Memory card: The Sims

The Sims franchise has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid. I remember spending hours on a game, where the characters had a little green shape above them, completely fascinated by the freedom it gave me to build houses and control little digital people.

I was obsessed with the open world and endless customisation. In a way, it helped me to ignore the harsh reality that was high school. I could come home and feel creative when I would design yet another new house.

What makes The Sims so special is that it lets you create your own world. You can play God, design dream homes, live out wild scenarios, or simply create a virtual family. While I still miss The Sims 3’s freedom, The Sims 4 excels in storytelling and creativity. 

Growing up with The Sims was a rollercoaster of excitement and frustration. It was everything I needed, for someone that didn’t really ‘game’ much - an open world, deep customisation, and endless possibilities. I could explore the entire town without a loading screen, create complex family legacies, and truly feel like my Sims had unique lives. 

I remember buying The Sims 4 in lockdown. I had nothing better to do than make elaborately designed mansions for people with such random jobs. The first house I made back in 2020 hosted a criminal and an astronaut – the perfect couple. Then the real world reopened, and I had to temporarily close my virtual one. 

But even now, I still love The Sims franchise. I went from spending years playing it myself to spending years watching YouTubers play it. Despite progressing from Sims 3 to Sims 4, I can still get lost in the hours of stressing over what job for the character or where to put the mint green fridge I bought with the ‘motherlode’ code.