Electronic Arts' life simulation game has been a leader in the genre for decades, and withThe Sims 5on the way, fans are looking forward to the franchise’s next chapter. For over twenty years, players have enjoyed the charmingly chaotic entries and their multitude of add-ons that have each brought something new to the table while still maintaining that recognizableSimsformat. However, it seems like Electronic Arts and developer Maxis’The Sims 5, code-named “Project Rene”, is looking to make some sizable changes.
While many players are looking forward to seeinghowThe Sims 5revolutionizes the franchise, there are some recurring elements that it would be great to see in the next installment. While most of the mainlineSimsgames move the action to different neighborhoods and feature (mostly) new characters, there are a handful of long-running gags, themes, and objects that turn up again and again. AlthoughThe Sims 5is aiming for a brand-new approach, some traditions should stand the test of time like the franchise’s use of gnomes across multiple entries.
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Gnomes In The Sims Franchise
AlthoughThe Simsis technically a life simulation series, that doesn’t mean it’s free from weird and wonderful elements like vampires, magic, alien abductions, and frequent drop-ins from the Grim Reaper to name just a few. Some of the aspects that fall into this category are more obvious, and others require players to discover them for themselves like the mischievous behavior of a handful of lawn ornaments. Gnomes have a variety of different behaviors and usesacrossThe Simsinstallments, and while they may have started as harmless knick-knacks, they soon grew to have a life of their own.
InThe Sims: Makin' Magic, players could cast a spell on the inanimate ornaments to create helpful gardening NPCs for as long as the charm lasted, although things got a little more sinister in later games. InThe Sims 2: Nightlife,gnomes could be stolen by NPCs, creating tensions with neighbors, and in later expansions “Shifty Sam the garden gnome” was added and would appear randomly around the lot if left alone long enough. Mysterious Mr. Gnome was a special item inThe Sims 3who would also randomly appear and grant a selection of perks.The Sims 4had the most interactive iteration, with gnomes that needed to be appeased with the right gifts or else players would risk their wrath, and some fans are wondering howThe Sims 5will make use of these items.
How The Sims 5 Can Use Gnomes
Not much is currently known aboutThe Sims 5and the changes that the developer will be making to the franchise formula. Through each installment,The Sims 5will be doing the same. While there are a few things that players are already focusing on, like the answers to long-running mysteries such as the fate of notorious NPC Bella Goth, it will probably be a while before they get any answers. However, the gnomes and their changing role in the series seem like the perfect way to linkThe Sims 5with each of the previous installments.
Gnomes have evolved several times over the course ofThe Simsgames, soThe Sims 5could push the envelope further and add another dimension to these pointy-hat pals.The Sims 4introduced so many different varieties of gnomes, which may have been a fun approach but didn’t really affect their behaviors. Making the gnomes transform into semi-sentient helpers again like the original gardening gnomes fromThe Simscould be a cool idea, especially if different gnome types need to be recruited for different tasks. Adding a slightly spooky dimension again to the lawn ornaments would also reflectThe Sims' kooky sense of humorand makeThe Sims 5feel like part of the pack.
The Sims 5is currently in development.
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