Gamecenter.com said " ... just as in the real world, there isn't enough time in the day to complete everything that needs to be done, so you must be extremely frugal with how your Sims spend their free time."
GamePro.com gave The Sims a 5 out of 5, stating " ... The game is so unique, so simple to understand, so easy to play and utterly enjoyable. It's destined to be a massive hit."