The Simsfirst launched in February 2000, kicking off the new millennium with what was to become one of the most successful gaming franchises and the biggest life simulation game series. Developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, the incredibleSimshas sold nearly 200 million games.Following the initial launch ofThe Sims,The Sims 2was released in 2004 and has since become one of the most popularSimsgames among players.
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Just five years laterThe Sims 3and most recently, dropping in 2014, cameThe Sims 4.In between each major launch, EA and Maxisreleased expansion packsfor each game, providing players with additional content between games. Some of the best known packs are Seasons, Pets/Cats and Dogs and University Packs as they are available for most of the main releases. Over the years,The Simsfranchise has released a whopping 90 game packs and expansions with 70 of these being from the newest,The Sims 4. These are thebest expansion packs throughout all the series.
9The Sims Vacation
The first game, simply titled,The Simsonly had seven expansions. These in chronological order were,Living Large,House Party, Hot Date, Vacation, Unleashed, Superstar,andMaking Magic.Each of these packs were rich and full of fresh content and gameplay, something newerSimspacks have been criticized for. Each player has an opinion on which of these original packs is the best, however a fan favorite isVacation.
Vacationwas exactly what it says on the packaging, the pack allowed players to take their Sims on holiday. The pack offered multiple types of trips including beach, mountain and camping, allowing gamers to spice up and change around their normal gameplay. Unfortunately, newer Sims packs seem to lack this variety, only including one new world/vacation area per pack. HopefullyVacationswill be recreated forThe Sims 4, bringing pack this incredible and diverse gameplay.
8The Sims 3 Generations
The Sims 3 Generationswas released with a similar concept toThe Sims 4 Growing Together Packand that was with the goal to enhance the family aspect of gameplay and to add more to playing with children, babies and toddlers. Generations was the fourth pack released forThe Sims 3and is one of the best for the amount of realism that it brought to the game.
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Generations focused on family and stages of life meaning the game felt more rich and real to play with the pack installed. The pack also including new events such as prom, highschool graduation, school dances and parties, in short, making the game more fun.Generationsis a pack players would love to see make a comeback purely for the depth it brought theSimsgame.
7The Sims 3 Showtime
Another rich with things to do pack isThe Sims 3 Showtime.This pack is recognized as one of the most enjoyableto play for the different directions Sims lives could now be taken in. This pack allowed gamers to play as musicians, acrobats and singers, performing on stage and becoming famous. Unlike the similarThe Sims 4 Get Famous,Showtimeallowed players to actually perform live and this could go good or bad, again adding realism to the life sim.
The pack also brought a luscious world, great build and CAS items, making it a fan favorite and a must-have forThe Sims 3players.Showtimeis another pack that would be amazing to reappear in future Sims games.
6The Sims 2 University
There is a reasonThe Sims 2is often described as the bestSimsgame and this is mainly because the game truly feels like a life simulator. Events are random and sometimes strange, much like real life, giving the game a bit of edge and unpredictability. Due to the age ofThe Sims 2there is also a sense of nostalgia in the game for many longtime fans which continues to the games' status as a fan favorite.
The Sims 2 Universityexpansion pack released in March 2005, particularly plays into that sense of real life. The game allows players to send their young Sims to university where they can get a degree, further their careers, join frats, move into dorms and live out the university experience. The pack also offered alot of new content as well as game play options making it a fan favorite.
5The Sims 4 Cottage Living
The Sims 4 Cottage Livingwas something completely differentforThe Simsfranchise and unlike anything fans had seen before. This risky step away from the norm for EA and Maxis was definitely worth it as the pack is beloved by players for its adorable build and buy items, Create a Sim (CAS) items and gameplay options. Because of this, the pack offers something for every type of player. A new large world, with cute items for players who like to build, great CAS items for those who like creating Sims and new gameplay opportunities.
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Within the pack, player’s can run their own farm, enjoying the cozy small town vibes the new world has to offer. Players can raise fair animals, grow crops and compete in the towns local fare. This pack is truly for everyone which is why it has become one ofThe Sims 4greatest packs.
4The Sims 4 University
Much likeThe Sims 2 University,The Sims 4 UniversityallowsSims to send their Sims to universitywhich in turn gives them easier careers progression. This pack really adds a slice of life into the game, adding many more gameplay and giving players more to do in the game other than starting a family and sending Sims to work. This was essential for the packs' success as gameplay and things to do was something many people felt the game was lacking in upon its initial release.
InThe Sims 4 Universityplayers can choose wether the student thrives and becomes a straight A student o tor focus on the social part of the university life, joining debate groups and throwing dorm parties. Because of the different directions of gameplay the pack can be taken, the University packs withinThe Simsfranchise has become some of the most popular and gamers were eager for EA and Maxis to release a University pack forThe Sims 4.Thankfully,The Sims 4university lived up to expectation’s and the success of previousSims University Packs.
3The Sims 3 Supernatural
When discussing with a Sims player about the best packs, it would be more than likely thatThe Sims 3 Supernaturalwould come up. This pack was loaded with new content, allowing players to play as witches, werewolves, faeries, vampires and even zombies! This is an impressive list in comparison toThe Sims 4, where these fabled created all must be bought in separate packs for a larger price than the originalSims 3pack.
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This expansion pack really let players use their imagination in creating storylines for their supernatural Sims. This pack truly offered unlimited gameplay options, from evil fairies to misunderstood vegetarian vampires,The Sims 3 Supernaturalhad it all and something for every player.
2The Sims 2 Nightlife
Referring back to that nostalgia and depth thatThe Sims 2brought,Nightlifeis a staple for the game making it a favorite of every Sims pack from across games. This pack was stuffed to the brim with interesting build items, CAS looks and enjoyable content. The soundtrack alone will bring devoted Sims players back to 2005 in a nostalgia filled frenzy.
Again, this pack is similar to one’s gamers have seen in the followingThe Sims 3andThe Sims 4, however the newer content just seems to be lacking in comparison to what will forever be known as one ofthe best releasesThe Simsseries has ever seen. This pack also was the introduction of ‘turn ons’ and ‘turn offs’, something that later became a staple feature ofThe Sims 2. In Short, The Sims 2Nightlifeis one for the history books.
1Sims 4 City Living
City Livingis arguably the most popular pack created forThe Sims 4. The pack includes the incredibleSan Myshunoworld which includes four districts, fashion, business, spice and art, allowing players to choose the perfect neighborhood for their Sim. This world is a huge part of why this pack is so popular as it offers great lots and alot of space for families and Sims, unlike packs such asGet To Workwhich offered a world with only three lots in total.
San Myshunoaside,City Livingalso offers alot of new gameplay such as different festivals, flea and spice markets and new aspirations for Sims to experience theCity Life.Needless to say,City Livingis one of the best thatThe Simsfranchise has seen and is something gamers will be hoping to see more like in future packs andSimsgames.
The Sims 4can be bought now on the EA app for PC users, Origin for Mac players and on the Playstation and Xbox Store for console players.
