This isn't included in the main "played" list for good reason. Clearly, it's my favorite game of all time. I took the "bait" when it came out, and I'll be completely honest, I have never looked back.

When asked what my favorite expansion is, I am hard-pressed to pick one, simply because I can find something redeeming in each and every one of them. I do own all packs, including all the kits - and for the most part, they have been bought on release day at full price. So, calling me a Sims 4 addict might be an understatement.

First, some history:

Sims 4 released in September of 2014.. and is, at the time of this writing (January, 2022), still in development and receiving expansions and updates. There is no telling when it will officially "end" or when the next installment (Sims 5) will release, although if you listen to the rumors, Sims 5 is in development. The game received a 70 on Metacritic, and moderate scores among other reviewers (about 3 and a half stars for most, or a score of 6/10 to about 7.5 out of ten. The game was hotly debated among the Sims community, and for that matter, it still is. (Which I'll get into more in a moment) If you listen to the wiki, The Sims 4 has 36 million players worldwide as of 2021, and has generated over 1 billion in total revenue. In other words, even though the game was polarizing, it has still been wildly successful. Looking back through this blog, I found a post that accurately describes my feelings on Sims 4 from just before it came out:

"Oh, yes.. it's coming. And am I ever excited about it. It has completely revitalized my Sims addiction, and I've been closely following it's developments. ...I know a lot of people have been very polarized about it, many people are saying they're not going to switch, they don't like the changes, they don't like the things that have been cut from the game.. etc etc. However, being the computer/game geek that I am, I have a bit of a unique perspective on those things. I know that changes are often good for a game series. Historically, the Sims base games have always been very bare-bones. In fact, it took me a rather long time to switch from Sims 2 to 3 just because I was waiting for more features to be added. In some ways, I regret missing the early days of 3.. but in others, it worked out. Every time Sims gets updated, there are things I have missed from the previous incarnations, but on the whole, the changes each time they upgrade the game have been extremely positive. So.. I'm ALL for this new iteration of the series. I know pools and toddlers aren't in the base game.. and there's no work or school lots.. and there's going to be more loading screens with a less open world. Although I am disappointed with these (mostly about the toddlers and lack of work lots), I am very interested to see where it's going. The new Create A Sim features and abilities look amazing.. and the Build Mode upgrades... WOW! - look amazing. I can't WAIT to build houses with these new tools! The graphics look great, and I am SO very happy about the changes they're making to build mode. There is absolutely NO WAY that I will not be getting Sims 4 and playing it! That being said, I have no plans to be completely switching from Sims 3 to 4 initially... as I already mentioned, the base game is usually pretty vanilla.. and I really like having lots and lots of options available during play, so I won't be doing a final switch to 4 until more expansions are out. Which means I will still have plenty of time to play (and hopefully finish) my challenges in Sims 3 before I make an ultimate switch to 4. (Which is good news for anyone who likes the stories - including me!)"

Second, My Editorial:

Well, we got toddlers. And so many free build mode upgrades. Is there still stuff I miss from Sims 3? Yes. But not much. Will I ever go back to Sims 3 because of those things? Unlikely. Overall, I love what they have added to Sims 4, especially the emotion system... and now, the likes and dislikes. Am I 100% happy with every pack they've ever put out? Nope. But I would say I'm in the minority when I say I CAN find something I like in every pack (as I said in the introduction) - including the dismal Luxury Party, My First Pet Stuff, and the horribly controversial Journey to Batuu. I absolutely LOVE Sims 4. Am I looking forward to Sims 5? Not currently. I will need more information about it before I throw my hat into the ring for sure... but yes, I'm sure I will need to own it, just like I need to own all the rest of the Sims games. Time will tell on whether I make an immediate switch when it comes out.. or hold out for more updates on it.