Parents' Guide to The Sims 2: Open for Business

Game Windows 2006
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Common Sense Media Review

By Nikki Douglas , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Teens can be the boss in this OK installment.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

age 11+

Based on 3 kid reviews

What's It About?

In THE SIMS 2: OPEN FOR BUSINESS, players nearly intuitively set up their first business. Sims can purchase a community lot to build their store (even a new, teeny-tiny lot) or put on their bunny slippers and just work from home. As in real life, it takes money to make money. Since players decide the prices of services and retail goods, they may learn quite a bit about time and budget management. Successful business owners earn perks, such as contact lists (to build the business further), cash bonuses, and better business relationships.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 3 ):

The game doesn't deliver on all its potential, but it does teach good entrepreneurial skills to teen players. Also, like all Sims titles, this game offers never-ending creative options. Fans of the franchise may wish that they could build businesses that more closely matched Sims career tracks, so they could open an office, a medical clinic, a fast food place, etc. But, overall, the game does fill a hole in the Sims universe.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about building a business from the ground up as well as dealing with customers and employees. This is also an excellent way to discuss time-management skills with teens.

Game Details

  • Platform : Windows
  • Pricing structure :
  • Available online? : Not available online
  • Publisher : Electronic Arts
  • Release date : May 4, 2006
  • Genre : Simulation
  • ESRB rating : T for Sexual situations, crude humor.
  • Last updated : May 13, 2024

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