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The Sims Is Objectively a Terrible Game. But I Adore It

Where else can you be an accomplished jeweller whose lover was crushed by a meteor?

I WAKE FULLY RESTED, not a hair out of place. Pushing off my leopard-print duvet, I gingerly hop out of bed, onto a floor immaculate beyond conception. I do a couple of crunches (I love exercise) before heading downstairs to prepare breakfast for my three beautiful children. I’m late for work—I can sense the plants wilting as I step out the door. Not to worry, my commute takes seconds: I simply evaporate into thin air.

An energetic, exercise-loving, widowed homeowner supporting three children on a freelance botanist’s salary, in this economy? You’re right to be suspicious. This woman, Margot, is not real. She exists in a world of my own making, one familiar to many a millennial gamer: she is a Sim.

For the uninitiated, The Sims is a life-simulator video game franchise, released by Electronic Arts (EA) in the shadow of Y2K. Its premise is, well, Simple: build a character, maybe a house, and play God. For me, it’s an aspirational game. My Sims have traits, habits, and goals that I hope to embody, develop, or attain. They’re almost always artistically driven; they maintain deep, loving relationships with ease; and they prioritize mind–body connection. Margot, for example, is a master painter, an expert cook, and an accomplished jeweller, and can wield a wrench or hammer effortlessly. Life hasn’t........

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