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The Sims 3 University Life (Video Game Review)

The long awaited The Sims 3 University Life has finally arrived for PC and Mac from publisher EA. The newest expansion takes young adult Sims out of the life they have known and throws them into the real world on campus at a local university. Playing The Sims 3 University Life is easily comparable with the way you already play The Sims 3. Students will still need to eat, sleep, clean and the usual tasks, and work has been replaced with going to class. Sims will also live on campus in a dormitory or nearby apartment and will likely be sharing a room with one or more other Sims. This leads to plenty of problems and parties as you'd expect, but there is a overall focus on completing the Sim's major and earning a degree down the road. The Sims 3 University Life is an interesting expansion full of streaking, woohoo, implied drinking, pranks and other sorts of debauchery that may not be your idea of a good time in real life, but it's definitely an interesting new take on The Sims 3 virtual world.

When you begin a new game in The Sims 3 University Life, you will be asked to choose an existing town or start a new one, and the new Sims University will be moved into the chosen city. Your age appropriate Sims will then be visited by the University mascot and given an aptitude test to see if they are ready for college, or a Sim can simply sign up for college with a phone or computer. Soon, it will be time to move on campus and living quarters will need to be chosen and roommates will need to be met. Your Sims will also need to choose a degree path, and this is one of the most important steps for your Sims, since it determines the types of activities they will participate in and what types of jobs will be available for them after University. New items will become available to Sims depending on their degree path, so choose wisely!


Another cool new feature in The Sims 3 University Life is a cell phone that acts as a social media hub and shows off various topics such as which social group your Sim is associated with. Jocks will join sports teams or perform other acts that prove they are the coolest around and are bound to start plenty of parties during their time on campus. Nerds are opposites in many ways and focus on good grades, gaming skills, attaining new scientific traits and other anti-social activities that will help these Sims gain invaluable job skills while losing a bit of social status. Rebels is the final group and generally encompasses the hipsters, artists and other social groups as they feel free to express themselves in the worst way possible and protest whatever they feel like at the time. Each group comes with certain benefits and can make your time at University a more entertaining time for being included in a group. No matter which group your Sim is included in, love is sure to be in the air, since romantic encounters have been increased in The Sims 3 University Life for college students looking for love.


There are plenty of other new features included in The Sims 3 University Life that start with the crazy amount of things you can do with your new cell phone just like a real life smart phone, and of course, there are plenty of new clothes, hairstyles, accessories, furniture, building options and other items that will enhance your experience with the game. A new type of Sim is also available that gives the character a leafy complexion as a plant Sim. Plant Sims has several cool features including no need for food but a need for water that can be absorbed in many different ways, and they can also poison other Sims when in close proximity if they so choose. New seasonal content is also included in the new expansion that works well together with the previous The Sims 3 Seasons for some interesting new times. If you're a fan of The Sims 3, you'll likely want to pick this up and make playing with real life feel a bit more realistic. Pick up your copy of The Sims 3 University Life today and attain a higher level of education or at least master the art of streaking.

The Sims 3 University Life is now available from all major retailers and can be purchased for PC and Mac. The Sims 3 University Life is rated T by the ESRB for Crude Humor, Sexual Themes & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official The Sims 3 University Life website.

Game Features:
  • Throw Dorm Parties
  • Earn Sim Degrees
  • Lifelong Choices Begin in University
  • Use a Degree to Reach Highest Sim Jobs
  • Explore University Town


    • Game Information:
    Developer: The Sims Studio
    Publisher: EA
    Platforms: PC (reviewed) & Mac
    Release Date: March 5, 2013

    Score: 9 out of 10

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