Sims 1 to Sims 4

The Sims 1
The Sims is the first game in the series. Developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, it was released for Microsoft Windows in February 2000. The game uses isometric projection and features open-ended simulation of the daily activities of one or more virtual persons ("Sims") in a suburban area near SimCity. Seven expansion packs and two bonafide deluxe editions with exclusive content have been released for this game. It was repackaged in several different formats and different versions of it were released on several different platforms. By March 22, 2002, The Sims had sold more than 11.3 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling P.C. game in history, surpassing Myst.[4]The original game, all seven expansion packs, and the two exclusive deluxe edition content packs constitute the first generation of the series on the PC. All PC releases in this generation were developed by Maxis.

The Sims 2
Electronic Arts released The Sims 2 on September 14, 2004. The sequel, developed by Maxis, takes place in a full 3D environment as opposed to the dimetric projection of the original game. Sims also age through six life stages from infancy to old age and subsequent death. Another major feature is the aspiration system. Each sim exhibits wants and fears according to their aspiration and personality. Consequently, the level of the aspiration meter determines the effectiveness of a sim at completing tasks. Aspiration points are acquired through the fulfillment of wants, which could, in turn, be used to purchase aspiration rewards. In addition, the game features clear days of the week with weekends when children can stay home from school, vacation days when adults can take time off work.

The Sims 2 is set some 25 years after the original game. For instance, the Goth family has aged significantly with Bella Goth mysteriously vanishing "dying" in the 25-year period. Because the entire game has progressed from 2D sprites to 3D models, all content in The Sims 2 had to be created from the ground up. Due to this, The Sims 2 was not made backwards-compatible with any content from the first generation of the main series. However, some objects and features from the original series were remade for this sequel.

Electronic Arts released eight expansion packs and nine stuff packs for The Sims 2. Over 400 exclusive items were also released for this game via The Sims 2 Store. In addition, exclusive items including pre-order items were released over the life cycle of this generation. All of these releases constitute the second generation of the main series.

The Sims Studio was created in 2006, and between then and 2008 the development of the franchise was slowly handed over to the new studio from Maxis, with the former studio now focusing its resources on its next project — Spore.

The Sims 3
Electronic Arts released The Sims 3 to retailers worldwide and available by digital download on June 2, 2009.[5] The sequel, developed by The Sims Studio, was announced by EA in November 2006. The game is set 25 years prior the original game, and features an open, seamless neighborhood, improved tools for sim creation, enhanced build and buy mode functions, and the introduction of wishes and goals. The game also introduces a new form of directed gameplay through small, step-wise goals presented as opportunities which the player may choose to pursue or refuse. The Sims 3 sold 1.4 million copies in the first week, making it the largest release in PC gaming history at the time.[6] The game has sold over 10 million copies worldwide since its release.

EA announced on April 8, 2009 that Will Wright, who designed the original game, had left Maxis to run Stupid Fun Club, an entertainment development studio founded in 2001 to develop "new intellectual properties to be deployed across multiple fronts including video games, movies, television, the Internet and toys".[7]

In 2013, an EA restructure saw The Sims Studio reintegrated with the revitalized EA Maxis label, and since the 9th expansion of The Sims 3, University Life, which was released in March 2013, the Sims franchise was back in development control of EA Maxis, including expansion packs and new developments, with The Sims Studio operating inside EA Maxis.

Eleven expansion packs and nine stuff packs have been released for the third generation of the series. In addition, many items are available online for additional fees at The Sims 3 Store. The core game and its associated releases constitute the third generation of the main series.

The Sims 4

Electronic Arts officially announced The Sims 4 on May 6, 2013.[8] At the time of the first announcement, there was little information available about the game short of a logo, some concept art and promotional trailers published to YouTube on August 20, 2013. The announcement did include that the game was in development by EA Maxis, including the Sims Studio teams.

Later on in 2014, further details on features and gameplay were announced. A release date of September 2, 2014 was announced at E3 2014.

One game pack and one expansion pack has been released for the fourth generation of the series. Updates have added content that was previously absent due to time restraints or other reasons, such as basements, ghosts and pools. New careers have also been added.

The expansion pack was released on March 31, 2015.

Been simming since the Sims 2... really great to see a full history of the Sims games! I knew about certain iconic families like the Goths, but didn't fully understand the time differences between the games. Thanks for this cool post!

According to wikipedia, Thesims2 is still the best seller in the series, and in my opnion is the best game as well, but thesims4 shows great potential.

Just thought this post would be good that's why i done it

I have been a simmer since the Sims 1, when I was like 4 years old. No joke. XD

I did not play Thesims1 first, i wanted my parents to buy it once but my father said "It aint a game for Kids"...well, he was not exacly wrong.. but anyway, later i conviced him to buy ThesimsPetStories and later Thesims2 . For some reason ThesimsStories had a lower age rating than Thesims2 despiste having the same "Older-aging" content here in Brazil, wich gave me an edge into convincing him. I did read a lot about it trough, it did sound like a very funny and challenging game, due to it chaotic nature.

I started Playing Sims on console not very good as you can't add CC or anything like that then got Sims 2 on Laptop i just got addicted

I have been simming since sims 1. I was addicted from there and have had every one but sims 3. I skipped that one out because I didn't have a laptop when it was out.

You only missed a huge headache

oh, glad I didn't get it then, I was going to download it but I think I will give it a miss.

I loved Sims 2, sims 3 was a piece of crap and I wish I never wasted money on it. Sims 4 reminds me of sims 2 with better game play. I Did enjoy having a business in sims 2, it's great they brought that feature back.

I've been simming since Sims 2, I love Sims 4. Compared to older versions it feels so much less static and the build mode is so much easier...remember the hassle of trying to build basements in Sims 2? I haven't got the expansion packs yet but I am loving the new base game.

I have heard a lot of things about sims 3 so im downloading it just to see what its like

I was in High School when The Sims came out and my sister and I bought it. We LOVED the game and would spend hours making the perfect house, sims, life! Haha anyways, my crazy mother hated that we spent time playing a computer game and would constantly go into the computer and UNINSTALL EVERYTHING! Ahhh! The whore! lol
I still remember the pain of spending hours re-installing all the expansion packs when she wasn't home, then finding out days later everything was gone again. Haha talk about a struggle

After reading the previous comments, I think I may be one of the oldest people here! hahaha

I currently play Sims 4, and I LOOOONG for Sims 2/3! I miss the world map situation SO MUCH! My sims never go out anywhere anymore because it takes too dang long, stupid loading screens. Also, I realllly miss toddlers
If I had loose money hanging around I'd buy all the Sims3 games and switch to playing that again.

Also...am I the only person that misses the importance of a smooth flowing house from the first game? Your house was judged on how fluid it was, well planned out so to speak (it was intended to be an architectural game in the beginning) and I really miss that aspect of gameplay.

I've been playing since Sims 1..still love it. Feels great to have been in it for the whole ride, watching it grow and everything. And whenever I see old characters return, I get so excited.