We all like to think that it would be better to live in a simulation. The Matrix might not be possible, but if we try hard enough, we can imagine that living in the Sims universe is similar to living in the Matrix, or is it more like the Truman Show?
The Sims franchise is a gigantic project by Maxis, and they have made a ton of great video games, in the original series and in the spin-offs. The Sims franchise is huge so here is everything that you need to know about it.
The Sims – 2000
Released in the year 2000, the Sims was a masterpiece of its own. The music and the nostalgia from just thinking about the game sends you back years, in this case, decades. From a modern point of view, the game is a bit obsolete. The first Sims game had plenty of expansions, 7 of them in fact, setting a trend that would follow into every other Sims game in the main franchise.
The Sims 2 – 2004
The Sims 2 was like an entirely new experience. While the very first game will always have a special part in our lives, the second installment in the series was even better. The game was 3D, for starters, compared to the previous version which was 2D from an isometric perspective (fake 3D).
The game had aspirations and fears and the sims would react according to them and the world events. The game had 8 expansions but a lot of stuff packs, meaning loot that you could purchase. Microtransactions were born.
The Sims 3 – 2009
The Sims 3 was not a huge upgrade over the Sims 2, other than the fact that it was a new game with a new setting and more of everything. The engine was better and compared to the previous installment, the game had 11 expansion packs, not to mention all the different stuff packs that were released. However, the game sold ridiculously well, because everybody wanted more of the sims. It was a game that you could play at any point and leave it, without consequences. Being the most modern one, everything looked better.
The Sims 4 – 2014
Finally, we get to the currently last game in the franchise, the Sims 4. Released in 2014, it was immediately obvious that this was the best that Maxis had created. The game currently has 11 expansion packs and the same number of stuff packs. It also has great community support, and is still the current version of the Sims.
It is the longest supported installation of the Sims franchise, with the most expansions and packs ever. It is probably going to be here for a while before the Sims 5 get here.
The Future of Sims?
Given that this has been the longest gap between the Sims games, it is expected that the Sims 5 will be on their way. The game is in development but the release date could be anytime in 2023 or even beyond. Nothing is certain at this point.
The Sims franchise is one of the world’s best life simulator franchises and whichever game you pick, you will have a fun time playing. Start from the first and move up if you want to experience it all chronologically.
