Your data. Your choice.

If you select «Essential cookies only», we’ll use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about your device and how you use our website. We need this information to allow you to log in securely and use basic functions such as the shopping cart.

By accepting all cookies, you’re allowing us to use this data to show you personalised offers, improve our website, and display targeted adverts on our website and on other websites or apps. Some data may also be shared with third parties and advertising partners as part of this process.

Michelle Brändle
Background information

Join me on a trip down memory lane for The Sims’ 25th anniversary

Michelle Brändle
4.2.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin

Life simulation game The Sims has now been around for a quarter of a century. The first game, released by EA on 4 February 2000, went on to develop a huge fanbase. In honour of its 25th birthday, I’m taking a stroll down memory lane.

From simple family life to world domination as a vampire, anything’s possible in The Sims. Personally, I preferred using my own in-game time to focus on art, architecture and interior design – things that would later become my real-life goals.

I’m still pining for my unforgettable career as a rockstar in The Sims 3. Then there was that Sims 2 Mafia game on the Game Boy Advance that nobody could wrap their heads around. But let’s start at the very beginning.

The Sims: how it all began

Being the tender age of five when The Sims was released in 2000, I missed the early days of the game. In launching it, Electronic Arts laid the foundation for a franchise.

The Sims is a life simulation game. Players control all the actions and decisions of the game’s characters (Sims). You start off by choosing a ready-made family or creating your own characters. In the first game, these are limited to children and adults.

You then set up your family with a house, give the Sims stuff to do and take care of their well-being. The aim of the game is to build and furnish more houses, make friends with Sims from the neighbourhood and earn money. Friendships can blossom into love affairs or even marriage.

When two Sims fall in love, it results in a baby. This can grow into a child, but never an adult. Adult Sims never age either. Besides that, there are tons of ways to keep your Sim busy in the first version of the game, including leisurely gardening, raging parties and spontaneously bursting into flames. Sims’ penchant for setting themselves on fire later became a running joke about the series.

The Sims 2 was my ticket to SimNation

By the time The Sims 2 came out in 2004, I was finally old enough to use a mouse and install the game on my computer via CD-ROM. It was initially only available on Windows and Macintosh. In a bid to rekindle those old memories, I’ve reinstalled the game.

My PC-based Sims career was in no way restricted to the base game. I was constantly asking for newly released expansion packs for birthdays and Christmases. The first one (The Sims 2 University) added a new life stage to the previous line-up of baby, infant, child, teen, adult and elder: young adult.

For the right price, you could even bribe the Grim Reaper to bring you back from the grave. But what if you didn’t have the cash? Was your Sim doomed to become a rotting zombie? Not if you knew the magic word «motherlode». With this valuable cheat, you could bank 50,000 Simoleons (the currency used in The Sims).

Career-wise, I was finally able to embark on an illustrious life as a penniless artist. The more charisma points I gained, the more beautiful my pictures became. Thankfully, my trusty cheat code meant I could afford plenty of canvasses. Still too young at that point to afford the real thing, the game gave me the chance to finally treat myself to a mobile phone and an MP3 player.

The Sims Exchange sees the creation of online stores

Alongside expansion packs boasting new features, neighbourhoods and career opportunities, EA released accessory packs for the game. Depending on the version, these included clothes (H&M fashion accessories) or furniture (Ikea home accessories). The H&M one also gave you the chance to run your own boutique and make your Sims strut their stuff on the catwalk.

Simlish: a unique language complete with famous song covers

As well as a unique language, The Sims also has some musical gems to offer. In addition to newly set acoustic songs, it also features tunes by well-known artists that have been re-recorded in Simlish. Some even include music videos recreated using Sims, such as this little Lily Allen number:

If you can’t get enough of that, there’s a brilliant Simlish playlist. Alternatively, you can give my own personal favourites a listen (listed with the expansion pack they’re featured in).

Sims spin-offs on consoles: more story, less creativity

In addition to the main Sims 1–4 games and expansions, there were also spin-offs for mobile phones, the iPod Touch and consoles such as the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PlayStation.

One memory of The Sims that has stuck with me to this day has very little connection to the actual life simulator. Yep, I’m talking about The Sims 2 for the Game Boy Advance. Back in the day, I even used to play the intro song on repeat. When you hear it, you’ll understand:

Is The Sims 4 where it all ends?

The latest instalment, The Sims 4, has been available to download for free on Steam since 2022. However, you still have to pay for bundles and expansions. Still, if you do, Electronic Arts regularly provides you with new events and seasonal content. EA’s even running a 25-hour livestream dedicated to The Sims for the big anniversary.

It’s unclear what the future holds for the franchise with the release of The Sims 5. EA unveiled a sneak preview of the game back in October 2022 under the name Project Rene. Rumours are now circulating on various gaming platforms that the project has been scrapped. Maybe the livestream will reveal some more information on that.

What are your funniest memories of The Sims? Got any random Sims facts or cool sites with expansions for the latest games you’d like to share?

Header image: Michelle Brändle

28 people like this article


User Avatar
User Avatar

In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee. 


Background information

Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.

Show all

These articles might also interest you

  • Background information

    Is Pokémon Legends Z-A the best Pokémon game we’ve seen in ages?

    by Domagoj Belancic

  • Background information

    I tried out Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo’s next major Switch game

    by Domagoj Belancic

  • Background information

    From Metal Gear to Death Stranding – how legendary developer Hideo Kojima got so popular

    by Cassie Mammone