Comparison between The Sims 2 and The Sims 3

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The Sims 3 is based on The Sims original base game and The Sims 2 original base game, and therefore contains many of the same features.

Completely new features

These features in The Sims 3 base game have not existed in any game in The Sims series before:

  • Seamless neighborhood
    • Bicycles
    • Time passes on all lots on the same time - in The Sims 2 it was frozen on the home lot as long as Sims visited community lots. To avoid exploitation of this, Sims could not learn skills, or sleep, in community lots. In The Sims 3, Sims can do almost everything regardless of where they are.
    • Ability to visit other homes
    • Story progression - non-active households evolve during gameplay (can turn on or off)
  • Create-A-Sim features:
  • Traits
  • Moodlets
  • Favorites
  • Create-A-Style
  • Ability to adjust lifespan
    • Ability to turn off aging (possible through cheats in The Sims 2)
  • New skills: (Guitar, Painting and Writing)
  • New music
  • Skill challenges
  • "Rabbit holes" - elementary, opaque civic buildings
  • Opportunities
  • Enhanced job features
    • Job performance options
    • Dynamic performance criteria (skills, co-workers, assignments)
    • Raises

In expansion packs

The Sims 2 expansion features in The Sims 3 base game

Many features introduced in The Sims 2 expansions appear in The Sims 3 base game, to some extent.

Lost features

These game features were found in The Sims 2 base game but not in The Sims 3.

Lost skills

Lost NPCs

NPCs that were in The Sims 2 base game, but not in The Sims 3.

Lost objects

These objects (with unique interactions) were found in The Sims 2 base game but not The Sims 3 base game:

  • Retail objects - cash register, shelves, etc.: Cash registers are added in WA for markets and stores:Shelves are added in Ambitions for the cosignment store (but they are only for decoration).
  • Farstar e3 Telescope - the simple telescope remains
  • Specialised weight machines - the game now has only one combined weight machine.
  • Magazines to change interests - though there are non-interactive "decor" magazines.
  • Wedding arch

Changes in Animations

See also