Sims 3 vs. Sims 4: Which Game Is Better?

The Sims series is one beloved by so many people, even years after its initial release. Many new players often ask the question of Sims 3 vs. Sims 4, making people wonder which is truly is better.

The Sims series is somewhat buggy, regardless of the version, and EA does have a negative track record with the games they publish. Even so, The Sims series is still a favorite years later, Over 10,000 players on average are playing The Sims 4 at any given time, which could tell anyone just how popular this series is. 

How Does Sims 3 Play Now?

Though it was released back in 2009, The Sims 3 is still a great game to play to this day. Upon launch, many people believed that the earlier version won the Sims 3 vs Sims 4 war, since the latter didn’t have much to begin with. However, missing features were later added as free updates or paid DLC. Still, in many people’s opinions, The Sims 3 reigns supreme for one reason: an open world.

A great draw to this type of game is that cars are fully functional, unlike in The Sims 4. These vehicles allow your Sims to get where they need to go relatively quickly. Another excellent addition to this game was different types of pets, which require far less responsibility than those in The Sims 4 counterpart. It also had all stages of childhood upon release, while many players had to wait years for a toddler stage in The Sims 4.

Compared to The Sims 4, this game’s loading times are atrocious. It is an older game with lower-quality graphics than its successor, so some downfalls in gameplay are to be expected. Where this game really shines is allowing you to take complete control of your Sims’ lives. You have over 170 custom lots to choose from — the maximum you can build on in one of The Sims 4’s regions is only 30. The neighbors on those lots have their own lives and age, all outside of the currently-played family’s relationships.

Another part of this game that people loved was the customizable features. Customization for Sims wasn’t as in-depth as in The Sims 4, but players loved that they could get their furniture to match with precise color pickers. The game has more personality traits to select from, and players can choose more traits to add to each individual Sim. Despite its age, The Sims 3 holds up very well.

Why The Sims 4 Is Worth the Investment

The Sims 4 is the most recent addition to the main line of The Sims series. It has much faster loading times than its predecessor. It needs speed to ensure the game runs well. This version continues to release expansion packs that can elevate the quality of your gameplay. It also has the better graphics of the two.

This game is an improvement over the one before it in several ways, including some features of new gameplay. It has several customization options, including sliders that can control even the smallest thing about a character. Sims can also now be affected by their surroundings and multitask by building relationships while carrying out other activities. In other words, a well-decorated space and quality characters are essential to leading a happy, healthy Sim life.

Unfortunately, customization isn’t always as simple as simply picking out a color and matching all of your furniture together. Still, the game has great options for anyone who’s interested in building homes for their Sims. Where The Sims 4 truly shines is with its combined build and buy mode, which allows you to create the home of your dreams.

One benefit of The Sims 4 is that players can create more realistic-looking humans. You can customize a character to look exactly like you or your best friend, even down to the tiniest details. The Sims 4 is a great successor to The Sims 3, and it’s perfect for anyone who values design.

Where Both Games Shine

In fact, design is one of the greatest aspects of both The Sims 3 and The Sims 4. Each game offers some degree of customization. Decide which matters more to you to help you determine a winner between Sims 3 vs. Sims 4. House customization is better in The Sims 3, while The Sims 4 really excels in character creation. Still, the games are more than just the customization aspect. 

Gameplay is important, too. If the expansion packs don’t offer you enough, mods can make playing the game more enjoyable. Mods have much more to offer you in terms of aesthetics, gameplay and story progression. They’re a great way to spice up a game you might otherwise be bored with.

Sims 3 vs Sims 4: Who Wins?

The Sims is a series that can offer great fun and inspire educational development through real-world means, and it’s just a great way to brush up on your design skills and create a world you love. Depending on what you value most in gameplay, you’ll pick a definitive side in the Sims 3 vs Sims 4 war. 

The Sims 3 seems to value gameplay and might be better for a player who wants a more engaging experience, while The Sims 4 stands out in customization — so if you want to build the characters and home of your dreams, it’s the best option for you. You can always get both and try them out. That may be the best way to see which works better for you.