The Sims 3 faced an daunting task to live up to the franchise's legacy and yet still deliver a new kind of experience to satiate the desires of any Sims fan.

It’s only the inclusion of a much slicker set of tools to allow the recording of machinima movies and the sharing of customised content that prevents an even harsher score. While there was a significant step up both technically and in gameplay terms between The Sims and The Sims 2, the same can’t be said of The Sims 3 compared to its predecessor.

If you're a fan of one of the previous games, you probably have this already, but if you're new to The Sims, this is a great way to jump into the water. Just make sure to climb out for air from time to time.

It’s the kind of addictive joy that will make you realize that you have the power to do what you want to the world you help create. In other words, The Sims 3 is a real Must Buy for any fan of the series or any gamer looking for a PC title that’s way too much fun to want to stop playing.

After suffering from an oversaturation of Sims for the last 10 or so years, it’s hard to believe The Sims 3 is as good as it is. It’s unapologetically a Sims game, but it also manages to feel truly fresh.

Superb evolution for the franchise and an impressive, enjoyable game in its own right. EA has obviously listened to criticism and worked hard to create a title that prioritises goal-based gameplay over micro-management to deliver an experience that's constantly engaging and thoroughly immersive.

The greatest achievement in The Sims 3 comes not in its gameplay or presentation. Instead, the overall package makes it stand out as a great sequel.

A gallant return to form and takes a direction that breathes new life into a formula that is fast reaching a decade old.

As such, The Sims 3 really is a game that keeps on giving; it's polished to near perfection and while it's missing a couple of old features, it shines in so many other areas where the series once lacked that I can only sing its praises.

Maxis does it again and delivers the best Sims game ever. By implementing a handful new gameplay elements, The Sims 3 now feels like an actual game. And without forgetting the players that just want to fiddle around a little bit. Making this one a lot more appealing to newcomers. The somewhat high price of new objects and the lack of accessories don't come as a surprise. The only thing left is the difficult, though pleasant, job of maintaining a second household besides your own.

On the surface you might get the impression that little has changed between the second and third installment of EA's life simulator, but when you delve deeper into the experience you'll find a game that offers you more unique characters, an increased ability to participate in social activities outside of the confines of the house and less focus on tedious daily chores. For the first time your sim and the world surrounding him/her feels truly unique. As per usual you only get the basic features in the package, leaving an almost clean slate ready for future expansions. Nevertheless, EA's done it again and you'll find countless hours of great fun here.

The latest incarnation of Electronic Arts sandbox game is also the best so far. The Sims 3 takes the core of the series and wraps great graphics around it, as well as an open town and more playability. That makes you forgive the lack of real news in the game.

If there’s one great story in The Sims 3, it’s of how the biggest game in the world continues to act like it, expanding in some respects, shrinking in others, but always evolving. And it’s about EA learning more and more how to act like the world’s biggest developer, the production values, build quality and feature set here being almost overwhelming.

It's both more of a role-playing game than it's ever been before, and more of a design game than it's ever been before. It may suffer a few glaring compromises, but it's an essential play for anyone with an interest in what videogames can achieve outside of a targeting reticule.

Give it time to circulate and new content will come pouring in, but what's there is by far the best in the series, and I can say that because the advent of seamless city exploration, fully integrated character traits and less dumbfounded AI in The Sims3 would make it difficult to return to its predecessors.

A stunning life simulator with a few gaping omissions. It will likely reach boiling point over the next year or so.

The Sims 3 is not a surprise; it not reinvents the genre or has a significant evolution. It is mainly a successful game, a natural evolution and an experience that can even be regarded as introspective.

The refurbished virtual doll house doesn't look that new, but its voyeuristic charm is greatly increased.

The sheer scope of possibility is a little daunting, so it’s really to the game’s benefit that it is just so instantly addictive.

Her loyal fans will go crazy again with it. They'll talk about it everywhere. They'll miss something here and there. But then they'll go back to the game and even forget their real life.

Same formula as the original one, lots of new features, usual charisma. Fun for everyone.

The Sims 3 is pure simulation gaming fun, and the ultimate God game today.

The customization options and freedom to do anything in The Sims 3 allow players to not only make any person or any family, but they allow players to have their own story.

A fine digital toy and a great purchase for the fan of the series - as long as you accept that a lot of expansion features from The Sims 2 are missing and will probably be sold to you all over again as an endless stream of expansion packs and downloadable add-ons. As a game, things tend to get just as repetitive as your average daily grind in real life.

The Sims 3 is a great game, a truly masterpiece, fresh, mature and innovative. With beautiful visuals, the game is full of new contents, the life of our avatars is not set only in one house but we can stroll about through an entire city. This a giant leap from the other games created by Will Wright.

The latest Sims game is also the greatest, striking a terrific balance between the fresh and the familiar.

Even with that ostensibly simple premise, the development team has crafted a remarkably layered simulation that feels like what The Sims has been trying to be from the beginning.

If you're a fan of the series, then The Sims 3 will deliver all that you've come to expect and throw in a ton of new ideas, even if the amount of extra toppings doesn't seem as vast.