Summary
The lowest-rated and most divisive mainlineSimsgame,The Sims 4, has been a constant thorn in the side of many a fan since it first released a decade ago in 2014, but it wasn’t until I picked up its predecessor,The Sims 3, that I truly understood the fandom’s many, many issues with the newer game. Now they’re my issues too.
MySimsjourney began back in 2000 with the release of the originalThe Sims. 2004 saw the release ofSims 2,whichevolved from the first game with new life stages, improved graphics, better social interactions, and pretty much everything else that makes the series what it’s known as today. From there,The Simsfranchise slipped past me until 2018 when I picked upThe Sims 4. In 2024 I own most of the DLC and have nearly 700 hours in-game.While I missed out onSims 3, it’s safe to say I’m definitely a fan ofSims 4.Or was.
10 Reasons You’ll Never Quit The Sims 4 (Despite Its Flaws)
The Sims 4 has more than its share of problems, but even with Sims 5 and Life by You on the horizon, it looks like it’s here to stay. Here’s why.
What’s Everyone’s Issue With The Sims 4?
Why Is It The Most Controversial Sims Game?
If you’re like me and skipped aSimsrelease (or have never played it before),you might be pleasantly surprised withThe Sims 4.There are a lot of things to love, including the graphics and the fact the base game is free-to-play, which makes it approachable for newcomers. However, theSimscommunity has been extremely vocal when it comes to their general dislike of4, with arguably the biggest being a lack of depth and meaningful gameplay.
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The Sims 4
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It’s true that a lot of features ofThe Sims 4require a little more imagination than others.Rabbit holes - when a Sim isn’t shown interacting with an event or item but instead disappears off-screen - for example, continue to disappoint players. Sims themselves are also arguably too easy to take care of,relationships too easy to form, and money too easy to make. They’re also a little predictable in their emotions and wishes, which can make playthroughs feel repetitive. This is a recurring issue as even the game’s random events feel scripted and inconsequential.
…even the game’s random events feel scripted and inconsequential.
One of the community’s biggest issues withThe Sims 4is, of course,the abundance of DLC.In 2024, purchasing everySimsexpansion and piece of content will run you over $1,000 USDwhich is a staggering sum for a video game. What’s perhaps more frustrating is that the additional content adds a lot of gameplay that should arguably be base-game, like different seasons of the year, or some of the more basic elements of theParentingpack.
Another issue with DLC is that, not only are you spending more, but you also end up pushing your PC (or console) to its limits. EA recently announced a new team has been created to specifically target issues withSims 4and its storage needs, but there are already plenty of players who have been pushed out of the game due to its growing storage demands.The Sims 4is too big for its boots, while simultaneously not being enough to please its millions of fans.
What Sims 3 Taught Me About Sims 4
Is Sims 3 Really The Better Game?
One recurring message I’ve gleaned fromThe Simscommunity over the years is that “The Sims 3 is better than Sims 4.” As mentioned, I completely skipped overThe Sims 3so I always took this sentiment with a grain of salt. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and every time I personally looked at aSims 3screenshot or watched a YouTube video, I found the game unforgiveably ugly. I really couldn’t see the appeal.
That said, I have hadSims 3and its expansions installed on my PC since 2022 thanks to a very good Steam deal. I stuck my toes in for a week or so at the time but got fully overwhelmed by the sheer level of content. I noped out and headed back to the safety and predictability ofThe Sims 4until this month when I wanted to find out the answer to my burning questions:“Is everyone right about The Sims 4?” and “Is The Sims 3 truly superior?”
The answers? Yes.PlayingThe Sims 3properly for the first time in 2024 has proven to me just how shallowThe Sims 4is.By comparison, its gameplay feels scripted, the mechanics lack depth, and the world is largely empty. Perhaps most glaringly obvious is what the series lost in the move from3to4: the relatable feelings of spontaneity and general weirdness the series has had from the beginning. PlayingSims 3(with expansions) feels like anything is possible, whether that’s zombies on your doorstep or time-travelling to visit your descendants.
InThe Sims 4, my teenage Sim might be having a mood swing that impacts very little. InThe Sims 3, my teenage Sim wants to break curfew, egg the neighbors,and skip school.The Sims 3feels alive whereThe Sims 4feels like it might get better if I buy just one more Pack. Now my eyes have been opened, it’s going to be hard to go back toSims 4.
What EA Can Learn For Sims 5
The Next Sims Can’t Be Another Step Back
Unfortunately for EA,the first 10 years ofThe Sims 4have been a rollercoaster of highs and lows for Simmers, with even those peak highs failing to meet those of its predecessor.Sims 4clearly leaves a lot to be desired, so where does that putSims 5?Sims 5,currently known as Project Renee, has been confirmed to be in development at EA. The game will have a focus on realism and multiplayer, which seems to have some fans interested and others already turning away.
After pivoting fromSims 4to3, I can safely say that whatSims 5really needs is to embrace the fun of the earlierSimsgames.Bring back the fairies, jet packs, and the egging of houses,the depth ofGenerations,and the myriad of travel options fromThe Sims 3.Bring some nostalgia back from previous iterations ofThe Sims: burglaries, more mature themes from the original game, and the lore we saw so much of inSims 2. Making Sims feel like real people with real lives is a trickThe Sims 4sorely missed - hopefullyThe Sims 5can make it right.
