Best Sims Packs Across All Games

The Sims first 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 incredible Sims has sold nearly 200 million games. Following the initial launch of The Sims,The Sims 2 was released in 2004 and has since become one of the most popular Sims games among players.

Just five years later The Sims 3 and most recently, dropping in 2014, came The Sims 4. In between each major launch, EA and Maxis released expansion packs for 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 Sims franchise has released a whopping 90 game packs and expansions with 70 of these being from the newest, The Sims 4. These are the best expansion packs throughout all the series.

9 The Sims Vacation

The first game, simply titled, The Sims only had seven expansions. These in chronological order were, Living Large,House Party, Hot Date, Vacation, Unleashed, Superstar, and Making Magic. Each of these packs were rich and full of fresh content and gameplay, something newer Sims packs have been criticized for. Each player has an opinion on which of these original packs is the best, however a fan favorite is Vacation.

Vacation was 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. Hopefully Vacations will be recreated for The Sims 4, bringing pack this incredible and diverse gameplay.

8 The Sims 3 Generations

The Sims 3 Generations was released with a similar concept to The Sims 4 Growing Together Pack and 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 for The Sims 3 and is one of the best for the amount of realism that it brought to the game.

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. Generations is a pack players would love to see make a comeback purely for the depth it brought the Sims game.

7 The Sims 3 Showtime

Another rich with things to do pack is The Sims 3 Showtime. This pack is recognized as one of the most enjoyable to 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 similar The Sims 4 Get Famous, Showtime allowed 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 for The Sims 3 players. Showtime is another pack that would be amazing to reappear in future Sims games.

6 The Sims 2 University

There is a reason The Sims 2 is often described as the best Sims game 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 of The Sims 2 there 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 University expansion 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.

5 The Sims 4 Cottage Living

The Sims 4 Cottage Living was something completely different for The Sims franchise 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.

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 of The Sims 4 greatest packs.

4 The Sims 4 University

Much like The Sims 2 University, The Sims 4 University allows Sims to send their Sims to university which 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.

In The Sims 4 University players 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 within The Sims franchise has become some of the most popular and gamers were eager for EA and Maxis to release a University pack for The Sims 4. Thankfully, The Sims 4 university lived up to expectation's and the success of previous Sims University Packs.

3 The Sims 3 Supernatural

When discussing with a Sims player about the best packs, it would be more than likely that The Sims 3 Supernatural would 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 to The Sims 4, where these fabled created all must be bought in separate packs for a larger price than the original Sims 3 pack.

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 Supernatural had it all and something for every player.

2 The Sims 2 Nightlife

Referring back to that nostalgia and depth that The Sims 2 brought, Nightlife is 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 following The Sims 3 and The Sims 4, however the newer content just seems to be lacking in comparison to what will forever be known as one of the best releases The Sims series has ever seen. This pack also was the introduction of 'turn ons' and 'turn offs', something that later became a staple feature of The Sims 2. In Short, The Sims 2Nightlife is one for the history books.

1 Sims 4 City Living

City Living is arguably the most popular pack created for The Sims 4. The pack includes the incredible San Myshuno world 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 as Get To Work which offered a world with only three lots in total.

San Myshuno aside, City Living also offers alot of new gameplay such as different festivals, flea and spice markets and new aspirations for Sims to experience the City Life. Needless to say, City Living is one of the best that The Sims franchise has seen and is something gamers will be hoping to see more like in future packs and Sims games.