The Sims 3: Generations
Common Sense says
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Sims 3: Generations is an expansion pack for The Sims 3. Players must have a copy of the Sims 3 game in order to use this product. In addition to new items for players to decorate their virtual houses with, this expansion adds new layers to the way the Sims characters age. Their tastes evolve and the way they interact with others changes. It has a positive message that suggests one can do whatever one sets one's mind to, regardless of age. Parents should also note that Sims can now throw bachelor and bachelorette parties, and make "woohoo" -- the Sims version of sex, which isn't shown, but rather implied -- in tree houses and the shower.
Wondering if The Sims 3: Generations is OK for your kids?
Set preferences and get age-appropriate recommendations with Common Sense Media Plus. Join now
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Fabulous!
Best EP Ever
My Favorite Expansion Pack!
What's it about?
THE SIMS 3: GENERATIONS expansion pack takes a deeper look at the way humans change as they get older. It is the latest step in the Sims franchise to try to emulate the highly complex nature of human interaction. When they first start exploring the world, Sims spend a lot of time dreaming and imagining things. Teenage Sims, meanwhile, have the ability to be studious or troublesome. As they approach their golden years, Sims spend more time reflecting on the life they've had. The expansion pack also introduces several new items to keep the process of building and upgrading your house as fresh and interesting as possible.
Is it any good?
The Sims 3: Generations is one of the most interesting expansion packs in the Sims franchise because, unlike most, it actually goes back to the drawing board and reinvents the way the virtual characters behave. Most expansion packs simply add new items or new features, but don't examine the core dynamic in the way Sims interact with one another and with themselves. Some of the changes are subtle, and it may not be as exciting as some of the other expansion packs, but there are some very interesting new concepts like "life events," celebrations for milestones in a Sim's career, and a "Memories" system that keeps track of everything a Sim has accomplished in the virtual world.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how much they have changed over the years. Do you think the game accurately reflects how people change as they age? Does it help you better appreciate how people might be inclined to feel as they grow older?
Discuss whether Sims 3 expansions do a good job of keeping the experience fresh. Was the expansion pack worth the extra money?
Game details
- Platforms: Mac, Windows
- Price: $29.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: Electronic Arts
- Release date: May 31, 2011
- Genre: Simulation
- ESRB rating: T for Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Last updated: June 19, 2019
For kids who love simulation games
Our editors recommend
Top advice and articles
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.