Game: MySims: Cozy Bundle
Genre: Adventure, Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch
Developer | Publisher: EA Games | Electronic Arts
Age Rating: US Everyone | EU 3+
Price: US $39.99 | UK £34.99 | EU € 39,99
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
No review code was used; I purchased the game myself.
This sure brings back a lot of memories! I loved the MySims games when they were released. I’ve told it many times in the past 10 years since LadiesGamers has existed, but my gaming career started with 18 months straight playing only Animal Crossing Wild World. After that, I looked for something new, and I was sorely disappointed. Nothing even came close to what drew me to playing video games in the first place. In fact, I still think nothing comes close even so many years later, but that’s the AC fan talking.
Back then it was good news that Electronic Arts brought us the first MySims game in 2007. A game that EA felt would bring a more kid-friendly game to a broader audience that would still maintain the specific feeling of The Sims. The game was met with average reviews, with the main complaint that the game loop only had you collect essences and build houses and interiors.
It’s nice to conclude that the gaming world has changed: for decades I have been an advocate for games that can be laid-back, cosy and fun, without major earth-shattering goals or fighting. In recent years this is recognized by a larger audience, even leading to the term “Wholesome”. The fact that Electronic Arts brings us the MySims: Cozy Bundle now is no coincidence; and frankly, it couldn’t have come at a better time!
17 years have passed since the first MySims games; let’s see how they hold up to the test of time!
MySims Gameplay
Let’s start with the oldest game, MySims. You’ll start by creating your own Sim character, choosing everything from hairstyles to outfits. This process isn’t very accessible, though. You have to cycle through your options, and when you’re curious to see more, you will just have to cycle through it all again until you settle on your choice.
Once your Sim is ready, you find yourself in a rundown town and roped in by Mayor Rosalyn, who asks you to revitalize it. You do this by building and decorating homes, restaurants, a disco, a museum and other spaces. And not only build them but talk to the inhabitants as well to see what they need to get their business going. When the town level goes up, more areas and more variety will open up, and you can invite more visitors to move in.
Building and crafting is the main focus of the game. The base blocks are all there; no need to go and collect wood or ores. But if you have a request to beautify them, you need paint to do so. For this, you gather resources like wood, flowers, fruit, bricks, and all kinds of stuff. When the town levels up, your relationship with the town’s residents deepens, which unlocks more quests, blueprints and other features.
It’s such fun to explore and find unexpected things. The game’s creators are quite imaginative: sure, there are apple trees that need water, but what about this tree that needs oil to grow and produces Rubik’s cubes?
MySims Kingdom Gameplay
MySims Kingdom is the second game in the series, originally released in 2008, building on what was set as the base gameplay in MySims. In this game, you don’t stay in one town; keeping the inhabitants happy by building for them. Instead, you take on the role of a Wandolier. Of course, first, you have to prove you are a skilled builder and problem-solver to the Wizard Morubus. Easy peasy, as your competition isn’t doing much aside from wandering around.
King Roland appoints you as the Wandolier, tasked with restoring a once-thriving kingdom to its former glory. You’ll explore a variety of themed islands together with Lindsay and Buddy. Lindsay holds the bag of magic that can turn scrolls (a sort of recipe) into building blocks, provided you have enough base materials. Buddy is just along to provide some comic relief.
Equipped with a magical Builder Wand, you’ll gather resources like wood, stone, and rare essences to craft structures, solve puzzles, and customize buildings. Placement of every building block you use requires Mana, which you can also gather on the islands, or you can ask Lindsay to turn superfluous essences into Mana.
Every island is unique and themed, and the islanders have specific needs. Like in the MySims game, you will be decorating homes, but more often, you are busy fixing bridges and getting machines and contraptions to work. The island also gives you specific essences, to be harvested or by fishing, treasure hunting and prospecting. As you progress, you’ll unlock new abilities and customization options and unlock new islands.
Comparison Between Both MySims Games
The two games share the same colourful, cartoony style and lighthearted approach. The tone is humorous and family-friendly, so it’s accessible to gamers of all ages. The pace is relaxing, and there is no pressure.
At the same time, the MySims games encourage creativity. In MySims you are free to design the shops and homes as you wish and add things to the furniture you make. In MySims Kingdom, the outline of the items or structures you are building gives you a guideline, but you can still add things or use your own imagination. This becomes most apparent when you are tasked to work with gears and such to get the machinery going. Here you don’t have an outline and have to figure out yourselves how to get, for example, an irrigation system going.
Both games have engaging characters you meet, though you do have to be in the mood for all the chirpy tones and over-the-top quirkiness. MySims Kingdom is more linear as you strive to unlock more islands, which can only be done by finishing tasks on the islands that are already unlocked.
Which One is The Best?
I remember I was quick to abandon the original MySims when MySims Kingdom was released, enjoying the regular new environments. But this time, I’m not sure which one I think is more fun. MySims feels more like a sandbox-style experience, and MySims Kingdom feels more like an adventure. But once you have finished the tasks on the islands of MySims Kingdom, there really isn’t much left to do there.
MySims Kingdom is more linear, and it doesn’t really seem to matter how you shape the houses or businesses on the islands: as long as you use the right blocks and adhere to the brief of so many housing points, so many greenery points or happy points, you are good to go. This also means that you might be tempted not to put too much effort into building as long as the brief is met and you can move on.
While you can go all out with your creativity in your town in MySims, and still have new areas to shape. I’ve seen comparisons made to Animal Crossing, and I think the MySims first game resembles it most. You can, for example, choose theme areas in town and add as many items and adornments to houses and businesses as you want. And you aren’t hindered by a shortage of mana.
Having said all that, it is purely a matter of personal preference.
Did the Games Stand the Test of Time?
My verdict will hinge most on this question. Did the MySims games stand the test of time? The answer is yes, they have. These are the wholesome kind of games that are super popular at the moment, and I’m pretty sure gamers for whom it’s the first experience will be pretty chuffed.
But I do feel EA Games missed the opportunity to rework the controls and camera movements as this hindered the original games too. Working with the L and R buttons to look around feels strange, as does the use of the left and right stick. You do get used to it, but it doesn’t come naturally. When you play in handheld mode you could also go for the touch controls, they do work better.
When you are in building mode, it’s annoying how the camera won’t go up, and it’s really difficult to gauge the depth of your builds. This is especially noticeable when you are trying to hook up machinery to pipes or gears in MySims Kingdom.
Conclusion for the MySims Cozy Bundle
The MySims Cozy Bundle is once again a true joy to play. I loved the originals, and I love them on Switch as well. It’s a pity the controls and camera movements weren’t updated, but you do get used to it and it doesn’t detract too much from the gameplay.
I’m very happy that EA Games decided to bring the MySims games to the Nintendo Switch. I actually wish more companies would do that, as there are a couple of gems on the DS or the Wii that would do great on current-gen consoles. If only they would also bring the DS versions of the MySims games over to Switch too, as I remember they had a different story, which is pretty special for a game series to do that! So if you like the MySims Cozy Bundle and still have your DS, try to find the original handheld versions too.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
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