The Sims has been a beloved game series and leader in the simulation genre for over two decades, with 2014’s The Sims 4 being the latest installment. Despite its popularity, The Sims 4 era has not been without its shortcomings, and players have long been looking ahead to The Sims 5 with a wishlist of features they want to see in the next game. While The Sims 4 was a massive success in many regards, dedicated fans of the series found several issues with it that need to be addressed in the next title to avoid franchise fatigue.
One of the major complaints from players is that they have had to repurchase the same expansion packs with each new installment of The Sims. Some core expansion features should be included in the base game for longtime fans to be respected. Without these features, players are almost guaranteed to feel like they are downgrading to a bare-bones version in terms of gameplay. The Sims 5 should feature a richer base game, along with incorporating some completely new aspects to freshen up the formula.
The Sims 5 Needs Typical Expansion Content in the Base Game
One major criticism of The Sims 4 has been the rehashing of expansion packs from previous games, so The Sims 5 launching with several staple features from past titles would truly cement itself as the next step in the franchise. For example, Sims 3: Pets was recycled in Sims 4: Cats & Dogs, or Sims 4: Seasons with Sims 3: Seasons, but both of these iconic expansion packs should be core features of The Sims 5 base game.
Sims should regain the depth of elements such as cars, social media, laundry, businesses, negative events like burglars, and even the iconic supernatural elements of The Sims. Reverting on these additions could make The Sims 5 feel like a downgrade. There are also major features from The Sims 2 that fans have been wanting to return for years, including the ability to create worlds and apartments from scratch, and an open world where the player takes direct control of their Sims.
Sims 5 Can Become More Mature
The Sims 5 also has a need to push the series forward through incorporating brand-new features that players have wanted for years. Players would love to have more control over their Sims on a physiological and psychological level. In Create-A-Sim, being able to control the height and build of their Sims in greater detail, along with having more options regarding a Sim’s mental state would go a long way with bringing the player closer to the experience. Combining this level of control with potential series innovations like cutscenes and more detailed settings could make this the most immersive The Sims to date.
Many longtime fans of The Sims have grown up with the series and become mature adults. One decision that would be guaranteed to reinvigorate The Sims forever would be to honor the older fanbase by making a more mature Sims experience. The Sims 4 was criticized for its mild art style and approach to adult life, as many of the fans had been around since The Sims 2 by then. By including more death conditions, more Woohoo and pregnancy mechanics, and even random tragic events, The Sims 5 could provide what fans have only seen before in mods. By including detailed settings for mature content, all of these controversial aspects would also remain optional.
With The Sims 5 officially on the horizon, it remains to be seen if it will surpass the massive depth of The Sims 4 and its expansions. Including features like pets and businesses from the start, along with acknowledging the mature fanbase would bring the series to a new level of immersion. Fans would be smart to keep tempered hopes about the infamously DLC heavy simulation games, but The Sims 5 can still bring players a richer life sim than ever.
The Sims 5 is currently in development.