Finally it happened! The Sims 1 and all the expansion packs got released on Steam last weekend!Â
Called The Sims: Legacy Collection, this release sees the beloved base game plus all the expansion packs being sold for one cushty bundle- letting us cozy retro gamers relive our childhoods of large mansions with one window, house parties and of course removing ladders of many pools!Â
And don't get me started on the sound effects! I'm sure we all have PTSD from hearing that burglar sound suddenly creep up on a silent night!
This got me thinking- how does The Sims 1 and all the expansion packs hold up? Obviously as a sucker for nostalgia, I revel in the good, the bad and all the ugly- but there is no denying that there are some expansion packs that are better than othersÂ
So, I decided to put together a list of the Best and Worst Sims 1 Expansion Packs. Courtesy of The Sims 1: Legacy Collection!
Sims 1 Expansion Packs Ranked Worst to Best
7/7 The Sims: Unleashed
Ranked last as one of the worst Sims 1 expansion packs is The Sims: Unleashed! Although the game added depth to the core gameplay and graced sims with the ability of owning dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles, the overall pet management was incredibly frustrating at times, as animals had minds of their own and often misbehaved.
On top of that, the introduction of the farming mechanic provided a fresh way to earn Simoleons but could also feel tedious, not to mention with an increased neighbourhood size came to longer loading times on older computers. Still, with that said it’s still somewhat of a fan favourite amongst simmers who loved the larger, more dynamic town with plenty of community lots that made the world feel more alive. Plus who doesn’t love a furry companion?!
6/7 The Sims: Livin' Large
As the first ever expansion pack to be released, Livin’ Large set the tone for future packs by adding plenty of quirky, over-the-top content. Packed in this expansion pack are new careers, objects, interesting NPC’s and a lot of bizarre happenings- such as the Grim Reaper and the appearance of the Tragic Clown- making the gameplay far more unpredictable.
This expansion pack also introduced five new neighbourhoods, allowing players to expand their Sims’ overall world- so why was it ranked as one of the worst Sims 1 expansion packs?
Despite many loving the new, quirkiness of Livin’ Large, the randomness of some elements, like the genie’s unpredictable wishes frustrated many of us simmers. Additionally, the new content felt scattered and all over the place, rather than feeling cohesive, and although it expanded gameplay, it lacked a central theme compared to the later expansion packs that followed.
5/7 The Sims: House Party
The introduction of The Sims: House Party was a breath of fresh air. It made socialising more exciting by allowing sims to throw elaborate, over-the-top parties and included new themes, decorations, and NPC’s like the infamous Party Crashers and the mysterious Cake Dancer. This beloved Sims expansion pack also introduced interactive objects like DJ booths and dancefloors, making gatherings feel more engaging.
However, parties could be chaotic, with Sims often struggling to navigate crowded space and interact properly. The novelty of themed parties also wore off quickly too, making the expansion feel somewhat shallow and boring in the long run. Additionally, without a way to truly measure party success beyond guest reactions, some simmers found it lacked real depth- but it’s not the worst Sims 1 expansion pack.
4/7 The Sims: Superstar
The Sims: Superstar is a little higher on the list of the Best and Worst Sims Expansion Packs, purely based on nostalgia. When we were naïve teenagers, many of us believed that we were going to be Hollywood actors or supermodels- so this pack fed into our delusion.
In this Sims expansion pack Sims chased fame and brought with it a Hollywood-inspired career path with modelling, acting, and music. It also introduced Studio Town, which was a dedicated hub where Sims could interact with celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, as they climbed the ranks to stardom.
Added to this expansion pack was a fame system which provided a new challenge, requiring players to balance skill building, networking along with maintaining healthy needs. However, travelling to Studio Town was tedious requiring frequent visits and bundled with long load times, completely sucked you out of the immersion. Not to mention the fame mechanics could also feel very grindy, as a failure often resulting in lost progress. Yet despite this flaw, Superstar remains one of the most ambitious expansion packs for The Sims 1.
3/7 The Sims: Vacation
Just like real life, it’s nice to escape from the grind of work, work, work! The Sims: Vacation lets Sims get away from their daily routine and visit resort-like destinations with snowy, beach, and forest-themed areas.
This great expansion pack introduced new activities like snowboarding, sandcastle building, and plenty of carnival games.Â
However it falls short as Sims’ autonomous behaviour on vacation was problematic, often leading to neglected needs. Also, managing an entire family on holiday could be stressful, rather than relaxing. Unlike its successors, The Sims 2: Bon Voyage and The Sims 3: World Adventure, Vacations lacked long lasting impact; meaning Sims didn’t return home with meaningful memories or long-term benefits.Â
Arguably, The Sims: Makin’ Magic is one of the most imaginative expansions. Considered one of the best Sims 1 expansion packs, Makin’ Magic brings spellcasting, dragons, and a full-fledged magic realm.Â
Sims can learn spells, duel other magic users, and craft charms using ingredients gathered from their home or Magic Town. It was a huge expansion, making mundane SIm life feel more fantastical. However, balancing magic with everyday needs could be overwhelming, especially since casting spells often required time consuming ingredient collection. Nevertheless, Makin’ Magic is still praised for its creativity and remains one of the most beloved Sims 1 expansion packs.Â
1/7 The Sims: Hot Date
There is no denying that The Sims: Hot Date is probably one of the best Sims expansion packs. It was the pack to really introduce any social depth, allowing Sims to visit Downtown for romantic outings. The pack revamped relationships, making chemistry and interactions more dynamic.
The new dating mechanic added a new challenge, as players had to manage mood, conversation topics, and attraction levels. The Sims: Hot Date also introduced new NPC’s and interactive objects and lots like restaurants, parks, and shops.Â
However, the only downside to this pack is the long loading times, caused by travelling Downtown, as well as Sims often struggling to navigate in crowded venues. Additionally, the lack of meaningful relationship progress left some players wanting more. Despite its flaws however, The Sims: Hot Date is still one of the best expansion packs for the original series.Â
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Images belong to Neoseeker.com. Words are my own.
