The Sims 4 was released in 2014, over a decade ago. EA’s announced that Project Rene is not The Sims 5, and that it has no plans to develop a sequel to The Sims 4. EA has made it clear that it will continue to provide The Sims 4 with support in the form of content and quality of life updates for the immediate future. Players have had over a decade with The Sims 4, and have little else as an alternative.
With the 25th anniversary of The Sims franchise, EA rereleased The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 on PC in January 2025. For players whose first The Sims game was in the 2000s, this was a great chance to revisit The Sims of their childhood and teenage years after, for many, decades of being unable to play it. For many other players, The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 are just other games in The Sims franchise that may have outdated gameplay, graphics, Create-a-Sim, and Build and Buy mode options. The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 also have far fewer content add-ons, and so should, theoretically, have less to offer than The Sims 4, but they’re still very much worth experiencing.
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The Sims 4 Build Kit Tier List
The Sims 4’s specialized build kits can transform rooms and spaces for Simmers who enjoy building, but some kits have more utility than others.
What The Sims 1 Has to Offer Players
The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 are well worth trying out for first-time players, and plenty of fun to play in their own right rather than being merely less sophisticated versions of The Sims 4. The Sims 1 was developed partially as a criticism of consumerist culture, and the manual that The Sims 1 was shipped with even came with a reading list of books on modern consumerist culture and capitalism. While its customization options for Sims are very limited compared to The Sims 4, the scope of what could possibly happen in its Live Mode, such as robberies, fires, and other mishaps, keeps players on the edge of their seats.
As a game, The Sims 1 is less about family gameplay and building, and more about achieving career goals, earning money, and building relationships to advance in their chosen career. Focus on that particular goal is necessary, but once that focus is realized, The Sims 1 becomes a game that’s incredibly chaotic, but cathartic all at once.
The Sims 2 Still Holds Up Years Later
The gameplay goals for The Sims 2 shift dramatically from The Sims 1, and instead focus on live mode and family gameplay. A Sim’s Wants and Fears, their Lifetime Aspiration, Memories, and Relationships all form the most important parts of The Sims 2, and it’s the area of gameplay that many players get the most joy when playing it. The Sims 2 includes small details that are discovered through gameplay, such as children running to give their parents a hug when they return home from work, that makes family gameplay a joy for players who enjoy Legacy Challenges or simply playing in Live Mode.
Lore is Where The Sims 2 Shines
Another crux of The Sims 2‘s gameplay is its lore, which is not only stated in the premade family and character biographies, but is implemented in The Sims 2‘s genealogy, memory, Wants and Fears, and relationship systems. This system makes the worlds of The Sims 2 feel alive and immersive, and offers a different experience to The Sims 4, where lore is offered, but isn’t implemented in gameplay in any meaningful way.
- Released
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September 2, 2014
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts
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