I tried two of the scenarios just to see if I would enjoy game play that was narrowly dictated. I got bored. I guess I just like to play my way and not be told how to play. One scenario I never finished. One I cheated to finish, so I could see the promised reward. It was a non-factor. Not even worth cheating to get.
Also, as soon as I saw "timed" I tuned out. I play on my schedule, and that includes putting down the game to do other activities like reading, other games, real life pursuits, etc. Sometimes I play for hours and hours nonstop. Sometimes I skip a day or two. "Timed" doesn't fit into how I play.
I don't know about other people, but I have had my fill of online games that start out fun, but then progressively get more and more "challenging" to the point they are a grind. And more expensive to play, as time goes on, so that you finally realize you have invested way more in the game than you are comfortable investing. Only to have the developer decide they want to call it quits, sending their loyal players a notice that urges them to "use up all your coins/gems/etc by such and such a date, because the servers will be turned off." Or maybe they just decided not to update when a new iOS came out, so the game was toast. After that happened a couple of times, I became very resistant to spending any money on an online game.
In fact, one reason I decided to buy Sims 4 with all the added content, was because I finally stopped playing mobile online games, altogether. I wanted a new game to fill the void. I checked to see what mods were available to change game play into something approximating Sims 3, and found out the mods I needed were available, so I invested in Sims 4. (That and the lure of bunnies/llamas, which I did not have in Sims 3.)
If the next rendition of the game is only online, I won't even look at it. The franchise will have ended for me.
But since I have only had Sims 4 for a few months, I will be entertained for years to come, even if they never add horses or faeries/baby dragons. Because I still have those in Sims 3.
Actually, when it comes right down to it, other than the temptation of a larger all inclusive open sandbox world that has improved graphics, I cannot think of a good reason to buy a different simulation game. I'm content with Sims 3/Sims 4.
