Comparison between The Sims base games: Difference between revisions

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{{Cleanup|Requires copyediting}}This is a four-way comparison of the 4 base games in The Sims series; ''[[The Sims]]'', ''[[The Sims 2]]'', ''[[The Sims 3]]'' and ''[[The Sims 4]]'', and does not include features included infrom [[Expansioncontent pack|expansion or stuff packs]]s unless otherwise stated.__FORCETOC__
 
==General & gameplay==
{| class="wikitable heading-blue zebra"
! style="width:2510%" |The Sims
! style="width:2520%" |The Sims 2
! style="width:2520%" |The Sims 32
! style="width:2520%" |The Sims 43
! style="width:20%" |The Sims 4
|-
!Release date
|Released February 4, 2000
|Released September 14, 2004
Line 12 ⟶ 15:
|Released September 2, 2014
|-
![[Content pack]] quantity
|7 [[Expansion Packs]], no Stuff Packs
|7 [[Expansion Packs]]
|8 Expansion Packs, 9 Stuff Packs
|11 Expansion Packs, 9 Stuff Packs
|110 Expansion PackPacks, 19 Game PackPacks, and no17 Stuff Packs, 1 Free Pack (so far)
|-
!'''[[Adoption]]'''
|Isometric perspective
|Adoption cannot be initiated; option to adopt only appears If there are at least two living adults, regardless of gender. Pets can either be purchased at 70 Elm Street in [[Old town]] or adopted by befriend them while they're Strays.
|Fully 3D
|Sims can initiate an adoption, but must have §3,000 on hand. Apart from gender, adopted child's age (from baby to child) and name can be given (If the adoption center hadn't taken any child from other household, otherwise the latest taken child will be dropped to the adopting family). The Child will be dropped at 10 AM in the morning after yesterday's call. Pets can be obtained by either adopting a [[stray]], purchasing from the [[pet display case]], or by creating them in [[CAS]] and merging them to an existing family.
|Fully 3D
|Similar to''The Sims 2''. Adoption no longer requirement for the adopting Sim to have eligible sum of funds.{{confirm}} The Player can now even pick the gender of the adoptee. Adoptive parents will get days off after adopting a baby. Just like in ''The Sims 2'', pets can be adopted or be put for adoption via phone or computer. Pets can also be adopted from residents{{confirm}}
|Fully 3D
|Adoption can be done over the phone or with a computer, and there is a fee of §1,000 per child. The player is given the option to adopt a child of any age instead of being forced to adopt a random orphan. Adopting a child that's been neglected by the same household has no consequences. A pet can be adopted either through the phone or a computer with a fee of §200. Its traits, gender and whether it is neutered is displayed in the adoption pool. First and last name can be changed after adopting.
|-
|All neighborhoods are the same and pre-designed. Additional neighborhoods can be made if an expansion pack is installed. Later expansion packs add sub-neighborhoods (also pre-designed and added automatically, cannot be removed). Sub-neighborhoods include [[Downtown (The Sims)|Downtown]], [[Vacation Island]], [[Studio Town]] and [[Magic Town]].
|3 pre-designed neighborhoods ([[Pleasantview]], [[Strangetown]] and [[Veronaville]]) which may be (to some extent) tweaked by the player, and terrains may be imported from [[w:c:simcity:SimCity 4|SimCity 4]]. Additional neighborhoods built from scratch may be created and added to the menu screen. Additional pre-designed neighborhoods that come from other expansion packs are [[Riverblossom Hills]], [[Desiderata Valley]], and [[Belladonna Cove]]. Some expansion packs add the option of attaching sub-neighborhoods, pre-designed or built from scratch, to the main neighborhood. [[Sub-neighborhood]]s include [[College]], [[Downtown (The Sims 2)|Nightlife Destination]], [[Bluewater Village|Shopping District]], and Vacation Destination.
|1 pre-designed world ([[Sunset Valley]]) in retail shipment. Player-created worlds can be created by using [[Create a World]] tool. [[Riverview]] is available for free download. [[Barnacle Bay]], [[Hidden Springs]], [[Lunar Lakes]], [[Lucky Palms]],  [[Sunlit Tides]], [[Monte Vista]], [[Aurora Skies]], [[Roaring Heights]], [[Midnight Hollow]], and [[Dragon Valley]] can be bought on the official site; Barnacle Bay, Hidden Springs, Monte Vista, Dragon Valley, and Roaring Heights also have limited hard copy retail releases and are also available as direct downloads from Origin. Additional worlds also come with expansion packs: [[Twinbrook]], [[Bridgeport]], [[Appaloosa Plains]], [[Starlight Shores]], [[Moonlight Falls]] and [[Isla Paradiso]]. Sub-worlds are [[Shang Simla]], [[Champs Les Sims]], and [[Al Simhara]], all for [[adventure]] purposes; [[Sims University]], the university world in the game; and [[Oasis Landing]], a sci-fi futuristic sub-world.
|2 pre-designed worlds, [[Oasis Springs]] and [[Willow Creek]]. The ''Outdoor Retreat'' game pack added a sub-world, [[Granite Falls]], which acts like a vacation destination from previous games. Additional World also comes with expansion packs: [[Magnolia Promenade]].
|-
|3 [[life stage]]s ([[baby]], [[child]], [[adult]]). Babies are objects rather than Sims.
|6 life stages ([[baby]], [[toddler]], [[child]], [[teen]], [[adult]], [[elder]]. [[Young adult]] stage, added in ''[[University]]'', is optional)
|7 life stages (baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, elder).
|6 life stages (baby, child, teen, young adult, adult, elder)
|-
!Aging
|Babies turn into children after three days, while other lifespans are indefinite. With ''[[Makin' Magic]]'', children can age to adult by using a charm, but their appearances are chosen randomly and may change completely.
|All Sims age and eventually die, but only on the lot that is being played. Sims from other families will not age. Some [[life state]]s do not age.
|All Sims age, on and outside lot, which can be changed in game options. Lifespan, aging, and age duration can be customized in game options.
|All Sims in all worlds age at the same time, unless changed by the player. Lifespan, aging, and age duration can be customized in game options.
|-
|6 skills, 1 secret skill
|7 skills, 3 toddler skills, 7 secret skills
|10 skills, 4 toddler skills, 10 secret skills. Additionally, 10 skills added from expansion packs.
|20 skills, 4 skills for children
|-
|Only Adults gain skills.
|Toddlers and older can gain skills
|Children and older can gain skills; toddlers can only learn toddler skills.
|Teens and older can gain skills; children can only learn skills exclusive to their age group.
|-
![[Aspiration]]/[[Lifetime happiness]]
|No aspirations.
|Teens and older have one of 5 [[Aspiration (The Sims 2)|aspirations]] (additional 2 aspirations are added in ''[[Nightlife]]''), which affect their Wants and Fears. Toddlers and children aspire to [[Grow Up]]. Secondary aspirations introduced in ''[[FreeTime]]''.
|Aspirations are replaced with Lifetime Wishes and Lifetime Happiness Points.
|[[Aspiration (The Sims 4)|Aspirations]] return: teens and older Sims can choose one of tentwelve aspirationsaspiration types, most of which have two or three variations that act like a Lifetime Wish. Children have onlyfour one aspirationaspirations, butwith canonly choose aone variation withineach. itToddlers don't have aspirations.
|-
![[Bills]]
|No wants or fears
|Bills delivered once every 3 days.
|All Sims except babies have 4 wants and 3 fears (Additional 2 wants and/or 1 fear, whether they graduate or get expelled at [[college]]).
|Bills delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
|[[Wish]]es and promises replace wants. No fears.
|Same as ''The Sims 2.''
|Whims and Goals replace Wishes/Wants. Whims are short-term and may disappear or be cancelled by the player. Goals are linked to Aspiration and remain until they are fulfilled. No fears.
|Bills delivered once per week.
|-
![[Game camera|Camera perspective]]
|No days of the week, weekend, or days off work or school (Sims would not be fired for skipping work provided they did attend the following day). Sims cannot quit a job unless they get fired or get a different job.
|Isometric perspective with 2D objects and some 3D objects
|7-day week with different days off depending on job. Children and Teens have the weekend off from school. Able to call in sick to work, or call work to quit. Elders can call in to retire.
|Fully 3D
|Same as ''The Sims 2'', except Sims cannot call in sick to work, unless ''[[The Sims 3: Seasons]]'' is installed but Sims can still miss work at the expense of work performance. With some patches, Sims can take up to 5 unpaid days off work.
|Fully 3D
|3D, but world map in 2D
|-
![[Chance cards]]
|[[Chance cards]] will force career change when at the top level of a career. Other chance cards may rarely emerge, giving out skills or money, or sometimes having no effect.
|Chance cards at all levels of career, causing gain or loss of rank, skill points, etc.
|Chance cards rarely appear and some have almost no effect on the job except for changing careers as in ''The Sims'', and cause various [[moodlet]]s.
|Chance cards appear occasionally, on any career level and have an effect on the Job Performance. Some also give various moodlets.
|-
!Maximum amount of floors
|Buildings limited to 2 floors. Basements, foundations and lofts not possible. Basic roof pitch selector.
|Buildings limited to 5 floors, or 4 with foundation. In expansions after ''University'', this can be changed to up to 15 floors (without foundation) using cheats. Buildings with foundation can have basements incorporated into them. Lofts theoretically possible. Roof pitch can be changed (first in the cheat console in ''Pets'', and later ''Mansion and Garden Stuff'', where a roof pitch changer is added). Various roof types like pagoda and dome are added via expansion packs.
|Same as ''The Sims 2''. In addition, basements were included in the ''World Adventures'' expansion patch, with 4 floors.
|The maximum building height is 5 floors, though there cannot be any full walls on the 5th floor. Foundations also don't count as a floor. Basements were added in [[The Sims 4/Patch 15|Patch 15]], and can be 4 floors deep. Roofs are more easily modifiable, allowing for better utilization of attic space and more customization.
|-
![[Life stage]]s
|3 life stages ([[baby]], [[child]], [[adult]]). Babies are objects rather than Sims.
|6 life stages ([[baby]], [[toddler]], [[child]], [[teen]], [[adult]], [[elder]]. [[Young adult]] stage, added in ''[[University]]'', is optional)
|7 life stages (baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, elder).
|Same as ''The Sims 3''. Toddlers returned in [[The Sims 4/Patch 46|Patch 46]]. Babies are objects rather than Sims.
|-
![[Marriage]]
|Family structures are not clearly defined. Marriage does little more than move a Sim into the lot and there is no scope to break up.
|Family structures very clearly defined, including family trees. Marriages and unions (the same-sex equivalent) also defined and can break up, most often triggered through infidelity.
|Same as ''The Sims 2''.
|Same as ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|-
![[Memories]]
|Sims do not collect memories.
|Sims collect visible [[memories]] and invisible memory markers for use in gossip.
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|Memories can be collected, but are optional. The player can choose whether or not the game prompts them to capture a memory.
|-
![[Neighborhood]]/[[World]]
|Bills delivered once every 3 days.
|All neighborhoods are the same and pre-designed. Additional neighborhoods can be made if an expansion pack is installed. Later expansion packs add sub-neighborhoods (also pre-designed and added automatically, cannot be removed). Sub-neighborhoods include [[Downtown (The Sims)|Downtown]], [[Vacation Island]], [[Studio Town]] and [[Magic Town]].
|Bills delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
|3 pre-designed neighborhoods ([[Pleasantview]], [[Strangetown]] and [[Veronaville]]) which may be (to some extent) tweaked by the player, and terrains may be imported from [[w:c:simcity:SimCity 4|SimCity 4]]. Additional neighborhoods built from scratch may be created and added to the menu screen. Additional pre-designed neighborhoods that come from other expansion packs are [[Riverblossom Hills]], [[Desiderata Valley]], and [[Belladonna Cove]]. Some expansion packs add the option of attaching sub-neighborhoods, pre-designed or built from scratch, to the main neighborhood. [[Sub-neighborhood]]s include [[College]], [[Downtown (The Sims 2)|Nightlife Destination]], [[Bluewater Village|Shopping District]], and Vacation Destination.
|Same as ''The Sims 2.''
|1 pre-designed world ([[Sunset Valley]]) in retail shipment. Player-created worlds can be created by using [[Create a World]] tool. [[Riverview]] is available for free download. [[Barnacle Bay]], [[Hidden Springs]], [[Lunar Lakes]], [[Lucky Palms]], [[Sunlit Tides]], [[Monte Vista]], [[Aurora Skies]], [[Roaring Heights]], [[Midnight Hollow]], and [[Dragon Valley]] can be bought on the official site; Barnacle Bay, Hidden Springs, Monte Vista, Dragon Valley, and Roaring Heights also have limited hard copy retail releases and are also available as direct downloads from Origin. Additional worlds also come with expansion packs: [[Twinbrook]], [[Bridgeport]], [[Appaloosa Plains]], [[Starlight Shores]], [[Moonlight Falls]] and [[Isla Paradiso]]. Sub-worlds are [[Shang Simla]], [[Champs Les Sims]], and [[Al Simhara]], all for [[adventure]] purposes; [[Sims University]], the university world in the game; and [[Oasis Landing]], a sci-fi futuristic sub-world.
|Bills delivered once per week.
|3 pre-designed worlds ([[Oasis Springs]], [[Willow Creek]], and [[Newcrest]], which was later added via a free update to the game). The ''Outdoor Retreat'' and ''Jungle Adventure'' game packs added the vacation destinations of [[Granite Falls]] and [[Selvadorada]] respectively. Additional Worlds also come with expansion packs: [[Magnolia Promenade]], [[Windenburg]], [[San Myshuno]], [[Brindleton Bay]], [[Del Sol Valley]], [[Sulani]], [[Britechester]] and [[Evergreen Harbor]]. The ''Vampires'','' StrangerVille ''and ''Realm of Magic'' game packs added the residential worlds of [[Forgotten Hollow]], [[StrangerVille]] and [[Glimmerbrook]] respectively.
|-
!Interactive [[NPCs]]
|[[PlumbBob]] color reflects precise mood: optimum is green, worst is red.
|Only [[Townie]]-type NPCs are interactive. All other NPCs (e.g. maids, social workers, shop clerks, etc.) are not interactive.
|All but a few NPCs (drivers, Rod Humble, social workers, etc.) are interactive.
|Almost all NPCs are interactive with the exception of a few such as drivers.
|All NPCs are interactive and they will be replaced if something causes them to give up their roles.
|-
![[Telephone|Phoning]]
|Random phone calls pranking or giving out money. Couples will occasionally get a phone call asking if they want to adopt a baby. Phone will also ring to announce Sims being fired from their job. Other Sims never call.
|No prank or money calls, but friends and acquaintances may call at random. With ''Nightlife'', Sims that were met in gatherings can tell other Sims about how fun the night was, thus random contacts may call up to ask those Sims out. Sims with less than 2 Nice points can make crank calls.
|Friends may call at random, opportunities also come via phone calls. Teens may pull prank calls if ''Generations'' is installed.
|Friends occasionally call to chat, ask to hang out or invite the player's Sim over. With a high [[Mischief]] Skill, Sims can do Prank Calls. In [[The Sims 4/Patch 19|Patch 19]], Sims that know the player's Sim can invite them to an event. For example, a child Sim may call another child for a playdate.
|-
![[Plumbob]]
|PlumbBob color reflects precise mood: optimum is green, worst is red.
|PlumbBob color represents approximate mood: optimum is platinum, worst is red.
|Same as ''The Sims.''
|Same as ''The Sims'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|-
![[Pregnancy]]
|No pregnancy, babies can simply appear after user says yes to random "Should we have a baby?" prompt after romantic interaction, or an adoption opportunity. No genetics other than skin color are passed down. [[Personality]] for children is randomly generated.
|[[WooHoo|Try for baby]] may lead to 3 day pregnancy for adult female Sim who is not within 5 days of transition to elder, genetic traits are passed down from both parents. Alien abduction via telescope may lead to 3 day pregnancy for adult male Sim who is not within 5 days of transition to elder.
Line 82 ⟶ 111:
|Same as ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''. Alien pregnancy returned in ''[[The Sims 4: Get to Work]]''
|-
!
|Household accounts screen can be accessed, showing income and expenditure over past 3 days and current day
|No such screen.
Line 87 ⟶ 117:
|Same as ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|-
![[School]] performance
|Buildings limited to 2 floors. Basements, foundations and lofts not possible. Basic roof pitch selector.
|Buildings limited to 5 floors, or 4 with foundation. In expansions after ''University'', this can be changed to up to 15 floors (without foundation) using cheats. Buildings with foundation can have basements incorporated into them. Lofts theoretically possible. Roof pitch can be changed (first in the cheat console in ''Pets'', and later ''Mansion and Garden Stuff'', where a roof pitch changer is added). Various roof types like pagoda and dome are added via expansion packs.
|Same as ''The Sims 2''.
|Max building height has been decreased to 4 floors. Basements included in Get To Work expansion Patch, with 2 floors. Roofs have received a revamp, and are more easily modifyable.
|-
|Children with failing grades are banished to Military School and never return.
|When a child in the family has failing grades, ''all'' children are taken away by a social worker (unless they're at school), and other families may [[Adoption|adopt]] them.
|Sims with failing grades are never taken away to Military School or by the Social Worker. In fact, they never actually have to go to school. However, players cannot choose an extra trait when they age up. If ''Generations'' is installed, they will be grounded.
|School grades now function like career levels. Every Sim starts at the "C" level, and there are 5 levels: F, D, C, B and A. Some Aspirations require for the child to complete the age state with the "A" grade. Failing school doesn't bring any downsides besides negative moodlets.
|-
!Schooling options
|Random phone calls pranking or giving out money. Couples will occasionally get a phone call asking if they want to adopt a baby. Phone will also ring to announce being fired from your job. Other Sims never call.
|No prank or money calls, but friends and acquaintances may call at random. With ''Nightlife'', Sims that were met in gatherings can tell other Sims about how fun the night was, thus random contacts may call up to ask those Sims out. Sims with less than 2 Nice points can make crank calls.
|Friends may call at random, opportunities also come via phonecalls. Teens may pull prank calls if ''Generations'' is installed.
|Friends occasionally call to chat, ask to hang out or invite you over. With a high [[Mischief]] Skill, you can do Prank Calls.
|-
|[[Chance cards]] will force career change when at the top level of a career. Other chance cards may rarely emerge, giving out skills or money, or sometimes having no effect.
|Chance cards at all levels of career, causing gain or loss of rank, skill points, etc.
|Chance cards rarely appear and some have almost no effect on the job except for changing careers as in ''The Sims'', and cause various [[moodlet]]s.
|Chance cards appear often, on any career level and have an effect on the Job Performance.
|-
|Only [[Townie]]-type NPCs are interactive. All other NPCs (e.g. maids, social workers, shop clerks, etc.) are not interactive.
|All but a few NPCs (drivers, Rod Humble, social workers, etc.) are interactive
|Almost all NPCs are interactive with the exception of a few such as the Grim Reaper.
|All NPCs are interactive.
|-
|Children go to a single school.
|Children and teens go to public or private school. Teens can apply for scholarships and move out to a college, which transitiontransitions them to the Young Adult life stage in ''University''.
|Children and teens go to a single school (5 boarding schools added in ''Generations'').
|Children and teens go to a single school.
|-
!Number of [[skill]]s
|6 skills, 1 secret skill
|7 skills, 3 toddler skills, 7 secret skills
|10 skills, 4 toddler skills, 10 secret skills. Additionally, 18 skills added from expansion packs and 4 skills added from The Sims 3 Store.
|20 skills, 5 skills for toddlers, 4 skills for children. Additionally, 21 skills added from content packs.
|-
!Skills distribution
|Only adults gain skills.
|Toddlers and older can gain skills
|Children and older can gain skills; toddlers can only learn toddler skills.
|Teens and older can gain skills; children and toddlers can only learn skills exclusive to their age group.
|-
![[Time]]
|No days of the week, weekend, or days off work or school (Sims would not be fired for skipping work provided they did attend the following day). Sims cannot quit a job unless they get fired or get a different job.
|7-day week with different days off depending on job. Children and Teens have the weekend off from school. Able to call in sick to work, or call work to quit. Elders can call in to retire.
|Same as ''The Sims 2'', except Sims cannot call in sick to work, unless ''[[The Sims 3: Seasons]]'' is installed but Sims can still miss work at the expense of work performance. With some patches, Sims can take up to 5 unpaid days off work.
|Same as ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|-
![[Wants and Fears|Wants, Fears]], [[Wish]]es and [[Whim]]s.
|No wants or fears
|All Sims except babies have [[Wants and fears|4 wants and 3 fears]] (Additional 2 wants and/or 1 fear, whether they graduate or get expelled at [[college]]).
|[[Wish]]es and promises replace wants. No fears.
|[[Whim]]s and Goals replace Wishes/Wants. Whims are short-term and may disappear or be cancelled by the player. Goals are linked to Aspiration and remain until they are fulfilled. No fears.
|-
![[Woohoo]]
|Prior to the formal introduction of the term, Sims can "play" in the [[Vibromatic Heart Bed]]{{Vgversion|TSLL}} or a [[hot tub]]{{Vgversion|TSHD}}{{Vgversion|TSV}}. When playing in bed, a dialog box may appear giving the couple the option to have a [[baby]].
|The term is used for the first time. Having WooHoo for the first time will trigger a [[cinematic]] and a [[memory]]. When done in public, Sims will react to it. There is also an interaction called "Try for baby" that is similar, but carries a chance of conceiving of a [[pregnancy]] if it is successful.
|Similar to ''The Sims 2''. Both Sims no longer need to be relaxing on the bed for the interaction to appear. Public WooHoo returns in ''[[The Sims 3: Late Night|Late Night]]''; doing so may give Sims the "Publicly Disgraced" moodlet if they are a [[celebrity]].
|Similar to ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|}
 
== Differences in Create-A-Sim ==
{| class="wikitable heading-blue zebra"
!
! style="width: 25%;" |The Sims
! style="width: 25%;" |The Sims 2
Line 125 ⟶ 168:
! style="width: 25%;" |The Sims 4
|-
!Accessories
|Jewelry, shoes, glasses, etc. not customizable, determined by the Sim's body or head style.
|Glasses may be taken on or off, other accessories are determined by Sim's outfit. ''[[Bon Voyage]]'' (and every EP after) introduces user control of jewelry. Shoes come with bottoms or one-piece outfits, and are uncustomizable.
|All accessories, jewelry and shoes may be customized. Hats and head accessories are attached to hairstyles.
|Same as in ''The Sims 3'', with the exception of hats and head accessories, which are now separate from hairstyles.
|-
!Aspiration and personality
|Sims' personalities determined by 25 Personality Points placed in 5 different categories. Players are not required to use all points.
|Same as ''The Sims'', except Aspirations were added, and all points must be assigned to a category.
|Personality Points and Aspirations are no longer used, instead replaced with a new [[Trait (The Sims 3)|trait]] system allowing players to give their Sims a unique and more realistic personality. Traits determine which Lifetime Wish matches with Sim's personality although this can be selected individually of trait too.
|Every Sim begins with 3 traits at the Young Adult stage, and has to choose an Aspiration. A Bonus Trait is given depending on the chosen Aspiration. The Aspiration can be switched at anytime. Completed Aspirations can give unique traits and Reward Traits can be bought in the Rewards Store in the Aspirations tab, meaning Sims can have 20+ Traits
|-
!Body size
|Body type dependent on types of clothes worn by the Sim.
|Thin, Fit, and Fat body types possible, with Thin or Fat types available in Create-A-Sim.
|Independent sliders for muscle tone, body fat, breasts, and a muscle definition slider.
|Muscle mass and body fat sliders are present. Every part of the body can be resized independently from the others using the new version of [[Create-A-Sim]].
|-
!Changeable clothes
|Sleepwear, swimwear, and formalwear are chosen automatically.
|Sleepwear, swimwear, formalwear, underwear, athletic wear and (with Seasons) outerwear are chosen in Create-a-Sim. Maternity outfits are chosen automatically.
|Same as ''The Sims 2'', with the exception of merging underwear and sleepwear into one category. Players can select up to 3 outfits per category (with the updated version of ''The Sims 3''). Outerwear can be customized if ''Seasons'' is installed.
|Same as in ''The Sims 2 ''and ''The Sims 3'', with the exception of Career outfits, which are no longer modifiable. During Pregnancy, Sims wear regular outfits and don't have Maternity clothes. Players can select up to 5 outfits per category. A new Party outfit category, which is used during various Social Events was added. Hot Weather and Cold Weather outfit categories were added in [https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/The_Sims_4/Patch_68 Patch 68], but ''Seasons'' adds functionality to them.
|-
!Family name
|Last name is the same for all Sims. Household name is last name of all Sims in the household.
|Same as ''The Sims'', except when creating ''[[University]]'' students. In [[Create a Sim#Create-A-Student|Create-A-Student]], there is the option to give different surnames to each individual Sim in the household.
Line 130 ⟶ 198:
| style="width: 25%;" |Same as in ''The Sims 3''.
|-
!Family tree
|Head style determines hairstyle, head shape, hair color, eye color, facial hair, etc.
|No Family Tree.
|Head style determines only the shape of the Sim's heads.
|Relationships between spouses, siblings, and parents/children can be established in Create-a-Sim.
|Same as ''The Sims 2.''
Family Tree available in relationship panel.
|Same as ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|Relationships between spouses, siblings, parents, fiancés and boyfriend/girlfriend are established in Create-A-Sim. A Sim's Family Tree is available to view on their main panel.
|Same as in ''The Sims 2'', except for the Family Tree, which was additionally added in [[The Sims 4/Patch 12|Patch 12]]. That is now available in the Simology panel.
|-
!Hair
|Hair color determined by the head style.
|Hair (and eyebrow) color determined by user with a selection of four colors.
|Hair and eyebrow colors are individually selected, and certain parts of the Sim's hair can be changed (roots, main, highlights and tips) with the new color chart allowing the player to give their Sim a natural hair color like brown or blonde, give them crazy highlights or select a vibrant color such as bright green or red.
|16 hair colors are available in the base game. Hair, Facial hair and Eyebrows can be recolored independlyindependently.
|-
!Head style
|Head style determines hairstyle, head shape, hair color, eye color, facial hair, etc.
|Head style determines only the shape of the Sim's heads.
|Same as ''The Sims 2.''
|Same as ''The Sims 2'' and ''The Sims 3''.
|-
!Skin
|Sims have light, medium, or dark skin.
|Sims have 4 skin tones ranging from light to dark
|Sims have a range of skin tones with a slider determining exact color, including three natural skin tones and three bizarre colors (red, blue and green). Patches for both ''[[Supernatural]]'' and  ''[[The Sims 3: Seasons|Seasons]]'' later added more skin colors to choose from.
|16Originally 26 skin colors arewere present in the game, representing various ethnicities. 23 custom colors, Green, Red and Blue, were also present. Vampire skins are also present. [[The Sims 4/Patch 105|Patch 105]] adds 100+ new skin tones with customization sliders.
|-
|Body type dependent on types of clothes worn by the Sim.
|Thin, Fit, and Fat body types possible, with Thin or Fat types available in Create-A-Sim.
|Independent sliders for muscle tone, body fat, breasts, and a muscle definition slider.
|Muscle Mass and Fat sliders are present. Every part of the body can be resized independly from the others using the new version of [[Create-A-Sim]].
|-
!Styling
|Head style and clothes selected by flipping through all available options.
|Hair styles, clothes, etc. selected from a gallery of thumbnails.
|AsSame as in ''The Sims 2'', but choices can be customized with [[Create a Style]].
|Same as in ''The Sims 2'', minusexcept thenow facteach thatclothing clothesitem canhas bevarious recoloredcolor presets.
|-
|Sleepwear, swimwear, and formalwear are chosen automatically.
|Sleepwear, swimwear, formalwear, underwear, athletic wear and (with Seasons) outerwear are chosen in Create-a-Sim. Maternity outfits are chosen automatically.
|Same as ''The Sims 2'', with the exception of merging underwear and sleepwear into one category. Players can select more than 1 outfit per category (with the updated version of ''The Sims 3''). Outerwear can be customized if ''Seasons'' is installed.
|Same as in ''The Sims 3'', with the exception of Career outfits no longer modifyable and a new set of clothes, called Party and used during various Social Events, was added.
|-
|Jewelry, shoes, glasses, etc. not customizable, determined by the Sim's body or head style.
|Glasses may be taken on or off, other accessories are determined by Sim's outfit. ''[[Bon Voyage]]'' (and every EP after) introduces user control of jewelry. Shoes come with bottoms or one-piece outfits, and are uncustomizable.
|All accessories, jewelry and shoes may be customized.
|Same as in ''The Sims 3''.
|-
|Sims' personalities determined by 25 Personality Points placed in 5 different categories. Players are not required to use all points.
|Same as ''The Sims'', except Aspirations were added, and all points must be assigned to a category.
|Personality Points and Aspirations are no longer used, instead replaced with a new [[Trait (The Sims 3)|trait]] system allowing players to give their Sims a unique and more realistic personality. Traits determine which Lifetime Wish matches with Sim's personality although this can be selected individually of trait too.
|Every Sim begins with 3 traits at the Young Adult stage, and has to choose an Aspiration. A Bonus Trait is given depending on the chosen Aspiration. The Aspiration can be switched at anytime. Completed Aspirations can give unique traits and Traits can be bought in the Rewards Store in the Aspirations tab to which Sims can have 20+ Traits
|-
|No Family Tree.
|
Relationships between spouses, siblings, and parents/children can be established in Create-a-Sim.
Family Tree available in relationship panel.
|
Relationships between spouses, siblings, parents, fiancés and boyfriend/girlfriend are established in Create-A-Sim. A Sim's Family Tree is available to view on their main panel.
|Same as in ''The Sims 2'', minus the fact that the Genealogy tree wasn't present in the base game, and was re-added in the Valentine's Day update.
|}
 
==Feature comparisons==
{{anchor|Object comparisons}}
This table shows when thewhich notable game features or objects are first introduced in which pack for each game.
 
{| class="wikitable heading-blue zebra" width="100%"
! width="20%" |'''''Features'''''
! width="20%" |The Sims
! width="20%" |The Sims 2
Line 190 ⟶ 242:
! width="20%" |The Sims 4
|-
![[Arcade machinesmachine]]s / tables
|''[[Vacation]]''
|''[[University]]''
|''[[Late Night]]''
|''[[Get Together]]''
|-
![[Apartments]] / [[penthouse]]s
|None
|''[[Apartment Life]]'' (apartments)
|''[[Late Night]]'' (penthouses)
|''[[City Living]]'' (apartments and penthouses), ''[[Eco Lifestyle]]'' (apartments), ''[[Discover University]]'' (penthouses)
|-
![[Aquarium]]
|'''Base Game''', ''[[Hot Date]]'', ''[[Superstar]]'' (large)
''[[Unleashed]]'' (small)
|'''Base Game''', ''[[The Sims 2: Pets|Pets]]'', ''[[The Sims 2: Apartment Life|Apartment Life]]'' (large)
|'''Base Game''' (small)<br />
''[[High-End Loft Stuff]]'', [[The Sims 3 Store]] (large)<br />
''[[Late Night]]'' (aquarium wall)
|'''Base Game''' (small)<br />
''[[Spa Day]]'', ''[[Dine Out]]'', ''[[Cats & Dogs]]'' (large)<br />
''[[My First Pet Stuff]]'' (aquarium table)
|-
![[Basketball]]
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[FreetimeFreeTime]]''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''[[City Living]]''
|-
![[Beehive]]
|''[[Makin' Magic]]''
|None
|''[[Supernatural]]''
|''[[The Sims 4: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|-
![[Bonehilda]] / [[skeleton]] maid
|''[[Makin' Magic]]''
|None
|''[[Supernatural]]''
|''[[Jungle Adventure]]'' (skeletal assistant),
''[[Paranormal Stuff]]'' (Bonehilda)
|-
![[Bouncer|Bouncer doors]]
|None
|None
|''[[Late Night]]''
|''[[Get Famous]]''
|-
![[Bowling]]
|None
|''[[Nightlife]]''
|''[[University Life]]''
|''[[The Sims 4: Bowling Night Stuff|Bowling Night Stuff]]''
|None
|-
![[Bubble bar|Bubble bar/blower]]
|''[[House Party]]'', ''[[Superstar]]''
|''[[University]]''
|''[[Late Night]]''
|''[[City Living]]''
|None
|-
![[Buffet table]]
|''[[House Party]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[The Sims 4: Luxury Party Stuff|Luxury Party Stuff]]''
|Base Game
|-
![[Butler]]
!Campfire / bonfire
|''House Party[[Superstar]]''
|''Bon[[Apartment VoyageLife]]''
|''University[[Late LifeNight]]''
|''[[OutdoorVintage RetreatGlamour Stuff]]''
|-
![[Campfire]] / bonfire
|''[[House Party]]''
|
''[[Bon Voyage]]'' (campfire)
 
''[[University]]'' (bonfire)
|
'''Base Game''' (fire pit)
 
''[[University Life]]'' (bonfire)
|
''[[Outdoor Retreat]]'' (campfire)
 
''[[Get Together]]'', ''[[Island Living]]'', ''[[Snowy Escape]]'' (bonfire)
|-
!Cellphone / smartphone
|None
|''[[University]]'' (cellphone)
|'''Base Game''' (cellphone)<br />''[[University Life]]'' (smartphone)
|'''Base Game''' (smartphone)
|-
![[Christmas tree]]
|''[[Livin' Large]]''
|''[[Holiday Party Pack]], [[Happy Holiday Stuff]]''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]] (free)
|''[[The Sims 4: Holiday Celebration Pack|Holiday Celebration Pack]]'' (free), ''[[The Sims 4: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|Downloadable
|-
![[Closet]]
|None
|''[[Apartment Life]]''
|None
|''[[Get Together]]''
|-
![[Cowplant]]
|None
|''[[University]]''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Crystal ball]]
|''[[Livin' Large]]''
|None
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''[[Paranormal Stuff]]''
|-
![[Dance floor]]
|''[[House Party]]''
|''[[Nightlife]]'', ''[[H&M Fashion Stuff]]''
|''[[Late Night]],'' [[The Sims 3 Store]], [[The Sims 3: 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff|''70's 80's 90's Stuff'']]
|''[[Get Together]]''
|-
![[Dance sphere]]
|None
|''[[Nightlife]]''
|''[[Showtime]]''
|None
|-
![[Dartboard]]
|''[[Hot Date]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[Late Night]]''
|''[[Get Together]]''
|None
|-
![[Diving board]]
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[The'Base Sims 3: Seasons|Seasons]]Game''' ([[The Sims 3/Patch 42|Patch 42]])
|''[[Get Together]]''
|None
|-
![[DJ booth]]
|''[[House Party]]''
|''[[Nightlife]]''
|''[[Showtime]]''
|''[[Get Together]]''
|None
|-
![[Dragon]]
|''[[Makin' Magic]]''
|None
|''[[Dragon Valley]]''
|The Sims 3 Store
|''[[Realm of Magic]]''
|-
![[Drink fountain]]
|''[[The Sims: House Party|House Party]]''
|None
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''[[The Sims 4: Luxury Party Stuff|Luxury Party Stuff]]''
|-
![[Fireworks]]
|''[[Livin' Large]]''
|''[[Holiday Party Pack]]''
|''[[World Adventures]]'', ''[[The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats|Katy Perry's Sweet Treats]]'', ''[[The Sims 3: Seasons|Seasons]]'' (fireworks),
|''World Adventures''
''[[Into the Future]]'' (DigiPlosion)
|''[[City Living]]''
|-
![[Genie]]
|''[[Livin' Large]]''
|''[[FreeTime]]''
|''[[Showtime]]''
|None
|-
!Greenhouse
|None
|''[[The Sims 2: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|'''Base Game''' ([[The Sims 4/Patch 68|Patch 68]])
|None
|-
![[Guitar]]
|''[[Livin' Large]]''
|''[[University]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Horseshoes]]
|None
|None
|[[The Sims 3: Seasons|''Seasons'']]
|[[Outdoor Retreat|''Outdoor Retreat'']]
|-
![[Hot tub]]
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[Late Night]]'', ''[[Outdoor Living Stuff]]'', ''[[Showtime]]'', [[The Sims 3: Seasons|''Seasons'']]'', [[Island Paradise]], [[Into the Future]]'', [[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''Late Night''
|
'''Base Game''' ([[The Sims 4/Patch 92|Patch 92]]), ''[[The Sims 4: Perfect Patio Stuff|Perfect Patio Stuff]]''
|-
![[Hotel]] / [[resort]] system
|''[[The Sims: Vacation|Vacation]]''
|''[[Bon Voyage]]''
|''[[Island Paradise]]''
|None
|-
![[Juice keg]]
|None
|''[[University]]''
|''[[University Life]]''
|''[[Discover University]]''
|-
![[Jungle gym]]
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[Apartment Life]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Karaoke machine]]
|''[[Superstar]]''
|''[[Nightlife]]''
|''[[Showtime]]''
|''[[City Living]]''
|None
|-
![[Keyboard]]
!Love bed
|''Livin' Large[[Superstar]]''
|''[[More Romantic than You Double Bed|Apartment Life]]''
|''High End Loft Stuff''
|None
|''[[Late Night]]''
|''[[City Living]]''
|-
!Ladder
!Massage table
|''Superstar''
|''Bon Voyage''
|The Sims 3 Store
|None
|None
|'''Base Game''' ([[The Sims 3/Patch 55|Patch 55]])
|'''Base Game''' ([[The Sims 4/Patch 95|Patch 95]])
|-
![[Murphy bedLaundry]] system
|None
|None
|''[[Ambitions]]'', ''[[Town Life Stuff]]'', ''[[University Life]]'', [[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''[[Laundry Day Stuff]]''
|-
!Lounge chairs
|''[[The Sims: Vacation|Vacation]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game''' ([[The Sims 4/Patch 81|Patch 81]])
|-
![[Heart-shaped bed|Love bed]]
|''[[Livin' Large]]''
|''[[Apartment Life]]''
|''[[UniversityHigh LifeEnd Loft Stuff]]''
|None
|-
![[Massage table]]
!Open Mic
|''[[Superstar]]''
|''[[FreetimeBon Voyage]]''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''[[Spa Day]] ''
|-
![[Mechanical bull]]
|''[[House Party]]''
|None
|''[[Showtime]]''
|None
|Base Game
|-
![[Microphone]]
!Ownable cars
|''[[Superstar]] ''(Singing)
|''[[Apartment Life]]'' (Singing)
|''[[Showtime]]'' ([[Singer (career)|Singer]])
|
'''Base Game''' ([[Comedy]])
 
''[[City Living]]'' ([[Singing]])
 
''[[Get Famous]]'' ([[Acting]])
|-
![[Murphy bed]]
|None
|''Nightlife[[Apartment Life]]''
|''[[University Life]]''
|Base Game
|''[[Tiny Living Stuff]]''
|-
!Ownable [[cars]]
|None
|''[[Nightlife]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|None
|-
![[Pet]]s
!Photo booth
|''[[Unleashed]]''
|''[[The Sims 2: Pets|Pets]]''
|''[[The Sims 3: Pets|Pets]]''
|''[[Cats & Dogs]]''
|-
![[Photo booth]]
|None
|''[[Nightlife]]''
|''[[Showtime]]'', ''[[University Life]]''
|None
|-
![[Piano]]
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[Late Night]]''
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Picnic basket]]
!Pinball machine
|''[[Hot Date]]''
|Base Game
|None
|Base Game
|'''Base Game'''
|The Sims 3 Store
|''[[Cottage Living]]''
|-
![[Pinball machine]]
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|None
|-
![[Pool slide]]
|''[[Vacation]]''
|''[[The Sims 2: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|''[[Island Paradise ]] ''
|None
|-
![[Pool table]]
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[University]]'', ''[[FreeTime]]'', ''[[Apartment Life]]''
|''[[Showtime]]'', ''[[University Life]]'', ''[[Into the Future]]''
|''Showtime''
|None
|-
!Punching bag
![[Restaurant]] system
|''Hot Date''
|''Nightlife''
|The Sims 3 Store
|None
|'''Base Game '''(career reward)
|None
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Restaurant]] system
|''[[Hot Date]]''
|''[[Nightlife]]'', ''[[Open for Business]]''
|'''Base Game '''(rabbit hole),
[[The Sims 3 Store]] (open)
|''[[Dine Out]]''
|-
![[Restorable car]]
|None
|''[[Freetime]]''
|''[[Roaring Heights]]''
|The Sims 3 Store
|None
|-
![[Rocking chair]]
!Rollercoaster
|''Makin' Magic''
|None
|The Sims 3 Store
|None
|''[[Supernatural]]'', ''[[Aurora Skies]]'', ''[[Movie Stuff]]'', [[The Sims 3 Store]]
|''[[Nifty Knitting Stuff]]''
|-
![[Rodent]]
!Sauna
|''[[Livin' Large]] ''
|''[[The Sims 2: Pets|Pets]] ''
|''[[The Sims 3: Pets|Pets]] ''
|''[[My First Pet Stuff]] ''
|-
![[Sauna]]
|''[[Superstar]]''
|''[[Bon Voyage]]''
|''[[Sunlit Tides]]''
|The Sims 3 Store
|''[[Spa Day]]''
|-
![[Slot machine]]
|''[[Livin' Large]] ''
|None
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|None
|-
![[Snowboarding]]
![[Half-pipe|Snowboard half-pipe]]
|''[[Vacation]]''
|None
|''[[Seasons]]''
|''[[Snowy Escape]]''
|None
|-
![[Soccer net|Soccer]]
|None
|''[[Freetime]]''
|''[[Seasons]]''
|''[[Discover University]]''
|-
![[Prop|Stage props]]
|None
|None
|''[[Showtime]]''
|''[[Get Famous]]''
|-
![[Styling station]]
|None
|''[[Open for Business]]''
|''[[Ambitions]]''
|''[[Get Famous]]''
|-
![[Sunburn]]
|None
|''[[The Sims 2: Seasons|Seasons]], [[Bon Voyage]]''
|''[[The Sims 3: Seasons|Seasons]] ''
|''[[Island Living]] ''
|-
![[Swimming pool]]
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game''' ([[The Sims 4/Patch 7|(Patch 7)]])
|-
![[Swing|Swing set]]
|None
|'''Base Game'''
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[The Sims 4: Seasons|Seasons]], [[Island Living]] ''
|-
![[Tea|Tea set]]
|''[[Makin' Magic]]''
|''[[Bon Voyage]]''
|''[[University Life]], ''
[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Tent]]
|''[[Vacation]]''
|''[[Bon Voyage]]''
|''[[World Adventures]]'', ''[[Island Paradise]]''
|''[[The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat|Outdoor Retreat]]'', ''[[Journey to Batuu]]'', ''[[Snowy Escape]]''
|-
![[Training dummy]]
!Wedding arch and wedding cake
|None
|None
|Base Game
|''[[World Adventures]]''
|''Generations''
|''[[The Sims 4: StrangerVille|StrangerVille]]''
|Base Game
|-
![[WishingVanity|Vanity welltables]]
|None
|''[[The Sims 2: University|University]], [[The Sims 2: Seasons|Seasons]], [[Teen Style Stuff]]''
|''Seasons''
|''[[Showtime]], [[Supernatural]], [[Movie Stuff]]''
|The Sims 3 Store
|''[[Vintage Glamour Stuff]]''
|-
![[Violin]]
|None
|''[[Freetime]]''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Voodoo doll]]
|''[[Livin' Large]] ''
|''[[Bon Voyage]] ''
|[[The Sims 3 Store]]
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Weather (game mechanic)|Weather]] / seasons
|None
|''[[The Sims 2: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|''[[The Sims 3: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|''[[The Sims 4: Seasons|Seasons]]''
|-
![[Wedding arch]] and [[wedding cake]]
|None
|'''Base Game'''
|''[[Generations]]'', [[The Sims 3 Store]]
|'''Base Game'''
|-
![[Wishing well]]
|None
|''[[Seasons]]''
|''[[Lucky Palms]]''
|''[[Wishing well|Romantic Garden Stuff]]''
|}
 
Line 442 ⟶ 716:
* [[Comparison between The Sims 3 and The Sims 4]]
* [[Comparison between The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval]]
* [[Comparison between The Sims 2: Bon Voyage and The Sims 3: World Adventures|Comparison between vacation themed packs]]
* [[Comparison between Thework Simsthemed 2: Open for Business and The Sims 3: Ambitionsexpansions]]
* [[Comparison between The Sims 2: Nightlife and The Sims 3: Late Night|Comparison between nightlife themed packs]]
* [[Comparison between The Sims 2: Pets and The Sims 3: Pets|Comparison between pets themed games]]
* [[Comparison between The Sims 2: Seasons and The Sims 3: Seasons|Comparison between weather themed games]]
* [[Comparison between The Sims 2: University and The Sims 3: University Life|Comparison between college themed expansions]]
* [[Theme]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Comparison between The Sims, The Sims 2 , The Sims 3 and The Sims 4}}
[[Category:Game comparisons]]