This week, we celebrate a major landmark—the Sims franchise hitting the 25-year mark! While many of us are familiar with the numerous expansion packs and DLCs that have been released over the years, the number of full stand-alone Sims games might surprise you. If your guess was "four," you’re in for a revelation. To honor this milestone anniversary, I’ve compiled a list of the top 25 Sims games released over the past quarter-century. Sit back, relax, and enjoy, knowing that I had to make some tough cuts and merge a few less notable spin-offs to streamline the list!
25. The Sims 2 Apartment Pets
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2008
At the tail end of The Sims 2’s era, this charming little game made its debut. Designed as a self-contained Nintendo DS spin-off, it combines elements from a couple of popular TS2 expansions. It might not hold classic status, but it offers unique pet-themed mini-games and a rather endearing storyline.
24. MySims Sky Heroes
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2010
The sixth and, unfortunately, the last of the MySims series wasn’t exactly a hit, leading to musings about whether EA would have fared better if they had stuck with plans for a direct sequel to the popular MySims Agents. Still, this is the only Sims game that lets you fly planes, offering a story that acknowledges the ever-present dystopian undertones lurking in the Sims universe.
23. The Sims Pet Stories
Platforms: PC, Mac
Release Year: 2007
Serving as the middle installment of The Sims Stories trilogy, Pet Stories aimed to provide the joy of The Sims 2 to players with underpowered PCs. The game features a storyline where a wealthy aunt gifts her house to her cousin, enabling her endless honeymoon—a scenario that might feel slightly patronizing, though it does allow for playing around with pet customization without burning yourself out.
22. The Sims 2 Pets
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
Release Years: 2006-2007
This was a unique case in the PC franchise, remade independently across most consoles but curiously absent from Xbox 360. Chasing the Nintendogs trend, it was all about the pets, so much so that one wonders if removing the human aspect entirely could have been beneficial. (Curious? Check out SimAnimals and SimAnimals Africa from 2009!)
21. The Sims Social
Platform: Facebook
Release Window: 2011-2013
A relic of the social media gaming boom, The Sims Social aimed to catch the Farmville wave but missed its peak, shutting down after just a couple of years. Nevertheless, it left a mark, especially for managing to culminate a collaboration with Lady Gaga—a unique feat among Sims games that cherished experimentation.
20. MySims
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Window: 2007-2008; Remastered in 2024
The MySims games represented an era of experimentation, attempting to create a Nintendo-centric sub-series that might rival Animal Crossing. While the foundation laid by MySims was basic to seasoned players, the concept proved endearing enough to spawn five sequels, including several creative ventures into different gamescapes, and recently received a remaster as part of the MySims Cozy Bundle.
19. The Sims Online
Platform: PC
Release Window: 2002-2008
An admirable attempt to leverage assets from the original Sims for PC, The Sims Online aimed to create a social hub à la Second Life. If the mention of cyber brothels and trolling sounds chaotic, that’s essentially the legacy left by TSO. Though the official version went offline in 2008, fan recreations—though transient—continued to keep the spirit somewhat alive.
18. The Urbz: Sims in the City (console)
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
Release Year: 2004
Perhaps the most 2000s vibe a game could have, The Urbz rebelled against suburban norms and explored the city grit, foreshadowing gig economy realities while playfully imagining celebrity nightlife. Though the handheld version was better loved, it lacked the Black Eyed Peas cameo the console edition boasted.
17. The Sims Life Stories
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Release Year: 2007
The first of the Sims Stories series, Life Stories skipped the gimmicks to offer rich storytelling within a dialed-back Sims 2 environment. Characters undergo dramatic arcs involving inherited riches and strange deaths, all of which make this a cozy fit for those who see Sims more as an episodic drama than a sandbox game.
16. The Sims Mobile
Platforms: iOS, Android
Release Year: 2018
Even after its last major update in early 2024, The Sims Mobile continues to thrive, running previous seasonal events to maintain an engaged player base. Using an art style akin to The Sims 4, it encourages character-driven experiences and social engagement within the mobile framework—a snug fit for players on the go.
15. The Sims Castaway Stories
Platforms: PC, Mac
Release Year: 2008
The final chapter of the Sims Stories, Castaway Stories combined the intrigue of TV’s Lost with familiar Sims charm. Instead of adjusting to mere survival, this game’s narrative focuses on immersing players—who begin with creating their avatar—into the community of an island paradise, proving that Sims can transcend capitalism when shipwrecked.
14. The Sims 2 (console)
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Release Year: 2005
Though the console rendition of The Sims 2 received a lukewarm welcome due to its deflated mechanics compared to its PC counterpart, it offered perks of juicy relationship drama with unique family dynamics, doubling down on mellow yet engaging content.
13. The Sims Freeplay
Platforms: iOS, Android
Release Year: 2011
The longstanding top contender among Sims mobile offerings, The Sims Freeplay boasts a major influence of The Sims 3 while adapting to a more community-centric motif. Encouraging you to manage multiple households, it aligns with the notion of evolving a town’s amenities through intense gameplay, all in real time—a scenario fit for fans of idle games.
12. MySims Kingdom
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release Year: 2008; Remastered in 2024
Veering from its origins, MySims Kingdom strays into RPG-lite waters with a simple yet captivating premise: breathe life into an archipelago through magical home design. Purely relatable with settings from cowboys to elven woods, it delights with whimsical quests that diversify the series.
11. The Sims 2 Castaway
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2007
A boatload of your custom Sims become shipwrecked on a desert island, leading to an enthralling adventure of survival and discovery that uncovers lost civilizations. This console-exclusive survival take inspires community and rebuilding, setting it slightly apart from traditional Sims gameplay.
10. The Sims: Console Edition
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Release Year: 2003
Diverging from the original, The Sims: Console Edition formed its own unique experience, introducing unforgettable characters like Malcolm Landgraab and Mom, setting the stage for Bustin’ Out—its successor—in style. It earned its niche by creatively interpreting classic Sims themes.
9. The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)
Platforms: GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2004
Reimagined for handhelds, The Urbz entered high-stakes territory—sans celebrity endorsement—placing your Sim in a crime-ridden, vampire-infested storyline. Its engaging narrative captivates those who may have missed out on the handheld escapades.
8. The Sims: Bustin’ Out
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, N-Gage
Release Window: 2003-2004
Hot on the heels of the console edition, Bustin’ Out took a creative detour, emphasizing your Sim’s journeys through various locales while challenging corporate greed. Expect more outdoor escapades—both in titles and venues—as the fight against Malcolm’s monopoly takes center stage.
7. The Sims 2 (handheld)
Platforms: PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance
Release Year: 2005
Diversified across platforms, each handheld variant transformed Strangetown’s mysteries into captivating tales. From uncovering the fate of Bella Goth to deciphering alien conspiracies, the PSP version in particular offers key insights for those hungry for lore.
6. MySims Agents
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS
Release Year: 2009
Despite being an overlooked Nintendo exclusive, MySims Agents packs robust adventure alongside espionage—akin to a better X-Files homage than any official attempt. The different but underestimated DS version follows in its Wii counterpart’s footsteps, both harmonizing charm with intrigue.
5. The Sims Medieval
Platforms: PC, Mac, iOS
Release Window: 2010-2011
A fascinating detour into an era where strategy meets life simulation, The Sims Medieval captured historical hearts briefly before its quiet departure. Known more for quality than quantity, its budget-friendly existence remains a treasure—a worthy investment for any Sims enthusiast.
4. The Sims 3
Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, N-Gage 2.0, iOS, Android
Release Window: 2009-2014
While ambitions ran high with The Sims 3’s open-world customization, limitations of the time sometimes overshadowed its genius. Yet, the adventurous nature of TS3 is a promise waiting to be fulfilled—a testament to patience as technology marches ever closer to making its vision a reality.
3. The Sims 4
Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release Year: 2014-present
The Sims 4, met with mixed reviews, steadily built a robust share of features, championing inclusivity with gender identity customization. Amidst its evolution, TS4 stands firm from its comprehensive approach to quality-of-life features in the continually expanding Simming world.
2. The Sims
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
Release Window: 2000-2003
A trailblazer in its time, the original Sims held a nostalgic grip with its stark management simulation—posing merciless challenges masked in millennial attire. Beautifully chaotic, it stimulated the boundaries of creativity and consequences without time constraints, but with unforgettable impacts.
1. The Sims 2
Platforms: PC, Mac, Java
Release Window: 2004-2008
Hitting a harmonious balance in its intricate design, The Sims 2 presented a level of simulation complexity that felt just right. Combining aging mechanics with well-woven narratives, it thrived on both individual and expansion fullness—an indisputable peak of the franchise that anchors its legacy with charm and flair.
