The Sims Mobile
A pocket-sized life
Free FROM Electronic Arts, ea.com Needs iOS 9 or later
Like The Sims FreePlay released seven years ago, The Sims Mobile is a freemium game.
This version is a focused experience, doing away with complete freedom of choice in favour of ‘stories’ – small chapters of life based on career, relationship and hobbies, with rewards for completing each stage. Perhaps you’ll be a doctor, trying to figure out the mysterious Llama Flu, or an aspiring foodie learning the cooking ropes. Each one is accompanied by quirky writing, as well as unique and funny interactions, and rewards that range from money to experience points, to new clothing.
There are multiple currencies in play, and it is with these that you buy everything: clothes, furniture, even new Sims. Without paying for a single piece of content, you can earn enough to buy that new oven you’ve had an eye on, and with careful, attentive playing, you can rake in the simoleons in no time.
The Sims Mobile is well made, with custom animations and objects that are impressively detailed. Your Sim will heave a sigh when they fail, sweep their paramour off their feet, and stir a souffle mix with such panache that it’s hard not to see those people on-screen as real life humans.
It’s a simplified version of the Mac game, for sure, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – it’s well suited to mobile play.