My dad didn’t really like when I played on the Wii while he was in the house, so I could only play when he was at work. My mom didn’t really like when I played on the Wii when my homework wasn’t done, so I had to finish that too before I could play. And I was only allowed to play on Fridays and weekends. So I had to make good use of my time whenever the stars aligned.
My Sims Kingdom was my go-to game when I was in middle school. It’s not really at all like its parent game, The Sims, in any way other than avatar customization. In My Sims Kingdom, you traverse this world and travel to distant lands via boat. You have this handy wand that moves objects around. You’re given goals (e.g, “fix this statue”, “round up all the piglets for the farmer”), then decide how to solve it with the wand. So there’s definitely some problem-solving mechanics that allow you to get creative. And because the wand possesses a varied toolset, there are often many ways to solve problems—so it feels expressive and open.
There’s also a quest-based progression mechanic to the game. Characters give you tasks that unlock new lands, tools, and items. It follows a story-like progression that takes you all over the place, but you can sort of start to sniff out the gameplay loop (build this thing, decorate that thing, talk to this person, then do it all over again).
I think I liked it so much when I was in middle school because even though I was tight for time, I didn’t feel like I was rushed when I was playing it. My Sims Kingdom didn’t make me feel like I was being punished for going at my own pace. I could focus on style, completion, or just vibe throughout the kingdom. If I remember correctly, you collect this thing called essence as you go along that I think was used for crafting or unlocking things. So there’s a resource collection mechanic that contributes to the progression of the game. And in true Sims fashion, there’s a robust customization system which lets you change clothes, decorate areas, and design solutions your own way.
