Death

Death is a state in which a Sim dies. Following Death, the sim that has experienced death is no longer controllable and automatically it'll switch to the next sim currently living on the lot. Death can occur from an accident to a predetermined fate made by the game and or player.

Grim Reaper
The Sim in question is visited by the anthropomorphic personification of the Grim Reaper who plays a cameo depending on the method of death and the aspiration level of the Sim in question. The exception to this is the Cowplant death



If there is a living Sim around they can plead for their loved one with the Grim Reaper but it doesn't always work. The chances of success are determined by the relationship of the Sim with the nearly deceased and pure chance.

There is a different animation for pets that die.

Unlike most legends of the Grim Reaper, he seems to be a kind being in the Sims, his nice side shows when a kind Sim dies of old age, or during the animation of a pets death.

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.

In The Sims 2: University there is a special item, the Resurrect-O-Nomitron, which can restore Sims but 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 reversed skills or none at all, except for children. You can also revive Sims in Apartment Life and FreeTime with a witches' spell, or by a Genie and his lamp, respectively.

Types of deaths
Sims can be killed in many ways including fire, shock, starvation, flies, being eaten by the cow plant and being scared to death.

The Sims

 * Starvation: If a Sim doesn't eat for a prolonged period of time (several days), they will starve.
 * Drowning: If a Sim uses a pool for much too long, they might drown (possibly even a little after leaving the pool), or swimming with low energy will also drown them.
 * Fire: When a Sim is caught on fire for a period of time, they will die by fire.
 * Electrocution: If your Sim isn't so good at Mechanical and tries to repair broken electric items or is struck by lightning, he/she may die.
 * Virus: After playing with a guinea pig from a dirty cage, the Sim may be infected by virus and will die if not treated well.

The Sims 2

 * Starvation: If a Sim doesn't eat for a prolonged period of time (several days), they will starve. However, babies, children and Toddlers will be taken away by the Social Worker instead if their hunger need is low enough for too long.
 * Fire: If a Sim with a low cooking skill cooks a meal there is a chance it will catch fire. Similarly, if the food is left in the oven by a careless Sim or, very probably, a Nanny, the food will also catch fire. If there is no fire alarm present it is up to the Sim to put out the fire. This can be done by calling the fire department or by clicking on the fire and choosing 'extinguish'. There is no way to buy a fire alarm during a fire, as build mode and buy mode are disabled. The longer a Sim is in proximity to the fire (and because all Sims are autonomously brought to the fire to insist the 'panic' action they will be) the greater the chance is that they will catch fire. When three of their motives are completely depleted the Sim will die. In Apartment Life, if a fire breaks out on an apartment lot, all household Sims venture out onto the street, thus, minimizing their chances of being burned. The chance of dying in a fire is also minimized if the Sim has finished studying about Fire Safety.
 * Drowning: If a Sim uses a pool without a pool ladder, they will eventually use up their energy and die.
 * Flies: If a lot is messy with many fly-infested objects, there is a chance all the lot flies could form a killer swarm when a Sim steps over a fly-infested object and eat the Sim alive.
 * Fright: If your Sim sees a ghost, his/her motives fall drastically. If the critical needs (hunger, energy, etc.) fall far enough, the Sim will die. However, a child cannot be killed by fright and will wet themselves instead.
 * Satellite: While watching clouds (daytime) or stargazing without the telescope (nighttime), there is a very remote chance that a satellite will fall on your Sim. The satellite can be sold in buy mode, but it devalues quickly, so waste no time, sell it right away.
 * Sickness: If your Sim gets ill and isn't cured on time, he/she may die, but usually if you let them relax, they will get better.
 * Electrocution: If your Sim isn't so good at Mechanical and tries to repair broken electric items or is struck by lightning, he/she may die; or if you are at a hot tub or a swimming pool when raining and a thunderstorm comes and your Sims low levels (4 needs low) your Sims will be struck and die!
 * Old age: When a Sim reaches the end of their life, they will die of old age. This is the only time in which a living Sim will not be able to plead with the Grim Reaper to bring the Sim back. If a Sim had a long and happy life in which he/she fulfilled many wants and desires, the Grim Reaper and 2 Hula zombies will appear and relaxing music will play. Your Sim will pick up his/her suitcase and walk off with the Grim Reaper. If your Sim had a disturbed or troubled life, where few wants were fulfilled or many bad things happened, the Grim Reaper will show your Sim its hourglass of life and your Sim will try and pull it away from the Grim Reaper.
 * Death for no reason: Some Sims die for no reason. This might happen because of a cheat like boolprop effects the game.
 * Devastating events/Sadness: There's a chance that Sims can die when he/she gets too many negative events happening suddenly. This happens when a Sim encounters too many negative events in a short period of time (e.g. Death of Relatives/Demoted at job). The Sim will start crying and thinks about one of the events and eventually die. Sims usually stop thinking about negative events that occurred to them after one day.
 * Scissors: If the player downloads the scissors from the maxis site and a Sim runs with them, there's a chance he may fall and get stabbed. (requires download at TheSims2.com)

The Sims 2: University

 * Cowplant: Available with The Sims 2: University only. If a Sim attempts to 'take the bait' the hungry Cowplant offers, they will be eaten alive.

The Sims 2: Nightlife

 * Sunlight: When a vampire Sim stays in the sunlight for too long, he or she will die.

The Sims 2: Open for Business

 * Rally forth: Doing the rally forth interaction while needs are low.
 * Elevators: If the elevator breaks down while Sims are in it, and their needs fail, then they will die.
 * Evil Kite: The kite was made poorly and may get hit by lightning, it works like the electrocution death. This will not kill children.

The Sims 2: Seasons

 * Freeze: If your Sim spends too much time outside in the winter, he or she will first freeze, and the longer they remain frozen, the worse they get. At the end, they die.
 * Heat: If your Sim spends too much time outside in the summer, they will spontaneously combust.
 * Hail: When at least 4 needs drop below 50% while standing in a hailstorm, and your Sim is pelted by hail too long, he/she will die.
 * Lightning: If lightning were to hit a Sim when he or she is using a hot tub/pool, he or she will die if your Sim is low in needs.
 * Sac of Money: If a Sim wishes for money from the wishing well and it fails, a sac of only §50 will fall on his/her head, and if their needs are too low, they will perish.

The Sims 2: Apartment Life

 * When opening the Murphy bed, if a Sim has less than 5 body skill and -70 or less mood, there is a 5% chance the it will fall on and crush your Sim.

Urns and Gravestones
An urn or gravestone appears on the lot when a Sim dies. An urn can be placed on the floor or on tables and counters. A gravestone can be placed on ground.

If a Sim had a long and happy life in which he/she fulfilled many wants and desires, a gold gravestone/urn will appear and if you look closely at the gold urn the dead Sim's aspiration symbol will be on it. If your Sim had a disturbed or troubled life, where few wants were fulfilled or many bad things happened, this will result in a gray gravestone/urn.

Sims can "Mourn" over graves or urns. With Nightlife, they can be moved to a community lot.