Play Order (Release = Chronological)Recommended
0 / 13 playedThe games in the order they came out. Main games and spin-offs sit in one timeline since nothing continues a plot.
- 1 The Sims Where the series started. Dated but foundational.
- 2 The Sims Online PC multiplayer experiment, now shut down.
- 3 The Sims Bustin' Out Console entry built around a career story mode.
- 4 The Sims 2 First with full 3D Sims, genetics and aging.
- 5 The Urbz: Sims in the City Console spin-off with a city reputation system.
- 6 MySims Chibi style Wii and DS spin-off for younger players.
- 7 The Sims 3 Open neighborhood with deep customization.
- 8 The Sims Medieval Standalone quest driven spin-off in a fantasy kingdom.
- 9 The Sims Social Facebook game, now shut down.
- 10 The Sims FreePlay Free mobile game where actions run in real time.
- 11 The Sims 4 Recommended entry point. Free to play since 2022 and still updated.
- 12 The Sims Mobile Shut down on January 20, 2026.
- 13 Project Rene Separate mobile-first multiplayer game, not The Sims 5. No release date announced.
About The Sims
The Sims has no single storyline to follow, since each main game restarts life in a new town with new families, so release order is the practical play order and every entry stands alone. Newcomers usually start with The Sims 4, which went free to play in 2022 and is still getting expansions.
Good to know
The Sims 4 got its Royalty and Legacy expansion on February 12, 2026, and EA is playtesting Project Rene, a separate mobile-first multiplayer game that is not The Sims 5, with no release date announced.
