Celebrating its 25th birthday this week, The Sims franchise has solidified its place as a gaming giant. But while many may associate The Sims with its plethora of expansion packs and downloadable content, did you know how many independent titles the series boasts? If you guessed just four, you’re in for a surprise. In honor of this milestone anniversary, I’ve curated a list of the 25 best Sims games spanning its quarter-century history. I had to prune some spin-offs and blend a few remakes to keep it concise – enjoy!
25. The Sims 2 Apartment Pets
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Year: 2008
At the close of The Sims 2 era came this DS spin-off, merging popular expansions. Not a classic, but it offers unique pet-focused minigames and a sweet narrative.
24. MySims Sky Heroes
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS
Year: 2010
The final MySims game, which diverged from its original successor plan and explored flying, touches on the dystopian undercurrent often hinted at but not explicitly explored in the Sims universe.
23. The Sims Pet Stories
Platforms: PC, Mac
Year: 2007
Crafted for low-spec machines, this entry in the Stories trilogy introduces charming scripted narratives and pet customization without the chaos of The Sims 2.
22. The Sims 2 Pets
Platforms: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Wii, PSP, Game Boy Advance, DS
Years: 2006-2007
This expansion-turned-standalone game really highlights the furry friends, chasing a Nintendogs vibe and bringing pet-centric gameplay to consoles.
21. The Sims Social
Platform: Facebook
Years: 2011-2013
Though short-lived, it stands as a noteworthy attempt to blend Sims gameplay with social media interaction, even boasting a Lady Gaga collaboration.
20. MySims
Platforms: Wii, DS, PC, Switch
Years: 2007-2008
EA’s answer to Animal Crossing, MySims, was a hit, giving birth to sequels and getting a remastered relaunch thanks to its charming, albeit simple, gameplay.
19. The Sims Online
Platform: PC
Years: 2002-2008
A wild social experiment using The Sims’ assets for a virtual social space, now known for its chaotic community antics and a series of fan-led recreations.
18. The Urbz: Sims in the City (console edition)
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Year: 2004
Offering a gritty urban twist on Sims life, this console edition embraced the gig economy and nightlife, even featuring an appearance by The Black Eyed Peas.
17. The Sims Life Stories
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Year: 2007
This initial entry into the Stories series followed drama-rich plots using a scaled-down The Sims 2 gameplay approach, appealing to lovers of soap-opera chaos.
16. The Sims Mobile
Platforms: iOS, Android
Year: 2018
Though updates ceased in 2024, it remains popular for its character-focused stories, inviting players into a social realm to view others’ creations.
15. The Sims Castaway Stories
Platforms: PC, Mac
Year: 2008
Settle your own narrative in this expansion, combining elements of simulation and interaction with a community in a castaway theme heavily inspired by the show Lost.
14. The Sims 2 (console edition)
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Year: 2005
Despite a somewhat limited release era, this console version offered unique relationship building and conflict through creatively arranged households.
13. The Sims Freeplay
Platforms: iOS, Android
Year: 2011
Outliving even its sequel, Freeplay offers real-time gameplay and town management that draws on SimCity, continuing to receive robust updates after a decade.
12. MySims Kingdom
Platforms: Wii, DS, Switch, PC
Years: 2008 (remastered in 2024)
This sequel takes a whimsical RPG-like approach to saving a kingdom, engaging in home design to aid everyone from cowboys to astronauts.
11. The Sims 2 Castaway
Platforms: Wii, PS2, PSP, DS
Year: 2007
A survival iteration involving resource gathering on a desert island, Castaway engrosses players in discovery and ingenuity.
10. The Sims: Console Edition
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Year: 2003
Diverting from a direct translation of the PC game, this version introduced iconic Sims lore characters, bringing fresh gameplay dynamics unique to consoles.
9. The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)
Platforms: GameBoy Advance, DS
Year: 2004
A distinct departure from its console counterpart, this edition engages players in crime capers, vampire encounters, and non-stop urban adventure.
8. The Sims: Bustin’ Out
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA, N-Gage
Years: 2003-2004
With a focus on career progression and travel, this sequel to the console edition furthers the fight against corporate greed in The Sims universe.
7. The Sims 2 (handheld)
Platforms: PSP, DS, GBA
Year: 2005
An adventure spin-off of Strangetown’s iconic mysteries, these handheld versions offer unique takes on beloved storylines, worth exploring for series fans.
6. MySims Agents
Platforms: Wii, DS
Year: 2009
A hidden gem, this fun-filled detective game combines humor, mystery, and thrilling adventures, promising entertainment for those who dive in.
5. The Sims Medieval
Platforms: PC, Mac, iOS
Years: 2010-2011
Designed as a standalone RPG-lite, this medieval version channels Sims creativity into historical storytelling, though didn’t catch on as widely as expected.
4. The Sims 3
Platforms: PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, 3DS, N-Gage 2.0, iOS, Android
Years: 2009-2014
Despite its ambition being limited by contemporary tech, The Sims 3’s open-world gameplay still stands out, paving the way for future life sims.
3. The Sims 4
Platforms: PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One
Years: 2014-present
Though reactions have been mixed, The Sims 4’s gradual enhancements make it the quintessential modern life simulation experience today, valued for inclusivity and ongoing improvements.
2. The Sims
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
Years: 2000-2003
The nostalgic, original title made a bold mark with its raw and unforgiving gameplay, laying an unyielding foundation for the franchise beloved by many.
1. The Sims 2
Platforms: PC, Mac, Java
Years: 2004-2008
Perfectly balancing humor, challenge, and storytelling, The Sims 2 retains legendary status for evolving life simulation, memorable characters, and impactful expansions.
