The Sims vs The Sims 4
The Sims is a simulation game from Maxis (2000) while The Sims 4 is a sandbox simulation game from Maxis (2014).
Quick answer: The Sims has the higher Metacritic, 92 to 70.
The Sims
What each one is
The Sims is filed under Simulation. In contrast, The Sims 4 under Sandbox and Simulation.
The Sims is a 2000 social simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Designed by Will Wright, the game allows players to create and control virtual people called Sims, build and furnish homes, and manage the Sims' needs, relationships, careers, and household finances. Its open-ended gameplay has no fixed win condition.
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more.
Story, characters and reception
Reception
Critical reception Reception The Sims received "universal acclaim" according to review aggregator Metacritic , which assigned the game a score of 92/100. The game received praise for its open-ended gameplay allowing players to choose their own goals and objectives, as well as its sound design, "crisp" graphics, and humor. Reviewers positively compared The Sims to Maxis' 1999 title SimCity 3000 . (Wikipedia)
Reception
Missing features controversy In the months leading up to the game's release in September 2014, Maxis revealed that several key gameplay features present in previous The Sims titles, such as swimming pools and toddler Sims, would be absent from The Sims 4 . Additionally, the open worlds and the "Create-a-Style" color customization gameplay technologies introduced in The Sims 3 would also be absent from the game. These announcements sparked backlash from… (Wikipedia)
At a glance
| The Sims | The Sims 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| GamingPickz Score | — | 7.8/10 |
| Steam rating | — | Very Positive (86%, 199,663) |
| Critic aggregate | 92/100 | 70/100 |
| Price | Unknown | Free |
| Install size | — | 26 GB |
| Steam Deck | Untested | playable |
| Released | 2000 | 2014 |
| Developer | Maxis | Maxis |
Prices and Steam ratings are read live and move over time.
The Sims vs The Sims 4, point by point
Each facet side by side. A round is marked won only where a figure settles it; feel and "which is better" carry no mark, because no number we hold decides them.
Genre and premise
The SimsSimulation gameThe Sims 4Sandbox simulation gameWhat each is filed as. Each game describes itself in full above; we do not judge a premise.
How it plays
The SimsNo descriptive tagsThe Sims 4Life Sim, Character Customization, Free to PlayThe tags players apply most, in order of votes. A read on feel, not a verdict.
Reception
The Sims ✓Metacritic 92The Sims 4Metacritic 70Metacritic's critic aggregate, from the game's Wikipedia reception where it was never on Steam.
Content and scale
The Sims—The Sims 4199,663 reviews · 114 add-ons · 26 GBReach and footprint, not quality: more reviews or a bigger install is not a better game.
Price
The SimsUnknownThe Sims 4FreeRead live from Steam and subject to change.
The Sims takes 1 of the marked rounds to 0. That is only what a number can decide, not which you will enjoy more.
Which to pick, by what you want
- The better reviewed of the two: The Sims (Metacritic 92)
Where they differ
Life SimCharacter CustomizationFree to PlayBuildingRomanceSimulation
Tags players apply to one game and not the other.
Difficulty and who each is for
By the tags players apply, The Sims is middle-of-the-road on difficulty. The Sims 4 is relaxed, easy to pick up.
System requirements, side by side
| The Sims | The Sims 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum GPU | — | — |
| Minimum CPU | — | — |
| Minimum RAM | — | 4 GB |
| Install size | — | 26 GB |
Can your PC run them? Check each against your own kit: The Sims · The Sims 4.
Accessibility features
Steam store pages declare 0 accessibility features for The Sims and 5 for The Sims 4. A declaration is a floor, not a review.
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Common questions
How different are The Sims and The Sims 4 in scope?
The Sims lists little scope data. The Sims 4 has drawn 199,663 Steam reviews, ships 114 add-ons and installs in 26 GB.
Is The Sims or The Sims 4 better?
Neither carries enough reviews for us to score it reliably, so we do not call a winner. The table above shows what each does have.
Which is cheaper, The Sims or The Sims 4?
One or both do not have a current listed price, so a straight comparison is not possible. See the table above.
Should I get The Sims or The Sims 4?
The Sims has the higher Metacritic, 92 to 70. It also depends on what you want: the "which to pick" section above calls out which is cheaper, lighter on storage, better on a Steam Deck and the safer bet by weight of reviews.
Do you rank one above the other for a fee?
No. Neither game, nor anyone else, pays for placement or a verdict here. The order and every figure come out of the same public data the rest of the site uses.
Related comparisons
How we compare, and what we will not do
The GamingPickz Score is a composite of player sentiment (adjusted for sample size), the critic aggregate and popularity, computed by the same code every ranked list on this site uses. The Steam rating label is Valve's own, reconstructed from the positive percentage and review count. Prices are read live. We do not write an opinion of which game is "better": we report the numbers and say which wins each measurable question above.