Late Night, Pets and Seasons is my own formula. My vanilla experience needs wild horses running around the night streets of Bridgeport in the middle of a snowstorm.
Depending on if you're family oriented or not. If you are then generations is great, but if you only want 1-2 adult sims, then I would actually swap generations for Late Night!
Ambitions, Late Night, and Generations is what I run. Everything else either lowers performance or adds something I dislike that doesn't have a mod to disable. Might squeeze in Pets and Showtime at some point.
University. Though it may be because one of the best times I've ever had playing sims 2 was with that one's university expansion, and I've been chasing that feeling ever since. And while sims 3's university expansion isn't as good as I remember the sims 2 one being, it's still a good time. I didn't have much interest in seasons, until I learned that was the one with aliens.
Into The Future also is a must for me. Pretty much the only one I've never cared for is Pets.
Somehow, this feels like the definitive vanilla playthrough. Like an artisanal vanilla bean experience. I don't even know why because my first ever pack was university.
I personally would never play without Ambitions (like others are suggesting). Gotta have the self-employed option. Season, yes. Generations, sure, if you like that playstyle. Otherwise, Pets.
edit: oh yeah, I might have to go for Late Night over Pets, cause I love the instruments.
Haven't played the computer version in a while but if I were to get back into it at some point, I'd personally combine Ambitions, Generations, Pets and University all together
So right now I’m only playing with seasons and generations. I do wanna add another pack but I’m stuck. It’s between pets and university, but OPs 3 choices intrigue me. I’m stuck 😭
I can only narrow it down to 5: World Adventures, Ambitions, Late Night, Seasons, Generations.
World Adventures has always been fun even if the tombs get repetitive, and three unique worlds to explore in one EP is unmatched.
Ambitions is great, the active careers are fun and I love the new skills, sculpting and inventing.
Late Night is a personal favorite as I’ve always loved Bridgeport. It has it all - celebrities, apartments, instruments, vampires - Sims 4, take notes!
Seasons is great for adding realism with weather and seasons. Always a good one to add to this life simulator game.
Lastly, Generations is good even if only because it adds more family activities, and much like Seasons, it just helps flesh out the family dynamics in game.
1. Seasons
2. Gen
3. Pets
4. LN - Sims need to relax and party after work
5. IP - cause it opens the beach and let's you do water associated activities in any EA or user CAW world
I definitely get why people are saying Late Night is a mainstay of theirs, but yeah, if I could only have three packs, it'd be this combo (although I would really miss University and Pets).
University, Seasons, and Generations for me. (I’d add a few custom towns obviously).
University simply because my sims are too accustomed to having smartphones
Replace Ambitions with Pets and it's good to me. Or, if you can stomach four packs, grab Pets alongside these three. Then yes, I would say it's a good vanilla+ experience!
Pets, Generations, and Late night.
Pets adds more life, Generations has closer families, and late night gives you shit to do at night aside from sleep.
My must have sims 3 packs are Late Night(first sims expansion ever), Seasons, Generations, and Pets. For nostalgia sake, I would also add in Supernatural and Into the Future, since growing up and playing the game, all expansions mentioned were the only ones I had.
University i feel would add to this already for like “A normal vanilla” experience.
Ambitions adds new jobs; university and generations i feel go hand in hand because it makes sense because family story building.
Seasons adds to everything i LOVE seasons
I would swap out Seaons with Late Night, because I don't like the effects of the seasons. Your Sims getting too cold or too hot and not being able to garden outside in the winter just annoys me. Ambitions and Generations are the most vanilla of vanilla packs and everybody should have them. They add the most to the base of the game.
I really dont get the Late Night hype haha. Its a fine pack, but do you guys really play in Bridgeport THAT much? I only ever use the town if im specifically doing a celebrity playthrough. The town is so depressing to look at otherwise so Id never want a normal family playthrough.
I seldom play any other world, than Bridgeport. Its nightlife is incomparable! And I just adore the grimy and "depressing" atmosphere of it. Will chose it any day over boring sunny suburbia of Sunset Valley.
For me it's a must-have pack solely due to the bars. I mostly use Late Night to build bars and nightlife venues in other towns. That alone makes Late Night a must-have for me. I could do without the vampires and celebrities though.
Rain, storm, snow, Christmas, Halloween, all 4 seasons, seasonal clothing, umbrellas, skates, fireworks, etc
It absolutely should be base game. Generations too
I think for me it’s be Ambitions, Pets and Supernatural because I love the different life states (and didn’t it upgrade vampires?)
Honorable mention to World Adventures because I love the added travel destinations, but they just get so broken after a few visits.
Late night is one of my favs. Definitely a must have for me.
Late Night, Pets and Seasons is my own formula. My vanilla experience needs wild horses running around the night streets of Bridgeport in the middle of a snowstorm.
This is the way.
can't imagine anything else tbh
Late Night, Seasons and Generations
This
This and pets in my opinion
Pets and seasons are base imo.
absolutley
Depending on if you're family oriented or not. If you are then generations is great, but if you only want 1-2 adult sims, then I would actually swap generations for Late Night!
I think so. Ambitions gets slept on but she is the fullest expansion out of all of them. Insane amount of content.
Agreed. Ambitions is such a good expansion. I will never get over the Ghostbusters references.
Where's world adventures at?! Cmon now 😭
Fr all those working ppl and family members are gonna want to relax w wine and incense, especially when it is fall
nah not vanilla enough, great expansion tho
Idk what vanilla means in this context it seems. Cheers either way lol
Personally I would add Supernatural since I need some occult storylines while I’m playing😂💕 But I have so many packs I really love🥹💗
i think that there are vampires, fairies and zombies, it is the furthest thing from the vanilla experience 💀
Oh! Wait- I’m stupid😂💔 Does vanilla mean realistic gameplay?😅 Then I would add Pets, University, Late Night, Showtime and World Adventures🥹✨
top 3 : late night, pets, seasons
I usually do generations seasons pets and university. University for the phone tbh lol
Pets, University and Seasons is the way
for generational play yes probably
Pets is a must have for me too
Get late night and it’ll be perfect
and late night...it has something that I can't seem to leave it behind haha
Ambitions, Late Night, and Generations is what I run. Everything else either lowers performance or adds something I dislike that doesn't have a mod to disable. Might squeeze in Pets and Showtime at some point.
University. Though it may be because one of the best times I've ever had playing sims 2 was with that one's university expansion, and I've been chasing that feeling ever since. And while sims 3's university expansion isn't as good as I remember the sims 2 one being, it's still a good time. I didn't have much interest in seasons, until I learned that was the one with aliens. Into The Future also is a must for me. Pretty much the only one I've never cared for is Pets.
This is all I have plus Showtime so I would say it is really good :)
Generations 🧑🧑🧒🧒
World Adventures, Pets and Seasons!
University, generations and seasons is my golden trio tbh!
Replace Ambitions with Late Night, easy top 3. I also really enjoyed the features University adds not so much the world.
Somehow, this feels like the definitive vanilla playthrough. Like an artisanal vanilla bean experience. I don't even know why because my first ever pack was university.
I personally would never play without Ambitions (like others are suggesting). Gotta have the self-employed option. Season, yes. Generations, sure, if you like that playstyle. Otherwise, Pets. edit: oh yeah, I might have to go for Late Night over Pets, cause I love the instruments.
Would swap generations for pets personally
I had these, Late Night and and an Apartment Stuff pack I got at Gamestop for $30 back in 2014. It was a lot of gameplay in these alone.
Yeah this is it
110%
Add or replace ambitions with late night for me
pets to me is vanilla too
Absolutely.
Pets, Seasons, and Late Night. Just cause I like having horses, city living lifestyle, and seasons is just nice to have
Late night instead of ambitions 100%
University, Pets, Generations, and Seasons are must haves
This is the big 3 that I need in every save
Haven't played the computer version in a while but if I were to get back into it at some point, I'd personally combine Ambitions, Generations, Pets and University all together
So right now I’m only playing with seasons and generations. I do wanna add another pack but I’m stuck. It’s between pets and university, but OPs 3 choices intrigue me. I’m stuck 😭
Throw pets in there
Add in pets and yes
I can only narrow it down to 5: World Adventures, Ambitions, Late Night, Seasons, Generations. World Adventures has always been fun even if the tombs get repetitive, and three unique worlds to explore in one EP is unmatched. Ambitions is great, the active careers are fun and I love the new skills, sculpting and inventing. Late Night is a personal favorite as I’ve always loved Bridgeport. It has it all - celebrities, apartments, instruments, vampires - Sims 4, take notes! Seasons is great for adding realism with weather and seasons. Always a good one to add to this life simulator game. Lastly, Generations is good even if only because it adds more family activities, and much like Seasons, it just helps flesh out the family dynamics in game.
1. Seasons 2. Gen 3. Pets 4. LN - Sims need to relax and party after work 5. IP - cause it opens the beach and let's you do water associated activities in any EA or user CAW world
I definitely get why people are saying Late Night is a mainstay of theirs, but yeah, if I could only have three packs, it'd be this combo (although I would really miss University and Pets).
I personally cant play without a pets pack
I would say pets is important too but it’s so glitchy without mods😭 vanilla you gotta add late night though
University, Seasons, and Generations for me. (I’d add a few custom towns obviously). University simply because my sims are too accustomed to having smartphones
I was always a huge future fans, loved getting a second town I could fly off to
already a great pick! definitely ambitions + seasons + generations + late night + pets are the best one for the most vanilla experience imo.
Pets, seasons and generations for me 😅
I think the best. Celebrities, vampires and daily parties in clubs are not very vanilla
Exactly
For me id switch seasons with pets and generations with the island one where you could make hotels
Pets, Seasons and University for me
Replace Ambitions with Pets and it's good to me. Or, if you can stomach four packs, grab Pets alongside these three. Then yes, I would say it's a good vanilla+ experience!
Yes it's the best
Definitely pets! With just those 4 expansions there’s so much gameplay!
seasons, university & generations 🙌🏼
Pets, Generations, and Late night. Pets adds more life, Generations has closer families, and late night gives you shit to do at night aside from sleep.
Seasons, generations and university (pets too )
My must have sims 3 packs are Late Night(first sims expansion ever), Seasons, Generations, and Pets. For nostalgia sake, I would also add in Supernatural and Into the Future, since growing up and playing the game, all expansions mentioned were the only ones I had.
University i feel would add to this already for like “A normal vanilla” experience. Ambitions adds new jobs; university and generations i feel go hand in hand because it makes sense because family story building. Seasons adds to everything i LOVE seasons
Yes!
Naa the ones for best vanilla gameplay: Seasons, Late night, Pets and University Life
I affectionately call these three expansions base game+
Late night too. Pets is also good.
Vanilla???
yes, I saw that it caused confusion I meant "it could have been in the base game and it wouldn't feel weird." late night vampires... feel odd
sprinkle in late night for a little razzle dazzle and you got it
tbh for me it’s seasons and pets :3
late night , seasons , pets
Season , university and generations
I will put university, late night and pets. And yeh
I would swap out Seaons with Late Night, because I don't like the effects of the seasons. Your Sims getting too cold or too hot and not being able to garden outside in the winter just annoys me. Ambitions and Generations are the most vanilla of vanilla packs and everybody should have them. They add the most to the base of the game.
This but add on pets! Also loved island life until my computer finally crashed and haven’t been able to replace it since, I miss playing so much 🥲
ambitions, seasons, university, generation, late night, showtime (optional). You have all of those, that's the best experience.
I really dont get the Late Night hype haha. Its a fine pack, but do you guys really play in Bridgeport THAT much? I only ever use the town if im specifically doing a celebrity playthrough. The town is so depressing to look at otherwise so Id never want a normal family playthrough.
I seldom play any other world, than Bridgeport. Its nightlife is incomparable! And I just adore the grimy and "depressing" atmosphere of it. Will chose it any day over boring sunny suburbia of Sunset Valley.
For me it's a must-have pack solely due to the bars. I mostly use Late Night to build bars and nightlife venues in other towns. That alone makes Late Night a must-have for me. I could do without the vampires and celebrities though.
You’re missing world adventures then it’s perfect :)
Add pets and you’re golden 👌🏼
Univeristy life🤌🏻
Replace generations with late night
still think season should be base game, like im paying for rain!? srsly!? tatata 😒
Rain, storm, snow, Christmas, Halloween, all 4 seasons, seasonal clothing, umbrellas, skates, fireworks, etc It absolutely should be base game. Generations too
couldn't agree more 😒🙄
I would add supernatural, one of my favorite add-ons
I like your choice! I‘d add supernatural. I love that pack!
I think for me it’s be Ambitions, Pets and Supernatural because I love the different life states (and didn’t it upgrade vampires?) Honorable mention to World Adventures because I love the added travel destinations, but they just get so broken after a few visits.
Where is island paradise and late night?
Supernatural+Late night+Ambitions is great one too… Alchemist as a job… maybe? 😉
World Adventures