The Sims franchise has been entertaining players for over two decades, and with each iteration of The Sims comes an array of expansion packs. Each pack centers around a specific theme bringing new gameplay, objects, life states, Create-a-Sim items, and other hidden mechanics to the base game.
Players can be selective on what expansions they decide to buy, depending on their playstyle. But certain expansion packs across the entire franchise have proven to be must-haves, adding much-needed improvements and classic features to the base game of each iteration in addition to new neighborhoods and experiences for players to enjoy.
8 The Sims: Superstar
The Sims: Superstar was pure vibes, plain and simple. Its soundtrack is enough to transport any millennial back to the simpler time of trying to mingle with celebrities in Studio Town, from Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol to Avril Lavigne and Christina Aguilera (to name a few). In addition, the expansion pack came with three new career options, allowing players to follow in the footsteps of these big names as an actor, singer, or model.
Superstar was also the first game where players could follow their Sims to work. To work in these career paths, they would have to travel to Studio Town to record songs, pose in photoshoots, and run lines. And as each career had no set hours of work, it was the player’s decision in how hard they would make their Sims work for fame and fortune to succeed in one of the most profitable careers.
7 The Sims: Makin’ Magic
As expansion packs for The Sims go, nothing tops the absurdity of The Sims: Makin’ Magic. As the largest expansion pack for The Sims, Makin’ Magic introduced the supernatural into its world as a final hoorah before the release of The Sims 2.
After a visit from the Mystery Man, Sims could carve out a path as a witch or wizard and create magic charms and spells with the right ingredients. And forget The Sims: Unleashed because Sims could keep a dragon as a pet in this expansion pack. But unlike in The Sims 4: Realm of Magic, dragons don’t aid in spellcasting – they’re simply fire-breathing pets. Makin’ Magic also introduced Bonehilda for the first time, a character that has become a staple of the franchise.
6 The Sims 2: Nightlife
As the second expansion pack in The Sims 2, this game had much to live up to following The Sims 2: University. But it definitely delivered, seeing as The Sims 2: Nightlife introduced cars for the first time. Despite reappearing in The Sims 3, nothing will live up to the gameplay mechanics offered in this expansion pack. Simple actions like Sims backing a car out of a garage and opening its doors add a semblance of realism compared to Sims magically teleporting into their vehicles in The Sims 3.
Aside from cars, Nightlife came with a new downtown area with recreational activities for Sims to enjoy, like bowling, karaoke bars, dining, and dancing. Dating was a major aspect of this expansion, with a new mini-game to keep the romance alive, along with the turn-ons and turn-offs mechanic.
5 The Sims 2: Seasons
The Sims 2 added a lot of firsts to the franchise, including seasons. Unlike future iterations of the expansion pack, the attention to detail in The Sims 2: Seasons makes the weather feel like it affected the world, not just the Sims inhabiting it. The snow got heavy, and there was even an animation of the rain running down the roof tiles. Even if players didn’t necessarily see or experience these details, it showed the care and attention those working on the game had for the franchise.
Aside from the weather, Seasons saw the complete introduction of PlantSims. This life state had different needs than normal Sims, simply surviving on Love, Water, and Sunlight. With the implementation of PlantSims came gardening, allowing Sims to grow and harvest their own produce.
4 The Sims 3: Generations
A firm favorite among family players, The Sims 3: Generations focused on providing each life phase with a central theme – from imagination for kids to reminiscing about family for elders. Each generation gets its fair share of new gameplay mechanics and activities, making families and relationships feel much more deeply connected than in just the base game. Generations also saw the return of memories from The Sims 2, which had been absent up until this point.
Generations also gave kids and teenagers much more to do in The Sims 3, including after-school activities like ballet and scouts for kids, drama club, debate team, school band, student newspaper, and sports teams for teens. They can also be enrolled in five new boarding schools to fit their interests, which can set them up for careers through skill building.
3 The Sims 3: Pets
Compared to other animal expansions in the franchise, The Sims 3: Pets was by far the most ambitious due to its inclusion of horses. Not only could Sims look after them as pets, but they could ride them around the open world, enter them into racing and jumping competitions, and sell them for a profit. And like in The Sims 2: Pets, animals are controllable, meaning horses can get up to a lot of mischief.
Aside from the animals Sims can own, the new world of Appaloosa Plains is populated with herds of wild horses that Sims can tame, in addition to unicorns. Deer and raccoons also inhabit the world (which Sims can pet), much like foxes and rabbits in The Sims 4: Cottage Living.
2 The Sims 4: Cottage Living
While The Sims 4 has yet to reintroduce horses, Cottage Living allowed players to farm animals for the first time in the franchise. Now Sims can keep cows, chickens, and llamas, sell their produce, and bond with the animals as an extension of The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs. The game also comes with the unique, English-inspired village Henford-on-Bagley. It’s the most unique neighborhood in the game, whereby Sims can hang out at the local pub, explore the local woodland, visit the village market, and even run errands for other Sims.
Henford-on-Bagley also has its fair share of wildlife roaming the countryside, including foxes, rabbits, and birds. And if Sims living the rural life befriend the rabbits and birds, they can help with chores around their farms or gardens in addition to giving adorable gifts.
1 The Sims 4: Growing Together
Mechanics from The Sims 2 returned in The Sims 4: Growing Together, making relationships and family dynamics between Sims feel more realistic. While this is something many fans wished was introduced into the base game, it’s a breath of fresh air to see Sims have deeper connections with each other. Growing Together also reintroduces the memory mechanic, making legacy gameplay more impactful. Milestones have a lot more weight, with the introduction of firsts for the new infant life state as well as kids losing their baby teeth.
While infants have also been implemented through the base game via an update, Growing Together focuses more on the new life state with objects like playpens, baby gates, and changing tables. Adult Sims can now carry babies around in carriers, in addition to a lot more social interactions, which makes the babies and infants feel less like objects – particularly with the new behaviors for infants, which develop over time as they grow. Growing Together may not have the same impact as Generations did in The Sims 3, but it’s a step in the right direction for The Sims 4.