The Sims mobile

A POCKET-SIZED LIFE. Free with IAP | ea.com

THE SIMS MOBILE is a freemium game, but in a much more enjoyable way than its predecessor, The Sims FreePlay. This is a focused experience, doing away with complete freedom of choice in favour of ‘stories’ — small chapters of life based on your 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 charmingly quirky writing, as well as unique and funny interactions, and rewards that range from money, to experience points, to gaining new clothing.

There are, like in any freemium game, multiple currencies, and it is with these that you buy everything: clothes, furniture, even new Sims. Without paying for a single piece of content, you can slowly earn enough to buy that new oven you’ve had an eye on.

The Sims Mobile is incredibly well–made, with custom animations and objects that are impressively detailed for such a small screen. 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 little people on-screen as real life humans. It’s a simplified version of the PC game, for sure, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.