This week, The Sims series celebrates an impressive 25 years. It’s amazing to think how vast this franchise has become. I’m not just referring to the countless expansion packs and DLCs (although they certainly add up), but standalone games that bear The Sims name.
If you thought there were only four, bless your heart, there’s a lot more to discover. To honor this quarter-century milestone, I’ve curated a list of the 25 best Sims games that have emerged over these years. Immerse yourself in some nostalgia and maybe learn something new. I even had to trim a few spin-offs and condense a couple of remakes just to keep this list within bounds.
25. The Sims 2 Apartment Pets
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2008
This charming little title emerged towards the end of the Sims 2 era for a standalone Nintendo DS experience. It combined concepts from a couple of its beloved expansion packs. While it’s not exactly hailed as a classic, its unique pet-focused mini-games and endearing story give it a sweet spot in the franchise’s history.
24. MySims Sky Heroes
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2010
This was the sixth and final MySims game, and while it didn’t quite hit the high notes of its predecessors, it was unique. It was initially planned as a sequel to MySims Agents but instead took players to the skies. This is the sole Sims entry where flying a plane is possible, and it intriguingly nods towards a dystopian undertone, often lurking beneath The Sims universe’s surface.
23. The Sims Pet Stories
Platforms: PC, Mac
Release Year: 2007
The middle child of The Sims Stories trilogy, aiming to bring The Sims 2’s charm to lower-spec systems. A scripted storyline includes a wealthy relative gifting her mansion for a permanent cruise, encapsulating how Pet Stories occasionally feels: a bit patronizing but delightful through its pet customization without risking any chaotic Sims fires.
22. The Sims 2 Pets
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
Release Years: 2006-2007
This is the only expansion pack to receive its own standalone release across numerous consoles, notably excluding Xbox 360. Clearly inspired by Nintendogs, The Sims 2 Pets enhances the delight of pet ownership almost to the point of sidelining the human Sims entirely. For a taste of what it might’ve been like with even less human focus, check out SimAnimals from 2009.
21. The Sims Social
Platform: Facebook
Release Year: 2011 (closed in 2013)
A title lost to time, The Sims Social capitalized on the Farmville trend of social gaming but arrived a bit too late in the game. Though the servers closed after a couple of years, it remains memorable for those who enjoyed it and is notable as the only Sims game to successfully collaborate with Lady Gaga.
20. MySims
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Years: 2007-2008 (remastered in 2024)
During a period when Sims spin-offs were exploring all avenues, MySims was EA’s answer to Animal Crossing with a Nintendo-centric focus. Although it follows a familiar formula, it offered cute and engaging experiences, leading to five sequels each trying something new, and has been recently remastered in the MySims Cozy Bundle.
19. The Sims Online
Platform: PC
Release Year: 2002 (servers closed in 2008)
The Sims Online took the assets from the original game and ventured into a Second Life-like space where real-time interaction ruled, leading to a wild mix of player-led endeavors. Official servers closed in 2008, yet fan recreations have occasionally popped up, showing its enduring appeal among dedicated fans.
18. The Urbz: Sims in the City (console)
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
Release Year: 2004
This game encapsulates the mid-2000s by flipping the traditional Sims’ suburban life to a vibrant cityscape, envisioning a glamorous city life that was a decade ahead of its gig economy. Though less favored than its handheld counterpart, the console version still holds charm with its bold urban narrative including a cameo by The Black Eyed Peas.
17. The Sims Life Stories
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Release Year: 2007
The first of the Sims Stories spin-offs focusing on untapped storytelling potential in the existing Sims 2 framework. It’s perfect for those who see The Sims as a narrative machine, unfolding stories like a tech billionaire being forced to choose between his wealth and love in supernatural circumstances.
16. The Sims Mobile
Platforms: iOS, Android
Release Year: 2018
The Sims Mobile, while having received its last update in early 2024, remains a go-to for mobile Simmers with its story-focused quests and social features using The Sims 4’s art style. Despite its lack of fresh content, reruns of past events keep it well-loved among players on the move.
15. The Sims Castaway Stories
Platforms: PC, Mac
Release Year: 2008
Diverging from its trilogy precursors, it offers a Lost-inspired narrative on a seemingly deserted island. Rather than pure survival, it’s about finding your place within a community, making it refreshingly focused on less capitalist-driven endeavors.
14. The Sims 2 (console)
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Release Year: 2005
While the console version of The Sims 2 didn’t reach the heights of its PC siblings, it brought its own drama-rich, yet childless narratives, due to resource limitations. Players found themselves navigating complex household dynamics amid pared-down Sims mechanics.
13. The Sims Freeplay
Platforms: iOS, Android
Release Year: 2011
This mobile giant has significantly outlasted others in the lineup, consistently delivering new content inspired by The Sims 3. Its city-building elements are perfect for anyone willing to endure its real-time progression for a more hands-off experience.
12. MySims Kingdom
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release Year: 2008 (remastered in 2024)
Straying from its predecessor’s roots towards a light RPG vibe, MySims Kingdom embraces a fantasy atmosphere, with as much variety as you can handle. Its whimsical world-building caters to diverse tastes, from cowboys to astronauts.
11. The Sims 2 Castaway
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2007
This game verily inspired concepts in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. By creating a group of castaways marooned on an uninhabited island, it skillfully blends survival and mystery, demanding innovation from players to thrive and unravel ancient secrets.
10. The Sims: Console Edition
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Release Year: 2003
This console edition is a distant cousin to the PC original, writing its own script and introducing fan-favorite characters like Malcolm Landgraab. It left such a subtle imprint that you might doubt its existence, but it truly was a thing back in the day.
9. The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)
Platforms: GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2004
While the console version might be more known, this vastly different handheld iteration takes a delightfully bizarre turn with its crime-filled narrative. With elements like dodging jail time and clashing with vampires, it certainly promised an extraordinary experience.
8. The Sims: Bustin’ Out
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, GameBoy Advance, N-Gage
Release Years: 2003-2004
Building on its precursor’s themes, Bustin’ Out embraced the console’s demand for grander experiences, turning ventures into city dwellings across a myriad of locales in this offbeat homage to classic Sims gameplay—perhaps with a more suggestive undertone.
7. The Sims 2 (handheld)
Platforms: PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance
Release Year: 2005
These handheld creations ingeniously spun The Sims 2 into mysterious social adventures, bound by their unique quests in Strangetown. Each version lends a fresh take, particularly on PSP with its deep dive into the whereabouts of Bella Goth.
6. MySims Agents
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2009
In a surprising twist, MySims Agents offers a solid detective narrative with the whimsy of classic Sims flair—often unassuming, yet delightfully engaging. The Wii version is especially noteworthy, awaiting its overdue acknowledgment among top adventure games.
5. The Sims Medieval
Platforms: PC, Mac, iOS
Release Year: 2010-2011
Enthusiastically anticipated by history-loving Sims fans, The Sims Medieval promised grandeur with its standalone medieval setting. Despite its short-lived lifecycle, this semi-RPG offered a layered narrative experience wrapped in medieval garb many fans would love to see return.
4. The Sims 3
Platforms: PC, Mac, various consoles, and mobile devices
Release Years: 2009-2014
Known for its ambition, The Sims 3 introduced a vast open world that set benchmarks other life sims have yet to reach. Despite slow loading times, this title’s customizability was groundbreaking, waiting for technology to finally catch up with its vision years later.
3. The Sims 4
Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: 2014-present
Often juxtaposed against its predecessors, The Sims 4 continues to push boundaries as the most modern Sims iteration, emphasizing inclusivity and extensive quality-of-life improvements, even as discussions about its future direction provoke lively debate.
2. The Sims
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
Release Years: 2000-2003
Arguably driven by nostalgia, the original Sims set the foundation through its unique lens of reality, depicting a tough management game under high fashion aesthetics that tested players with its unyielding difficulty and delightfully grim consequences.
1. The Sims 2
Platforms: PC, Mac, Java
Release Years: 2004-2008
The sequel stands out with its engaging balance of challenge, story, and evolutionary gameplay. The introduction of aging and storytelling in its neighborhoods fostered a lasting legacy, combining to make The Sims 2 the epitome of what the series can achieve.
