorporating some pretty fun gameplay and employing advanced customization options available across three neighborhoods. 

Furthermore, you could create your neighborhood with houses of up to five floors. Then, furnish it, and create your own Sims. Players could customize each Sim to exquisite features like their nose, eyes, and smile. Once you do, you start managing their skills and navigating seven life stages from toddlers to elders. Alternatively, you could choose to manage a hotel. Subsequently, you would engage in relationships. It gets fascinating when the game incorporates fights. For instance, if you were dating and are two-timing other sims, you’d have wedding crashers jump in. 

These new features seemed unachievable at the time. However, The Sims 2 executed each one to perfection. Think of a normal-day family and social networking system: The Sims 2 was like that, and more. 

The life simulations were alive and emulated human behavior as closely as possible. This made the game pretty awesome and a still worthwhile game to explore.

3. The Sims Online (2002)

When the internet was just sparking up gaming conversation, The Sims came through with an online game. Some features were laggy, and the gameplay was not robust given its release date. However, the game was a whole load of fun to play. 

Players could make online friends who share similar interests. They could enjoy building homes and sharing them in the virtual world within the game. 

Recent conversations around virtual reality are beginning to form around virtual living. Companies like Facebook are also working on projects to make virtual living a reality. 

In contrast, The Sims Online took a step towards virtual reality way back in 2002. And for its innovation, it deserves a notable mention among the top Sims games of all time.

2. The Sims (2000)

The first entry into the Sims franchise still holds some pretty cool memories. It’s been over two decades since its release, so it might be tough to play it. But looking back in time, The Sims is truly the edition that made the franchise come alive in people’s hearts.

The goals were pretty simple. You only need to manage your Sims' professional and personal goals. These include managing skills like fitness, cleaning, and creativity. On the personal end, you’ll need to manage a family; so, raising kids to build a family, among other family duties. It’s handy when you have to go to work. If you don’t, you could get fired. Kids also have to be on their A-game at school. Consequently, you’ll earn additional income. 

There are myriad gameplay options, and truth be told, life simulation is fun to play. It’s a creative concept for designing and character development. Essentially, it’s a social experiment, one where you have the freedom to play out as many scenarios as you’d like.

1. The Sims 3 (2009)

Without a doubt, The Sims 3 takes the trophy home of the best Sims games. The game incorporates an open-world concept that is ideal for life simulation games. Players can freely explore open towns and track their sims to work. 

The game did a great job of opening up a world much bigger than the houses the Sims live in. Players now had access to an extensive open-world map. 

With Sunset Valley’s vast towns and beaches came more sims to meet and relationships to nurture. You could simultaneously throw parties or explore the city. If you need to get out of the town, you could go on vacations to fight mummies and live on a boat.

On the whole, this entry models life itself into a more accurate video game simulator. And even though the advancements came with glitches and a constant need for modding, The Sims 3 still stands as the best real-life simulator of all time.

That’s it for the five best Sims games of all time. Do you agree with our listing? Let us know in the comments below or our socials here. 

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