The Sims 3

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1235 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 841 out of 1235
  2. Mixed: 288 out of 1235
  3. Negative: 106 out of 1235
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  1. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    9
    Sims 3 with the major expansions is good for hundreds of hours of sim life. There's so much variety and so many potential stories in this game that its hard not to love.
  2. LaurenG
    Jun 3, 2009
    8
    I like the thought of The Sims 3, I waited and waited and placed mine on reserve. When I installed it, it totally took over my desktop. The EA download manager, wouldn't let my PC do anything. I had to uninstall that part of the game. When I finally got to play the game, the load screens are awesome that their isn't any. I don't like the fact you can't zoom in on the I like the thought of The Sims 3, I waited and waited and placed mine on reserve. When I installed it, it totally took over my desktop. The EA download manager, wouldn't let my PC do anything. I had to uninstall that part of the game. When I finally got to play the game, the load screens are awesome that their isn't any. I don't like the fact you can't zoom in on the town in the first part. Also the controls are crazy, I just liked the mouse in the Sims 2 that worked really well..now going from that to the keyboard, is nerve racking. The grafics are awesome, and the TVs in the houses are like watching your own. The cars have improved alot. No more crazy colors or stripes. The design your own is pretty cool. Besides the some falts that this game may have, i'm sure that their will be an expansion pack that will fix all the bugs and patch.… Expand
  3. geekgurly
    Jun 9, 2009
    8
    I'm only giving it an 8 because there is a slew of items/articles/build sets that are not present in this installment. I really feel that Sims 3 should have had all the expansion pack items from the Sims 2 series as standard. It will be lame if I have to reacquire the same sets AGAIN for this series. That being said, I disagree with Lisa H that the graphics are not sharp on this I'm only giving it an 8 because there is a slew of items/articles/build sets that are not present in this installment. I really feel that Sims 3 should have had all the expansion pack items from the Sims 2 series as standard. It will be lame if I have to reacquire the same sets AGAIN for this series. That being said, I disagree with Lisa H that the graphics are not sharp on this game. (Note to Lisa H: change your graphics options, upgrade your GPU...the details look kickass on my pc so it can't be the game). Also like Andrew said, the grid is less restrictive. New things I love: you can place things at angles now [the lack of this feature sucked in the last games] and you can move anywhere on the map freely as well [i.e., to a neighbors house or community lots]. This added freedom makes the Sims 3 a whole new world worth exploring.… Expand
  4. NickT
    Aug 18, 2009
    8
    Although far from perfect initially (with the inevitable onslaught of expansion packs yet to come), this game is a step up from Sims 1 and Sims 2. The game churns out bug-fixing patches and its DLC is online (some free others you have to pay for), but you need internet for both. If your sims die from old age or something else, chances are an opportunity may arise to raise them from the Although far from perfect initially (with the inevitable onslaught of expansion packs yet to come), this game is a step up from Sims 1 and Sims 2. The game churns out bug-fixing patches and its DLC is online (some free others you have to pay for), but you need internet for both. If your sims die from old age or something else, chances are an opportunity may arise to raise them from the dead (and be able to control them once more). Adoption is a must-have phone service for sims that fail to "woo hoo" before they become elderly. Child-raising is a tad easier in some places, but a tad harder in others. Before I ramble too much about the game, I might as well remind you that hating it just because you hate it isn't really a good idea. Those who want to abuse sims should look elsewhere, though, as not much options for killing them exist. In a nutshell: Pros= Graphics, sfx, bgm, customization, dlc, etc. Cons= System requirements, price of some dlc, can't go into community buildings, lack of killing options, etc.… Expand
  5. JustinW
    Sep 16, 2009
    8
    This is a great game. The stats have been refined to make more sense, the graphics are a big improvement over the prequels and the explorable towns are more than large enough and contain a huge number of activities to take part in (parties, shopping, fishing etc). I'm not sure why there are so many rabid anti sims 3 reviews here, I for one had absolutely no problem with it. This is a great game. The stats have been refined to make more sense, the graphics are a big improvement over the prequels and the explorable towns are more than large enough and contain a huge number of activities to take part in (parties, shopping, fishing etc). I'm not sure why there are so many rabid anti sims 3 reviews here, I for one had absolutely no problem with it. There's only one real problem with it; the system requirements to run this smoothly are high. You're going to need a high end multi core processor, 4gb ram and a pretty new graphics card. If you've got that this is easily one of the best games this year (so far). Highly recomended game!… Expand
  6. JimP.
    Jun 6, 2009
    8
    The Sims 3 adds a lot to the series in the little additions to things like conversations, skills, and career building. However, it detracts from itself in the variety of clothing and hairstyles to pick from (pretty much all of them seem to be hellbent on being "hip" rather than giving a spectrum). The gameplay gets a bit daunting since if you're trying to manage several Sims who are The Sims 3 adds a lot to the series in the little additions to things like conversations, skills, and career building. However, it detracts from itself in the variety of clothing and hairstyles to pick from (pretty much all of them seem to be hellbent on being "hip" rather than giving a spectrum). The gameplay gets a bit daunting since if you're trying to manage several Sims who are all about town. Since the world is completely integrated, visits to other lots no longer freeze time and you have to juggle your multiple sims' interactions while being almost in two places at once. Perhaps its the lower graphics settings I have on my machine, but the movement of the character seems to kind of be clanky at times. If you want to clean up a plate on the table, they stare at it for a few seconds before finally picking it up. Sometimes while walking my sims will just stop midstep for about half of a second and then continue on. The new "time bar" that's added to several actions (such as sleeping, performing a skill-leveling activity, etc.) doesn't let you switch between options of sleeping until a certain time and sleeping until fully rested (or skilled up) freely without stopping your action and re-entering into it. Also it suffers from some of the same bugs as Sims 2, such as sleeping after WooHoo will be interrupted if you initiate another action afterward. There's also some minor clipping problems I've seen when sims get out of bed (if there's a nightstand right next to the bed, you tend to be able to put your leg right through it). There's also the issue of "The Store," EA's newest way to make money off of the franchise. New items, decorating sets, hair styles, clothing, cities, will all be offered online using The Sims 3 Store. You pay real money to get Sims Points which you can spend on items to add to the game. I believe EA was including a $10 (or 1000 Sims Points) card with the game, as well as a new town to play so it gives you a little bit to start with. But the cheesiness of having to pay more for items that really aren't that amazing (most are of moderate quality and don't really add much to the game) isn't that appealing and is actually more frustrating than handy. But The Exchange is a nice touch, where people can download other players' content from around the world including lot designs, tile designs, clothing designs (primarily in the form of changing the colors of an existing item), etc. Some of the lots designed on the Exchange are amazing, albeit in different languages (which they tell you before you download). All in all, it's a very good sequel to one of the most successful franchises in gaming history. I enjoy engaging in the new challenges it offers as well as the new dynamic it gives in gameplay. However, I still go through the game used to all of the amenities I had while playing Sims 2 and find myself going back when Sims 3 is getting a little repetitive. While you have to wonder if EA is going to be responsible and fix the bugs in a timely manner, you also have to wonder if the Sims 3 expansions are going to follow the same repetitive path that the Sims 2 did with the original Sims.… Expand
  7. Dalekc
    Jun 17, 2009
    8
    Very cool game, I am not a fan of the sims much although my sister is. I got this for her and she really likes it. There is 10x more things to do creating your sim and props. You get to know 'bots/players' better. It has multi-player aswel so that makes the game more epic.
  8. Zeph
    Dec 31, 2010
    8
    Just as advertised... the limit is your imagination. The Sims 3 is fun if you can keep thinking of interesting ways to make your sims interact in life. Create-a-sim was very well done, with clean menus and so many options (with more purchasable from the store). Performing actions in the game is simple, except that some are set to a near limitless time, such that your sim may end upJust as advertised... the limit is your imagination. The Sims 3 is fun if you can keep thinking of interesting ways to make your sims interact in life. Create-a-sim was very well done, with clean menus and so many options (with more purchasable from the store). Performing actions in the game is simple, except that some are set to a near limitless time, such that your sim may end up skipping school/work because the former action has not stopped. Building your home is probably the most annoying part of the game, some items fail to be placed in locations that seem logical, can be placed in mid-air, or are so insanely hard to make a spot for that you become frustrated. In all, The Sims 3 is a well polished game, but shows specks of tarnish here and there.… Expand
  9. Bathmat
    Apr 29, 2011
    8
    Why is this a good game? Simple. It's the creativity and the freedom involved. You don't have to create a big, happy family. That's actually pretty boring, if you ask me. I'd rather have a guy who, um er.... has a bad hairdo, a purple beard, I'll make him a crappy loser and I'll make his kid, um, fat and charismatic. Maybe I'd like to do a Juvenile Detention Centre. If any one of theWhy is this a good game? Simple. It's the creativity and the freedom involved. You don't have to create a big, happy family. That's actually pretty boring, if you ask me. I'd rather have a guy who, um er.... has a bad hairdo, a purple beard, I'll make him a crappy loser and I'll make his kid, um, fat and charismatic. Maybe I'd like to do a Juvenile Detention Centre. If any one of the detentionees sets their oven on fire, they burn to death because it's their fault. The building tool is the best feature in the game. I can spend ages building an awesome house. It'll have five floors and a basement. It'll be old fashioned. Yeah... But, why are the cheat codes so unhelpful? Players cheat when they want to. In the Sims 2, you can change everything about your Sim, kill them instantly, gain rewards deliberatley and set a person to live in my family and kick them out easily. There's of course more, but bottom line is that the cheat codes are more like help codes... And the diabolical clipboard and the millions of menus you have to go through? Come on. That is unfair. Oh, and the camera s fairly annoying. The problems that the previous two games had were not fixed. How annoying is that? There's bugs and glitches aplenty. Those annoying flaws aside, there's something for everyone in The Sims , even the true hardcore gamers out there (hence the building part). 8/10.… Expand
  10. ChilliPhilly
    Feb 26, 2011
    8
    I absolutely love this game, my Sims now feel as if they are apart of one large world rather than in some smll contained environment. The only complaint about this game I have is the facial customisation...... As much as I try. My sims all look fat. I hate it. I want The Sims 2 level of creation, not this wierd making your sims havedifferent body shapes all with a fat face...
  11. CursedKnight187
    Jul 25, 2012
    8
    The Sims is one of the franchises that isn't drowning in the new wave of games, and continuously releases good and fun games. Playing the game, you do feel very much like you are living another life within the game. However, the franchise does need something soon to jolt it back into the life, otherwise it will inevitably die a slow death.
  12. MusAddict
    Nov 25, 2011
    8
    As a former draftsman, and a fan of life simulation, I fell in love with this game. The ability to lead a fantastical second life while not being sucked into Second Life, this game really played on my hopes and dreams. While that sounds sad, it's actually a nice way to escape troubles for a short while while you "live" your dream of becoming a Blockbuster Movie Composer. Advancing yourAs a former draftsman, and a fan of life simulation, I fell in love with this game. The ability to lead a fantastical second life while not being sucked into Second Life, this game really played on my hopes and dreams. While that sounds sad, it's actually a nice way to escape troubles for a short while while you "live" your dream of becoming a Blockbuster Movie Composer. Advancing your skills in the guitar is also enjoyable.… Expand
  13. gingefisher
    Oct 16, 2011
    8
    a good game, just a few things that need sorting i think you should be allowed to go to work with them aswell... As when i purchased the game i was told you could!
  14. Awesomegamer7
    Sep 11, 2012
    8
    Ah...The Sims 3, great game!
    I love the music, sound effects and i also like that strange language they have, the game has some great musics! The intro music is so good to listen to, and the in-game musics are very good too!
    The game-play is very entertaining, and in the first day that you play this game you'll be amazed in the things you can do with it, the game is very fun. But    Ah...The Sims 3, great game!
    I love the music, sound effects and i also like that strange language they have, the game has some great musics! The intro music is so good to listen to, and the in-game musics are very good too!
    The game-play is very entertaining, and in the first day that you play this game you'll be amazed in the things you can do with it, the game is very fun.
    But there's a downfall :S, the game gets boring if you play it too much, for an example if you play more then 1-3 hours a day it will get hell boring....
    But besides that the game is very good.
    But you can get new things in the game-play if you buy expansions packs at Pirate Bay.
    The best expansions out right now are Ambitions, Late Night, Pets and Supernatural, those are the best and if you want a good experience with the game get all this expansions on PB and buy the game on Ebay or Amazon and prepare your self from some fun!    … Expand
  15. dprkforum
    May 12, 2013
    8
    This game when first released created a lot of excitement for me. The large maps where the Sims can freely walk around, improved graphics, a large user base, and plenty of options to let your imagination run wild. As expected, tons of expansions were added along with store-bought items. Yes, this game is extremely expensive if you add it all up, and Maxis has made a boatload of money fromThis game when first released created a lot of excitement for me. The large maps where the Sims can freely walk around, improved graphics, a large user base, and plenty of options to let your imagination run wild. As expected, tons of expansions were added along with store-bought items. Yes, this game is extremely expensive if you add it all up, and Maxis has made a boatload of money from it. Now the end-of-life has arrived with another on the way. Yes, that means more expansions and nickel and diming you to death. This game gave me endless hours of fun, and if you are willing to open your wallet and spend a pretty penny to get the "maximum" fun from it, I highly recommend it.… Expand
  16. PinkPony
    Apr 28, 2012
    8
    Considering the amount of money you pay for this when it comes out, the amount of "new" is very little. Many of the furniture, build mode items, hair, clothing comes straight out of Sims 2 (if not the original Sims game). The things that have changed are good, but could've been more. The step from Sims 1 to 2 was a lot bigger and way more impressive and a great improvement. Apart from theConsidering the amount of money you pay for this when it comes out, the amount of "new" is very little. Many of the furniture, build mode items, hair, clothing comes straight out of Sims 2 (if not the original Sims game). The things that have changed are good, but could've been more. The step from Sims 1 to 2 was a lot bigger and way more impressive and a great improvement. Apart from the graphics and the seamless city, new jobs etc. little has changed.… Expand
  17. Cubixreviews
    May 9, 2012
    8
    The Sims 3 is a really good life simulator game, but not better than The Sims 2. The SIms 3 haves some cool extras like, exploring the city, new jobs etc. The graphics are better, but the gameplay no. I miss building my own shop, I miss visiting aliens, I miss their cool expansion. So, I'm giving a positive rating, 8 points.
  18. DarthRevan
    Jul 8, 2012
    8
    In The Sims 3, you basically create families (or play pre-made families) and live their lives as you would your own. The Sims franchise has improved throughout the years and I'm pretty satisfied with this version. If you have never played before, you can do almost everything you would in real life. Own a house, go to work, go to stores, go to friends houses, host parties, learn to cook,In The Sims 3, you basically create families (or play pre-made families) and live their lives as you would your own. The Sims franchise has improved throughout the years and I'm pretty satisfied with this version. If you have never played before, you can do almost everything you would in real life. Own a house, go to work, go to stores, go to friends houses, host parties, learn to cook, play chess, watch TV, and have relationships. It's a really fun game. The Create-A-Sim is also fantastic because you can customize basically every part of your Sim, including your build, clothes, and personality. It also has a memory book where it saves important parts of your Sim's life, such as you got a promotion or had a baby. It's also customizable. There are websites you can go to where you can download extra clothes and items.

    There are a few cons, though. The Sims 3 is integrated with EA's wannabe Facebook, so it prompts you to login in a lot. It also has a few glitches and problems, but what else do you expect with an EA game? I recommend backing up your Sims and houses in case of a problem in the future.

    Even with the cons, this is a game you will most likely enjoy and spend a lot of time playing. I hope you enjoy it!    … Expand
  19. SilentINU
    Nov 28, 2012
    8
    the only thing that i always wanted on a Sims game was, Babies, create a real family and a family tree! The only reason i don't give it a 10 is not having split screen :( my sister and i used to play together on Sims 2. The interaction the new jobs and the mods for the game were excellent, Sims 3 is an epic game that provides long hours of play and fun creating Sims or families. And thethe only thing that i always wanted on a Sims game was, Babies, create a real family and a family tree! The only reason i don't give it a 10 is not having split screen :( my sister and i used to play together on Sims 2. The interaction the new jobs and the mods for the game were excellent, Sims 3 is an epic game that provides long hours of play and fun creating Sims or families. And the expansions were very good as well.… Expand
  20. CaptainCupboard
    Mar 21, 2013
    8
    I simply love character customization. Sims 3 gave me what I wanted....I suppose, but everyone I made seemed to look just like the next guy. I loved making a variety of houses, parks, jobs sites, museums, galleries and much more. I felt as if I was building my own town, which I really loved. Moving your character around and making him eat food was less enjoyable but I did it a bit. ItsI simply love character customization. Sims 3 gave me what I wanted....I suppose, but everyone I made seemed to look just like the next guy. I loved making a variety of houses, parks, jobs sites, museums, galleries and much more. I felt as if I was building my own town, which I really loved. Moving your character around and making him eat food was less enjoyable but I did it a bit. Its really awesome if you use cheats and mods and lasts quite a while before you run out of things to do. I loved making different characters...you could make a police officer, a gourmet chef, a CEO, An anchorman etc. The only thing is despite it said "You are a CEO of a major corporation" You just didn't feel like it. You'd click your character and put him in a building and after a minute he'd leave and just stand there. If you were an athlete or pop star you could I suppose you were considered famous but otherwise...no. I had fun building and progressing, a bit frustrated and bored at times but that doesn't matter. It lasted a while. I'd recommend you buy it...at a lower price.… Expand
  21. reviewobsession
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    As a player sometimes i want to play a game without limits. I look through my old games and try to decide which one can satisfy my open world hunger. And at the end i always embrace my Sims games as a savior. Sims 3 is a very good game with expansions. In spite of many serious bugs and long loading times, game world is relaxing and beautiful. Gameplay is deep and diverse. Challenge isAs a player sometimes i want to play a game without limits. I look through my old games and try to decide which one can satisfy my open world hunger. And at the end i always embrace my Sims games as a savior. Sims 3 is a very good game with expansions. In spite of many serious bugs and long loading times, game world is relaxing and beautiful. Gameplay is deep and diverse. Challenge is optional and creation tools are great. This is the last maxis game which respects hardcore and casual players equally. But Sims 3 is very expansive toy and without expansion packs content is limited and repetitive. If you have money and patience to ignore serious bugs, game is worth buying.… Expand
  22. jakethesnack
    Oct 25, 2013
    8
    I enjoy the game for how life like the game is, and I never seem to get bored whenever i play it despite while most of the time the sims are either at work/school or sleeping.
  23. Phack
    Aug 5, 2013
    8
    Great simulator with a great and easy game play. The game is really fun and most of people would play it for a long time. There's some problem like the working time. You can't see your sim while he's working so you wait and you wait until he finish. Same thing while your sim sleep. The house building is simply awesome. You can make homes that you like, the way you like it and its quite theGreat simulator with a great and easy game play. The game is really fun and most of people would play it for a long time. There's some problem like the working time. You can't see your sim while he's working so you wait and you wait until he finish. Same thing while your sim sleep. The house building is simply awesome. You can make homes that you like, the way you like it and its quite the same thing with the sims creation. The sims creation is really complete and realistic. You combine all this and it's make a great simulation game. You can also improve your game play by adding expansion to it. This make the game way better and it takes the game to a higher level. This game is great.… Expand
  24. HONDOMAN
    Nov 12, 2013
    8
    You can get lost in this game for hours, no joke. I had to have someone bring this game down to me while I was living in Argentina just so I could play it. The possibilities are endless in the Sims and houses you can create. While the game does have bugs, they are easy to overcome. There are a few major bugs though. The game will freeze in the Create A Style mode and made it very difficultYou can get lost in this game for hours, no joke. I had to have someone bring this game down to me while I was living in Argentina just so I could play it. The possibilities are endless in the Sims and houses you can create. While the game does have bugs, they are easy to overcome. There are a few major bugs though. The game will freeze in the Create A Style mode and made it very difficult to play. Also, your Sims will get stuck on things and sometime even vanish. A still very fun game and a great improvement over the last one, especially with the faces.… Expand
  25. gzy91
    Nov 26, 2013
    8
    A very interesting game which can give you great feeling of achievement after playing for a while. Also those mods are good. Though there are still bugs every now and then.
  26. Skitte
    Mar 7, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have played all sims so far, excepting the mobile ones and I can truly state that The Sims series is one of the few that really brings something new at every new titles. Sims 3 is a 2009 game, and the graphics are great, but not fantastic. There are a lot of things to do, building a house, keep a family and other many, but the movement, vocal and CAS items should be improved better. Also, I appreciate that there are lots of special and hidden things, as places, relations and characters. But there is a major problem: there are no special changes from The Sims 2, and here I'm talking about things specific only in gameplay. Nevertheless, The Sims 3 is a very important game in the sims franchise and therefor I give it an 8, rating it great.… Expand
  27. AlexSteel3511
    Nov 16, 2014
    8
    All is fine, but not a lot of cheap additions - is a big negative. A good and a good life simulator. But, really, really a lot of extras that, if we take everything to pull out of the bag 10 times more than the base game The Sims 3.
  28. whitepawn
    Oct 23, 2014
    8
    This is my go-to game when I have a new book to listen to, but I treat it as a building endeavor over the family thing. The sims are neat. The humor is an eyeroll. Example: the husband of my famous writer dies (from eating a bad jelly bean) and the grim reaper pulls out a smartphone to snap her picture before leaving with his ghost. It's cute in a not obnoxious kind of way.

    The    This is my go-to game when I have a new book to listen to, but I treat it as a building endeavor over the family thing. The sims are neat. The humor is an eyeroll. Example: the husband of my famous writer dies (from eating a bad jelly bean) and the grim reaper pulls out a smartphone to snap her picture before leaving with his ghost. It's cute in a not obnoxious kind of way.

    The creative variety available here is bare none. Sims 3 includes a feature called "create a style". You can basically micromanage the design of any object in the game be it clothing, a microwave, or the siding on a house. The personalization and variety to the personal landscape here is thus endless and remains interesting.

    CONS:
    -system resource guzzler
    -will overheat a weak laptop
    -still buggy with no autosave feature...so you must remember to save every hour
    -the sims themselves get old
    -do NOT try to get buy with a below recommendations system, sims 3 is a "heavy" game
    -ability to customize towns much outside of create a world just isn't there
    -ability to add new lots to an existing town is extremely hampered

    PROS-
    -building a house
    -creating outfits
    -Create-A-World
    -create a style (redesign any object in game to customize its look)
    -edit town allows you to save your family and/or lot and insert it in a new town if you become bored with your old one
    -players can design clothes, hair, houses, etc and provide them for upload...for free! It's great to have this endless outlet for new things in your game
    -exploring your town can be fun

    I tend to build, and just set queues on my families. I love create-a-world. I love testing my worlds. I have a tendency to work a family until the cash is enough to build the perfect, from scratch, house and then stop playing for months. That said, I've never encountered a "building" game I like more than Sims 3.

    Audiobook always playing though :) Like I said, it's just good, solid fodder for your idle hands while reading a book.    … Expand
  29. PrincessRose
    Sep 20, 2014
    8
    I've been playing sims 3 since 2009. And no matter how many games I play, if I stay away from my sim families too long I miss them. So I generally play for at least1 hour a week, much more in between waiting for other games to be released. Sims 3 is really worth playing especially with all expansions. It's still one of my all time favourite games. A game that has brought me endless fun andI've been playing sims 3 since 2009. And no matter how many games I play, if I stay away from my sim families too long I miss them. So I generally play for at least1 hour a week, much more in between waiting for other games to be released. Sims 3 is really worth playing especially with all expansions. It's still one of my all time favourite games. A game that has brought me endless fun and sometimes frustration, even when I have a lengthy break, it is a game I always return to.

    It is not a game without problems, it suffered from being buggy and sims getting stuck and going missing leaving me with game breaking error codes, my game became unplayable until thankfully player mods fixed the game when EA couldn't or wouldn't.

    Love the open world and that everything is customisable, you can build almost anything you can imagine in endless colours and styles, and make everything however you want, you can have a crazy green faced witch with a massive nose obsessed with making everything covered in a tartan pattern, the stories and scenarios you can have for your family is endless and only limited by your imagination.    … Expand
  30. noobyboymax
    Nov 16, 2014
    8
    A beautiful open-world game that can be replayed over and over again. Create-a-Sim is fun and living out a life as yourself (or someone made up) is totally amazing.

    I never managed to bother with many of the expansion packs simply because they were overpriced and looked dull but the base game was fun enough.
  31. Odogreviews
    Dec 6, 2014
    8
    The Sims 3 is the best life simulator out there so far. I have gotten personally so much enjoyment out of the game. But Maxis made way to many expansions for this game. The Sims really displays emotion and feeling that I have never seen in a game before. The load time is WAY TOO LONG. I would recommend this game but I would be cautious about buying any expansions because they often lead toThe Sims 3 is the best life simulator out there so far. I have gotten personally so much enjoyment out of the game. But Maxis made way to many expansions for this game. The Sims really displays emotion and feeling that I have never seen in a game before. The load time is WAY TOO LONG. I would recommend this game but I would be cautious about buying any expansions because they often lead to longer load times.… Expand
  32. MrCommonSense
    Oct 14, 2015
    8
    The sims 3 stands out as the single best sims game ever created. The open world game style design is excellent as are it's customization features. Unfortunately this game requires a top of the line gaming pc to run at it's best and since it's an EA title good luck accessing the freaking servers to register your game and gain access to the player store! This game is one of the best thingsThe sims 3 stands out as the single best sims game ever created. The open world game style design is excellent as are it's customization features. Unfortunately this game requires a top of the line gaming pc to run at it's best and since it's an EA title good luck accessing the freaking servers to register your game and gain access to the player store! This game is one of the best things EA has ever done and as anyone with half a brain will tell you they have gone straight down hill ever since. If you have a high end PC then you should buy it right away but try to get it with all of the content packs during a sale so you can get the full experience for half or less of the ridiculously high price. I truly wish EA wasn't run by a bunch of simple minded greedy and cheap rejects. There could be so much done with a sims title if it were created by a competent game publisher.

    Pros:

    A large open world game system with lots to see and do.

    Lots of customization options that allow you to build your dream home.

    The size of your house is unrestricted and is limited only by your computer's limitations.

    There are some cool content packs and even a DLC island where you can start a luxury resort.

    If you can freaking access it the player store offers loads of unique custom items that you cannot get in game.

    Cons:

    It's an EA game and EA is run by incompetent pieces of **** so the sims 3 servers, The thing that a significant portion of the game's fun factor depends on. Can be impossible to access for some people for no reason and EA won't do a damn thing to fix it either. Because they're EA. And they only know how to be worthless greedy **** holes.

    The system requirements are higher than most any other game you can think of. This game eats memory like a fat kid eats cake.

    You need an expensive gaming pc with quality parts to run it at it's peak.    … Expand
  33. niel1000000
    Jul 16, 2015
    8
    Sims 3 is an amazing game, that is very life like. I am looking forward to getting the new Expansion Packs. The amount of content is great. it feels like real simulation not the garbage what sims 4 is.

    the open world should be in all sims games.
  34. Axilley
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good goodgood good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good SIMS 3… Expand
  35. 6ATOHbl4
    Jun 9, 2019
    8
    A really good game. Not as good as The Sims 2, but pretty alright though, I must admit.
  36. AlexeySoltan
    Mar 18, 2022
    8
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  37. nexus151196
    Feb 28, 2021
    8
    Сотни часов я провел в этой игре, сотни часов смеха и плохой оптимизации. Классика.
  38. kasiakumka
    Nov 22, 2020
    8
    Im still playing it after many years, it has to be good. I recommend it to all girls :)
  39. fatbird-ratesga
    Dec 22, 2020
    8
    This game would be 10/10 if there wasn't so many bugs.. But i still appreciate open world, color wheel, gameplay and hoe you can express ypurseld just the way you want.
  40. Drewmeadyy
    Feb 17, 2021
    8
    Sims 3 has such a strong base game and any expansion packs add so much to the game however there are many glitches but regardless more well rounded then the sims 4.
  41. Kuzya_Zeleniy
    Aug 30, 2022
    8
    I am not very familiar with the Sims series. I have only played Sims 4 and it did not give me the best impressions. But after noticing how everyone praises the 3rd part and calls it the best part in the series, I decided to play it.
    And in general I liked her. For me, it is definitely better than 4 parts. It feels like they put their heart into this game.
    Nice music here. Also a very    I am not very familiar with the Sims series. I have only played Sims 4 and it did not give me the best impressions. But after noticing how everyone praises the 3rd part and calls it the best part in the series, I decided to play it.
    And in general I liked her. For me, it is definitely better than 4 parts. It feels like they put their heart into this game.
    Nice music here. Also a very nicely done clothing editor.
    The longer you explore the world here, the more you will be amazed at the amazingness of this game.
    Also, this game has very cool additions. My favorite with vampires.
    The game is great and I advise you to play it.    … Expand
  42. aaronnmp96
    Feb 27, 2023
    8
    probably the best sims game, although it can be very repetitive and monotonous
  43. nejnej55
    Apr 23, 2023
    8
    I remember spending my whole day as a kid playing this game, it was just so addictive and fun. The expansion packs actually brought a lot of content compared to the sims 4 today and the open world just makes the sims 3 much more superior to the sims 4. One negative thing that I remember would always happen was that the game would crash and I would lose all my progress.
  44. billp
    Jun 20, 2009
    7
    It feels a little rushed, but other then that its a nice upgrade to the sims2 just don't expect to see the same game, the openness is rather cool but it is also disappointing when you can only have one Famaly in the city that you own.
  45. TimJ
    Sep 6, 2009
    7
    Probably one of the only games that is fun without any kind of violence. But I must add that I am a bit disappointed by this game. I expected a lot more, they made the trailer look so much cooler than the actual game. Yeah, there are a lot more customizing options and new features but I dont see much difference from the Sims 2 apart from the slight improvement in graphics and the fact Probably one of the only games that is fun without any kind of violence. But I must add that I am a bit disappointed by this game. I expected a lot more, they made the trailer look so much cooler than the actual game. Yeah, there are a lot more customizing options and new features but I dont see much difference from the Sims 2 apart from the slight improvement in graphics and the fact that you can walk around the city without a loading screen. Verdict : Good game but could be better.… Expand
  46. JonB
    Dec 20, 2009
    7
    Not as good as Sims 2. But it's a great game. It's just that Sims 2 is a really, really great game.
  47. DANEger
    Mar 17, 2011
    7
    While I lost interest in this series a long time ago the game is most defiantly improved, as i played this I noticed far more complexity, customization, exploration and in general things to do. For a game that gives you a fake life all of these are good things.

    I was however upset that it had almost no free downloadable content i remember SCORES of free and high quality down lodes on 2    While I lost interest in this series a long time ago the game is most defiantly improved, as i played this I noticed far more complexity, customization, exploration and in general things to do. For a game that gives you a fake life all of these are good things.

    I was however upset that it had almost no free downloadable content i remember SCORES of free and high quality down lodes on 2 all made by the community I belive this game came out some time ago (Though I do not know i was not on my PC like i say i lost interest in the series long ago) but if it has i would think the community is eater unimaginative or the tools are no longer simple enough to use which is a shame because the astounding thing about 2 is you cold have anything you wanted from werewolves to charters from LoTR the only thing that i can find now is custom floor and wall tiles which while nice is just not the same.    … Expand
  48. gist95966
    Feb 21, 2012
    7
    First off let me state: I never played Sims 2. I've played sims 1 and all the expansions and that's it. I have heard from various people that Sims 2 was better - I can't comment to much on that, but I will state what I like about this game, and others can tell me (or if you already played sims 2 and know) if sims 2 had some of the features I liked or not. I will of course also express someFirst off let me state: I never played Sims 2. I've played sims 1 and all the expansions and that's it. I have heard from various people that Sims 2 was better - I can't comment to much on that, but I will state what I like about this game, and others can tell me (or if you already played sims 2 and know) if sims 2 had some of the features I liked or not. I will of course also express some of my dislikes.

    Sim Personalities: The whole neat, active,nice point system they had before is gone. To give your sims personality in this game you select traits and that drives them. you can select 1-5 traits, and some of them can't be combined because they contradict each other.
    I love this over the previous system. I really feel my sims are getting personality, and in the old system I didn't because I was spending to much time trying to fulfill needs. Which brings me to the second part.

    Sim Looks: Unfortunately there aren't as many choices here as I was hoping. There aren't many hairstyles in the vanilla game, and not many clothes or anything for that matter. HOWEVER the details can be customized to an extent that you have many options. While your limited by your hair style, it can be any color you like, and if you wanted, you could make your sim have steel hair or whatever other material you like. So your limited in your styles, but the materials and colors can be anything. Needs: Your sims aren't as needy in this game as they were previously, the values seem to be slower, and can be somewhat counteracted by your mood, which can have several bonuses, so that even if your hungry and stinky, your still in a good mood because your listening to music and received a promotion... etc. I find this realistic as well, since people in real life can be in a good mood even if they are hungry and need to go to the bathroom. It also allows you to focus on other goals such as skill building or making enough friends, or whatever. In the sims 1, I spent my entire time trying to put my sim in a good mood - even to the point of cheating for money to get better items, and I still didn't have enough time to make any friends to advance my career. Perhaps I was bad at the game... all I know is that the sims 3, allows me to have more fun and focus on several goals.

    The neighborhood: Compared to the sims 1, a definite improvement. There are a lot more pre-made sims to either play as or interact with your creations in the neighborhood and they were very creative with the houses that they all live in. You can also do things like seduce a rich wife, then kill them and their family so that your sim can have a much nicer place to live without having to earn money the "hard way" also better is that you don't feel trapped inside your house with your sim, People are constantly passing by and certain characters that you couldn't interact with in the sims 1, you can in the sims 3, such as the mailman, or repairman. Some of them might even turn out to live right next door! Very fun.
    if you let your sim do so, they will wander around the town as well, which gives a much more lively game than before.

    Aging: This is new, but fortunately customizable. They can't quite live forever, but you could slow down the aging process to a degree that would probably take you a year or two of solid playing to kill them from old age. You can also speed it up to the point where one day your a baby, and the next your young kid. If this weren't customizable I would have hated it. As is, I love it.

    Steam: It requires Steam-play. This a negative to me, because steam requires internet which of course means if your traveling, or have no internet for whatever reason you can't play. The Sims 3 shouldn't NEED internet to play. However... this might be more or a problem with Steam than with The Sims itself. Just mentioning for the sake of those who may have thought it can be played offline.

    another negative is that the graphics from the sims 2 haven't improved much. Personally though I think of it as a positive, since I don't play The Sims for the graphics, and it means comps with lower specs can handle it.

    Camera angles can be horrid at times, and can take quite a while to transfer from one sim to the other - even the sims 1 had better camera angles in my opinion!    … Expand
  49. ChoicestGames
    Mar 3, 2012
    7
    The Sims 3 is a brave attempt at trying to make the series head in a new direction and appeal more to actual gamers but by doing so might end up not satisfying either camp.
  50. Antfred
    Jul 22, 2013
    7
    Sims 3 improved so much from Sims 2. The graphics are cartoony and uplifting, the new open neighborhood and lifetime wishes and how it affects your sim. However, EA purposely handicapped the game so they could make more money from expansions! There isn't even weather in the base game! Overall, a good game but lacks features just for the sake for making extra money via expansions.
  51. Watersson
    Jan 1, 2014
    7
    I've always been a fan of The Sims I bought all the Sims 1 & 2 accessories and expansions Once I got Sims 3 immediately be installed and turned on I was disappointed Already during the construction mode, I saw a very truncated options Ok building has been done very well but taking many models wallpapers, carpets floors, stairs roofs, and so on for the expansions was somethingI've always been a fan of The Sims I bought all the Sims 1 & 2 accessories and expansions Once I got Sims 3 immediately be installed and turned on I was disappointed Already during the construction mode, I saw a very truncated options Ok building has been done very well but taking many models wallpapers, carpets floors, stairs roofs, and so on for the expansions was something terrible The creators made ​​it so that they can then spend a lot of expansions and accesories To me it's not fair and a lot of things that were in the expansions should be in the base game Lifestyle done flawlessly The same goes for exploring the city WITHOUT CHARGE SCREEN According to me this is the greatest revolution Create a family gained only minor changes compared to The Sims 2 Of course, there also has been taken away a lot of clothes for expansions Many people say that the developers are doing so because they want to expansions player had to choose from. All Ok but why EA took so many things from the base game If it were not I'd give the game 10 Too bad EA … Expand
  52. PreWarp
    Apr 27, 2013
    7
    Loved the game the first play through then it kinda dropped off for me. The expansions add a little spice and make me pick it up for another 2 to 3 hours but then it drops off again. Still love the idea this game presents and it has always brought the personal feeling of living one's life through a game to me. Great game and has always been a great concept. The pay for content was kindaLoved the game the first play through then it kinda dropped off for me. The expansions add a little spice and make me pick it up for another 2 to 3 hours but then it drops off again. Still love the idea this game presents and it has always brought the personal feeling of living one's life through a game to me. Great game and has always been a great concept. The pay for content was kinda iffy for me, I understand the reasoning but it kinda made me mad that after spending on the game i now have to spend on a certain lamp or chair I want. Silly but sometimes could be the deciding factor of if someone buys the game or not. Solid 7/10… Expand
  53. Carlsdil000
    Feb 22, 2014
    7
    The Sims series has been known for it's addictive, and fun gameplay. Many, many hours have been spent by people creating the perfect house and perfect sim family. With all the expansions and stuff packs released now...it's surprising that there are still so many bugs in this game! I have a high end PC so I don't have graphics issues or anything, but I am shocked sims still have pathThe Sims series has been known for it's addictive, and fun gameplay. Many, many hours have been spent by people creating the perfect house and perfect sim family. With all the expansions and stuff packs released now...it's surprising that there are still so many bugs in this game! I have a high end PC so I don't have graphics issues or anything, but I am shocked sims still have path finding issues and that some items simply do not work. For a series that is now 14 years old you'd think those things would have been cleared up quite some time ago. That being said, the game is a load of fun, and the online community is great. Hopefully sims 4 fixes issues that have been persistent since the the first entry in the series.… Expand
  54. Brit
    Jul 21, 2013
    7
    The Sims 3 seem like a pretty cool game if it ever loads. The more content you download to it the slower it will go. Other than that it's a pretty good game to play.
  55. King_Angusii
    Feb 25, 2014
    7
    This game would deserve a 10/10 if it wasn't so ridiculously buggy. About 75% of the bugs you come across can be fixed with console cheats if you know how. Such as, Sims getting stuck places they shouldn't be, Sims disappearing, etc. However some aren't as easily fixed such as miscalculations of the Sims in your household meaning you can't adopt, graphics glitches, stopping your Sims fromThis game would deserve a 10/10 if it wasn't so ridiculously buggy. About 75% of the bugs you come across can be fixed with console cheats if you know how. Such as, Sims getting stuck places they shouldn't be, Sims disappearing, etc. However some aren't as easily fixed such as miscalculations of the Sims in your household meaning you can't adopt, graphics glitches, stopping your Sims from finding a job, sound loops etc. It seems the longer you play one saved game the more likely you are to come across bugs.

    Aside from the bugs the gameplay is awesome. You can customise your Sims pretty much however you want, you can extend their life to ages and ages or move through generations quickly, build awesome houses. Sims 3 gives you a lot more control over the game than previous Sims games. However, the exception to this is the building which doesn't offer anything new and can be very clunky at times. If your the main thing you do in the Sims is build homes I'd suggest you play TS2 and skip all the bugs.    … Expand
  56. f3l1p3
    Sep 7, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pra mim foi um The Sims inferior aos outros. E não apenas por causa dos bugs não. Mas porque os sims não têm vida, são robóticos, o jogo é muito mal otimizado. As cidades são mortas, não há ninguém na rua. Mas não significa que ele é um jogo ruim, ele adicionou coisas legais como "Criar Um Estilo". Enfim, um jogo não tão bom,mas jogável.… Expand
  57. Jpelda_CrazyCat
    Sep 8, 2014
    7
    Aaaaah, I remember hours and hours and hours(!!!) of playing this game. Sometimes I was the happiest person on the world, sometimes the saddest one when my sim died. I highly recommend buying TS3 in sales with some expansion packs which will cost a lot because they are as expensive as the game by itself, but still. Yes, the game has bugs... LOTS of bugs, but they usually show when yourAaaaah, I remember hours and hours and hours(!!!) of playing this game. Sometimes I was the happiest person on the world, sometimes the saddest one when my sim died. I highly recommend buying TS3 in sales with some expansion packs which will cost a lot because they are as expensive as the game by itself, but still. Yes, the game has bugs... LOTS of bugs, but they usually show when your computer is weaker or you have like ten generations of one family. Anyway, enjoy playing, it's great!… Expand
  58. KeyboredMonkey
    Nov 2, 2014
    7
    If you like controlling people and picking their every action, this game is your game.
    However if you get bored with the Vanilla/Base, many expansion packs are there to rescue the day! Or waste your money...
    But overall, the game is very enjoyable.
  59. DustyRB
    Feb 17, 2016
    7
    The Sims 3 only appeals to a small audience and is a very slow paced and boring game to endure. In theory this this game sounds like it would pretty fun but when you get into it you dont have many things to do and i often find myself skipping through a big chunk of the day so i can do something later. I realize i am not exactly the right kind of gamer to enjoy this but it seems like onlyThe Sims 3 only appeals to a small audience and is a very slow paced and boring game to endure. In theory this this game sounds like it would pretty fun but when you get into it you dont have many things to do and i often find myself skipping through a big chunk of the day so i can do something later. I realize i am not exactly the right kind of gamer to enjoy this but it seems like only a child could enjoy. But this game does have some redeeming features such as the deep character customization and it was also kind of fun(and sometimes annoying) trying to multitask and fulfil my character's needs. Besides that this game is painfully boring and definitly worth a skip unless you a fan of this genre a games.… Expand
  60. Porng44
    Mar 18, 2016
    7
    Consider this game is the best Life-Simulation to date. You start a life by get a job and receive those payment for upgrade house, buy new stuffs and pay bills, of course. This maybe my best Experience in the Sims 3, You find a partner and she get pregnant. then your new child born. the baby become a toddler. to me, children is not my best interest. but in the Sims 3, it a littleConsider this game is the best Life-Simulation to date. You start a life by get a job and receive those payment for upgrade house, buy new stuffs and pay bills, of course. This maybe my best Experience in the Sims 3, You find a partner and she get pregnant. then your new child born. the baby become a toddler. to me, children is not my best interest. but in the Sims 3, it a little different. when they grew up, they also retain the look from their parent, like hair color and face shape. However, the game has bad AI. Sims simply don't run, like when they late at work. they simply just walk and that can take more than 30 minutes in game, consider your house has long enough walkway. some of the AI is bad enough to make you became annoyed and may want to kill them on purpose. the game will start to get boring, especially without new contents soon.… Expand
  61. FilemonBR
    Aug 23, 2016
    7
    Fraco, como sucessor do grandioso the sims 2, ele deveria vir com mais coisas, esta chato, nao esta engraçado, e o pior the sims de todos , simples assim
  62. YukineUchimaki
    Nov 8, 2019
    7
    Juego de crear vida ect el juego esta bueno me gusta mucho la saga pero los dlc's de esto es infumable pero son peor que paradox.
  63. SrCre
    Mar 10, 2020
    7
    [ ] Perfect
    [ ] Awesome
    [x] Good
    [ ] Good Bad
    [ ] Fail

    Não vejo necessidade em escrever um longo texto analisando uma arte, a nota é apenas um conselho para saber o quanto ela vale para sua vida.

    I see no need to write a long text analyzing an art, the note is just a piece of advice to know how much it is worth in your life.
  64. MrPajamas
    Apr 19, 2021
    7
    The Sims 3. The simulator I spent the most of all. Right from the beginning, I was enchanted by the graphics, which again missed some of the piece compared to previous parts and the game looks much better. Not only does it look, but it is. You have even more options for creating a Sim, and this time you can really create it in the form of you, if you want. Luxury house construction. LotsThe Sims 3. The simulator I spent the most of all. Right from the beginning, I was enchanted by the graphics, which again missed some of the piece compared to previous parts and the game looks much better. Not only does it look, but it is. You have even more options for creating a Sim, and this time you can really create it in the form of you, if you want. Luxury house construction. Lots of options, which are again part of DLC. What's great is the opportunity to go to town and overall the fact that you don't have to spend the whole game in your house is great. It's a shame that you don't explore that much, because as I mentioned, a lot of it should already be in the game, but it's not and you're forced to pay the DLC developers. For me, a good game that still improves the second, but repeats the same mistake and that is paid content. Once you have all the DLCs, hundreds of hours of content await you. But as soon as you play a classic game without any DLC, you will play up to a hundred and then you will find that you no longer have much to do in the game. For me, a good game that could have been great, but paid DLC knocks it all down. Nevertheless, I recommend The Sims 3.… Expand
  65. kolarz3
    May 19, 2023
    7
    Pretty good game about building your own house and family. I spend some time on building my home and enjoyed that :)
  66. Wondux
    Jan 3, 2022
    7
    Very fun game. I liked either cheating and getting a very easy life, or trying to kill characters in a pool, or actually simulating real life.
  67. l1lj4
    Jun 5, 2022
    7
    sims 3 never miss. much better than the others, best sims game so far. sim creating could be little more wider tho.
  68. PenetratorGod
    Sep 1, 2023
    7
    I've always liked it more than the fourth game, and I've played it more. Despite EA's horrible DLC policy, it still makes more sense to play this than the fourth game.
  69. Blackshine
    Nov 17, 2022
    7
    на уровне симсов
    7/10
    7/10
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    7/10
  70. Lloyd
    Jun 8, 2009
    6
    While its a fairly solid release with little bugs to annoy me, I can't help but feel the new direction EA has taken TS3 - which is 'take out the majority of contents useable in TS2 and make everything available on the EA Store'. Is it just me or does TS3 seem less in content then TS2 included in it's vanilla base game? Eg, the Tiki set costs a lot more than i couldWhile its a fairly solid release with little bugs to annoy me, I can't help but feel the new direction EA has taken TS3 - which is 'take out the majority of contents useable in TS2 and make everything available on the EA Store'. Is it just me or does TS3 seem less in content then TS2 included in it's vanilla base game? Eg, the Tiki set costs a lot more than i could afford on the EA store.… Expand
  71. mrcritic
    Sep 25, 2010
    6
    The Sims 3 is great, however the disability to have pets really takes it down a notch. The expansion packs are also not the best. Much better than most of the other Sims games, however.
  72. GhettoGarden1
    Aug 23, 2011
    6
    Okay, so I am huge fan of the sims series, but this version, has pros and cons. More cons than pros.
    Pros:
    Seamless neighborhoods -This was a very nice touch, adding realism. More skills -The skills give you more stuff to do when your not working--very rare occasion. Now onto the cons: Unrealistic: the first two were meant to simulate a real family, and they did, very nicely. But this    Okay, so I am huge fan of the sims series, but this version, has pros and cons. More cons than pros.
    Pros:
    Seamless neighborhoods
    -This was a very nice touch, adding realism.
    More skills
    -The skills give you more stuff to do when your not working--very rare occasion.
    Now onto the cons:
    Unrealistic: the first two were meant to simulate a real family, and they did, very nicely. But this version, personalities seem, just, off.
    Very slow: not just loading screens, which are terrible, but also game time, it takes forever to do remidial tasks, such as eating sleeping cleaning.
    Jobs: your working all day everyday, and your out of energy by the time you get home, and when you wake up, your late for work.
    Strange personalities: something just doesn't seem right about their personalities, they all seem really dull and sad alot of the time.
    Horrid AI: set the Free Will to max, and they will die of starvation. It seems that the AI system in this version was downgraded.
    So thats about it. EA seems to be becoming the next Activisio, caring about money more than quality.    … Expand
  73. l0rdm0rd
    Aug 3, 2012
    6
    The Sims 3 is a fine game, which offers fun for a long time. You can customize your character a lot and most settings have a great influence on your charcter's behaviour during gameplay. If you liked sims 1 and 2, you might like this one. The only problem is:
    The game is very buggy. The developers seem to focus mostly on adding new objects that you can buy ingame and then tell everyone on    The Sims 3 is a fine game, which offers fun for a long time. You can customize your character a lot and most settings have a great influence on your charcter's behaviour during gameplay. If you liked sims 1 and 2, you might like this one. The only problem is:
    The game is very buggy. The developers seem to focus mostly on adding new objects that you can buy ingame and then tell everyone on facebook about instead of fixing bugs. Especially since the animal update sims get stuck, become invisible, can't be selected, can't enter or leave areas.... any bug you can think of will probably at one point happen to you. The forums online are full with people complaining about bugs, that exist for a long time with no fix. Also the performance of the game is quite bad, considered its graphics that look only little better than sims 2. On my machine battlefield 3 runs smoothly at high settings and sims 2 on the same machine feels laggy when zooming in an out, the fps drop to about 8 when scrolling and often textures are loaded badly. I already had to delete to families because of unfixable bugs. Another gameplay issue: you can do lots of cool thinks, like exploring caves or going to the movies, but each time your sim just is gone for 2 game hours and the reappears with a pop up bubble saying "that was so much fun!" while you could only stare at your screen and wait for your character to come back. You can not influence anything during this time outs and the get old quickly.
    If you can live with bugs and bad performance and just like to create your sim and then build a fancy house, you will be fine with the game. But if you want both fun and stability, sims 3 isn't the game to go for.    … Expand
  74. BeatHour
    Jan 18, 2014
    6
    I'd have to grade on the curve of its predecessor, The Sims 2, quite a bit here, as The Sims 3 was an arbitrary reinvention while The Sims 2 still had some years left in it.

    The main feature of TS3 is the living neighborhood, followed closely by the traits system which allows one to create varied Sim personalities. I believe this was previously done with a motives system, which has been    I'd have to grade on the curve of its predecessor, The Sims 2, quite a bit here, as The Sims 3 was an arbitrary reinvention while The Sims 2 still had some years left in it.

    The main feature of TS3 is the living neighborhood, followed closely by the traits system which allows one to create varied Sim personalities. I believe this was previously done with a motives system, which has been carried over to The Sims 3.

    However, the new features caused the developers to sacrifice key elements of gameplay from The Sims 2, like the Memories system and well developed game progression. The Sims 3 functions less like a game or an art studio (making screenshots and stories was much easier in TS2), TS3 behaves like an open world sandbox simulator. There's very little love or detail to any one aspect of the game, and like many open world games, its variety, more often than not, means a host of bugs, glitches, and limited fix patches (if any).
    Indeed, glitches and horrible memory leaks from the game's launch are still present in the game, along with all the bugs and gltiches added with each new expansion.

    The art style is sterile and lifeless. Characters seem to have no emotion. The traits system is rarely used, sometimes effecting character idle actions, desires, and certain interaction, but the developers constantly made oversites in preparing the traits. For example, a technophobe hates it when a television is on, but he's more than happy to use a smart phone or listen to an electronic radio. Sims with the 'Good' trait can do little other than send donations to charity. Insane Sims do little outside of idle interactions, where they talk to themselves or play with a brick. Very unimaginative.

    The aging and story progression system is appalling. Not enough options are given, and what options are there do not work properly. If I say 'all story progression off', my Sims will still have affairs and relationships, adopt kids and animals, buy cars, get jobs, etc. Neighborhood aging can't be turned off with the house selected still being on, so if I just want to play with one family while making the neighborhood static, I can't do that. If I want full free will, full story progression, sadly the developers haven't programmed that! Sims will not get married and have children. Slowly all of your unplayed Sims will die off and be replaced by their adopted children or random NPCs.

    The cheat system is also very lacking. In The Sims 2, one had the 'Tombstone of Life and Death' where they could kill sims, make sims related to eachother, make them married, make them pose in whatever way you want. There's NOTHING like that in TS3. There's not even a mod that does all these things well.

    Creating Sims is better, but there's still no height adjustments, or other body size adjustments, so you'll never really be able to make anyone who's shorter or taller than 5'8. Architecture is totally scrapped. In The Sims 2, the architecture system was so avante gard, it was used in place of architectural programs. TS3 simplifies house building, taking out stuff like dormers, certain roof types, and other specifications.

    The base game is rather bare-bones. You have careers, sim interactions, and collectibles. Not really anything beyond that. All in all, its a fairly large game with lots of Facebook-game-like stuff to do, and tons of unloved DLC disguised as expansion packs. If you can get over the graphics and world play differential, get The Sims 2 instead. Its a much more well put together, fun, and creative experience.    … Expand
  75. McFungus
    Nov 11, 2012
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I find myself envious of the people in Sims 3.
    Those little guys can make mac and cheese perfectly after only watching TV for a few minutes.
    What station are you tuning into man? I see some spiced pork dish or tagine pop up from time to time but never a good mac and cheese recipe.
    I'm going to have to have toast again tonight aren't I...    … Expand
  76. McCrumReviews
    Aug 12, 2014
    6
    I'm a fan of tycoon games, but not a big fan of EA's "Sims" franchise. It's fun for a while. Creating people and directing their everyday lives is enjoyable for an hour or two, but when that's all you do, it becomes tedious at best. It's not great, and it's not terrible, it just is. If you liked the "Sims 2", no doubt you will like this latest installment. If you're not a fan of EA'sI'm a fan of tycoon games, but not a big fan of EA's "Sims" franchise. It's fun for a while. Creating people and directing their everyday lives is enjoyable for an hour or two, but when that's all you do, it becomes tedious at best. It's not great, and it's not terrible, it just is. If you liked the "Sims 2", no doubt you will like this latest installment. If you're not a fan of EA's franchise, you need not apply.… Expand
  77. DailyGaming
    Apr 13, 2015
    6
    The Sims 3 is a really fun game, in my opinion its better then the Sims 4. It always had a special place in my heart. The only i really dislike about the game is that you have to buy expansion packs to get more which is annoying
  78. arostislavna
    Feb 29, 2020
    6
    Takes forever to load for no apparent reason, and unfortunately character customization really shows it's age here.
  79. MatikTheSeventh
    Oct 10, 2020
    6
    The Sims 3 is a step in the right direction, and two steps back! The open world is innovative and the only thing that makes people go back to the game. The design creator is also very nice and needed in new entries in the franchise. Meanwhile, everything is broken, the loading times were and still are a nightmare, the NPCs turn into pudding people after a while.

    And everything is just    The Sims 3 is a step in the right direction, and two steps back! The open world is innovative and the only thing that makes people go back to the game. The design creator is also very nice and needed in new entries in the franchise. Meanwhile, everything is broken, the loading times were and still are a nightmare, the NPCs turn into pudding people after a while.

    And everything is just coated in EA's paywall system, where most basic stuff is either added in expansion packs or must be bought through a separate shop for SimPoints.
    It could've been an amazing life simulator if it wasn't for EA.    … Expand
  80. sebastianali
    Jul 14, 2019
    6
    Los sims 3 esta bien, pero la falta de contenido con respecto al anterior, el no poder crear tu barrio y la falta de variedad le restan puntos. Ademas, la gran cantidad de expansiones al igual que los anteriores hacen que uno se replantee el haberlo comprado. Que tontos...
  81. Hyperfailure
    Nov 27, 2022
    6
    
  82. AndrewS
    Jun 18, 2009
    5
    A really fun game - That is if you don't factor in the crashing that thousands of people who absolutely meet the mininum requirements are experiencing (EA has yet to create a path for this... big surprise...), EAs attempts at taking your hard earned cash with overpriced downloadable items. Oh and don't forget the $200 worth of expansions that will be coming soon to slow down A really fun game - That is if you don't factor in the crashing that thousands of people who absolutely meet the mininum requirements are experiencing (EA has yet to create a path for this... big surprise...), EAs attempts at taking your hard earned cash with overpriced downloadable items. Oh and don't forget the $200 worth of expansions that will be coming soon to slow down your CPU. Your game wont be complete without them! Other than that though... its a fun game.… Expand
  83. LisaH
    Jun 5, 2009
    5
    I have had all the Sims games, but this one at present, seems to be the one I like the least! Personally I find the graphics are nowhere near as sharp as the previous games, and colours less vibrant. - so visually I find it seems messy & incompleted. I liked the simplicity of Sims 2, and some of the quirky add-ons from Sims 1 i.e. Making Magic, shame Sims3 isn't an synergy of the I have had all the Sims games, but this one at present, seems to be the one I like the least! Personally I find the graphics are nowhere near as sharp as the previous games, and colours less vibrant. - so visually I find it seems messy & incompleted. I liked the simplicity of Sims 2, and some of the quirky add-ons from Sims 1 i.e. Making Magic, shame Sims3 isn't an synergy of the best parts of Sim1 & 2. I may get used to this one - or atleast I'm hoping I will, but for me, the clarity of the graphics is disappointing!… Expand
  84. AlexP
    Aug 27, 2009
    5
    The Sims 3 was very exciting at first. With all the news about it, and the advertising, it sounded pretty good. The idea of a seamless neighborhood is amazing! Unfortunately though, the seamless neighborhood isn't complete. You arn't allowed to follow your sim inside stores, restaurants and other buildings. The building creator is worse too. You can't build stores anymore, The Sims 3 was very exciting at first. With all the news about it, and the advertising, it sounded pretty good. The idea of a seamless neighborhood is amazing! Unfortunately though, the seamless neighborhood isn't complete. You arn't allowed to follow your sim inside stores, restaurants and other buildings. The building creator is worse too. You can't build stores anymore, which was one of my favorite features of the sims 2. It gets worse. There is only 1 playable neighborhood, and you can't create your own! Changing families is a drag too. It is a lot of work, as you have to go to the new"town editor" and deselect your family. On the other hand, you can walk around town, which is fun for a while, and the Create a sim has a lot of new great features. The seamless neighborhood is great too, if you dont consider what I wrote about the public lots. If they make a Sims Box like they did for sim city(we all know why ea did that) then you might have fun with the sims 3 for a few days. I recommend that you stay with the Sims 2 for now.… Expand
  85. TheMainCritic
    Jun 28, 2012
    5
    They Just need to add more.... The game has gotten more fun with the expansions but its just not enough. They need to make it a more real life experience....
  86. EliteMatty
    Jul 12, 2012
    5
    Would hate to flame on this game, but the DLC is overpriced and I don't see what else it brings but a few new features that could easily be implemented with free items you can find online. Gameplay does get quite tedious after about 10 hours and I have never played the game since.
  87. N8_2
    Jan 22, 2013
    5
    The game's content is nearly flawless, but it is full of bugs and was VERY poorly optimized. Even with a high-end PC the game requires about 10 minutes to load (launching the game + loading saved games), and about 1-2 minutes to save or quit. After about 20+ hours of play time the game becomes riddled with bizarre lag which renders the game nearly unplayable. This lag problem hasn't beenThe game's content is nearly flawless, but it is full of bugs and was VERY poorly optimized. Even with a high-end PC the game requires about 10 minutes to load (launching the game + loading saved games), and about 1-2 minutes to save or quit. After about 20+ hours of play time the game becomes riddled with bizarre lag which renders the game nearly unplayable. This lag problem hasn't been dealt with by EA at all (despite a 50 page thread about it on their website), but an unofficial mod partially fixes the problem... In addition, my Sims vanish/teleport randomly around the town, and the UI (rarely) becomes invisible.… Expand
  88. reviewfrom19842
    Aug 31, 2016
    5
    A okay sims game for a low price......................................................................................................................
  89. Forsakenboy1
    Dec 27, 2017
    5
    O jogo em si é bastante pesado, pouco otimizado, trouxe uma grande inovação para a época em que foi lançado, porém não foi muito bem trabalhado. Os gráficos são de fato muito feios, mortos, sem emoção, um jogo cinza; mundos desertos, bastante irreal até mesmo para a série. Sem falar na falta de opção, sendo um dos principais problemas da geração, você mal consegue se ver nos lotesO jogo em si é bastante pesado, pouco otimizado, trouxe uma grande inovação para a época em que foi lançado, porém não foi muito bem trabalhado. Os gráficos são de fato muito feios, mortos, sem emoção, um jogo cinza; mundos desertos, bastante irreal até mesmo para a série. Sem falar na falta de opção, sendo um dos principais problemas da geração, você mal consegue se ver nos lotes comunitários, você entra neles e desaparece, um erro muito grande.… Expand
  90. erdogfu96
    Feb 9, 2020
    5
    This game is buggy and worse than sims 2. It is garbage. There is no fun of playing real-life simulator when the game is so easy...
  91. Giero
    Jan 4, 2023
    5
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  92. AnonymousMC
    Jul 14, 2009
    4
    The seemless feature is okay, but a lot of simple things have been made frustratingly difficult. Placing stairs are a pain and removing a family means deleting a whole neighborhood. A lot of the simplicity has been lost and a lot of what made the sims 2 fun is missing forcing us to wait three or four years so we can buy it back.
  93. LUCIA
    Oct 16, 2011
    4
    Soy fanática de los Sims 3, pero quiero criticarlo porque deberían sacar la expansión de hacer negocios, como lo hicieron en los Sims 2, que eso fue lo que le dio la vida, y uno podía hacer muchas cosas.
    Por favor a los Sims 3 lo unico que le faltan para ser perfectos es la expansión de los negocios.
  94. Beav
    Feb 6, 2012
    4
    I've been a fan of the franchise since I was a kid, and The Sims 3 further develops what the first conceptualized. This review would be completely positive if it were not for one big concern. Bugs. Oodles of them. I've played through multiple households and over time each one has become unplayable, bogged down with debilitating bugs. I've spent over a year monitoring the official communityI've been a fan of the franchise since I was a kid, and The Sims 3 further develops what the first conceptualized. This review would be completely positive if it were not for one big concern. Bugs. Oodles of them. I've played through multiple households and over time each one has become unplayable, bogged down with debilitating bugs. I've spent over a year monitoring the official community forums, and patching my game. Nothing. It's one thing if EA would keep up a dialogue with it's customers, but instead the forums go completely ignored. Meanwhile, they start work on a store for peddling digital items. I can see where EA's priorities lie. Accordingly, nothing EA produces will have priority in the future as far as my gaming budget is concerned. I suggest you all adopt the same outlook until EA seriously improves its customer service performance. At the very least DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. Otherwise, all you're in for is frustration.… Expand
  95. TheCoolDude
    Mar 5, 2013
    4
    This game is fun for the first few hours. Its great right up until the point when you realize, nothing you do in the game actually matters. I made a city with no police, no fire department, no medical, polluted drinking water, factory's and garbage dumps right next to homes, exc. and my City Was Still Successful. We had 110 crimes committed every day, 23 buildings burning down a day, 213This game is fun for the first few hours. Its great right up until the point when you realize, nothing you do in the game actually matters. I made a city with no police, no fire department, no medical, polluted drinking water, factory's and garbage dumps right next to homes, exc. and my City Was Still Successful. We had 110 crimes committed every day, 23 buildings burning down a day, 213 people dyeing of sickness a day, and the city was making over 12 thousand dollars an hour. You cant lose this game. Its impossible. 4/10 for being unloseable.… Expand
  96. cruser42
    Mar 1, 2014
    4
    This game is very fun, no question about it. It is also quite expensive, and as you will eventually discover, unplayably buggy.

    On those last two points: 1) Don't pretend that the sims 3 is the $8 that you pay for it on sale. Getting the sims 3 means getting at least half the expansion packs. Think $200. If you're willing to pay that, you'll have a very fun game, if not, play    This game is very fun, no question about it. It is also quite expensive, and as you will eventually discover, unplayably buggy.

    On those last two points:

    1) Don't pretend that the sims 3 is the $8 that you pay for it on sale. Getting the sims 3 means getting at least half the expansion packs. Think $200. If you're willing to pay that, you'll have a very fun game, if not, play something else.

    2) Many of the bugs are known to EA. There are community fixes available for some of them. EA has not implemented any of these fixes, but they have produced lots of expansion packs (with bugs of their own) instead.

    What this means for you:
    Your save game WILL become corrupted. It is only a matter of time. If you made many copies, you may be able to go to an earlier backup, and use some of the community tools to delete the bugged object(s) that are making your game crash. (Bills/presents in the mail often make the game crash, unless you use a custom tool to wipe them from your save every so often). The bugs are not minor, they WILL destroy your game and render it unplayable.

    The loading times are terrible. Expect to spend 5-10 minutes waiting for the game to start/load even with an ssd. EA knows that they are bad.. they even have a minigame you can play while all the loading happens! To contrast, WINDOWS boots and logs in in 15 seconds on the same computer.

    The problem is that EA wrote the game very poorly. The algorithms used are inefficient. This was not obvious with just 'sims 3', however, every expansion pack adds content that the game needs to sort through. Add enough content (half the expansion packs) and the game will no longer function. Even on the fastest computers.

    EA can (but won't) fix some of the outstanding bugs easily enough. They can't fix most of them without a full rewrite. Hopefully the sims 4 is that better rewrite.    … Expand
  97. Trollosaurus
    May 6, 2017
    4
    Great open world, the only thing that is enjoyable here. But even that falls into crap due to forever loadings and constant lags. Lot's of bugs and glitches even on high end PCs. Not worth the full price at all. Maybe in future there will be a miracle and a PC that makes this game run properly.
  98. HelloKitty
    Aug 24, 2009
    3
    Before anyone deems "The Sims 2" and "The Sims 3" to be completely "different" games, and as such, The Sims 3 should not be judged based on it's predecessor, you should review the defininition of franchise. The Sims 3 replaces The Sims 2 in terms of funding, that means that EA will finish up whatever it has left for the platform and start funding The Sims 3 instead of The Sims 2. Now Before anyone deems "The Sims 2" and "The Sims 3" to be completely "different" games, and as such, The Sims 3 should not be judged based on it's predecessor, you should review the defininition of franchise. The Sims 3 replaces The Sims 2 in terms of funding, that means that EA will finish up whatever it has left for the platform and start funding The Sims 3 instead of The Sims 2. Now this sounds typical, but understand that if The Sims 3 simply built upon The Sims 2 there would be no problem in the transition, but as it is there are many people who are unhappy with the new product, who continue to play with the old and are being pushed aside as EA abandons its old playerbase to form a new one with this release. Honestly, the Sims 1 was a lot more rewarding than The Sims 2... it was more difficult, and items had a more... marked... effect. The Sims 2 was a rewardless sandbox with many features that could have been cooler... the Sims 3 is... something else... I don't even understand what it is suppose to be.… Expand
  99. Maiya19
    Apr 5, 2013
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I bought this game about a year after it's release. I've been playing ever since; however, not everyday. The more I play this game, the more it disappoints me. I will first state my PROS. The graphics in the Sims 3 are much better than the graphics in the Sims 2. Surprisingly, this is my only PRO.

    Now, on to the CONS. In The Sims and The Sims 2, it was much easier to lie down a lot and build a house because there was so much space and in The Sims 2 about two or three worlds were given. The Sims 3 only gives one world, other worlds have to be purchased, and most of the space is used by rabbit holes or already laid houses. There is little space to lie down more buildings. You can renovate your world but not all of the land is flat and making it flat requires patience. In The Sims 2, you could see your Sims work. In The Sims 3 it is quite the opposite. Your sim will go to work but you cannot see any work they will do; You will only be notified that they are working. This was a huge disappoint for me.

    In The Sims and the Sims 2, almost every item in the game you could use or your sim could use. There were only very few items for display, such as statues or plants. In The Sims 3, there are many items that cannot be put to use in this game. For example; the powder bar (I forgot the name but it is located under items for the bathroom). In The Sims 2, babies were to be changed on a bar very similar to the powder but in The Sims 3 they are changed in the air. In The Sims 2, dirty diapers were left behind and so was messy baby food and bottles. Babies are a handful. The game-play is more realistic in The Sims 2 than in The Sims 3. Another example is the cash register. Placing a cash register will not result to Sims working or the fact that you cannot hire and fire. The whole business/working aspect is a complete miss in this game.

    The action in this game is a miss also. I liked when the Sims would have their first kiss or get married, the screen would show a brief moment of their happiness. By the way when the Sims get married, in the Sims 3, there isn't a preacher to wed them only an arch. There isn't even a wedding cake available. There's only one buffet table but there isn't a chef. I bought the Sims generation expansion pack because I thought it would fill these lacking elements...I was wrong. Completely wrong! Speaking of lacking elements, there isn't a butler available either.

    Simple things that were available in the previous editions are pulled from this game so you have to purchase (BUY) these objects on The Sims 3 site i.e the wedding cake and other buffet tables. A sim can gain skill to play the guitar but cannot sing unless you buy The Showtime Expansion pack. The guitar is the only instrument available. In The Sims 2, there was also a piano and the chance for your sim to sing without the purchase of any expansion packs.

    The more expansion packs I buy, the more I start to dislike the game. The expansion packs are to expand the game but instead they only add a few more objects, maybe a skill, and more rabbit holes. The expansion packs to the previous editions really expanded the game. For example, In one expansion pack, you can invent. Which is pretty cool but it's very limited; especially in action. A sim can invent a drill but only drills holes. What's the point of watching your sim drill a hole only to find more scraps and gems? Also there is a genie available in the ambitions expansion pack, the genie only grants few wishes and there are only a few things to wish about. Once the genie grants the wish, only a small segment of action happens and that is it!

    The buildings, such as a salon and tattoo parlor, are useless in the Sims 3. I was expecting for these additions to change the game play. I thought I would be able to see a sim give another sim a makeover or do another Sims hair. Negative, Your sim steps on the block in front of the mirror only for you to change his appearance. You can do that with a base mirror in your own home. The tattoo part is OK. But it still needs updating. The Sims 3 lacks creativity. Call me picky...but I like to see my sim use all of its objects. If there's a candle, I'd like to see my sim light it. If there's magazines, I'd like to see my Sims read them. If there's a clothing rack in a shop, I'd like to see my sim be able to try on and buy clothes. If there's a cash register, I'd like to see my Sims be able to work. if there's toilet paper, i'd like to see my sim use it. The Sims 3 needs more useful objects. The light up dance floor isn't available not even in the ambitions or showtimes expansion pack.

    Also This game heats up my computer and causes it to shut off. The more you add, the more it slows. I hope things are better for the Sims 4. However, I'm sure they will make you purchase things that should already be loaded onto the came. I'm still a hardcore Sims fan just a disappointed buyer.    … Expand
  100. Ashley1998
    Feb 2, 2014
    3
    Deeply disappointing game, a weaker version of the outstanding sims 2. First of all, the sims look dodgy, the sims 2 sims looked nice. The game is marred by constant loading screens which is very irritating. The ability not to design community lots is frustrating. You cannot design your own neighborhood which is awful. The super design method takes ages and is very tiresome. The sims 3 isDeeply disappointing game, a weaker version of the outstanding sims 2. First of all, the sims look dodgy, the sims 2 sims looked nice. The game is marred by constant loading screens which is very irritating. The ability not to design community lots is frustrating. You cannot design your own neighborhood which is awful. The super design method takes ages and is very tiresome. The sims 3 is basically a tiresome, dull schoolproject will very little fun at all.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best PC Game of 2009
13
#13 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
7
#7 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 75
  3. Negative: 0 out of 75
  1. Thunderbolt
    90
    A gallant return to form and takes a direction that breathes new life into a formula that is fast reaching a decade old.
    Read full review
  2. CPUGamer
    75
    The Sims 3 has immense potential as upcoming expansions start rolling into high gear. And that’s what you’re really buying: A game of potential.
    Read full review
  3. ZTGD
    78
    The Sims 3 isn't a bad game, not in slightest, and too a different group of gamers this might be all they wanted, but for me this feels like a sequel that Will Wright had nothing to do with. There is no new magic, or amazing new idea that is going to re-imagine the whole series, it's just more and better stuff that we got in Sims 1.
    Read full review
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