Games Review: The Sims 3

Mac, PC, EA, £39.99

After a raft of expansion packs for The Sims 2 – with H&M and Ikea getting their own titles, as well as add-ons based on pets, university life and even the weather – its true sequel is finally here. As you’d expect, there’s all the people- managing fun of previous Sims but thanks to some clever redesigns, gameplay feels fresh and some of the tedious minutiae has gone. The community where your playthings live is much improved too, with residents interacting more naturally than before. And the Sims themselves can be endlessly tweaked with everything from personality traits to star signs. The most accomplished, and enjoyable, Sims.