Absolutely essential:
Growing Together (really transforms the game)
Get Together (club system and world)
City Living (I’m a city person irl)
Eco Lifestyle (dumpsters, hobbies)
For rent (allows so many more options for housing and communities)
Cottage Living (simple living feature and world)
Discover University (gives sims a proper young adulthood)
Wouldn’t want to play without:
Cats and Dogs
Island Living
Get Famous
Nice to have:
Snowy Escape
Get to Work
Don’t have:
Seasons (I like my eternally sunny worlds ?)
Horse Ranch (will get eventually)
High School Years (probably don’t want due to all the annoying events)