Sims 3 vs Sims 4

No game wins for every player. The Sims 3 is better for an open world and deep color control. The Sims 4 is better for emotions, building, smooth play, and a free start.

The two games use different designs. The Sims 3 came out on June 2, 2009. The Sims 4 came out on September 2, 2014. Both games have the same Steam score today: “Very Positive,” with 86% positive English reviews.

The fans split the same way. A Steam thread with the title “Why is Sims 3 better than 4?” gives the open world as the top reason. In the same thread, one player says that The Sims 4 has “better building tools and CAS.” SnootySims compared the two games in 2023 and said that “neither can win this battle.”

We opened every store page and guide in the sources on October 28, 2026. This post gives the facts, then a decision rule at the end. We make LifeSim, a different kind of life sim, and we say where it fits and where it does not.

The Sims 3 has an open world, the Create a Style tool, and more color control in Create a Sim. These three things are the main reasons that players go back to it.

An open world with no loading screens

In The Sims 3, your Sim walks from the home lot to the park or a shop. No loading screen comes up. SnootySims says that Sims “could freely explore every corner of the world map in one go.” The Sims 4 loads each lot and each neighborhood separately. One Steam player says that The Sims 4 “puts everything behind loading screens again.”

Create a Style

Create a Style lets you change the colors and patterns of clothes and furniture. The Sims 4 does not have this tool. A 2014 review on Sims Community names the result. In The Sims 4, you cannot change fabrics and colors on furniture. In The Sims 4, you pick from preset color swatches.

Story progression across the whole town

In The Sims 3, a story progression system changes the lives of other households in the town. The Sims 4 had no such system at launch. EA added Neighborhood Stories to The Sims 4 on November 30, 2021, as part of the base game.

Neighborhood Stories lets neighbor Sims change jobs and have babies. EA says that neighbor Sims will not marry on their own. They can accept a proposal only if they already date someone.

Sims with more wants

Steam players say that Sims 3 characters have more traits and more goals. One player says that Sims 4 characters “never seem to want anything, never seem to say no.” This is an opinion, but it is a common one.

The Sims 4 does emotions, multitasking, and build mode better. It also runs more smoothly on a modern PC.

Emotions

Sims in The Sims 4 have emotions that change how they act. The 2014 Sims Community review says that “Sims can have over 15 Emotions.” In The Sims 3, moods come from short moodlets. The same review says that these moodlets “fade away really quickly.” SnootySims says that Sims 4 Sims are “more expressive with their emotions.”

Multitasking

A Sim in The Sims 4 can do two things at the same time. The 2014 review calls multitasking “a great feature,” because a Sim can fill a need and build a skill together.

Build mode

Build mode in The Sims 4 is easier to use. You can move or turn a full building after you build it. You can also place pre-built rooms from a catalog. In The Sims 3, a change to a finished lot can mean that you start again.

The Sims 4 also has the Gallery. EA says that you use the Gallery to find, download, and share Sims, homes, and rooms.

Smooth play

SnootySims credits The Sims 4 with “faster loading” and “smoother gameplay.” The Sims 4 loads one lot at a time, so the game has less to run at once. More on The Sims 3 and performance is below.

Want to know what your PC needs? Read our guide to The Sims 4 system requirements.

The Sims 4 is cheaper to start, because the base game is free. The Sims 3 base game costs $19.99 on Steam and on the EA app today.

EA made The Sims 4 base game free on October 18, 2022. This change applies on PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox. The Steam page says: “The base game of The Sims 4 is free to download.” Expansion packs, game packs, and kits still cost money. For the full details, read is The Sims 4 free.

The full cost depends on the packs that you buy. The EA page lists Sims 3 add-ons such as Late Night at $19.99 each. The Sims 4 has many more packs. Steam lists a Sims 4 bundle at $59.97 on sale today, from $79.97.

Steam players often say that The Sims 4 splits content into smaller paid packs. That is an opinion, but it is common. See our list of Sims 4 expansion packs before you buy.

Both Steam pages also offer EA Play, a subscription. The Sims 3 page lists it at $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year. Prices change, so check the store page before you buy.

Yes. You can buy The Sims 3 today on Steam and on the EA app. The EA page also lists a Mac version through the EA app.

Sims 3 on Steam

The Steam page lists Windows only. It shows Windows XP and Windows Vista in the requirements, because the game is from 2009. You need an EA account to use the online services.

There is one difference between the Steam and EA app versions. In January 2025, EA fixed a launch crash on Intel 12th-generation CPUs. PCGamesN says that only the EA app version got the fix. The Steam and disc versions did not.

Have an Intel 12th-generation CPU or newer? Buy The Sims 3 on the EA app, not on Steam. The Sims 4 is on Steam too: read is The Sims 4 on Steam.

Sims 3 on Mac

EA has a 64-bit Mac version of The Sims 3. EA Help says that on macOS Catalina or later, only this 64-bit version runs. Your Mac needs Metal graphics support and macOS High Sierra or later.

EA says that the 64-bit version is not a remaster. You install it from My Library in the EA app. The Steam version does not list a Mac version. For the newer game, read The Sims 4 on Mac.

Not always. The Sims 3 is a 32-bit game, so it cannot use all the memory of a modern PC. Many players get lag after a long session.

Sims Community tested the game in July 2026. The PC had an RTX 4060, 16 GB of RAM, and an i7-10700K. The review says that “The Sims 3 still suffers from performance issues.” It names three problems:

• A 4 GB memory limit, no matter how much RAM you have.
• “Error 12” out-of-memory errors when you save.
• Slow Sims, poor animations, and camera stutter after 30 to 40 minutes of play.

EA does not plan a big fix. PCGamesN quotes EA: “There are no current plans to update the Windows PC version of The Sims 3.” The fans made their own fixes.

How to make Sims 3 run better

1. Buy or install the EA app version if your CPU is an Intel 12th generation or newer.
2. Install the unofficial Sims 3 Performance Patch by Sonja92yu from Nexus Mods. Copy its two files into the GameBin folder.
3. Save often, and quit the game after a long session to clear the memory.
4. Keep the number of mods and custom content low.

The Sims Community review says that the patch made the camera smoother. It also says that it is “not a miracle fix.” Mods change the game files, so back up your saves first. For mods on the newer game, see our Sims 4 mods guide.

Start with The Sims 4 if you are new, because it is free and it runs smoothly. Buy The Sims 3 if the open world is the thing that you want most.

The decision rule

1. Install The Sims 4 first. It costs nothing, so you lose nothing if you stop.
2. Play it for a week. If loading screens and preset colors do not bother you, stay with The Sims 4.
3. If you miss a living town and full color control, buy The Sims 3 for $19.99.
4. Before you buy, check your PC. A new Intel CPU needs the EA app version. Plan to use a performance mod.

Pick The Sims 3 first only if you know that you want the open world. Pick The Sims 4 first if you play on a console. Want a long goal for your family? Try the Sims 4 legacy challenge.

Where LifeSim fits

We make LifeSim, so we are not neutral. LifeSim is free, with no ads and nothing to buy. It runs in any browser at play.lifesim.com and on iPhone and iPad.

LifeSim is not a house builder. You live one life, a day at a time, in a real city on a 3D map of Earth. The people are AI characters with jobs, homes, and friends. You talk to them in your own words, and they remember you.

Skip LifeSim if you want to build homes or control a full family. Season 1 is in beta. For more options, see games like The Sims and LifeSim vs The Sims.

Is Sims 3 still worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you want an open world and you accept some lag. Steam reviews in the last 30 days are “Mostly Positive,” at 77%.

Is The Sims 3 free?

No. The base game costs $19.99 on Steam and on the EA app. The Sims 4 base game is free.

Is Sims 3 on Steam the same as on the EA app?

The game is the same, but the EA app version got the January 2025 fix for Intel 12th-generation CPUs. The Steam version did not.

Does Sims 4 have an open world?

No. The Sims 4 uses a loading screen when your Sim goes to a different lot or neighborhood.

Will there be a Sims 5?

Read our post on the Sims 5 release date for what EA has said.

Are there games like The Sims 4 from other studios?

Yes. Compare inZOI and The Sims 4, or read Paralives vs The Sims 4.

Do the older games have cheats?

Yes. For the older game before The Sims 3, see our Sims 2 cheats list.

• How to get a cow plant in The Sims 4
• How to pay bills in The Sims 4
• How to fill out reports in The Sims 4
• How to write a song in The Sims 4
• How to edit a Sim in The Sims 4
• How to move house in The Sims 4
• The Sims 4 Gallery
• Sims 4 patch notes
• The Sims 4 on mobile
• The Urbz: Sims in the City
• The Sims Movie
• The Sims Medieval guide
• The Sims Online
• XML Injector for The Sims 4
• Sims 4 City Living
• Sims 4 Growing Together
• Sims 4 For Rent
• Sims 4 Businesses and Hobbies
• Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature and fairies
• Sims 4 mermaids
• Sims 4 aliens
• How to become famous in The Sims 4
• Sims 4 Discover University
• Sims 4 Horse Ranch
• Sims 4 High School Years
• Sims 4 werewolves
• Sims 4 vampires
• Is The Sims 4 on Steam?
• Is The Sims 4 cross-platform?
• Sims 4 cheats
• Sims 4 money cheats
• Sims 4 skill cheats
• Sims 4 relationship cheats
• Sims 4 career cheats
• Sims 4 move objects cheat
• Sims 4 free real estate cheat
• Sims 4 satisfaction points cheat
• Sims 4 debug cheat
• Sims 4 building cheats
• MC Command Center (MCCC)
• Sims 4 mods
• The best Sims 4 mods
• The best Sims 4 mod manager
• Sims 4 Studio, explained
• The Sims 4 aspiration cheat
• The Sims 4 CAS cheat
• UI Cheats Extension for The Sims 4
• Better Exceptions for The Sims 4
• The Slice of Life mod for The Sims 4
• The Sims 4 Legacy Challenge rules
• Sims 4 legacy challenge generator
• The Sims 4 traits
• Sims 4 random trait generator
• Sims 4 name generator
• Sims 4 story generator
• The Sims Project Rene
• Sims 4 custom content (CC)
• Sims 4 challenges
• How to rotate items in The Sims 4
• Sims 4 skills
• How to have a baby in The Sims 4
• How to become a ghost in The Sims 4
• How to bring a Sim back to life
• Sims 4 expansion packs
• The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy
• The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits
• The Sims 4 Get to Work
• The Sims 4 Seasons
• The Sims 4 Cottage Living
• Sims 4 kits
• The Sims 4 Lovestruck
• The Sims 4 StrangerVille
• The Sims 4 Parenthood
• The Sims 4 Dine Out
• The Sims 2 cheats
• Is The Sims 4 free?
• Sims 5 release date
• Which Sims 4 expansion pack to buy first
• Sims 4 pack picker quiz
• Is The Sims 4 on Game Pass?
• Sims 4 system requirements
• Sims 4 age rating: is it kid friendly?
• How long does a Sim live in The Sims 4?
• Is The Sims Mobile still playable?

• The Sims 3 on Steam
• The Sims 4 on Steam
• EA: The Sims 3
• EA: The Sims 4
• EA: Introducing Neighborhood Stories (November 23, 2021)
• EA Help: The Sims 3 Mac 64-bit version
• Shacknews: The Sims 4 will go free-to-play starting in October (September 14, 2022)
• PCGamesN: A new The Sims 3 update is here (January 14, 2025)
• Sims Community: The Sims 3 Performance Patch mod review (July 16, 2026)
• Sims Community: Sims 4 review, what is different from Sims 3 (August 19, 2014)
• SnootySims: Sims 3 vs Sims 4, which one is better? (July 31, 2023)
• Steam Community: Why is Sims 3 better than 4? (February 2022)