Summary
In the words of the feared tactical mastermind fromGame of Thrones, Tywin Lannister, family is everything, andThe Simsfranchise does a fantastic job of harping on the family unit across every iteration of the series. While the textbook allure of the Maxis headliner lies in the remarkable depth of customization options it offers players, from creating a character to building the most impressive mansion ever known toThe Simsuniverse, it is equally renowned for its lore through its families. Over the years, several households have come and gone in the life simulator series through the base games and its numerous expansion packs, but a few have been mainstays in the franchise from day one and are likely to return in the next iteration,The Sims 5.
Just like regular real-life families, members of a household share similar traits, andThe Simshas unique representations of the spectrum of human emotions through its family units. For example, interacting with the Goth Family reveals a predisposition to dour moods and a tendency to isolate from others, while players will notice the Landgraabs have the typical snobbish materialism that comes with a lifetime of wealth and influence. LikeHaloand Master Chief, every franchise needs its legacy characters, and an installment ofThe Simswouldn’t have the cozy Simlish feel without the presence of some families since they have appeared in just about every edition of the franchise.
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The Landgraabs
Thewealthiest family inThe Sims, the Landgraabshave had their footprints all over the franchise right from the days ofSimCity 3000, dotting the landscape with billboards depicting the family name. The illustrious family line can be traced throughThe Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles, where the ancestors were on opposite sites of warring factions, to Nancy, Geoffrey, and their son Malcolm inThe Sims 4.
The family used to have powerful rivals in the Alto household inThe Sims 3, with both families striving for the distinction of Mega Corporation’s CEO through Nancy and Nick, and the relationship between members of the households was as frosty as any inThe Simsmemory. InThe Sims 4, the Landgraabshave unchecked influence through the ownership of the Power Corporation and Copperdale High, and just about every Sim pays precious Simoleons to keep their household appliances running in the latest edition of the franchise, making their return inThe Sims 5pretty much inevitable.
The Goths
Every Sim has its quirks, but it is rare for an entire household to give off weird vibes. Even accounting for theStrangerVille world inThe Sims 4with its mystical connections to The Mother, the Goth family is one of the stranger units inThe Sims' history. From their obsession with medieval and Gothic architecture (perhaps stemming from their royal roots) to lore concerning Bella, the Goths have inspired intrigue in every iteration they’ve graced. Mortimer, Bella’s husband, is a Renaissance Sim with a flair for writing macabre stories, and despite his Outgoing personality trait, he is susceptible to periods of gloom.
Where things get interesting is with Bella, as her complex lore stretches back to thecanonical timeline ofThe Sims 2. Tragedy strikes the household when Bella goes missing due to alien abduction and never returns home to Pleasantview. Mortimer is an Elder Sim in this story with a much younger love interest in Dina Caliente, who many believe is after a hefty inheritance payday.The Sims 4takes place in an alternate universe, with the family’s biggest worry being how to keep young Cassandra and Alexander from becoming as gloomy as their forebears, andThe Sims 5is another opportunity to expand the household’s lore.
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The Calientes
A good story needs romance drama to thrive, and the Caliente women provide enough material to sate lovers of a traditional soap opera. InThe Sims 4, the family resides in theOasis Springswith Katrina’s live-in boyfriend Don Lothario, who is more than remotely interested in her twin daughters, Nina and Dina. The sisters have an alien heritage inThe Sims 2, and given Dina’s gold-digging aspirations and Bella Goth’s last seen location at Don Lothario’s home, they might be more involved in her disappearance than meets the eye. Lovers ofThe Simsexpect the Caliente household to return inThe Sims 5due to their extensive involvement in the franchise’s lore.
The Pleasants
Another legacy household, the Pleasants have been present in every iteration ofThe Simsfranchise. One of the wealthier families in the series, Daniel and Mary-Sue Pleasant flaunt their riches on a honeymoon in the Sunlit Tides world inThe Sims 3, although there are rumors of romantic trifles with the maids. The couple’s twin daughters, Lillith and Angela, appeared inThe Sims 4with the introduction of theDiscover University expansion pack, and since their timelines seem to be progressing - from Daniel as a child in The Sims, the honeymoon inThe Sims 3, and finally the daughters in university in the latest installment - it is reasonable to expect more expansion inThe Sims 5.
The Crumplebottoms
Life wouldn’t be complete without a few grouchy old citizens, and Agnes and Agatha Crumplebottom carry the family torch inThe Sims 4. The family is related to the Goths by Cornelia’s marriage to Gunther inThe Sims 3, which is set 50 years before the events ofThe Sims 2. While the household seems to be on its last legs since the sisters are Elder Sims, the family lives on through the Goths, and they might yet make another appearance inThe Sims 5.
