The Sims 3
| Industry | Video game publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 28, 1982 |
| Headquarters | Redwood City, California , United States |
| Products | Video games, including The Sims series |
| Website | www |
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Template:Infobox video game
The Sims 3 is a social simulation title released in 2009 by Maxis' Redwood Shores studio and published by Electronic Arts. As the direct follow-up to The Sims 2, it debuted on June 2, 2009, for Windows, Mac OS X, and various mobile platforms. Console versions launched later in October 2010 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS, followed by a Wii release in November of the same year. The Nintendo 3DS edition arrived on March 27, 2011, coinciding with the handheld system’s launch.
Building upon its predecessors The Sims and The Sims 2, this installment centers on life simulation gameplay where players guide the lives and environments of virtual characters known as Sims. Unlike earlier titles, The Sims 3 introduces an open world design that enables seamless exploration of neighborhoods without interruption from loading screens. Additionally, it features the Create-a-Style tool—a new customization system that allows players to alter clothing, hairstyles, objects, and surfaces such as walls and floors using a variety of textures and materials. These personalized designs can be stored for future use.
Upon release, The Sims 3 achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling approximately 1.4 million units within its initial week. It is widely recognized as one of the greatest video games ever produced. With over ten million copies sold globally—including more than seven million on PC—it ranks among the top-selling PC titles in history. The game spawned eleven expansion packs alongside nine additional "stuff packs." Its successor, The Sims 4, was launched in September 2014.
Gameplay
Continuing the tradition of earlier entries in the series, The Sims 3 allows players to manage the daily lives and social interactions of their Sims. The gameplay remains open-ended, lacking a fixed objective. Sims reside within neighborhoods, now officially termed worlds, which players can personalize by designing homes, community lots, and creating Sims—although many of these elements come pre-included with the base game. Unlike previous titles, these worlds are fully seamless, enabling Sims to wander freely between lots without encountering loading screens.
Neighborhoods feature various community lots categorized as leisure areas—such as parks, markets, gyms, and cinemas—and job-related locations like town halls, hospitals, and businesses. Due to the open-world design, the game incorporates a "Story Progression" system that lets all Sims in the neighborhood autonomously continue their lives without direct player control. This mechanism advances the overall neighborhood narrative beyond just the active household. Sims progress through multiple life stages—baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder—with lifespans adjustable by the player. Death can occur naturally through old age or from hazards including fire, starvation, drowning, and electrocution.
The base version includes the world Sunset Valley, while an additional world named Riverview is available at no cost via The Sims 3 Store. Most expansion packs introduce new worlds except for Generations and Seasons. Additional worlds can also be purchased using SimPoints from The Sims 3 Store. Several of these worlds maintain narrative ties to previous games; for example, Sunset Valley is depicted as the same town featured in the original The Sims and Pleasantview from The Sims 2, set 25 and 50 years earlier respectively. Numerous established characters from earlier Sim titles appear throughout these worlds, often portrayed in younger versions.
Career paths offer opportunities such as overtime work or completing specific tasks that can result in salary increases, cash bonuses, or improved relationships. Random challenges arise based on each Sim’s lifestyle elements like careers, skills, and social connections. Skill opportunities involve requests from neighbors or community members for assistance using a Sim’s abilities in exchange for monetary or relationship rewards. The game replaces the previous Wants and Fears system with a new Wishes reward mechanic; fulfilling these Wishes contributes to a Sim’s Lifetime Happiness score. This score can then be spent on Lifetime Rewards that provide various benefits.
A significant innovation in customization is introduced through the "Create-a-Style" tool. This feature enables players to fully personalize any object or clothing item by selecting colors from a color wheel and choosing materials such as plastic, stone, fabric, or wood, along with various design patterns.
Create-a-Sim
The Sims 3 expands significantly on character customization compared to its predecessor, The Sims 2. Players retain the ability to modify attributes such as age, body shape, skin tone, hairstyles, clothing choices, and personality traits. A novel life stage called young adulthood has been introduced, positioned between adolescence and full adulthood. Previously, this stage appeared only during the university phase in The Sims 2 University expansion but is now available directly within Create-a-Sim. Additional customization features have been incorporated through expansions and updates, including options like tattoos, breast size adjustments, and muscle definition. The game presents a broader spectrum of skin tones than earlier versions, ranging from naturalistic light and dark shades to imaginative hues like green and purple.
Unlike earlier titles where personality was defined by adjustable sliders with a limited pool of points to assign, The Sims 3 implements a trait-based system. Adult Sims can select up to five distinct traits from a diverse list encompassing mental, physical, social characteristics, as well as those influenced by lifestyle choices and occupations. These traits influence the Sims’ available actions, behaviors, and aspirations throughout gameplay.
Skills
Sims develop various skills by engaging with specific objects and activities in the game world. Each skill progresses through ten incremental levels. Advancing in skills is essential for career advancement and unlocks new interactions related to those abilities; for instance, a high gardening skill enables Sims to cultivate rare plants. Core skills include Logic, Cooking, Painting, Gardening, Writing, Guitar playing, Athletics, Handiness, Charisma, and Fishing. Subsequent expansion packs introduced additional skills to further diversify gameplay.
Careers
Several career paths from The Sims and The Sims 2 return in The Sims 3. The base game includes professions such as Business, Culinary, Criminal, Education, Journalism, Law Enforcement, Medical, Military, Music, Political, Science, and Professional Sports. Additionally, part-time positions are available at locations like the bookstore, supermarket, or spa, accessible to both teenagers and adults. All careers take place in neighborhood community lots; however, these locations function as "rabbit-hole" buildings—players see only the exterior but cannot enter or observe activities inside. Consequently, job progress occurs automatically, though players occasionally receive challenges or questions offering choices that influence their Sim's career success. Progression depends on factors like mood and skill levels, alongside relationships with coworkers and supervisors and achieving specific objectives. Players can direct Sims to "Work Hard," "Take It Easy," or "Suck Up To Boss," which impacts job performance. A novel feature in The Sims 3 is the introduction of branching career paths, enabling Sims to specialize within their profession—for example, a Sim in the Music career may opt to focus on either Symphonic or Rock music. These specialization options typically become available around level six of a career and vary based on the chosen field.
The Ambitions expansion pack adds new playable careers including Firefighter, Ghost Hunter, Investigator, Architectural Designer, and Stylist. Some of these roles occur at playable community lots—such as Firefighter and Stylist—while others operate as freelance occupations. Players can seek out gigs around the neighborhood and complete them directly; for instance, an Architectural Designer may visit other Sims’ homes to redecorate for payment and career advancement. Furthermore, Sims can earn income from home by utilizing their skills—for example, selling artwork, authoring books, performing guitar for tips, or cultivating fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Sims have the option to purchase businesses and receive a share of the profits generated by these establishments.
Build and Buy Modes
Similar to earlier titles in the Sim series, this installment includes a build and buy system for creating residential and community spaces. Both modes preserve the core functionalities found in previous versions. Build mode enables players to construct walls, apply paint, install stairs, doors, and windows, as well as lay flooring, establish foundations, basements, pools, and ponds. Certain expansion packs introduce additional features like terrain modification. It is important to note that construction or object placement is restricted to within the boundaries of the designated lot.
Buy mode allows users to acquire and position various items such as appliances, electronics, furniture, and vehicles. This mode primarily offers objects that enhance Sims’ skills, provide practical benefits, or serve decorative purposes within the home. Many purchasable items feature descriptions imbued with humor, sarcasm, playful insults directed at the player, and clever wit, contributing a comedic element to the gameplay experience.
Both build and buy modes have undergone visual and functional enhancements. While retaining the grid-based building system from its predecessor, the grid now offers greater flexibility by permitting objects to be placed centrally on tiles or freely without grid assistance. Additional expansions introduce a blueprint feature that lets players place pre-designed rooms directly. The Create-a-Style tool further expands customization options by allowing every piece of furniture or architectural element to be recolored or retextured with any color, material, or pattern desired.
Create-a-World
On October 29, 2009, Electronic Arts introduced "Create-a-World" (CAW), a game world editor enabling users to design personalized cities from the ground up for integration within the game. This tool provides the ability to tailor lots, select terrain styles, and incorporate roads, greenery, and distinctive neighborhood features like water towers and lighthouses. Additionally, CAW supports importing artwork from PNG files to enhance custom worlds. Players can share their creations by uploading them to The Sims 3 Exchange for others to download. Offered as a standalone download, the beta version of this editor was launched on December 16, 2009. EA committed to providing ongoing technical assistance and updates. Similar to other content, players have the option to distribute their custom neighborhoods. The Create-a-World application is compatible with Windows operating systems.
Family
As a simulation centered on life experiences, Sims have the capability to form families. Users can establish family units within Create-a-Sim and modify interpersonal connections, or alternatively, characters can meet naturally and expand their families through offspring. Only young adult and adult Sims have access to the "Try for Baby" feature; this option is unavailable for younger or elderly Sims, with the exception of senior males who may attempt conception with young adult or adult females, though success rates are notably lower. For conception attempts, two Sims of opposite genders must share a relationship status of at least "Romantic Interest." Upon successful conception, a gentle lullaby sound typically plays, though occasionally it may not trigger. Pregnant Sims experience the Nauseous moodlet lasting approximately one Sim day until pregnancy is confirmed, after which they switch to maternity attire and cannot wear their regular clothing until after childbirth. Common pregnancy symptoms include nausea, back pain, appetite fluctuations, and restrictions on certain activities or exercise. When labor begins, Sims can choose between delivering at a hospital or having a home birth; hospital visits are the default but can be canceled if desired. Items for babies and children are available for purchase in buy mode. Infants demand significant care and attention; failure to provide adequate supervision may result in intervention by social services—a risk shared by toddlers, children, and teenagers alike. To assist busy parents, babysitters can be hired to watch over children during their absence.
Development
Electronic Arts officially revealed The Sims 3 on March 19, 2008. On January 15, 2009, Maxis hosted a Creator's Camp at their Redwood Shores headquarters, inviting some of the most talented custom content creators. These participants spent a week designing various elements such as Sims, homes, and personalized content, which were subsequently used to populate The Sims 3 Exchange prior to release. By May 8, 2009, Maxis announced that The Sims 3 had reached its gold status, indicating the completion of beta testing and the commencement of manufacturing ahead of its June launch.
A week later, on May 15, 2009, Maxis introduced several interactive teasers on The Sims 3 official website. These included SimFriend, allowing users to select a virtual Sim companion who would send emails throughout the day; SimSocial, where users could create an online Sim and embark on adventures; and SimSidekick, enabling users to browse the internet alongside a Sim character. Approximately two weeks before the official release date, an unauthorized copy of the game's digital version surfaced online. Maxis clarified that this leaked build was an unstable, pre-final version prone to crashes and lacking over half of the game's content.
Reports indicated that piracy rates for this title surpassed those of Spore, another Maxis-developed game that had been the most pirated game in 2008.
The development team heavily incorporated player feedback from earlier installments. To achieve animations that were both realistic and whimsically exaggerated, they filmed real-life references of individuals performing various tasks in humorous ways until satisfied with the results. Each Sim was thoughtfully designed with unique backstories, aspirations, desires, and distinct personalities. Significant effort was dedicated to ensuring that both the game world and its characters delivered a cohesive and authentic experience.
Marketing
On October 31, 2008, Electronic Arts unveiled two teaser trailers offering a humorous take on the 2008 United States presidential election in the U.S. The trailers featured candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, alongside their respective running mates, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. In April 2009, Electronic Arts launched an extensive billboard campaign across multiple locations, prominently including skyscrapers in highly trafficked areas such as Times Square in New York City. These advertising efforts reportedly cost around $10 million monthly. Additionally, on March 23, 2009, The Sims 3 was integrated into the narrative of an episode of the television series One Tree Hill.
On April 19, 2009, Target distributed a promotional disc for The Sims 3 containing a poster of the band Ladytron, a downloadable theme song for the game, and a $5 discount coupon. The disc's main menu offered features like screensaver downloads, videos, Create-a-Sim and Create-A-House options, among others. While it did not include actual gameplay, it provided an overview of the gaming experience. Later, on July 14, 2010, Ford initiated a promotion within The Sims 3 Store, allowing users to download their then-latest vehicle model, the Ford Fiesta Mark VII, which was accompanied by a set of street signs. This download was updated on October 27, 2010, to add the Fiesta Hatchback model. Subsequently, on June 8, 2011, the 2012 Ford Focus became available for download. This package included in-game items such as male and female Ford-branded T-shirts, a stereo system, and neon lighting accessories. The Focus pack was accessible across Mac, PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms.
In 2012, EA collaborated with American pop artist Katy Perry to promote The Sims 3. This partnership resulted in the release of a special Katy Perry Collector's Edition of the Showtime expansion pack as well as the limited edition Katy Perry's Sweet Treats stuff pack. Both packs incorporated design elements inspired by Perry's third studio album Teenage Dream (2010). Notably, the Sweet Treats pack featured a Simlish version of the album’s fifth single, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", which was included in the game's radio station playlist.
Audio
The soundtrack for The Sims 3 was created by Steve Jablonsky.[1] Recording sessions took place with the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Newman Scoring Stage located at 20th Century Fox.[2] Additional compositions for stereo and guitar elements within the game were contributed by various artists such as Ladytron, Darrell Brown, Rebeca Mauleon, and Peppino D'Agostino. Further musical content was supplied by APM Music.[3] Two official soundtracks were issued for the base game: The Sims 3 Soundtrack and The Sims 3 – Stereo Jams. The former features the main theme music, while the latter contains tracks played from in-game stereos. Notably, all songs on Stereo Jams are performed in Simlish, the fictional language spoken by Sims. Several well-known musicians collaborated with EA to record some of their hits in Simlish, including artists like Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, Flaming Lips, Damien Marley, Depeche Mode, Nelly Furtado, and Flo Rida.[4]
Release
Initially scheduled for February 20, 2009, the launch of The Sims 3 was postponed to June 2, 2009, in the United States and June 5, 2009, in the United Kingdom.[5] To celebrate the release in Singapore, EA Singapore hosted a major launch event on June 2, 2009, at the Bugis+ shopping center.[6] At this gathering, attendees had the opportunity to purchase The Sims 3 branded T-shirts. In Sydney, Australia on June 4, Electronic Arts Australia organized a fashion event emphasizing self-expression and freedom inspired by The Sims 3, featuring a live performance by Jessica Mauboy.[7]
Upon release, The Sims 3 was available in both a standard edition and a Collector's Edition. Both versions included a voucher redeemable for 1000 Sim Points usable at The Sims 3 Store.[8] The standard edition contained the original core game release. In contrast, the Collector's Edition featured additional items such as a 2 GB The Sims Plumbob USB flash drive preloaded with wallpapers and screensavers from the game along with its main theme as an MP3 file; this flash drive came with a matching Green Carabiner. It also included an exclusive European-style Sports Car downloadable content, a Prima Tips and Hints Guide (distinct from the official Prima Guide), and Plumbob stickers. Customers who pre-ordered received bonus content including a Vintage Sports Car download, a The Sims 3 Neighborhood Poster, and a quick start reference guide.[9] Additionally, a preview CD offering insights into the game—such as music samples, family profiles, and career details—was distributed.[10]
Unlike previous titles in The Sims franchise that were ported to Mac by Aspyr months after their Windows debut, The Sims 3 launched simultaneously on June 2, 2009 for both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X on a single disc. The Mac version was developed with assistance from Transgaming, Inc., utilizing their Cider technology which enables Windows API emulation to achieve Mac compatibility. However, running the game on Mac often results in lower performance compared to Windows systems—particularly noticeable on high-end hardware. Since it is a legacy 32-bit application, it is incompatible with macOS Catalina or subsequent versions. On October 2, 2019 Maxis announced an updated edition titled The Sims 3 (64-Bit & Metal), designed to support Mac OS X Catalina and later releases.[11] Players who registered their copy through Origin were eligible to receive this updated version at no additional cost.[11] This enhanced version was officially released on October 28, 2020.[11]
Game Engine
For the PC version, The Sims 3 operates on a extensively customized iteration of Criterion Games' RenderWare engine, which was enhanced to improve simulation capabilities and optimize data handling for the open-world environment.
Mobile
The Sims 3 launched simultaneously on mobile devices alongside its PC debut in June 2009, offering two distinct versions. The touchscreen-enabled 3D edition initially appeared on iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPod Touch, providing gameplay mechanics closely aligned with the PC counterpart. Subsequently, in 2010, this version expanded to platforms including Android, Bada, Symbian (marketed as The Sims 3 HD), Palm webOS, and Windows Phone (from October 15).
Additionally, a cursor-controlled 2D version featuring isometric graphics was developed for Java (J2ME) devices. This variant also became available on N-Gage 2.0 from July 14 of the same year, followed by releases on BlackBerry App World and Windows Mobile in November.
Within the Create-a-Sim mode, personas replace Lifetime Wishes by influencing a Sim’s lifetime aspirations and personality traits. Sims begin life in modest homes that players can upgrade every five sim days, budget permitting. The mobile game includes four career paths: biology, politics, business, and culinary arts. Similar to the PC edition, Sims can acquire various skills and pursue nearly 75 different wishes. Completing all wishes unlocks a criminal career and grants access to car ownership. Certain gameplay scenarios—such as appliance malfunctions—require players to engage in minigames to resolve issues.
On November 6, 2009, EA announced a vampire-themed content pack for iPhone users. This add-on featured "Live it" or "Wear it" sets themed around Vampires and Werewolves, Castle settings, and Campus Life. The "Live it" collections include vehicles, furniture, decorations, wallpaper, and flooring options; whereas "Wear it" sets offer new clothing items, Create-a-Sim customization options, and hairstyles.
Several standalone expansions have been introduced for the mobile platform. The first expansion, World Adventures, debuted in February 2010 for Java devices and later on April 2 for iPhone. It introduced new tombs, challenges, personas, careers, locations (China, Egypt, and France), clothing items, and furniture. The second expansion pack titled Ambitions was released on September 16, 2010. It brought additional skills such as firefighting, painting, parenting, and sports; new community venues; and enabled Sims to have children. In 2012, the Supernatural expansion was launched for Java devices with themes centered on magic and gothic elements. The final expansion in this series was the Winter Edition, also available for Java platforms.
Console
Created by Edge of Reality, The Sims 3 made its debut on video game consoles on October 26, 2010, launching for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS. Subsequently, it became available on the Wii platform on November 15, 2010, and later for the Nintendo 3DS on March 25, 2011. The Wii version supports multiplayer gameplay with up to three participants in the Life Moments Game, while players on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network can upload and download items such as furniture, homes, and user-generated content. The Nintendo DS edition offers a comprehensive life simulation experience tailored for handheld play. Critical reception ranged from moderate to favorable. Sims in these versions can age and pass away, though users have the option to disable life cycles if preferred. Additionally, the game introduces a Karma system akin to the influence mechanic found in The Sims 2. Sims are able to interact with neighborhood children or raise offspring themselves. Unlike the PC counterpart, console editions exhibit loading pauses when transitioning between areas or entering build/buy modes.
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 adaptations garnered generally favorable critiques. On Metacritic, the PS3 version holds an average rating of 77 out of 100, while the Xbox 360 version scores slightly lower at 76. Game Informer awarded both versions a 9/10, commending the implementation of the Karma system and The Exchange feature. Meanwhile, GameSpot rated the game 7/10, acknowledging its enjoyment factor despite a lack of smoothness in gameplay. IGN gave positive remarks regarding console controls but expressed disappointment over the inclusion of only one town and reported bugs such as a save failure after a certain week in-game. The Wii release received mixed feedback, with criticism focusing on performance issues and glitches attributed to the platform’s less powerful hardware.
Expansions, add-ons, and editions
The Sims 3 received extensive support through multiple expansions, add-ons, and editions, comprising eleven expansion packs alongside nine stuff packs. Stuff packs focus solely on introducing new items such as furniture, apparel, and hairstyles, without adding any gameplay mechanics. These stuff packs are fully compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, just like the base game and its expansions.
Expansion packs
| Title | Launch Date | Content Highlights | Life State Introduced | New Career Options | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Adventures | Introduces new traits, objects, and clothing. Includes quests and tomb exploration across three exotic destinations, photography skill, basement building tools, nectar crafting, fireworks, shops, and vacation homes. Vacation locations include Champs Les Sims (France), Al Simhara (Egypt), and Shang Simla (China). |
Mummy | Nectar Maker (self-employed; requires Ambitions) | |||||||||||
| Ambitions | Adds new careers, skills, traits, and items. Allows direct control over specific workplaces (professions and selected careers), introduces laundry system, tattoo customization, and skill-based self-employment. New world introduced: Twinbrook. |
SimBot (Robot) | Architectural Designer, Educator, Firefighter, Ghost Hunter, Medical Professional, Investigator, Stylist, Self-Employment options for various base game and expansion skills | |||||||||||
| Late Night | Features new careers, skills, traits, clothing lines, furniture sets, and vehicles. Includes nightlife venues such as bars and nightclubs; penthouse suites; hot tubs; subway entrances; elevators; enhanced body sliders for breasts and muscles; group activities; bands; butlers; zodiac signs; new swimming pool designs; height adjustments for wall-mounted objects; and a fountain tool. Introduces the city world of Bridgeport. |
Vampire (can be created in CAS with Supernatural installed) | Film Industry Worker, Band Member | |||||||||||
| Generations | Brings new playground equipment, mid-life crisis events, additional interactions and traits. Includes pranks for children and teens; male body hair; celebrations such as birthdays for teens and bachelors/bachelorettes parties; weddings; slumber parties; memory system; graduation ceremonies; prom events; imaginative play; potions crafting; spiral staircases; water slides; boarding schools; pillow fights; strollers; and canes for elder Sims. |
Imaginary Friend | Daycare Provider | |||||||||||
| Pets | Available in Regular and "Limited Edition". Adds controllable pets including cats, dogs, horses plus non-playable creatures. Features Create-A-Pet tool, new traits for pets and Sims alike, new lifetime wishes/rewards, interactions, items, venues, community locations, and pet-related skills. New world is Appaloosa Plains. |
Cat, Dog, Horse, Unicorn | Equestrian Career | |||||||||||
| Showtime | Offered in Regular edition plus "Limited Edition" and "Katy Perry Collector's Edition". Introduces performance careers such as singer, acrobat, magician; new objects like pool tables and golf equipment; additional traits and lifetime wishes. Katy Perry edition includes downloadable stage venue with themed clothing and props. Features social interactions related to performances, stage customization, gig management, achievement system, and Simport functionality to import/export celebrity Sims. New world is Starlight Shores. |
Genie (available if Supernatural is installed) | Singer, Acrobat, Magician Careers | |||||||||||
| Supernatural | Available in Regular edition along with "Limited Edition" and "Origin Decor Edition". Adds magical items including alchemy stations, magic brooms, wands, philosopher's stone; new clothing options such as wings; and new traits. Introduces supernatural life states: witches, werewolves, fairies, vampires, and zombies. Allows creation of supernatural Sims directly in Create-a-Sim. Includes lunar cycle mechanics and beekeeping. New world is Moonlight Falls. |
Vampire, Witch, Werewolf, Zombie, Fairy | Fortune Teller Career; Alchemist (self-employed with Ambitions) | |||||||||||
| Seasons | Comes in Regular edition as well as "Limited Edition" and "Origin Exclusive Trick or Treat Costume Pack Edition". Introduces hidden skills like skating, snowboarding, horseshoes, and ball fighting; new traits; seasonal festivities; and holiday-related social events. Includes weather effects, seasons system, a new outerwear clothing category, and seasonal festivals. |
Alien | Test Subject (Aliens only) | |||||||||||
| '\'\'\'\'\'[[The Sims 3: University Life]|University Life]]\'\ | NA |March 5 ,2013 |EU |March7 ,2013}}' | '\'Offers Regular ,Limited Edition ,and Origin Exclusive Pre-Order Editions .< br >Enables university attendance at a college sub-neighborhood ; introduces new skills including Science ,Photography ,Social Networking ,and Street Arts ; adds social groups ,new traits ,careers ,and a smart phone .< br >New world : Sims University ,modeled similarly to World Adventures vacation worlds .' | 'PlantSim' | 'Art Appraiser ,Sports Agent ,Video Game Developer'
'|-' |
'\'\'\'\'\'[[The Sims3:Island Paradise]|Island Paradise]]\'\ | NA |June25 ,2013 |EU |June27 ,2013}}' | '\'Available as Regular ,Limited Edition ,and Origin Exclusive Pre-Order Editions .< br >Introduces houseboats ,resort management features ,island exploration ,various water transportation modes ,and water-based activities such as scuba diving ,boating ,water skiing ,and windsurfing .< br >New world : Isla Paradiso .' | 'Mermaid' | 'Lifeguard ,Scuba Diver (self-employed)'
'|-' |
'\'\'\'\'\'[[The Sims3:Into the Future]|Into the Future]]\'\ | NA |October22 ,2013 |EU |October24 ,2013}}' | '\'Offered in Regular and Limited Editions .< br >Allows time travel to the future with the ability to alter future outcomes from the present ; introduces customizable robots called Plumbots with Create-a-Bot feature ; adds robot-specific traits along with new Sim traits ; includes skills such as Advanced Technology ,Bot Building ,and Laser rhythm-a-con ; expands career options .< br >Futuristic world : Oasis Landing .' | 'Plumbot (Robot)' | 'Astronomer ,Bot Arena Competitor ,Bot Builder (self-employed)' |
Stuff packs
| Title | Launch date | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| High-End Loft Stuff[lower-alpha 1] | Features upscale furniture with an emphasis on technology such as TVs, gaming consoles, and computers, alongside postmodern-style bookshelves, tables, and chairs. Includes three items from The Sims and The Sims 2 reintroduced to honor the 10th anniversary of the The Sims franchise. | |
| Fast Lane Stuff | Introduces four fresh styles across fashion, furniture, and vehicles: Racing, Intrigue, Rockabilly, and Classic Luxury. | |
| Outdoor Living Stuff[lower-alpha 2] | Offers apparel, furniture, and accessories themed around patio life in two distinctive styles: "Garden Terrace" showcasing elegant wrought-iron designs and "Sunset on the Veranda" capturing outdoor warmth. | |
| Town Life Stuff | Adds casual clothing, hairstyles, and various objects. Features revamped community venues including a school, cafe, grocery store, plus new lots such as a gym, park, laundromat, and library. | |
| Master Suite Stuff | Focuses on luxurious bedroom and bathroom décor emphasizing romance and comfort. Includes contemporary furniture pieces and intimate clothing designed for elegant master suites. | |
| Katy Perry's Sweet Treats | Features candy-inspired décor, clothing, hairstyles, items, and community lots. Contains a Simlish rendition of Katy Perry's track "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)". | |
| Diesel Stuff | Presents new apparel and décor created in collaboration with Diesel. | |
| 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff[lower-alpha 3] | Contains clothing styles, hairstyles, and items inspired by the fashion trends of the 1970s through the 1990s. | |
| Movie Stuff |
Clothing and decorations influenced by classic movie themes and environments. |
Editions
| Edition | Release date | Features |
|---|---|---|
| The Sims 3 | The base game provided on DVD. | |
| The Sims 3 Collector's Edition | Includes the core game on DVD along with a plumbob-shaped USB flash drive (2 GB) and an exclusive in-game European sports car download. | |
| The Sims 3 Holiday Collector's Edition |
|
Contains the base game DVD plus six Christmas-themed in-game items, a holiday song for The Sims 3, Christmas wallpaper for desktops, and an exclusive European sports car download. |
| The Sims 3 Commemorative Edition |
|
Offers the core game on DVD accompanied by a hardback art book (48 pages), a wall poster, a sketchbook featuring artwork sketches, and access to extra in-game content. |
| The Sims 3 Deluxe |
|
Combines the base game with The Sims 3: Ambitions expansion pack. |
| The Sims 3 Starter Pack | Includes the base game along with The Sims3: Late Night, High End Loft Stuff, plus additional downloadable content. |
Reception
Reviews
Critics and players generally responded positively, with Metacritic assigning an aggregate score of 86 out of 100 from a total of 75 reviews. PC Gamer gave The Sims 3 a score of 92% along with an Editor's Choice award, describing it as "the best installment in the Sims series to date". The PC edition earned an 8.9/10 rating from IGN, which remarked: "Offering a superior Sims gameplay experience, the freedom to explore the town without loading interruptions sets this apart from previous titles. Expanding the game's scope was a bold but necessary step, and credit goes to EA for evolving the decade-old formula. Although there is room for further innovation, The Sims 3 lays a strong foundation for continued success in the franchise."
Most evaluations were favorable. For instance, GameSpot rated the game 9.0 out of 10, praising it as "the finest entry in the series, skillfully balancing new elements with familiar gameplay." The title also achieved a placement at number 91 on IGN's list of the "Top 100 Modern Games". Additionally, in a special edition by Edge highlighting the top 100 video games ever made, The Sims 3 secured the 89th position.
Regarding the Nintendo 3DS adaptation, IGN awarded it a score of 7.5 out of 10, noting that although enhancements such as updated graphics and interface were appreciated, the omission of features like multiple save slots, personality traits, and service calls was peculiar. Nevertheless, they concluded that newcomers to the series would likely become engrossed despite some drawbacks.
At the 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, The Sims 3 received a nomination for "Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year".
Sales
Electronic Arts announced that The Sims 3 achieved sales of 1.4 million units during its initial week on the market. This launch marked the most lucrative PC game debut in the company's history up to that point. Data from Gfk Australia indicated that The Sims 3 maintained its position as the best-selling game in Australia from its release through June 30, 2009. By the end of 2009, it had secured its place as the highest-selling PC title globally for the year. Since its debut, The Sims 3 has joined the ranks of the best-selling PC games ever, with total worldwide sales surpassing ten million copies.
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- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "lower-alpha", but no corresponding <references group="lower-alpha"/> tag was found