I think what some people in charge of newer Sims games failed to understand is that it was the ability to customize your game that made especially adult players fans of The Sims series. The other feature that made me like many others hard core fans for life was that quirky humor the earlier versions had. Playing The Sims 2 was so much more social event, even online and not in IRL. People created vivid and lively communities around the game to create new content. We had so many Sims "sub cultures" going on. There is still some, but as EA has decided that it wants to control content and has been disabling more and more ways we used to be able to customize our game, it's also losing this sense of community and belonging to sims community away. People aren't that invested in the Sims communities anymore which leads people not being so invested in the game anymore. I mean, when Sims 2 was the thing, we had more forums where I was active too. We had so much fun either creating custom content like different historical periods and so on, and now... You can't customize how your Sims worlds look. I mean you can build new houses but surrounding areas are what they are and there is nothing you can do about it. If you wanna create a sims story you are bound by what EA decided your world looks like. The Sims 4 is just killing our creativity and that's where EA needs to step up. Get us invested in the game in the way we feel "this game is MY game, I created it, I control it and I'm proud to share it with others".
Oh and bring those quirky sims back. Now everything is so clean and happy. Now it's like Stepford Wives meets the Truman show. No surprises, no emotional attachment, no laughing my apple (ha ha, no plum there!) off for some funny and weird thing my sims do.
Other things I really want back are:
Open world and it affecting things like where you live because it affects how long it takes for your sim kids to get home from school etc.
Creating your own worlds, both maps/terrain and every detail in your world
Beach lots, house boats, hills where to build or just go hiking, rural areas and not just towns.
Color wheel or what ever it was called, creating a style! I mean seriously. This is a must.
More meaningful characters and interactions.
Babies that aren't furniture. I have to say that I love The Sims 4 toddlers though, and I don't usually like playing with toddlers.
Wants and especially fears. Stuff that makes my sims act unpredictable, maybe memories that make them freak out when something similar happens.
More complex personalities who act like their personality. By act I mean actual animation which also has affect on sims around them, not just a a moodlet. Moodlets don't make me emotionally attached to this game and that is required if you want to sell me more expansion packs. Toddlers do this great way, so how about getting older sims do the same.
Teens being teens. I want to recognize someone as teen without needing to READ that they are teens. I want them looking like teens and acting like teens. I was LMAO when one of my teen was dragging her feet when she didn't feel too happy. More of this kind of story telling please.
Sims being able to die because of sickness. In what life (simulation) people don't die for illnesses?
Cars, bikes and boats, but then again, we want open world for those.
Cut scenes like in Sims 2! I love those!
Paradise Island, houseboats, hotels, the general atmosphere of that world and game play
Weather, seasons, seasonal stuff.
Quirkiness. Lots of it and more actual reacting to other sims, like we react to people we live or work with. Sims actually getting really mad at each other without chatting like best friends two minutes later.
Oh, and IKEA stuff or anything that fits to more modern and minimalist style.
