The Sims 2 (PlayStation 2, 2005)

The Sims 2 for PS2 takes all the life-sim chaos you love and turns it into a full-on console experience with personality, drama, and way too many fires in the kitchen. Released in 2005 by EA and Maxis, this sequel upgrades everything that made the original legendary — deeper customization, more life stages, and way more ways to ruin (or improve) your Sims’ lives. It’s addictive, ridiculous, and somehow still feels like therapy and comedy rolled into one.

In The Sims 2, you don’t just live — you evolve. Your Sims actually age, change, and carry lifelong grudges, which makes every decision matter. Will you build a happy, thriving household or trap everyone in a pool with no ladder again? Totally up to you. The PS2 version also adds “Direct Control” gameplay, letting you physically move your Sim around instead of just pointing and clicking. It’s more immersive, more dramatic, and somehow even more unhinged than ever.

The graphics are crisp for its time, the soundtrack is full of that iconic Simlish charm, and the personality system gives your Sims actual quirks and goals. Plus, you can build homes, start careers, fall in love, get dumped, and still have time to burn dinner before work — the true adult experience. It’s the ultimate sandbox for chaos and creativity.

If you’ve ever wanted to play god while watching your creations spiral into hilarious disaster, The Sims 2 is still the gold standard. Buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange and rediscover the PS2 version that made life simulation fun, weird, and just a little bit evil.

1. Fully 3D life simulation with direct control over your Sims’ every move.
2. Build homes, start families, and shape generations across multiple life stages.
3. Create unique Sims with distinct personalities, aspirations, and fears.
4. Exclusive console features like story mode and interactive environments.
5. A hilarious and endlessly replayable PS2 classic that defined virtual living.