Maxis is currently developingProject Rene, the next installment inThe Simsfranchise, leaving the future direction of the series uncertain. WhileThe Sims 4has successfully carved out its own identity with its distinct style and long lifespan, the franchise now stands at a critical juncture. The choices made during the development ofProject Renewill likely redefine the core identity ofThe Sims,likeThe Sims 4did with the series.
This lack of clarity is mostly due to the evolving nature of the project and what little Maxis is communicating about it. So far, it is a follow-up toThe Sims 4that is not quite a sequel, and an unconventional evolution of the series that isn’t quite a spin-off. To top things off, it may be along time beforeProject Renecomes out. And although fans and Maxis can’t seem to answer (yet) whatProject Reneis exactly or how it will stand out in the legacy left behind by other games, there is one thing that is for certain. To truly honor its predecessors,Project Reneshould embrace the one element that defined the most memorableSimsexpansions: weirdness.
DLC That Captured The Sims’ Strangeness Perfectly
Some ofThe Sims’ most beloved expansions weren’t grounded in realism, they were steeped in the bizarre. But thesepopularSimsExpansion Packsand pieces of DLC actually back the fact thatThe Simswas never meant to be a strict life simulation. The series and its DLC have always leaned into chaos, embracing strange traits, stylized objects, and absurd scenarios that no other life-sim would dare try. WhenThe Simsgets weird, it thrives. And ifProject Reneis truly meant to build the future of the franchise, it should look backward—at the strange, wonderful expansions that built the franchise’s most lasting legacy.
The Sims: Makin’ Magic
This late-stage expansion for the originalTheSimstitle, released in 2003, brought spellcasting, a Mystery Man who gave out fines, duels, and toads into everyday suburban life. Players could collect ingredients to brew potions, enchant their objects, or teleport to Magic Town, a separate realm filled with vendors, mini-games, and supernatural residents. It was campy, ambitious, and gloriously weird in the pivotal years ofThe Sims’ soul- and identity-search. Other mage-based DLC forThe Simsarguably don’t captureMakin’ Magic’s magic. Makin’ Magic proved that whenThe Simsleans into fantasy, it can be unforgettable.
The Sims 3: Supernatural
With a full-on embrace of monsters,Supernatural is one of the best DLCs about monstersinThe Simsfranchise. It lets players become vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches, and even ghosts. Traits and abilities unique to each life state allowed for deeply customizable gameplay, and Moonlight Falls, the pack’s world, was atmospheric and lore-rich. It gave players the tools to create generational drama, whole covens, and monster marriages, all within the core sandbox experience.
The Sims 3: Into the Future
One of the most underappreciated expansions, Into the Future let Sims travel forward in time, interact withrobots called Plumbots, and change the fate of the future based on present-day actions. With hoverboards, dystopian and utopian timelines, and a strange NPC named Emit Relevart (read it backward), the pack felt like a love letter to sci-fi fans. Thematically out-there but mechanically solid, it showed just how farThe Simscould stretch and still feel likeThe Sims.
The Sims 4: StrangerVille
If Makin’ Magic was whimsy and Supernatural was folklore, StrangerVille was full-on conspiracy. This narrative-heavy Game Pack threw players into a dusty desert town plagued by secret labs, possessed townsfolk, and a mysterious plant-based infection. With military career options, hazmat suits, and a full mystery to unravel, it pushedThe Sims 4into X-Files territory.
What madeStrangerVillestand out wasn’t just its storyline, but how it encouraged players to break from their usual routines. For once, it wasn’t about building the biggest house or climbing a career ladder; it was about uncovering secrets, solving problems, and embracing the bizarre. Though it was divisive among fans due to its linearity, it proved thatThe Simscould do genre storytelling without losing its identity.
The Sims 4: Life and Death
One of the franchise’s most recent (and spookiest) expansions,Life and Deathembraced the morbid and the metaphysical. Cemeteries became interactive hubs, thanatology became a learned skill, and Sims could now explore grief and legacy in surprisingly rich ways. Players could romance the Grim Reaper openly, speak with the dead, or create entire neighborhoods themed around mourning and remembrance. It was dark, yes, but it was also refreshing. Players loved thatThe Sims 4wasn’t afraid to go there.
The Lesson: The Sims Has Never Been ‘Normal’
The Simswas never meant to be a true-to-life simulation. From the very beginning, the franchise’s charm has come from its absurdity: its dream logic, its commitment to chaos. Whether it’s abduction by aliens that results inmale Sims carrying an alien babyor cowplant deaths, the most memorableSimsmoments tend to be the weird ones.
And that’s somethingProject Reneshould lean into, not shy away from. While it may be tempting to aim for realism or elegance to appeal to modern audiences that turn toa game likeInZOI, players don’t playThe Simsfor realism. They play it to see what happens when they let a Sim eat twelve grilled cheeses in one sitting while flirting with Father Winter in a mansion.
Weirdness Is Timeless
Maxis has an opportunity here. IfProject Reneis to push the series forward, it needs to remember that embracing the strange is not a gimmick, it’s a legacy. There’s something timeless aboutThe Sims’ ability to turn the mundane into the ridiculous. A career as a ghost hunter or amedieval monarch inThe Simsis possible. A vampire Sim can reproduce with a spellcaster and create a league of undead, magical babies. The game thrives when it gives players tools to create their own emergent narratives, even if those narratives involve gnomes causing mischief or flirting with skeletons.
Give Players the Tools for Chaos
IfProject Renetruly is a platform that will grow over time, as Maxis suggests, it should be designed with weirdness in mind from the beginning. That means traits and aspirations that invite unpredictable behavior. That means lore-lite fantasy features, paranormal events, andEaster Eggs inThe Simsthat reward players for exploring the strange. And most of all, it means trusting the community to take those weird tools and run with them. Just as important is flexibility. Maxis should buildProject Reneto support thematic expansions that break from everyday life. Let the game accommodate those alternative playstyles without forcing modders to do the heavy lifting alone.
The Sims Needs to Evolve, Not Settle
It’s easy to imagineProject Reneplaying it safe, especially afterThe Sims 4’s rocky development and launch andSimCity’s failure.Project Renewill likely offer smoother mechanics, updated visuals, and modern online features. But safe isn’t what fans will remember. Safe isn’t what players build 200-hour saves around. Weird is what lingers. And weirdness, when done well, is what gets screenshotted, shared, and immortalized in forum lore and TikToks. Maxis doesn’t need to create Makin’ Magic 2.0, but it should letProject Renebe strange. Let it be surprising. Let it be more than just another game about house-building and job promotions. Let it beThe Sims—in all its weird, wonderful glory.
The Sims 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
