Sims

The Sims is a life simulation video game series created by Will Wright and developed by Maxis, with publishing by Electronic Arts. The first game was released in 2000 and became a landmark title in PC gaming. The series centers on virtual people called Sims, whom players create and guide as they go about daily life in suburban environments. The core gameplay involves building and furnishing homes, managing finances, pursuing careers, forming relationships, and addressing the Sims’ needs and aspirations. Its open-ended, sandbox design emphasizes emergent storytelling and player agency rather than a fixed objective.

Across the franchise, players shape neighborhoods, neighborhoods, and the daily routines of their Sims through a wide range of activities. The games emphasize customization, from character appearance and personality to home design and neighborhood layout. Over time, the series introduced more complex systems for social interactions, careers, skills, and life events, while maintaining a focus on creative play and personal storytelling.

The main installments are The Sims (2000), The Sims 2 (2004), The Sims 3 (2009), and The Sims 4 (2014). Each generation brought technical improvements, expanded user interfaces, and broader content through expansion packs, stuff packs, and downloadable content, adding features such as pets, seasons, university life, nightlife, and new careers and worlds. The franchise also includes console and mobile spin-offs, reflecting its broad appeal.

The Sims has had a substantial cultural impact, influencing the popularity of life-simulation games and fostering a large modding and user-generated-content community. It remains under active development with ongoing updates and new content releases.