Simming

Simming refers to the practice of creating and interacting with simulations, particularly in digital and interactive media. In gaming, simming often means playing or creating life-simulation games that model the daily activities of virtual characters, economies, ecosystems, or cities. The term is closely associated with The Sims series, but applies to a wide range of simulation genres, including city builders, life sims, city management, and agent-based modeling. Players may customize characters, environments, and rules, and may extend the experience through modifications (mods).

Beyond video games, simming occurs in educational and research contexts where simulations model complex systems for training or analysis. Examples include epidemiological models, traffic simulations, weather forecasting, and financial models.

In online communities, simming also describes role-playing activities where participants imagine scenarios by taking on the perspectives of fictional characters or real-world personas, sometimes focusing on relationships or social dynamics. The term and practices vary widely across communities.

History and scope: The concept of simulation predates modern video games and has long been used in computer science, mathematics, and wargaming to study systems and test ideas. In entertainment, early titles such as SimCity (1989) and The Sims (2000) popularized the modern life-simulation genre and helped establish the contemporary sense of simming among fans. The practice continues with evolving technologies, including AI-driven simulations, procedural generation, and sandbox-oriented titles, expanding both the scale and variety of sim-based experiences.