The Sims, the popular life simulation RPG turns 20 today, as fans look back on two decades of the franchise.
On 31 January 2000, EA and Maxis released a life simulation game called “The Sims”.
It was a “sandbox game”, with no real objectives and near infinite different things to do.
Players could make their characters simulate daily activities in a suburban area.
Procrastinate on your real life chores by doing the exact same chores in a video game? Count me in.
Many people saw the appeal of that game, as it quickly became a bestseller, selling more than 1.77 million copies and earning $72.9 billion in 2000 alone.
EA didn’t let the game stagnate. With sequel after sequel, and countless DLC and expansion packs, they gave their loyal fan base plenty of content to keep them hooked, while earning over $5 billion in the process.
As the game turns 20 today, fans took the opportunity to look back on the game and revisit their favourite memories.
One person tweeted: “I can't believe The Sims is 20”, while another user commented, “Man, The Sims is 20 years old. I was 5 in 2000 and I know my sister n I got it pretty soon after it came out. I've been obsessed with this game for two whole decades..."
Meanwhile, one joked: “The Sims is turning 20 today and it's Brexit day too so it's all come together in an extremely poetic gif”, alongside a GIF of a burning building in the game.
Whether its new players who are discovering the franchise through Sims 4, or they are veterans who have been living out their fantasies since the turn of the millenium, Sims’s greatest strength is that it had something for everyone.
EA continues to update its most recent title, Sims 4, with new content to keep players engaged.
A recent update added the popular internet icon baby Yoda to the game, delighting both Disney fans and Sims fans alike.
