The Sims 3
My personal favourite and childhood hobby, The Sims 3 is arguably the franchise’s peak. Launching in 2009, it offers a unique open-world experience with no cut screens and a larger group of interesting NPCS than any other game. These characters are widely considered to have the best backstories and interactions of the entire franchise. I was personally a lover of gym Hank, who was notoriously hard to split from his current wife and could only be caught gracing the gym a few hours a week. Filled with odd deaths, whims, and mysteries, it never fails to entertain. It strikes a balance between the complete outlandish chaos of Sims 2 (Zombies, aliens etc!), with the homely life simulator approach of Sims 4. If it’s any nod to how immersive this game is, after a childhood operation which numbed my legs, I was able to walk again after days to get myself to the family computer and check on my Sim’s romantic life.
The Sims 2
Sims 2 introduced fully 3D graphics to the franchise, making it impressive visually and story-wise. Compared to the first game, the NPCs and playable sims were much more feisty, captivating player’s hearts. It is now most well-known for its abundance of weird storylines and mysteries. The disappearance (and then reappearance) of Bella Goth is an infamous tale, involving dishonest lovers, aliens, murder and more. The entire town of Strangeville and hidden nooks of the world must have spawned thousands of breakdown video essays. For a game without any real storyline, the endless new possibilities keep each playthrough interesting. The only drawback would have to be the middling graphics and countless bugs, which almost flew in the 2000s but are overly jarring on a modern PC.
The Sims 4
The most modern Sims instalment, Sims 4 has the best graphics and building opportunities of the lot. If creating pretty houses and base characters is your favourite, then this one’s definitely for you. You can add height depth to the gardens or spend ages restructuring a sim’s nose bridge. However, it is often critiqued for lacking the comedic NPCs and easter eggs of the other games. There is a lot less spontaneity and chaos, which can have the game feeling a little aimless. Furthermore, the playable sims are less rebellious and tend to stand doing nothing when not given instructions. Still, if you’re new to the games this is probably the best starting point. It’s easy to play and helps you get to grips with the mechanics before you dive into the game archives.
The Sims
The OG Sims instalment, The Sims was a new take on the earlier Sim City games of the 90s which focussed on city planning on a budget. Unlike the other games, it has a much creepier aesthetic. The general colour palette is moody and the interactions sinister. Sims will unapologetically verbally assault you, then come back to burgle you later! With the game being advertised as a chance to home wreck and kill helpless characters, it was definitely looking for an older audience. Unfortunately, the 2000s graphics are a major drawback, alongside the slightly underdeveloped NPCs and map.
My Sims
This game stands a chance of being the only one on the list that long-time Simmers may not have heard of. My Sims was a Nintendo compatible version of the other Sims games, released in 2007 to positive reviews. Despite its (albeit small) community raving about how it’s the best Sims experience, it was never updated to be compatible with any new Nintendo consoles. The graphics are similar to a game like Animal Crossing, and it seems to more child-friendly than other games. If desktop and console aren’t your forte, this might be an interesting oldie to dip into.
The Sims Freeplay
The mobile version of the desktops Sims experiences, Sims Freeplay offered very little of the actual Sims’ charm and atmosphere. It included hours of waiting time to do simple tasks and pretty bad graphics. Whilst a few features like the carnivorous plants and horse ranch were fun, it ultimately felt like a cash grab.
The Sims Online
It was the multiplayer version of The Sims released in 2002 and allowed you to customize your avatar and plot. You could then visit other online player’s houses and use in-game chat to make friends. It was a pretty basic chatroom-esque setup which didn’t really fit in with the other games and was never renewed.
The Sims 5?
At the bottom of this list as it is unreleased, the Sims 5 is the latest confirmed game. It is being advertised as a complete renewal of the games, nicknamed Project Rene to link it to ideas of regeneration. One of the only confirmed details is that it will have a multiplayer element, although still have developed single-player gameplay.