The Sims: 25 Years And Counting

In the year 2000, The Sims emerged as a unique game concept, capturing the attention of players with its simulation of virtual lives^1,2. Designed by Will Wright, the mastermind behind SimCity, The Sims allows players to create and control virtual people, manage their lives, build homes, and fulfil their desires^3,1.

While I was busy using cheat codes to make giant houses with perfectly spaced windows, The Sims quickly evolved into a best-selling franchise, translated into 22 languages, and selling approximately 200 million copies worldwide^3,4. The game's premise was initially focused on home construction, but shifted towards storytelling and interaction with simulated characters². This transformation cemented The Sims' position as a cultural phenomenon, appealing to a diverse audience, with women making up a significant portion of its player base².

The franchise's success lies in its open-ended gameplay, offering players an "open canvas" for self-expression and creativity, regardless of age^3,2. Players find the game relatable, mirroring real-life scenarios while adding a playful twist¹. The game's fictional language, Simlish, enhances this sense of player interpretation, allowing for individual choice and creativity².

Today, The Sims 4 is the most widely played title in the franchise, providing unparalleled customisation options for Sims and their environments^1,2. Regular updates and DLC packs continue to enhance the gaming experience, ensuring its relevance⁶. The Sims 4 allows players to explore different facets of life, from building a family to pursuing dream jobs, within a safe and optimistic virtual space.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, The Sims remains a significant title in gaming history^2,3,5. Its impact extends beyond entertainment, influencing players' lives and providing a platform for creativity and self-discovery². The enduring success of this game lies in its ability to connect with players on a personal level, offering something unique and different that resonates far beyond its original concept.

My first memories of The Sims are playing it on my friend's computer and trying endlessly to get the Sim to look as much like me as possible, agonising over the limited array of clothes, only for my friend to change it to a wedding dress last minute. Then we began making the largest house possible and hammering all possible cheat codes when we quickly ran out of money to build walls. Then came The Sims 2, where I asked my parents for the pets edition for Christmas, and by the time The Sims 3 was released, I was older, limited on time and unable to spend hours (or days) building a house and exploring.

Years later, I had a brief reprieve during the COVID-19 pandemic where I suddenly did have the time and Ross bought it for me on Steam so that I could revisit my childhood. Of course, by this time, the fourth version of The Sims had been out for some time, but my only experience at that point was using my lunch breaks to watch Kelsey Impicciche complete various challenges including "The 100 Baby Challenge".

Life Simulation Games Are Complex

The Sims' success undoubtably lies in its flexibility for players to be and do whatever they want (within reason). Where other simulation games focus on a particular theme, whether that's running a café, being a vet, or nurturing a garden to make potions, The Sims allows players to start from a blank slate and build a virtual life in whatever way they choose. Creating a game with the complexity and depth of The Sims is a significant undertaking, presenting numerous challenges that have acted as barriers for potential competitors⁷. It boasts a surprisingly deep AI system that governs the behaviour of its characters⁸. Designing a generalised AI that can handle a wide variety of situations is technically challenging⁹.

Additionally, the game requires a massive number of animations, with fluid animation being one of the most expensive elements in game creation today⁸. Simulation games have many rules and systems that interact and influence one another, increasing complexity from both coding and design perspectives. The sheer number of highly detailed, technically complex objects that populate the game world requires effective content generation strategies. Managing the high volume of asset production, with project budgets in the millions, adds to the pressure¹⁰ alongside the need for a team of 50-100 people to develop the entire game¹¹.

As a result, The Sims sits in an unsaturated corner of the Steam Map:

As mentioned earlier, The Sims has come a long way in 25 years so from here on, we'll be focussing on the latest version; The Sims 4. This game distinguishes itself from other life simulation games through its unique features and emphasis on certain aspects of gameplay:

• Customisation: The Sims 4 has redefined and upgraded ways to customise Sims, with adjustment points from head to body, allowing for more realistic Sims¹². While earlier Sims games had colour wheels, the most recent version simplified colour options ^13,14.
• Build Mode: The Sims 4 combines the Build and Buy modes, offering better adjustment and rotation options^12. However, it limits the number of floors compared to The Sims 2¹⁴.
• Emotions and Multitasking: The Sims 4 focuses on Sims' emotions, with surroundings affecting behaviour patterns. Sims can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, enhancing interactions¹².
• Death: With the Life & Death Expansion Pack, The Sims 4 introduces new gameplay mechanics around death, funerals, bucket lists, ghosts, and reincarnation^15,16. Players can now explore the afterlife, dabble in careers related to death (Reaper Profession and Undertaker Career), and customise ghost Sims¹⁶.

Simulating Specific Scenarios

The most similar released games to The Sims 4 only share a few of their characteristics with it and mainly focus on simulating specific fictional scenarios.

Sugar Shack

Sugar Shack is a cosy cooking management game set in a perpetual early spring, where players manage their own sugar shack by tending to the land, tapping maple trees, and cooking treats^17,18. It emphasises building a business and fostering a sense of community by interacting with characters inspired by Quebec folklore. The game's open-ended gameplay and customisation options allow players to shape the world around them. While it shares the simulation aspect with The Sims, Sugar Shack focuses more on resource management and business simulation rather than the intricate life simulation and character customisation found in The Sims 4¹⁷.

Alchemy Garden

Alchemy Garden is a cosy indie game focused on potion brewing and shop management, offering simple gameplay and limited customisation, unlike The Sims 4, which provides expansive, open-ended life simulation^19,20. Alchemy Garden's progression relies on repetitive tasks and resource grinding, while The Sims 4 boasts skill-based progression, intricate character customisation, and a broad range of activities like careers and relationships. Alchemy Garden appeals to casual gamers seeking relaxation, while The Sims 4 targets a broader audience with its diverse gameplay options and community-driven content.

Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends

Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends combines restaurant management with relationship building, casting players as a Sushi Bot chef in a cosy village^21,22. The gameplay involves serving sushi, exploring the town, gathering supplies, and forming friendships with townsfolk. As players progress, they unlock new recipes, customise their restaurant, and uncover storylines, but although this game shares the life simulation aspect with The Sims 4, it is more focused on the specific goal of running a sushi restaurant and building relationships within a set town.

Pet Vet 3D Wild Animal Hospital

Pet Vet 3D Wild Animal Hospital puts players in the shoes of a young veterinarian managing an animal hospital²³. The game involves treating animals, building and upgrading enclosures, and hiring staff. Players must manage resources, maintain the animals' well-being, and improve their skills to treat more complex cases. While both games involve caring for characters, Pet Vet 3D focuses exclusively on animal care and hospital management, lacking the social interaction and life simulation elements present in The Sims 4²⁴.

Challengers in Life Simulation: inZOI and Paralives Reshape the Genre

The life simulation genre, long dominated by The Sims 4, is witnessing a renaissance with two ambitious newcomers: Paralives and inZOI. Both games aim to innovate beyond the established formula, addressing fan frustrations while introducing fresh mechanics.  

Paralives: Indie Innovation with Unrestricted Creativity  

Developed by Paralives Studio, Paralives (2025 Early Access) emphasises boundless customisation. Its Paramaker tool allows granular adjustments to character proportions, including height sliders, heterochromia, and body type; features The Sims 4 locks behind DLC^25,26. The grid-less build mode enables freeform architecture, letting players resize furniture and manipulate structures with precision, inspired by Cities: Skylines’ modular systems^25,27. Procedural animation streamlines interactions, allowing Parafolk to autonomously adapt to environments, while an open-world town eliminates loading screens. This is a stark contrast to The Sims 4’s segmented neighbourhoods^27,28. Notably, pets, weather, and vehicles are included at launch, rejecting EA’s paywall-heavy model²⁶. Funded via Patreon, the indie project prioritises community feedback, offering mod support and free updates²⁵.  

inZOI: Realism and AI-Driven Depth  

Krafton’s inZOI (released on 28th March in Early Access) leverages Unreal Engine 5 for hyper-realistic visuals, a deliberate departure from The Sims’ stylised approach^29,30. Its open-world cities host 300 AI-driven “Zois” who form dynamic relationships, spread rumours, and even contract illnesses^29,31. Players control Zois directly, engaging in first-person activities like riding roller coasters or working shifts; mechanics absent in The Sims 4^30,31. A 3D printing tool scans real-world objects into the game, while generative AI assists in designing furniture and patterns^29,30. Despite director Hyungjun Kim framing it as “another option” rather than a competitor, fans anticipate rivalry due to its robust customisation and karma-driven narrative systems^31,32. 

Despite its visual prowess, many players report that inZOI currently feels "empty" and lacks the depth of The Sims 4's decade-worth of content^34,35. Some critics describe interactions as "vapid" or "corporate-feeling"³⁶, with gameplay that's "not particularly fun right now"³⁷. The Sims 4 maintains advantages with its intuitive build mode, vast catalog of items, and pet systems³⁵.

As an Early Access title, inZOI shows significant promise despite its current shortcomings. One reviewer concluded it's "chaotic, addictive, and exciting" despite its bugs and occasional overwhelming complexity³⁸. The game represents the first serious competition The Sims has faced in decades, though it needs substantial development before it can fully compete with Maxis' established franchise³⁹.

Challenging the Status Quo  

Both games tackle The Sims 4’s criticised shortcomings. Paralives eliminates DLC dependency, integrating fan-requested features like open worlds and pets into its base game^27.33. inZOI enhances interactivity, allowing deeper world manipulation and AI-augmented storytelling^29,30. While The Sims 4 relies on expansions for depth, these titles prioritise modular, player-driven experiences.  

The cancellation of Life By You (2024) heightens anticipation for these projects³³. As Paralives and inZOI near release, they exemplify how competition can spur innovation in a genre ripe for reinvention. Whether through indie charm or AAA polish, both games offer compelling alternatives to EA’s legacy franchise.

TLDR; The Sims 4 May Loose its Crown After 25 Years on Top

The Sims, a cultural phenomenon for 25 years, offers players a unique canvas for creativity and self-expression through its virtual life simulation. The Sims 4, the most popular title, provides extensive customisation and a safe virtual space for exploring life's facets.

However, the genre now faces a renaissance with emerging challengers like Paralives and inZOI. These games address The Sims 4's shortcomings by prioritising community feedback, innovative mechanics, and deeper interactivity. Paralives emphasises boundless customisation and a grid-less build mode, while inZOI leverages hyper-realistic visuals and AI-driven depth. As these titles approach release, they exemplify how competition drives innovation in a genre ready for reinvention, presenting compelling alternatives to EA's established franchise.

References

1. Fast Company | Why The Sims is still so popular 25 years later
2. CBS News | How The Sims grew from a virtual construction game into a cultural phenomenon
3. Wikipedia | The Sims
4. BBC | Sims: 25th anniversary - from The Sims to The Sims 4 - a brief history
5. Tech Powerup | The Sims at 25 - Veteran Developer Discusses Franchise History
6. Game Rant | The Sims 4: Everything Added in the Free Base Game Update (Burglar Update - 25/02)
7. Games Hub | The Sims rivals: Every major life sim competitor in development
8. Reddit | r/truegaming: Why do The Sims have virtually no competition?
9. Rock Paper Shotgun | Making Of: The Sims
10. Game Developer | Keeping up with The Sims: Managing Large Scale Game Content Production
11. Unity Discussions | How to Create A Game Like The Sims
12. Royal CD Keys | Sims 3 vs Sims 4 - Comparing the Life Simulators!
13. Paralives Archives | 7 Ways Paralives Is Revolutionizing Life Simulation Beyond Sims 4
14. Nostalgia Nerd | Sims 1 vs Sims 2 vs Sims 3 vs Sims 4
15. The Gamer | The Sims 4: Life & Death Overview - You Reap What You Sow
16. EA | Journey into the great unknown with The Sims 4 Life & Death Expansion Pack
17.  YouTube | LochVaness: Sugar Shack Game Review - Is it really worth your money?
18. Softonic | A cozy game with sweet adventures
19. Thumb Culture | Alchemy Garden PS5 Review
20. Steam | Alchemy Garden 
21. Bonus Action | Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Complete Walkthrough
22. Game Rant | Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends: Achievements Guide
23. Steam | Pet Vet 3d Wild Animal Hospital
24. Pet Vet 3d WIld Animal Hospital Manual
25. Wikipedia | Paralives
26. https://gamerant.com/life-by-you-canceled-other-sims-competitor-paralives-similar/
27. PC Gamer | Paralives Guide
28. YouTube | MuirlySims - Duel of the Decades: Paralives vs The Sims 4
29. Games Radar | inZOI: Everything we know so far
30. Wikipedia | InZOI
31. Screen Rant | 10 InZOI Features & Mechanics That Are Better Than The Sims 4
32. 80 LV | inZOI director Doesn't Think of It as Competitor to The Sims
33. Game Rant | Life By You is Canceled, But There's Another Sims Competitor Waiting in the Wings
34. PC Gamer | Inzoi's launch is going better than I expected with 'very positive' reviews and 87,000 concurrent players and everyone is almost being normal about it
35. Game Spot | InZoi Vs. The Sims 4: Which Life Sim Is Better?
36. Rock Paper Shotgun | inZoi early access review: Soulless Simulation
37. Game Spot | InZoi is gorgeous, innovative, and brimming with potential. The only problem? It's not particularly fun right now.
38. Sims Community | InZOI Gameplay Review: My Take on the Newest Life Sim (With Chaos and Confetti)
39. PC Gamer | Inzoi's attempt to do everything has left it a shallow imitation of The Sims, and I'm not sure it understands what makes those games so special in the first place