The Sims™ 2 Legacy Collection

About

"The Sims 2 Legacy Collection for Windows 10/11 allows you to control sims' lives, guiding their characteristics and setting goals in various areas such as family, career, and relationships. This collection includes the base game, The Sims 2, along with multiple expansion packs like University, Nightlife, Open for Business, and more, offering a wide range of content and experiences. The Grunge Revival Kit for The Sims 4 is also included, providing even more customization options."

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Sims™ 2 Legacy Collection screenshot

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,068 reviews

graphics28 positive mentions

stability262 negative mentions

The Sims 2 is a nostalgic classic that many players love, offering a rich gameplay experience with intricate character interactions and storylines.
The game runs well on modern systems, providing a convenient way to play without the need for extensive modding or patches.
The inclusion of all expansion packs (minus the IKEA pack) adds significant value for players looking to relive their childhood memories.

The game is plagued with bugs and crashes, including issues with disappearing Sims and unresponsive actions, making it frustrating to play.
Many players have reported that the game fails to launch or crashes frequently, leading to lost progress and unplayable experiences.
The UI scaling is poor on modern displays, often resulting in a frustrating experience for players trying to navigate the game.

stability
292 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
1%
90%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues and found the game enjoyable, the overall consensus is that it remains a buggy release, often requiring extensive troubleshooting and patches to improve performance. Many recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing, as the current state is deemed largely unplayable for a significant number of players.
- “This runs great on Steam Deck; I am a few hours in and have not had any issues.”
- “I got it on Saturday and there are no glitches, no freezing of the game, nothing goes wrong.”
- “All I have to say is the game is very polished, it runs great, and the graphics look really good for being a 2004 game.”
- “Game is super buggy and probably requires hours of extra work to get mods and fixes in place just to enjoy it.”
- “Extremely buggy, couldn't even make a sim without the game crashing.”
- “The game crashes constantly and freezes.”
graphics
206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
83%
3%
The graphics of the re-released Sims 2 have received mixed feedback, with many users noting that they remain largely unchanged from the original 2004 version, leading to disappointment among those expecting upgrades. While some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and find the graphics acceptable when settings are adjusted, others report persistent issues such as crashes, low frame rates, and the need for community patches to optimize performance. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant factor in the game's reception, with many players feeling that the visual quality does not meet modern standards.
- “From Sims looking out of windows when it rains to the eeriness of them staring back at you, there is a unique early 2000s aesthetic mixed with mid-century 1960s decorations that bring it all together into a cohesive and memorable experience.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly rich, graphics are great, there is no limit on the number of lots placed (and there are so many to already pick from), runs relatively fast.”
- “All I have to say is the game is very polished and it runs great and the graphics look really good for being a 2004 game.”
- “I can say I am highly disappointed with the quality, so do not expect to be getting any graphic upgrades to the game.”
- “This game constantly crashes and the graphics are pretty screwed up no matter how much you adjust.”
- “The first thing I noticed was the terrible game graphics: worse than they were 20 years ago.”
gameplay
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
72%
2%
The gameplay of The Sims 2 is widely praised for its depth, engaging mechanics, and nostalgic charm, often considered superior to later entries in the series, particularly The Sims 4. While many players appreciate the intricate systems and rich experiences, technical issues such as crashes and bugs can detract from the overall enjoyment, with some users reporting significant gameplay interruptions. Despite these flaws, the game remains a beloved classic, offering a compelling life simulation experience that resonates with both new and returning players.
- “The depth of gameplay, the personality of the sims, and the sheer chaos make it a standout even today.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly rich, graphics are great, there is no limit on the number of lots placed (and there are so many to already pick from), runs relatively fast.”
- “Compared to later entries in the series, particularly the Sims 4, the Sims 2 stands as a remarkably complete experience with intricately interwoven mechanics.”
- “The game itself is an active player in this solo player game; the curveballs you get thrown can be so wild that they completely upset your gameplay.”
- “However, when interacting with any sort of 'advanced' mechanics such as apartment lots or player-owned business lots, the game will instantly crash with a runtime error.”
- “It's completely unplayable; hopefully, they put a patch out soon, get error messages anytime a sim does anything and it crashes after about 20 minutes of gameplay.”
optimization
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
62%
11%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and no crashes, while others experience significant issues such as crashes, graphical bugs, and instability on modern hardware. Many users feel that the game lacks proper optimization for current systems, describing it as a poorly executed re-release with minimal improvements. Overall, while some players enjoy a seamless experience, the consensus indicates that optimization remains a significant concern for many.
- “Performance-wise, the game runs incredibly well.”
- “First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank EA for re-releasing The Sims 2 with significant improvements, including native 4K support, smoother performance, and overall enhanced fluidity.”
- “Game's very well optimized, running flawlessly and effortlessly.”
- “I bought the game the day it got released and I expected at least to be a remaster or a better optimized version for Windows 10/11 PCs, but instead I got a poorly made re-release with more glitches than the original version.”
- “Not optimized at all for modern computers and it somehow is more glitched than the original.”
- “Game is also optimized poorly, I think EA didn't bother making hardly any changes at all and just wanted to slap a price tag on this.”
monetization
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
95%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" by EA, citing a lack of meaningful updates or optimizations in the re-release. While some players appreciate the nostalgia and absence of microtransactions, the overwhelming sentiment is disappointment over perceived exploitation of fans and the game's legacy, leading to calls for avoiding the purchase in favor of free alternatives. Overall, the consensus reflects frustration with EA's approach to monetization, viewing it as a missed opportunity to enhance a beloved title.
- “No microtransactions, actual cutscenes (which were certainly a surprise), and the most realistic behavior for the sims.”
- “The fact that this company didn't farm all of your money for microtransactions that literally existed in the original version is impressive.”
- “This feels like an easy cash grab, relying on nostalgia to justify the price without actually putting in the effort to enhance the experience.”
- “This game so far is just a very bad cash grab to bring back a legendary game for modern hardware without any upgrades or updates, all it has is a fan patched pre-installed, deleted content they don't have the licenses for anymore and sell it for 30€ and call it a day.”
- “This is just a lazy cash grab using the 25th anniversary as a nostalgia pull to grab past players to play the best Sims game (The Sims 2) and its origin game without actually doing anything to make the legacy games play well today.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
91%
5%
The music in this remastered version of *The Sims 2* evokes nostalgia for many players, though it is noted that some original tracks and the IKEA stuff pack are missing due to licensing issues. While the soundtrack retains its charm, some users feel it lacks the quality and completeness of the original, with a few expressing disappointment over the absence of certain songs. Overall, the music remains a highlight for many, contributing to the nostalgic experience despite the omissions.
- “Music is nostalgic as always.”
- “The music also goes so hard in this game haha.”
- “Starting it up, hearing that music and seeing that loading screen took me back.”
- “While I have come across an occasional bug while playing the game, I notice that not all of the original soundtrack has been ported over due to licensing.”
- “My major gripe is that not all the music from the original game is back :(”
- “The ikea stuff pack and a handful of songs were removed from this version, likely due to licensing issues; however, it isn't mentioned anywhere on the store page.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
8%
The story aspect of The Sims 2 is highly praised for its depth and engaging characters, making it a standout in the franchise. However, players express frustration over technical issues, such as disappearing Sims, which hinder the development of meaningful narratives and relationships. Despite these challenges, many fans still find the game offers rich storytelling opportunities and a vibrant world to explore.
- “Overall, The Sims 2 encompasses everything fans cherish about the franchise, making it a must-play for anyone interested in simulation games or storytelling.”
- “The storytelling is unmatched.”
- “Even if I can't make Sims, the game makes up for that with its diverse storylines in each world.”
- “The mechanics are all there, but how could you get invested in a family or story if any member could just disappear between loads?”
- “It might be okay if you want to do a bit of building, but if you have to start from scratch each time you load in, don't hope to build a story or have your sim develop any skills or relationships.”
- “Some people love the whole franchise, and I don't hate S4, but there are things in S2 that are gone now (namely being able to lay out the whole neighborhood by placing lots, being able to create your own community lots, building a true community over generations and many families/households). I don't play The Sims to create a single 'self-insert' sim and do video-game quests with it; I play to build a world and grow it.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this Sims game is highlighted by its unexpected drama and absurd glitches, such as the "simnopke shadow fix" and the hilariously poor performance in ultrawide resolution. Players find the game's instability and the irony of needing emergency patches amusing, especially given its long history and price point. Overall, the humor stems from both the game's quirks and the frustrations of its technical issues.
- “I think this Sims game is the best for unexpected drama, engaging, and funny.”
- “Create-a-sim is hilariously bad in an ultrawide resolution.”
- “The timing was funny, I'm not gonna lie.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The replayability of the games is currently hindered by significant bugs, particularly in The Sims 4, leading some players to consider refunds if issues aren't resolved. In contrast, The Sims 2 is praised for its improved playability on Steam, suggesting a more enjoyable experience that encourages replay. Overall, while The Sims 2 offers a more stable and engaging experience, The Sims 4's replayability is compromised by technical problems.
- “The Sims 2 has never been more playable than now, and I love to finally play Sims 2 on Steam!”
- “I wanted to make a comment like 'haha, look at that, The Sims 2 is less buggy than 4,' but I can't even get past saving a family, so well done, The Sims 4 is more playable.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of installing all expansion and stuff packs from disc to be tedious and time-consuming, often likening it to needing a second life to complete the process.
- “Installing all the expansion packs and stuff packs from disc is tedious and time-consuming.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express strong emotional reactions to changes in gameplay mechanics, particularly the return to closed lots in *The Sims 4*, which evokes nostalgia and heartbreak for fans of *The Sims 3*. This shift has left some players feeling like emotional wrecks, highlighting the deep connection they have with the series.
- “If you're a The Sims 3 enjoyer (hey, bestie), you'll find the return to closed lots just as heartbreaking as when The Sims 4 regressed to it.”
- “And oooh, I'm an emotional wreck right now.”