The Character Creation in The Sims 5 should stay ahead of the curve

January 7, 2024

As work progresses on EA and Maxis’ highly anticipated The Sims 5, fans of the franchise are already engaging in speculation about the potential features of the upcoming game. Suggestions range from introducing new Sims families to providing a more comprehensive means of customizing characters’ homes. While it’s expected that various gameplay mechanics will see improvements upon the game’s release, one crucial aspect that Maxis should prioritize is enhancing the character creation system.

Despite the franchise incorporating robust character creation systems in recent editions, The Sims 5’s character creator should aim to establish a new standard for the series. Building upon The Sims 4’s Create-a-Sim (CAS) feature and allowing players to customize not only the appearance but also the personalities of their Sims in detail could give the game a competitive edge. By introducing a groundbreaking character creation system, Maxis has the opportunity to make The Sims 5 the most customizable and inclusive entry in the franchise, ensuring its ongoing success.

New Competition Means Maxis Can’t Afford to Rest on Its Laurels

When The Sims 5 eventually makes its debut, it will face stiffer competition in the life simulation genre than ever before. One noteworthy contender is the artistic indie game Paralives, which takes The Sims‘ serene and cozy gameplay and transforms it with a cel-shaded aesthetic. With its distinctive art style and the Paramaker system enabling players to customize everything from characters’ attire to tattoos, Paralives has the potential to overshadow The Sims 5.

A significant rival looming on the horizon for The Sims 5 is likely Life By You, a new life simulation game developed by Paradox Tectonic. While Life By You aims to build upon familiar elements of the genre, emphasizing its status as one of the most customizable life simulation games, its character creation system appears to be a major innovation. In Life By You, players can not only personalize their character’s appearance and personality but also craft custom dialogue for interactions with NPCs.

The Sims 5 Needs a Genre-Defining Character Creation System

Given the surge of newcomers in the life simulation market, it becomes imperative for Maxis to not only surpass the competition but also establish a new benchmark for the entire genre with The Sims 5‘s character creation system. The franchise has made commendable progress in customization and representation, as evident from the addition of pronoun selection to The Sims 4 in 2022. The Create-a-Sim (CAS) feature in The Sims 5 should build upon these advancements, aiming to empower players to craft their ideal in-game avatars, regardless of the envisioned form.

Recognizing that The Sims fanbase is diverse, The Sims 5 must ensure that every player can create a Sim that resonates with their identity. This entails providing a broader array of customization options, including an expanded range of skin tones and diverse hairstyles to better represent the game’s multifaceted audience. Maxis could draw inspiration from Playground Games’ Forza Horizon, which allows players to create characters with prosthetic limbs.

In the face of upcoming innovative competitors, Maxis must not settle for an iterative approach but strive for true innovation in The Sims 5‘s character creator. By presenting the most comprehensive iteration of the CAS system yet and incorporating customization choices that mirror the diversity of its player base, The Sims 5 has the potential to uphold Maxis’ dominance in the genre, granting fans unparalleled freedom to shape their perfect Sim.