I didn't really play before Sims3. I have no clue why some simmers enjoyed Sims2 over Sims3, which had open worlds that truely made it a life simulation game and the bulk of content that Sims4 seems will never catch up on. The Sims3 just had so much going for it early on with freed infants, cars, cemeteries, a Grim you could do more with, open world, customizationable clothes and items, a non-criminal Nancy, Gunther Goth, collecting, ECT. With strollers, bikes, house boats, some farming via store, Uni, attractive trait, picking favorites in CAS like colors/signs/fav food/fav music, making bin Sims supernaturals right in CAS, boyfriend/girlfriend and fiancee in CAS relationships, stores like in World Adventures where you can buy 100 shower in a cans if you want, grocery stores where you can buy all harvestables easily, babysitting/stylist/home interior careers, riders for toddlers, more playground equipment, unicorns, dragons, and so much more. I miss the oogers animation from toddlers.
I do love some things about Sims4 over the rest.
Ease of saving and getting out of CAS
Roof placing
Ability to move several lots on a piece of land
Lot traits
Ease of erasing CAS accessories
Moving whole fence pieces
Yardsale tables & selling paintings thing
Snow globes
Mayor Whiskers
Seeing Sims/animals to choose for adoption
Careers playable
Store, dining, doctor, vet, ECT playing
Ease of finding a Sim in the world and doing what you want with them instead of befriending and adding to the house.
I simply was immersed in Sims3, but not 4 as much. I actually bought one pack on sale and will buy Strangerville on sale. I always bought Sims3 pre-order or right on the day of sale. I have all of the store and all discs for it on my 99% vanilla game (downloaded a caw empty large world that I love). This vanilla game and appropriate computer made my game work near perfect. I am right now in the process of using that empty map to make my own world that is large, an impossibility in Sims4.
Also, I don't like leveling up all the time. We should have sliders on relationships, jobs, skills, ECT. Also, shower in a can, full meter food, awake pill, ECT right in buy without cheats for story purposes and for people like me who don't like leveling up
