The Sims™ 3 Guide

So Many EPs! for The Sims(TM) 3

So Many EPs!

Overview

It can be difficult to choose what Sims 3 Expansion Packs (EPs) to buy. To help you decide, this guide describes each EP and lists its features.

Introduction

Expansion Packs add additional game features and usually come bundled with a number of new game items and (often) a new neighborhood for your Sims. But there are so many of them (eleven!) that it can be very difficult to decide which to get if you only have the money for one or two of them.

The best way to figure out what EP you want is to figure out what new features you really want in your game. So here they are: all the EPs listed (in alphabetical order) with a summary of all the things each contains to help you decide.

If you like this guide, you might also like my Stuff Pack guide, here on Steam.

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If you’d happen to like to read this guide in Turkish, you’re in luck! Lynn has kindly translated it for you:

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Release Dates

While this guide lists the Expansion Packs alphabetically (for ease of finding the one you want), this was their original release order:

  • World Adventures (NOV 2009)
  • Ambitions (JUN 2010)
  • Late Night (OCT 2010)
  • Generations (MAY 2011)
  • Pets (OCT 2011)
  • Showtime (MAR 2012)
  • Supernatural (SEP 2012)
  • Seasons (NOV 2012)
  • University Life (MAR 2013)
  • Island Paradise (JUN 2013)
  • Into the Future (OCT 2013)

Ambitions

  • EP: 02
  • Released: June 2010
  • New Neighborhood: Twinbrook
  • New Type of Sim: Simbot
  • New Careers: Architectural Designer, Education, Firefighter, Ghost Hunter, Medical, Investigator, Stylist, Self-Employed
  • New Skills: Sculpting, Inventing, Consignment (hidden), Tattooing (hidden), Trampoline (hidden), Gnubb (hidden), Styling (hidden)
  • Added Features: Consignment Shop, Real Estate Investing, Laundry
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC

Ambitions adds a plethora of new ways for your Sims to make money. It introduces Professions which differ from Careers — in these Professions (Firefighter, Ghost Hunter, Stylist, Architect, or Private Investigator) you control your Sim from job-to-job rather than having them go to a rabbit-hole to work where you don’t see them until the end of the day. Even if they keep a standard career, Ambitions introduces work styles, so you can set your Sim to work hard, socialize with co-workers, suck up to the boss, sleep on the job, and so on, as needed.

Alternative to either Career or Profession, with Ambitions your Sim can register as “Self Employed” at Town Hall, and pursue earnings focused on any Skill which creates an object or has a completion reward; this opens self-employment careers as Alchemist, Angler, Band, Bot Builder, Gardener, Horseman, Inventor, Nectar Maker, Painter, Photographer, Scuba Diver, Sculptor, and Writer (though some of these depend on having other EPs installed).

This EP introduces Sculpting and Inventing as skills, as well as the hidden Tattooing skill. To go along with these, it adds Consignment Shops and the ability to invest in real estate. And laundry? It’s got that too, with washers, dryers, and clothes hampers for your Sims. One final addition: the possibility that your Sim may die by having a meteor fall on them in included with Ambitions.

Generations

  • EP: 04
  • Released: May 2011
  • New Neighborhood: none.
  • New Type of Sim: Imaginary Friend
  • New Careers: Daycare
  • New Skills: Ballet (hidden), Driving (hidden), Hopscotch (hidden), Sandbox (hidden), Scouting (hidden).
  • Added Features: Memories, Scrapbooks, Midlife Crisis and Mood Swings, Chemistry and Potion Making, Body Hair in CAS, Spiral Staircases, Water Slides
  • Steam DLC | Steam Bundle (base game + Generations + Pets + Seasons)

Generations doesn’t seem, at first, to add much to the game, but what it actually adds is a lot of depth to existing game features. Its focus is really on enriching Sim lives. For example, Chemistry and Potion Making are added — they are not new skills, but rather are talents based on the existing Logic skill.

With Generations, Sims get Memories to take note of major life events, and these Memories can be shared for achievements and clothing unlocks. Sims can also tell ghost stories and ask each other out on dates.

With a focus on the stages of life, Generations adds pranks and punishment for kids, a costume chest for imagination playtime, and boarding schools as well. Kids also get new playground equipment (see-saws, tree-houses, and sandboxes). Teens get Mood Swings, and Adults can experience a Midlife Crisis they have to deal with. Elder Sims get canes to hobble around with and shake at troublesome whippersnappers. Everyone gets new celebrations, from slumber parties to bachelor/bachelorette parties and wedding parties, plus new play activities such as pillow fights.

Finally, Generations adds the Imaginary Friend: when a child is born, it’s possible they will receive an Imaginary Friend. With enough attention (and the right skills), your Sim can make their Imaginary Friend a real and have them join the household.

Into the Future

  • EP: 11
  • Released: October 2013
  • New Destination: Oasis Landing
  • New Type of Sim: Plumbot
  • New Careers: Astronomer, Plumbot Dealer, Plumbot Trainer
  • New Skills: Bug Eating (hidden)
  • Added Features: Time Travel
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC

Into the Future is the eleventh, and final, Sims 3 expansion pack. It allows Sims to travel to the future — a destination neighborhood called Oasis Landing.

In the future they can find all the futuristic things they’d expect — jetpacks, hoverboards, hovercars, monorails, food replicators, and so on. They can also meet their descendants there, and travel back and forth from the present to the future to influence events. Plumbots — essentially robots — are introduced, which can be like mindless servants or members of the household.

With Into the Future come careers in Astronomy and Bot Arena, and a lot of new rabbit holes and collectibles as well as traits and wishes.

Island Paradise

  • EP: 10
  • Released: June 2013
  • New Neighborhood: Isla Paradiso
  • New Type of Sim: Mermaid
  • New Careers: Lifeguard, Resort Manager, Scuba Diver
  • New Skills: Firewalking (hidden), Water Skiing (hidden), Wind Surfing (hidden)
  • Added Features: Boating
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC

Island Paradise brings tropical island life to the Sims with all the activities one would expect: beach parties, boating, and snorkeling — and yes, as that last one implies, there’s underwater exploration to be done.

With Island Paradise, Sims can own beach houses and pursue the new profession, Lifeguard, and all the water also comes additional modes of transportation for your Sims, such as wind surfing and water skiing.

There are resorts in Island Paradise. Sims searching for a bit of luxury can relax in one, or those searching for a career can attempt to run one.

This EP comes with a new neighborhood — Isla Paradiso — that includes uncharted islands that Sims can unlock and explore. And there’s also the Mermaid; scuba divers may encounter them and Sims may use a lifetime wish to become one.

Late Night

  • EP: 03
  • Released: October 2010
  • New Neighborhood: Bridgeport
  • New Type of Sim: Vampire
  • New Careers: Film, Band Member
  • New Skills: Bass, Drum, Mixology, Piano, Arcade Machine (hidden), Bubble Blowing (hidden), Darts (hidden), Club Dancing (hidden), Rock Band (hidden), Shuffleboard (hidden)
  • Added Features: Apartments, Subways, Elevators, Celebrity System, new Body Types and Muscle Definition in CAS
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC

Late Night features a nightlife for your Sims — and everything that entails. The new neighborhood, Bridgeport, comes stocked with downtown flats for your Sims to live in, and a lot of places for them to hang out, socialize, dance, and party. To go with the new Bass, Piano, and Drum skills, Late Night also adds the ability to form a band and play gigs, and careers in Film (for directing or acting) and being in a Band. And don’t forget Mixology because a talented bartender can really bring a party to life.

Hot tubs come with Late Night, as well as arcade machines, bubble bars, dance floors, and shuffleboard tables — everything needed to add life to a nighttime hot spot. Late Night also introduces Vampires (and they are improved with Supernatural) to haunt the high-end night spots, while the Celebrity system opens a new path for your Sim to obtain fame and fortune.

Pets

Pets adds a lot of new pets to the game. The Large Animals — dogs, cats, and horses — are playable while the Small Animals — birds, rodents, amphibians, and reptiles — are not. Pets also introduces Wildlife to the game, so it’s not unusual to spot deer and racoons around the neighborhood in addition to wild horses.

The playable pets can breed, and like all other Sims, can grow old and die (and even return as ghosts). They have traits, and goals, and so need training and attention. Horses get the Racing and Jumping skills and can be raced at the Equestrian Center — winning big races there can bring in big simoleons.

Unicorns appear with Pets, and can bless or curse your Sims — and they can also be befriended and join the household if they like your Sim well enough.

Seasons

Seasons adds a fantastic array of weather to the game, as well as the potential results of that weather. For example, Sims who lay out in swimwear can get a burn or a tan; in summer they can overheat and in winter they can get too cold. With Seasons, Sims will also now get rained on and snowed upon, but they can obtain an umbrella to help prevent them getting soaked and ruining their mood. Heavy rain comes with lightning that can strike homes and Sims, so unlucky Sims will want to be careful!

Along with the weather come new activities such as snowball fights and making snowmen in cold weather, while warmer seasons offer water balloon fights and horseshoe games for all. Sims can go snowboarding and attend seasonal festivals in town in addition to putting up holiday lights and throwing seasonal and holiday parties at home. Seasonal allergies and the flu can affect the Sims now too, but there are ways to deal with those in the game.

Finally, Seasons also adds Aliens to the game. Aliens may abduct Sims (and may even get male Sims pregnant).

Showtime

  • EP: 06
  • Released: March 2012
  • New Neighborhood: Starlight Shores
  • New Type of Sim: Genie
  • New Careers: Acrobat, Magician, Singer, DJ Turntable (hidden), Dominoes (hidden), Entertainer (hidden), Golfing (hidden), Karaoke (hidden), Magic (hidden), Performance Artist (hidden), Pool (hidden)
  • New Skills: none.
  • Added Features: Simport, Pool Tables, Driving Ranges
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC | Base Game with Showtime

Showtime comes packed with new stuff to introduce stage performance careers to the Sims. There is a new town, Starlight Shores, based all around performance careers, and a host of new community lots (venues) for performances. There are three new careers in Showtime: Acrobat, Magician, and Singer, each with its own challenges.

Showtime introduces some more social aspects to the Sims as well, with badges and a facebook-style wall that you can post to. There’s also Simport which lets your Sims visit your friends’ neighborhoods and vice versa.

The new Sim in Showtime is the Genie, who can grant wishes or, if befriended, can join the household.

Supernatural

  • EP: 07
  • Released: November 2013
  • New Neighborhood: Moonlight Falls
  • New Type of Sim: Fairy, Vampire, Werewolf, Witch, Zombie
  • New Careers: Fortune Teller
  • New Skills: Alchemy, Broom Riding (hidden), Fairy Magic (hidden), Lycanthropy (hidden), Spell Casting (hidden)
  • Added Features: Lunar Cycle, Beekeeping
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC

Supernatural introduces several new supernatural Sims (“occults”) to the game: Fairies, Werewolves, Witches, and Zombies. It also has Vampires, merely improving them if you already had Late Night, or adding them if you didn’t. Most of them — except Zombies — are available in CAS.

A lunar cycle is added too, and this affects the supernaturals, especially the Werewolves and Zombies. Sims will want to make sure to be careful when out on the night of the new and full moons!

Alchemy is introduced as a new skill, used to make potions and, at level 10, the Philospher’s Stone. A Fortune Teller career is offered, and Bonehilda returns to keep Sims’ home frighteningly clean and in good repair. To go along with some new recipes, there is Beekeeping to produce honey.

University Life

  • EP: 09
  • Released: March 2013
  • New Destination: Sims University
  • New Type of Sim: PlantSim
  • New Careers: Art Appraiser, Sports Agent, Video Game Developer
  • New Skills: Photography, Science, Street Art, Social Networking, Bowling (hidden), Jock Influence, Nerd Influence (hidden), Ping Pong (hidden), Rebel Influence (hidden)
  • Added Features: Smart Phones, Social Groups
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC | Base Game + University Life

University Life introduces a world that Sims can travel to for a period of time, much like World Adventures — only in this case they travel to Sims University to earn a degree and experience, well, life at university.

Sims get to select one of five majors at university and each requires the Sim to attend classes and lectures and perform hands-on learning activities. The new skills let Sims clone themselves and collectibles (Science), make money as a blogger (Social Networking), and create graffiti (Street Art) — and you don’t yet own World Adventures, University Life adds the Photography skill.

The new social groups (Jocks, Nerds, and Rebels) unlock new careers for the Sims. The EP also upgrades all Sims’ phones to smart phones so they can do their social networking from their phones.

World Adventures

  • EP: 01
  • Released: November 2009
  • New Destinations: Champs les Sims, Al Simhara, Shang Simla
  • New Type of Sim: Mummy
  • New Careers: None
  • New Skills: Photography, Nectar Making, Martial Arts, Diving (hidden), Rubble Clearing (hidden), Snake Charming (hidden)
  • Added Features: Basement Tool, Quests, Vespas
  • Trailer
  • Steam DLC

World Adventures adds three vacation neighborhoods for your Sims to travel to based on France (Champs les Sims) , Egypt (Al Simhara), and China (Shang Simla), and with these come quests and tomb exploration (as well as Mummies!) and the chance to find relics and collectibles.

Each vacation spot also adds a new skill to the game: Photography for Al Simhara, Nectar Making (wine making) for Champs les Sims, and Martial Arts for Shang Simla.

Since your Nectar-making Sims will likely want a wine cellar, World Adventures also adds the basement tool to the game.

EP FAQ

Do EPs combine in the base game, or do I need to use specific neighborhoods to use their features?

Sims 3 Expansion packs work independently of one another and, for the most part, of specific neighborhoods. You can mix and match them, and their features should all be added to your base game for use anywhere.

Can I use an EPs features in any town/world? Do I have to start new games in each EP’s world?

For most EPs, no — you should be able to use your existing game with the new features. Also note that, above, anything marked as a “Destination” is a place your Sims can travel to from any neighborhood in the game.

What if I get the base game from one place (like Steam), and the EPs and SPs from another (such as Origin, or Amazon downloads, or a retail disk)?

The only way to merge content from different sources like this is to register all your keys through EA’s Origin service, then use Origin to download and play the game. With The Sims, you can’t mix Steam-bought games and EPs/SPs with stuff bought anywhere else and still play through Steam.

The EPs are too expensive!

That’s not a question! And while I agree with you, I have no control over it. I’ll be deleting any such comments because they’re not helpful to people who know they want to buy one and just can’t decide which, I can’t do anything about it, and there are already enough threads about this in the forums.

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