I’m enjoying it, to be sure, but it doesn’t have the compulsive hold on me it used to. I’ve played for an hour or two here and there before moving onto other things.

Playing a slower-paced but more immersive game, rather than the usual action-adventure RPG-style titles I usually do, actually created space for me to think through some of my own real-life problems.Įven better, after those first marathon playing spurts, my relationship to The Sims 4 is actually-dare I say it-healthy. As my Sim navigated friendship difficulties, I thought about the friends I’d lost over the last year-something that has been weighing on me more than I’d like to admit. As I contemplated my Sim’s career, based on her interests, the quiet pace of the game gave me time to think about my own.

The Sims not only helped me de-stress, it actually gave me room to think about some of the issues I’d been struggling with. Sign up for our Games newsletter and never miss our latest gaming tips, reviews, and features.

Sims 3 into the future