In which year was the first Sims game released?

The first Sims game was released in 2000. Developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, The Sims launched for Microsoft Windows on February 4, 2000.

The game grew from designer Will Wright’s earlier work on SimCity. Instead of managing an entire city, players guided individual virtual people—called Sims—through homes, jobs, relationships, needs, and everyday routines. Its open-ended design made household storytelling and experimentation central to the experience.

The original release is sometimes confused with later entries and console versions. The Sims 2 arrived in 2004, while console editions of the original game followed later, including versions for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube in 2003. Expansion packs also began appearing in 2000, which can make the franchise’s early timeline seem crowded.

The Sims became a major commercial success and was the best-selling computer game in both 2000 and 2001. Its success established a long-running series that later included The Sims 2, The Sims 3, and The Sims 4.