Case File: The Sims Board Game

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦	Players: 2-5
⏳	Time: 15-30m
🎂	Ages: 12+
⚙️	Mechanisms: Worker Movement, Set Collection

Welcome to the neighbourhood!

As a huge fan of playing The Sims on PC, the boardgame intrigued me. Could they possibly capture the feel of a video game that is meant to simulate life, in about 15 minutes… with cardboard?

Just like in the video game, you get to explore your neighbourhood

The Sims Board Game is a 2-5 player game that has you visiting locations and collecting SIMbols to achieve your aspiration. Along the way you’ll hopefully attract some iconic SIMS and interact with your fellow players, though you never know how this will go. Once someone gets to 8 points, that’s it, they win!

In terms of gameplay, it’s very SIMple. Just pick a location that you want to visit, lower the associated need, and collect a matching card from the display. It was easy to learn ourselves and we found it easy to teach to new players too.

There is a fairly big luck factor in the game, you’ll start with two home and two aspiration cards and you’ll need to choose one of each. Your home with give you a SIMbol, and if you’re lucky, you’ll have a SIMbol that matches to at least one of the aspirations you hold to give you a head start. In all the games we’ve played I’ve yet to have a match, probably why I’ve yet to win a game!

We’ve played at both two and four players. While the gameplay and set up don’t change, there is less interaction at two. It has been rare for us to both visit the same location, so the interaction die has gone largely untouched. Holding onto those Iconic Sims is also easier in a two-player game, as the chaotic “Iconic Sims Move” action doesn’t have quite the same impact as it does with more players.

The artwork features locations, items and SIMS from the game, so there is a wonderful sense of nostalgia for those that know it well. Having to adjust your needs as you visit locations also captures the essence of The Sims. Some of these pairings make sense, you go to school, your happiness goes down. Others well… I don’t know why visiting the park causes bathroom emergencies… but it does add a few laughs!