The 10 Best Sims Games (Ranked)

What are the best Sims games?

The Sims has a long history in the world of life simulations, spanning four core games, several spinoffs, and endless expansions.

Known for its quirky, made-up language called Simlish and its increasingly inclusive characters, The Sims franchise has spawned an entire community of die-hard fans.

Maybe you’re about to start your Sim life, or maybe you just love thinking about Sims – whatever your need, we have the list you want.  

The 10 Best Sims Games

Now, we know how seriously Simmers take their gaming, so we’ve consulted only the best sources in creating this list of best Sims games.

Let’s get right into the wacky world of virtual characters who give us the most heartwarming stories and hilarious drama.

Now, without further ado, here’s our list of the 10 best Sims games, presented so you can get right to your best virtual life.

10. The Sims Online

Online gaming has been popular for a long time, and in 2002 The Sims wanted to get in on the fun.

Pretty much a glorified chat room, The Sims Online – also known as TSO and later EA Land – has now been defunct since 2008.

However, there is a fan version available for gamers who miss the fun of collectively leveling skills and “greening” their needs.

Instead of questing through a traditional MMO, gamers in TSO focused on casual socialization and renting out virtual spaces to other players.

Even with that unusual premise, TSO earned a strong fan base that was heartbroken when the game closed its doors six years after release.

Zany and odd in a purely Sims way, TSO was also ahead of its time with a simulated economy in an otherwise casual gaming experience.

Economies in MMOs are usually held strong by games with dedicated populations that put in many hours contributing to the world.

Despite that, TSO managed to create a functioning economy for a while, even though players mostly logged in only to hang out together.  

Perhaps those who miss TSO would enjoy playing some of these free RPG games as they search for that elusive perfect simulator.  

9. The Sims 2: Castaway

The Sims 2 was a seriously popular title, upgrading the hilarity of The Sims world with an entirely new game in the franchise.

In fact, it was so popular that it got several spinoff games with a similar look, feel, and brand of insanity.

Castaway was one of the most entertaining of these spinoffs, though Nightlife was another that remains one of the best real-life simulation games out there.

There were some key differences in Castaway’s gameplay that made it a separate experience from its parent game, The Sims 2.

For example, characters didn’t age as they do in normal Sims games, and players followed a series of goals to complete a set story.

These differences were common in the spinoffs, which usually focused less on traditional sandbox play and more on unique, humorous narratives.

The Sims 2: Castaway’s narrative was a light-hearted survival adventure, where characters had to find a way to escape the mysterious Shipwreck Island.

As critics pointed out, this didn’t have the appeal of a core Sims game, but it was a decent diversion when players wanted something new.

8. The Urbz: Sims in the City

 This 2004 game features another narrative structure that is a direct sequel to the story in The Sims Bustin’ Out.  

It didn’t get a Windows release, though it appeared on consoles and even handhelds, with Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS.

Marketing featured music from The Black Eyed Peas, complete with Simlish lyrics, but the band’s involvement extended further than that.

The members of The Black Eyed Peas actually appeared as characters in the storyline for The Urbz, functioning as helpful allies for the player.

Later Sims games went on to solicit musical tracks from top artists to be included as songs on the radio.

Mediocre sales plagued this game, even though it received decent reviews, and it consequently didn’t receive much developer or publisher support.

Reviewers found much to appreciate about the game, but they noted some issues that likely caused it to sell poorly.

Specifically, EA’s attempt as publisher to woo console gamers instead of the already-existing PC player base may have been a mistake.

7. The Sims 4

Now, nobody’s arguing that The Sims 4 isn’t a fabulous title; it’s actually one of the best sandbox games we’ve ever played.

There’s so much to love about this game, from the detailed graphics to the incredible range of options in Create-a-Sim.

Or what about the innovative emotions system, where characters behave differently depending on whether they feel flirty, sad, or inspired?

How about the amazing lineup of expansions and game packs that have turned the world into a magical, hilarious sandbox of fun?

There’s no denying that The Sims 4 is a groundbreaking update to the franchise and a source of seemingly endless stories.

The biggest drawback of this title was its base game, which was released in 2014 without much for players to do except wait to buy expansions.  

Players used to The Sims 3 also criticized the lack of a truly open world, which detracted from the immersion.

With that said, The Sims 4 continued to fuel online streamer content a decade later and still serves as a constant inspiration for modders.

It’s easily one of the best Sims games, and it will be remembered fondly long after we finally get obsessed with The Sims 5. 

6. The Sims Medieval

 First things first: If you haven’t seen the “Epic Trailer” for The Sims Medieval, you absolutely must, if only to appreciate Patrick Stewart’s narration.

This game was an unlikely hit, as much of it relies on so-called “rabbit holes” to tell the story through text rather than visual events.

Rabbit holes in Sims games are places a Sim will enter, but the player can’t follow to watch what happens – for example, work or school.

Players often joke about disliking this mechanic, especially in The Sims Medieval, but despite extensive rabbit holes, the game remains a favorite.

This was a classic spinoff Sims game, with aging and building replaced with quests and a set storyline for players to follow.

One of the things gamers loved most about this title was its music, which aimed to capture the feeling of a medieval European village.

Even more, than the music, players found the quests and hero system engaging, making this an essential spinoff purchase for Sims fans.

Though it was released back in 2011, The Sims Medieval remains a popular game among players and Sims community streamers even today.

5. The Sims Bustin’ Out

Here’s a spinoff game that was both a truly good time and a groundbreaking title for the early days of the Sims franchise.

The Sims Bustin’ Out featured new locations for Sims to explore, mostly in the name of partying hard and living in luxury.

There were several versions of this game, each with somewhat different content, but it’s the PS2 version that remains interesting today.

It’s interesting because there was an online play feature that closely resembled The Sims Online, though that feature got disabled the same day TSO closed.

Several reviewers pointed out the “saucier” elements in this version of The Sims, with a stronger focus on partying and other edgy content.

Handheld versions of The Sims Bustin’ Out upgraded from the point-and-click mechanics of former simulations and gave players control of the characters.

The N-Gage version of Bustin’ Out even had a feature that allowed players to play rudimentary games on the Sims’ phones.

For a 2003 life simulator, this was a surprisingly successful and memorable release that led to the sequel, The Urbz: Sims in the City.

4. MySims Series

This was originally a Wii and DS release in 2007, though it moved to Windows and mobile devices not long later.

MySims features a chibi look and feel that differs from the usual Sims aesthetic, but is still perfect for the world and gameplay.

Players take on a leadership role in a struggling town, much like common farming sim tropes or Animal Crossing stories.

In fact, if you’re interested in other games like Sims, you might want to check out this title and then others like Stardew Valley.

Characters have a distinctly Nintendo Mii-like appearance, which is cute and matches the platforms for which this title was intended.

Also common to Nintendo games, this release features minigames that players can enjoy as diversions along their journey to revitalize the town.

This was a love-it-or-hate-it kind of title, as the streamlined feel of the gameplay was a little boring for some Simmers.

Other players loved the new perspective and still consider it one of the most exciting releases in the series so far. 

3. The Sims 2

Hardcore Simmers love to debate which was better: The Sims 2 or The Sims 3?

Released in 2004, this title was in many ways a change of tone from The Sims, which had featured mostly traditional events in its world.

The Sims 2 took the original iteration and made it, well, more insane – with the inclusion of supernatural creatures through expansion packs.  

It also introduced genetics, which is a reproductive mechanic that has come to be known as a core element of Sims gameplay.

Today’s gamers are often stunned at how difficult The Sims 2 could be at times, particularly with time shifts when leaving and returning to lots.

For a game that simulated time management, this title tended to be very unforgiving about time zones within the world.

But even with a higher level of challenge in many areas than the other Sims titles, The Sims 2 was a huge amount of fun.

Also, we can never forget that this is the game that included awkward cut scenes for first “woohoos” with other characters.

2. The Sims

This is the game that sparked a lifelong addiction for an entire generation of gamers and set the stage for decades of Sims games.

It was released in early 2000, and no one made it to real-life work or school for the rest of the year.

The Sims was an instant success, thanks to its addictive gameplay that was originally intended to be a satire of American consumer culture.

That’s a hefty bit of irony, of course, as The Sims spawned an entire industry of games and expansion packs for players to purchase.

It’s important to take note of the social commentaries this game made when other game publishers were not yet willing to take the risk.

Specifically, characters in The Sims were able to openly woo and have relationships with same-sex characters, though gay marriage was not yet an option.

This was just the start of the EA series that went on to become one of the most progressive, inclusive, and creative franchises in gaming.

For console gamers who have missed a lot of The Sims due to their preference for PC, check out the best PS5 simulation games to get your fix.

1. The Sims 3

Welcome to the most controversial statement of the year: The Sims 3 is the greatest installment in the franchise to date.

Released in 2009, this title spanned five years as the main Sims title, releasing 11 total expansions and nine “stuff packs.”

At times it is undeniably a buggy mess, but Sims fans have come to embrace a sense of humor about glitches in the Matrix.

Major selling points for The Sims 3 include the fully open world layout that allows players to roam from location to location without loading screens.

It also features nicely streamlined gameplay and family trees, prompting players to create innovative gaming exercises like the 100 Baby Challenge.

Community is a major part of The Sims franchise, and The Sims 3 helped promote the creative ideas of players.

Thanks to that creativity, future game modders brought their skills to The Sims 4 and breathed new life into the series.

This is not only the best Sims game, it’s one of the best video games of all time, and no Sims 3 players are surprised.

Summary

The Sims community is known for being kind and creative, and the games in this franchise support those same values.

There’s a Sim game for everyone by now, no matter what your preference, and each title encourages inclusivity and creativity in different ways.

We have just one thing left to say after this list of the greatest simulator games of all time: Jadosi! Dag Dag!

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best Sims games:

1. The Sims 3 (2009)
2. The Sims (2000)
3. The Sims 2 (2004)
4. MySims Series (2007)
5. The Sims Bustin’ Out (2003)
6. The Sims Medieval (2011)
7. The Sims 4 (2014)
8. The Urbz: Sims in the City (2004)
9. The Sims 2: Castaway (2007)
10. The Sims Online (2002)

Do you agree with the rankings? Leave a comment below.