• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Sims move on up, gain good/evil magical powers.

Why We Rated This for Ages 16–17

The good stuff

• Educational value:

  Not much, unless you happen to learn something about the responsibilities that come with living on your own in an apartment.

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  Sims have the ability to do all of the things they could do in the original Sims 2. That means they can insult friends, be late for work, and even have affairs. Players now have the option of assuming the role of a witch capable of casting spells that make other sims do such things as throw up, split with their beaus, and start fires. As apartment dwellers, they'll occasionally have to bang on walls when neighbors party too loudly and may even be sent to collections if they become delinquent in paying rent. However, a new reputation meter provides a motive for players to keep their sims on best behavior.
• Violence :

  Sims occasionally get into fights with one another (we're told early on that their emotions run deeper than ever before), but the violence, which includes actions such as throwing cups of water at other sims, is relatively tame. All Sims eventually pass away of natural causes.
• Sex:

  Sims can share hot tub baths together and become romantically involved to the point of producing children. Kissing is shown and you can lure other sims into bed, but actions of intimate and explicit nature are tastefully blurred out.
• Language:

  The Sims speak in gibberish and never use real words. However, it's easy to interpret what they mean to say, and sometimes it's obviously meant to be profane.
• Consumerism:

  As in all Sims games, materialism plays a major role. Players spend much of their time shopping for new items to outfit their homes. There are no recognizable brands, but the unavoidable message here is that consumerism is good and wealth is desirable.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Home bar equipment and espresso machines are available for purchase.

What Parents Need to Know

About The Sims 2: Apartment Life

Families Can Talk About