I believe an appropriate age range for the sims is age 13-60. It is not a game for young children. The related series "My Sims" with the cube-like people is for little children, just like My Sims the 2007 game. I loved that game as a child.
I think The Sims should continue what they have been doing since Sims 1. It always has been slightly edgy but it never crossed the line into what would be M rated. The series has always followed a quasi-reality, meaning it is realistic to real life, but introduces a touch of fantasy to make it a game and more appropriate. For example, look at the way the series have handled crime. Crime can include horrible things that I will not mention here, but the game made crime game appropriate by having a burglar rob the house and get into a cartoon-style fight with the police (even in a comedic way) or the unsavory charlatan pickpocket you. I have noticed that Sims 4 has moved towards political correctness and appropriate for young children, when that is not what the series originally intended. I believe that is a shame.
I think adults need a quasi-reality game that will appeal to them. I never enjoyed violent video games, but I enjoy The Sims as it is a nice constructive game with the right touch of adult content, but not in a way that is overt to children.
I miss the touches of reality where in Sims 2, if you didn't go grocery shopping, there would be no food. Sims 4 seems to be missing the chores that keep life going. The game could use a few situations that you should react to, such as when the unsavory charlatan shows up, you should leave or stay away from him. Let me also emphasize that whatever the unsavory charlatan and burglar does to you is an annoyance, but never anything devastating. In the sims 4, nothing can ever happen to you.
