The Sims™ Legacy Collection
- January 31, 2025
- MAXIS
- 11h median play time
Get on SteamThe Sims™ Legacy Collection brings the classic simulation game to Windows 10/11, allowing you to create and control a neighborhood of Sims. Experience various life scenarios with packs like Livin' Large, House Party, and Makin' Magic. With open-ended gameplay, guide your Sims through careers, relationships, and more, or let chaos take over in this charming and entertaining world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game successfully brings back nostalgia for longtime fans, providing a classic experience reminiscent of the original.
- Many players report that the game runs smoothly on modern systems, including Steam Deck, with minimal issues.
- The inclusion of all expansions and the ability to play without needing an EA account is appreciated by fans.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes, especially when saving or during gameplay, making it frustrating for players.
- UI scaling issues make the interface difficult to read on modern displays, with many elements appearing too small.
- Performance drops significantly in community lots, with frame rates plummeting when multiple Sims are on screen.
- stability36 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience with no crashes, particularly on Windows 11, while others have encountered significant bugs, frame rate drops, and freezing issues, especially in specific locations. Many users acknowledge the game's nostalgic value but caution that it remains buggy and may require troubleshooting. Overall, experiences vary widely, with some enjoying a flawless performance and others struggling with persistent glitches.
“It runs great.”
“Nostalgic and runs great.”
“[b]tldr:[/b] runs great, graphics look great for how old it is, haven't crashed and the nostalgia runs deep.”
“What a buggy mess with frame rates plummeting several times, especially in downtown and the magic place.”
“I just wanted to launch the Sims and play, not do all this troubleshooting.”
“A lot more crashes, freezes, and issues depending on the lot.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the remastered Sims 1 have received mixed feedback, with many praising the nostalgic aesthetic that remains true to the original while benefiting from some enhancements for modern hardware, such as higher resolution support. However, some users express disappointment over the lack of significant graphical updates or new features, suggesting that the release feels more like a cash grab than a true remaster. Overall, the graphics are considered well-suited for the game's legacy, evoking a sense of nostalgia while running smoothly on contemporary systems.
“Graphics are perfect for being Sims 1; wouldn't want it any other way! :D”
“[tldr:] Runs great, graphics look great for how old it is, haven't crashed and the nostalgia runs deep.”
“I just downloaded it, launched, it loaded fast and the graphics feel like they look great for the considerable time since its original release.”
“It's like they took some random, modded version of the game from an abandonware site, installed some fan-made fixes, enhanced graphics with some open source free code, and rereleased it for $20.”
“No graphical settings, no upscaling.”
“No new features or graphical enhancements.”
- music32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as one of the best soundtracks in video game history, evoking strong nostalgia and fond memories for players. Many users appreciate the iconic themes and sound effects that enhance the gameplay experience, although some express disappointment over the absence of certain DLC musical themes. Overall, the remastered sound design and soundtrack contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The sound design is amazing and the soundtrack is top notch, probably one of the best soundtracks in video game history.”
“The timeless music, depth of gameplay, and coherent art style make The Sims one of the best PC games ever released.”
“It was such a big part of my childhood, so 25 years later, it's lovely to play and reminisce about the good ol' days where I would remove the ladders from pools, meet Christina Aguilera, spam rosebud, and spend hours in build mode just listening to its incredible soundtrack.”
“It's sad that the musical main themes of the DLCs are gone; you can't hear these songs anywhere in-game.”
“The complete version is sad and without music, and no one feels sentimental about it because it came out at a time when we were already sharing our Sims 2 parcels on forums.”
“The banger OST will bring you right back so fast too, from the shopping-mall house decorating menu theme to that dreadful alarm where you don't know if it's a burglar or a raccoon.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing frequent crashes that disrupt their experience and lead to lost progress. While some appreciate the depth and challenge of the gameplay compared to newer iterations, others find the lack of quality-of-life improvements and certain mechanics from later versions frustrating. Overall, the nostalgic elements and unique features are praised, but technical issues and outdated mechanics hinder the overall enjoyment.
“The timeless music, depth of gameplay, and coherent art style make The Sims one of the best PC games ever released.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's actually harder than Sims 4 in my opinion. 'Comfort' and 'room' being needs makes things a little more stressful, but it also really makes it super fun, kind of like a harder difficulty. I also completely forgot there are zodiac signs in this version, love it.”
“Still though, the gameplay is amazing.”
“Game constantly crashes after 30 minutes of gameplay.”
“Frequent crashes: many players have reported experiencing frequent crashes during gameplay, disrupting the gaming experience and potentially leading to lost progress.”
“Considering that we paid for the game 25 years ago, it's souring to see a price tag of £17.99 slapped onto it, and not be able to separate the packs from the base gameplay.”
- monetization18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab by EA, with many users expressing disappointment over the lack of meaningful updates or improvements. Reviewers feel that the release capitalizes on nostalgia without delivering quality, reinforcing a negative perception of EA's approach to monetization. Overall, the sentiment reflects frustration over perceived exploitation rather than genuine value for players.
“Disappointing but not surprising for EA, just another cash grab.”
“This screams 'lazy cash grab' and honestly?”
“It is another one of those cash grabs that modern EA is known for.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting launch issues and poor performance on modern PCs, including a lack of full-screen options. While a few players have experienced no problems, the overwhelming sentiment is disappointment, leading to a recommendation against purchasing until these issues are addressed.
“The game won't even launch for most people, so what's the point of releasing a game that isn't optimized for modern PCs but is advertised as such?”
“It’s also horribly optimized for modern-day computer screens with no option to go full screen.”
“Can't recommend buying the game until they fix the performance issues.”
“The game won't even launch for most people, so what's the point of releasing a game that isn't even optimized for modern PCs but is advertised as such?”
“It’s also horribly optimized for modern day computer screens with no option to go full screen.”
“It is extremely disappointing this game was not optimized for modern PCs.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be delightful, particularly enjoying the absurdity of situations like Sims peeing their pants unexpectedly. The inclusion of multiple expansions adds to the comedic experience, especially when juxtaposed with the ongoing perception of The Sims 4 as unfinished despite its numerous expansions. Additionally, players appreciate the humorous mishaps related to the game's development, such as the accidental inclusion of a Denuvo template in the Steam tags.
“The 7 expansions included in this legacy version make the game feel even more complete, which is a bit funny when The Sims 4 still feels unfinished with 20+ expansion packs.”
“(Also EA, I'm still laughing at the fact that you left the Denuvo template on the Steam tags and gave us all a heart attack.)”
“I love this game and its incredible sense of humor.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of nostalgia that evoke strong reactions, such as tears, when reminiscing about past experiences. Despite intentions to move on to other games, the emotional impact of the game's visuals and memories remains significant.
“But... when I saw the neighborhood screen in a small square, and the rest of the screen in black, it made me want to cry.”
“I cried because this is so nostalgic for me when this came out and bought it instantly.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Sims 1 is noted for lacking the structured 'get a life' narrative found in the PS2 version, leading players to express a desire for a port of the story mode and additional content from the console versions rather than just a sandbox experience.
“Sims 1 does not have the 'get a life' storyline like the PS2 version.”
“If only they would port story mode or the features they added to consoles instead of just a sandbox.”
