Death

Death is the permanent state of (non-)existence in which a previously living Sim, pet, or other creature ceases to live. Causes of death can range from old age (brought on by reaching the end of the elder life stage) accident, player neglect, or through the deliberate choice(s) of the player.

Although death is typically a state of absolute finality, there are several ways in which the dead may still be interacted with or even brought back to life. The spirits of dead Sims are often left to roam the world as ghosts, and there exist several legitimate (i.e. in-game) and illegitimate (i.e. cheating) methods to revive ghosts.

Grim Reaper
The Sim that has died is visited by the anthropomorphic personification of Death in the form of the Grim Reaper. However, the Grim Reaper does not come when a Sim is eaten by the Cowplant from The Sims 2: University, when a Toadified Sim is eaten by a dragon in The Sims: Makin' Magic and if a Sim dies in a Skydiving Simulator in The Sims: Superstar. In The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, the Grim Reaper plays a cameo depending on the method of death and the aspiration level of the Sim in question.

Unlike most legends of the Grim Reaper, he seems to be a kind being in The Sims series. His personality is perhaps a reference to the personified Death character in Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" novels. His nice side shows when a Sim with a full aspiration bar dies of old age, during the animation of a pet's death, or resurrecting kids with the Resurrect-O-Nomitron.

In The Sims Livin' Large and The Sims 2, if there is a living Sim on the lot, they can plead with the Grim Reaper for their loved one. However, it doesn't always work. The chances of success are determined by the relationship of the Sim with the nearly deceased, and pure chance. In The Sims, the Grim Reaper may be in a bad mood, and bring the deceased Sim back as a zombie. In The Sims and The Sims 2, it may not be possible to plead for a drowned Sim, as living Sims will not be able to get to the Grim Reaper if he is out in the water. However, if The Sims 2: Apartment Life is installed, an infallibly good witch or warlock with 9 or more magic skill can use the spell "Expello Mortis", which will reach further out, though it will not be able to reach the middle of a very large pool. Also, in The Sims 2: FreeTime, if the deceased Sim ever summoned a Genie and successfully wished to cheat death, he can plead for his own life even if he's in the middle of the pool.

In The Sims 3, depending on the how happy the Sim was when they died, they can beg for their life. Also, when the Grim Reaper arrives, somewhat "scary" music will play.

In The Sims 2: Pets, there is a different animation for pets that die.

Reviving
Death, however, isn't always permanent. With a wide range of items and/or cheats, a Sim can be given a second chance in life.

The Sims

 * In The Sims: Unleashed, a Sim can go to Old Town and ask Miss Lucille to revive a zombie family member (human or pet); however, she cannot resurrect dead ones.

The Sims 2

 * In The Sims 2: University, there is a special item, the Resurrect-O-Nomitron, which can restore Sims — for a hefty fee of up to §10,000. If the Sim who wants to bring another Sim back pays very little, the Sim will return as a zombie, with a set personality and possibly fewer (or no) skills. Children will be resurrected perfectly regardless of the amount of money paid. Female zombies are also infertile and can no longer have babies without the use of cheats.
 * In The Sims 2: FreeTime, A Sim can be revived with a Genie and his lamp, but if the wish fails, the Sim will be resurrected as a zombie. Also, a Sim can wish for the ability to cheat death. Whenever a Sim who has successfully made this wish dies, he/she will plead for him/herself, and if the plea is successful, he/she will be alive again. (A Sim who died of old age will get an extra day). It isn't the best idea to wish to bring them back to life on their first day, as the chances of making a zombie is higher.
 * In The Sims 2: Apartment Life, an evil witch can revive a Sim as a zombie by casting the Vivificus Zombiae spell at that Sim's urn or tombstone.
 * In The Sims 2 Castaway, a potion called the Death Daisy Potion can be crafted.
 * In The Sims 2 for consoles, the ghost player can challenge the Grim Reaper to a fiddle contest. If the Sim wins, he will be revived. Or, if the player wishes not to, the ghost player can pay §100 to be resurrected.

The Sims 3

 * In The Sims 3, there is a special plant called a Death Flower. If a Sim is carrying this flower in his/her inventory at the time of their death, when the Grim Reaper shows up, the ghost will offer him the flower. Seemingly deeply moved by this gesture, the Grim Reaper will proceed to instantly resurrect the Sim. A Sim can be resurrected once for every Death Flower in his inventory. However, it seems that the Sim in question will suffer from any lowered motives, just to a lesser degree, so it is incredibly important to use this second chance to raise these motives before the Sim dies again.
 * A patch in The Sims 3 makes it possible for a Sim with high Logic skill to play chess for the dead Sim's life . Since chess is a hidden secret skill, that Sim's chances of winning are higher the more practice he or she has. This only works if the death was accidental; it will not help Sims who died of old age.
 * The Grim Reaper will not take the lives of Sims with the Loser or Unlucky traits if they died prematurely, claiming that their demise was too amusing and predictable. Sims with either of these traits can only die from old age.
 * By cooking Ambrosia, a ghost Sim can be brought back to life once he/she eats it.
 * In The Sims 3, there is a way to revive a Sim as a ghost, by using a science experiment. After the opportunity is completed, more Sims can be revived for §5,000 per Sim.
 * In The Sims 3: Showtime, a Sim or pet can be resurrected by making a wish to a Genie.
 * In The Sims 3: Supernatural, a witch can cast the reanimation ritual to bring them back as a zombie.
 * In The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 Pets for console, players can resurrect a ghost with the Divine Intervention Karma power.
 * In The Sims 3 Pets for console, if a Sim dies from an accident (or form a karma power such as getting hit with a meteor strike) their dog can harass death and resurrect the dead Sim. Upon revival, the dog will lick the Sim and they will go and play. This only works if the dog was around when the death occurred.

Intentional Death
Players can utilize various cheats, objects or game features to intentionally kill a Sim. This may be done for multiple reasons. Ways include:
 * Using Rodney's Death Creator to kill Sims in various ways.
 * Using the testingcheatsenabled cheat to lower a Sim's hunger need, thus starving them to death.
 * Trapping a Sim in a pool by removing all pool ladders or by building a wall around the pool, preventing the Sim from exiting the pool when their motives drop too low, or forcing a Sim to swim when they're fatigued from exercise. Eventually, the Sim trapped in the pool will drown.
 * Trapping a Sim in a room, then by some means starting a fire in that room. (i.e. a fireplace or fireworks)
 * Using cheats to trigger aging in an Elderly Sim in The Sims 2 and The Sims 3; since Elder is the oldest life stage, getting older than this results in death.
 * Having a Sim with low mechanical/handiness skill repair any electrical appliance or having any Sim repair an electrical appliance while standing in a puddle of water may electrocute that Sim.
 * Having a Sim with no or low mechanical skill repairing a flat screen TV will instantly kill the Sim.
 * Using testingcheatsenabled true you give your Sims the death token so that they'll become a deceased ghost when you next boot up the game.

The Sims

 * Disease
 * Drowning
 * Eaten as a toad
 * Electrocution
 * Fire
 * Fright
 * Starvation
 * Skydive Simulator

The Sims 2

 * Coffin scare
 * Cowplant
 * Disease
 * Drowning
 * Electrocution
 * Fire
 * Flies
 * Fright
 * Hail


 * Lightning
 * Murphy bed
 * Old age
 * Satellite
 * Rally forth
 * Scissors
 * Starvation
 * Sunlight
 * Wishing well

The Sims 3

 * Blunt Force Trauma
 * Buried Alive
 * Cowplant
 * Dehydration
 * Drowning
 * Electrocution
 * Fire
 * Freezing
 * Haunting Curse
 * Jelly bean
 * Lightning


 * Meteor
 * Mummy's Curse
 * Old age
 * Ranting
 * Running out of Air
 * Shark Attack
 * Starvation
 * Thirst
 * Transmutation
 * Watery Grave

Trivia

 * If a Sim starves while scuba diving, he/she will still be treated as if he/she died by running out of air.
 * If a Sim dies by Mummy's curse while scuba diving, he/she will be treated as if he/she died on land, and his/her ghost will be invisible until he/she jumps into his grave. After that, the Grim Reaper will stay stuck standing on the bottom of the sea forever.