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The Sims is one of the greatest life simulation games of all time. The legendary series propelled Maxis' popularity to new heights, with each and every Sims game being beloved — and purchased — by many. The evolution of the series was appreciated by many, who lauded the lengths that Maxis went to revolutionize the gameplay and modernize the titles for a new generation of gamers.
That being said, there are several tropes surrounding the series that have faded into obscurity over The Sims' lifetime. Fans have mixed opinions when it comes to the absence of the following tropes. Some find the new gameplay innovations to be a welcome compromise, while other fans lament the loss of these classic tropes that added to the allure of The Sims.
10 The Inclusion Of Celebrities
One of the most memorable easter eggs in gaming history comes from the first Sims title. If players ended up throwing an especially wild party, it was possible that Drew Carey himself would join the fray as well!
This was a great secret that players could uncover, but hasn't been replicated since in the series. It's a shame, since more players would appreciate such clever inclusions in their favorite franchise.
9 An Open World
Sims 3 revolutionized the series by integrating an open world where gamers could play around with their Sims. It was easily one of the best aspects of the third title; however, was removed in The Sims 4 for unknown reasons.
This is one of the major reasons that many players were dissatisfied after the release of The Sims 4. To this day, fans still complain about this disappointing exclusion, and are hoping that The Sims 5 will bring this beloved open world back.
8 Hard-As-Nails Gameplay
The original Sims was a groundbreaking title in every sense of the word. It was also extremely challenging, with the mere act of keeping a Sims' needs up taking up the bulk of a player's game time.
Later games have eased up on this difficulty, which was welcomed by most fans. Of course, there were some fans of the series who wanted the gameplay of later games to be slightly more challenging. However, the majority appreciated the decrease in difficulty, as it allowed them to explore more of the game's features.
7 Zodiac Signs Based On A Sim's Personality
Zodiac signs were one of the most interesting aspects of The Sims, with the first two games in the series being heavily influenced by this system. The Sims 3 brought this system back in some capacity, albeit with minor gameplay changes.
However, Sims 4 decided to completely do away with the concept of zodiac signs. Some fans were disappointed with this, as the zodiac signs added to the life simulation gameplay of this series. Their absence in The Sims 4 was sorely felt by many.
6 Chemistry Dictating The Success Of A Relationship
The Sims and The Sims 2 featured an intricate chemistry system that governed what kind of Sims would be attracted to each other. It was an ingenious way to inject more life and personality into romantic interactions in The Sims.
While remnants of this system existed in The Sims 3, the latest game has removed any semblance of this mechanic. Now, there's no stopping players from matching two random Sims together without a care in the world.
5 Interactable Cars
Cars and other such vehicles were easily one of the most interesting aspects of previous Sims titles. Interacting with these cars in various capacities was easily one of the highlights of the games at one point.
So, it's easy to see why players were vocally against the removal of these cars in The Sims 4. It's easily one of the most disappointing exclusions in the game, and players can only hope that future expansions will bring these cars back into the fold.
4 Commonplace Crime
Burglars were one of the most iconic parts of The Sims franchise. Hearing that iconic alarm sound play every single time a burglar invaded the house of a Sim was one of the eeriest parts of the games.
However, The Sims 4 removed any concept of crime from the game altogether. Burglars, police officers, and burglar alarms are completely removed from the game. The Get To Work expansion introduced a career as a police officer, but police and criminal Sims are still nowhere to be found in everyday gameplay.
3 Sims With Their Own Personal Backstories
Players who appreciate a bit of on-the-nose storytelling in their playthrough of The Sims loved reading both the household and personal biographies present in the game. It allowed for some excellent storytelling opportunities, with players being able to craft new bios of their own as well.
Unfortunately, The Sims 4 turned out to be a bit of a party pooper, by removing any individual biographies. Now, players can only check out household biographies instead, which is rather disappointing.
2 Relationships With More Character
Love is easily one of the biggest parts of The Sims, with players getting addicted to the idea of making their Sims fall head-over-heels for someone and starting a family with them. The first three games were great in showing this love, with the fourth game not falling too far behind in that regard either.
However, there are minor exclusions in The Sims 4 that take away from some of the immersive elements of these romances. A lack of proper slow dancing and cuddling are just some of the many omissions from Sims 4.
1 Greater Freedom While Building
Any player who wants to flex their creative muscles in The Sims is able to do so with the games' building mechanics. Building a ton of lots from the ground up is easily one of the most fun parts of the game for many players.
However, The Sims 4 does take away a ton of mechanics that players loved messing around with in these building modes. The lack of a Create-A-Style feature and the inability to construct new worlds from the ground up are some of the biggest things missing from the game. The latest game has more restrictions and structure, as opposed to older games with boundless freedom.