Sims provided me with video game expansions and packs in exchange for including them in my gift guide. All opinions are my own.

I fell in love with the original Sims game as soon as I played it. I first played it at my cousin’s house, as they had a computer before we did. I don’t recall how old I was when we got our first computer at my house, or when I got the original sims game, but I remember playing it a lot. Then I remember Sims 2 coming out, and getting different expansion packs for it. It was one of my favorite ways to spend my time as a preteen and young teen. 

As a little girl, I loved playing “house” or “school” with other kids, and playing with dolls and acting like I was the mom and I had kids and a husband and so on. For me, Sims was a way of playing a similar game but in a less childlike way. I still enjoy playing sims now, at 32! I still primarily enjoy making families and making different career choices, making different friendships and so on. For me, it’s primarily a social game. 

The new sims 4 “for rent” expansion pack allows you to make lots that have multiple households. Think duplexes and apartment complexes! 

However, something I’ve realized over the years is that Sims has been a popular franchise at least in part because it can appeal to so many different types of gamers. While it’s primarily a social game for me, it can be primarily a design game for others. My younger sister has always liked to spend a lot of time editing the appearance of her sims, choosing their clothing, and so on. For her it’s a beauty and fashion based design game, in a sense.

Online, I’ve seen people share absolutely gorgeous homes that they have custom built in the sims. For them, it’s primarily an architecture-based game. They focus on getting their sims to make as much money as possible, so they can use that money to make mansions.  

I’ve talked to people whose favorite part of the sims was the paranormal characters. They have always loved playing in ways that bring in the Grim Reeper, or they like creating aliens, engaging with ghost sims, attempting to experience extraterrestrial encounters, etc.  

Sims has been around long enough now that a lot of adults loved Sims as a kid, and can introduce it to their children now, if they haven’t already! If you know a Sims lover in your life, buying them add-ons for sims would be an awesome gift. Plus, it’s perfect as a last minute gift because it’s simply a matter of buying a code to share with them. 

Sims outdoor retreat allows you to go camping with your sims, have campfires, and make exotic potions as a herbalist! 

The base game of Sims 4 is totally free on Steam, so PC players can play the basic game for free. There are TONS of expansion packs, stuff packs and other kits available. Someone would have to be a really dedicated Sims player to have everything. I had quite a lot of packs and kits myself, but I am excited to try out some of the new ones that Sims provided me with in exchange for this post. 

If you’re trying to decide what to get the Sims lover (or the kid you’re looking to introduce to Sims!) in your life, I’d recommend considering their play style. 

For people like me who like playing the game on a social level, packs and kits that focus on social elements are awesome. For example, I love the cats and dog expansion pack, My First Pet Stuff, toddler stuff, pet lovers bundle, and Parenthood packs as these add fun elements to having families and pets. I look forward to trying the poolside splash kit, wedding stories game pack, spa day game pack, fitness stuff, horse ranch expansion pack, discover university, high school years expansion pack, for rent expansion pack, and others that allow me to do more things with the families that I create. 

Sims pastel pop kit is a decor based kit that includes several pastel themed items, to create cute rooms like the one above. 

For people who are into designing their sims whether it’s through fashion or architecture, a lot of the stuff packs would make incredible gifts. Some of those include tiny living stuff, decorators dream bundle, dream home decorator pack, kids room stuff, perfect patio stuff, modern mensware kit, first fits kit, fashion street kit and more. 

The Werewolf game pack gives you the ability to create Werewolf characters along with some appearance and clothing based items that are werewolf related, and it includes some new items in build mode. 

For those who love the paranormal character play in Sims, consider getting them strangerville, werewolves game pack, realm of magic, spooky stuff, paranormal stuff pack, and more. 

Sims is also available on other game platforms, not just PC! So it’s a gift option for gamers who aren’t into PC gaming as well. 

Did you play Sims as a kid? Have you passed the love of Sims down to any of the children in your family? I’d love to hear what you love about it! 

Buy it: You can purchase Sims game expansions and other packs and kits on Steam for PC players, or on your console’s virtual store.

Emily

Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.

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