You don’t see this sale very often, especially when it comes to The Sims 3!
Steam has published a special holiday sale where you can save big on both The Sims 3 and The Sims 4 titles. However, one offer that stands out the most is The Sims 3 Packs Collection.
For some time Steam had a special bundle for all The Sims 3 Packs called The Sims 3 Collection. Bundled together in this special offer you’d pay around $190 to get the entire collection of Packs. Buying the packs individually altogether costs around $380.
HOWEVER, with the special Holiday Sale you can now get the entire collection of Sims 3 Expansion Packs and Stuff Packs for ONLY $66.50!
You’ve read that correctly – all 11 Expansion Packs and 8 Stuff Packs for The Sims 3 can be purchased for this limited time offer over on Steam, including:
- The Sims 3 World Adventures
- The Sims 3 Ambitions
- The Sims 3 Late Night
- The Sims 3 Generations
- The Sims 3 Pets
- The Sims 3 Showtime
- The Sims 3 Supernatural
- The Sims 3 Seasons
- The Sims 3 University Life
- The Sims 3 Island Paradise
- The Sims 3 Into The Future
- The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff
- The Sims 3 Fast Lane Stuff
- The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff
- The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff
- The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff
- The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff
- The Sims 3 70s, 80s & 90s Stuff
- The Sims 3 Movie Stuff
Unfortunately the only Pack missing is everone’s favorite The Sims 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats. However, that pack was a limited-time Pack that was only available for purchase from July 2012 to July 2013 – after which it was discontinued.
This special Steam offer ends on January 5th, 2022 at 10AM Pacific Time.
NOTE: You will need The Sims 3 Base Game, which is not included in The Sims 3 Packs Collection. You won’t be able to transfer over The Sims 3 Base Game from Steam to Origin, only the Packs, so I recommend getting The Sims 3 Starter Pack on Origin (in case you don’t have it already) which is currently on sale for 20$. (Sale ends on January 11th, 2022)
But wait, I want to play The Sims 3 on Mac and/or via Origin?
Don’t worry! Steam allows you to request a serial code from every single pack you’ve purchased and redeem it on Origin. To do so follow these simple steps:
- Right click on The Sims 3 Pack of your choice on Steam
- Go to Manage > CD Key
- Copy the CD Key and go to Origin > Games > Redeem Product Code
- That’s it!
If you play on Mac
After redeeming all The Sims 3 Games on Origin you’ll automatically be granted with a new, 64-bit & Metal version of the game in your game library. Origin will only grant you this version if you’re using Origin via a MacOS device.
For this you will need a Mac which has support for Apple’s Metal graphics API and be on macOS High Sierra (10.13.x, released in 2017) or later.
For more information about The Sims 3 Mac Version check out this helpful FAQ Page!
As someone who never played the sims 3 (I played the others when I was a kid) and has a strong attachment with the sims, 4 I gotta say this is tempting me something fierce. I’m always hearing people talk about how sims 3 was miles ahead of sims 4 as far as gameplay and now with all content being about the same price as a regular game? I’m really tempted to buy it. Anyone have any thoughts on the sims 3? Does it still stand the test of time now with the sims 4 being out? Would it be worth it to get?
I can give you some advice from someone who had missed out on the Sims 3 years and started with 4, only to start playing 3 later. It is miles ahead of Sims 4 in almost every way; the only things I would personally feel about it is that I think the Sims in 4 are better looking and the Build/Buy is easier to use in 4, but gameplay-wise they are miles ahead of 4.
Where I found myself running out of things I wanted my Sims to do in 4, I didn’t even know where to start when it came to 3 bc of all the options for your Sims to do! The important things to note in your exp with 3 are that you’re usually stuck to the same world and that the world evolves around you w/ story progression, which simmers complained before in the past but in the age of more advanced computers, should run w/o much hassle these days. Also you can actually buy and ride in cars and horses.
I’d say this deal is extremely worth it to get, and you prob won’t get to see a sale on 3 like this for a long time…
For me it’s basically what you’ve said. Graphic wise it’s not as appealing as sims 4 and I prefer using my mouse over keyboards and I’m not a huge fan of TS3 camera because you need to use keys. Customizing your sim’s body/features is better in TS4 but the color options are better in TS3. Also the ability for sims to multi task and the fleshing out of vampires in TS4. Cars played a better role compared to TS2 and if they are added to TS4 (though I would like some single transportations like skateboards but also boats for two or more). I’ve seen some people complain that TS3 is harder to run compared to TS4 so that’s a rather big negative compared to TS2 and TS4. Personally I prefer TS2 overall but I think each game has something positive that I wish on every star TS5 brings to the table. If that was a guarantee I could wait a few years.
I’m struggling to transfer the packs from steam to origin, I’m using a Mac
Hey! Does anyone know how to see individual packs on Steam? I’m trying to get codes to transfer to Origin! 🙂
You can right click on The Sims 3, then hover over manage and click CD Keys. Pets isn’t included in there though. You have to do a little work around to get the key for that one, but if you google “Sims 3 steam pets key” it’s pretty easy to find how to get it (I’m not explaining it myself because I can’t explain it well myself)
I play on Mac and I’m trying to purchase this bundle, but Steam won’t let me because I don’t own the base game on Steam. I do own in on Origin. How do I fix this?
Hi all. I purchased the Sims 3 base game on Steam after reading this article (maybe it won’t work for base game? I couldn’t purchase any packs without the base game anyways…)
After installing it on a windows machine I could not retrieve the game key, even after looking for it on the registry (the game didn’t run though, there was an error upon starting – my windows PC is not good and I usually use my Macbook). I’ve contacted EA support and they said they don’t transfer games purchased on other platforms to Steam. Did anybody else have better luck?
I’m trying to purchase this via Steam but it is saying it won’t complete the purchase (for some reason mentions Sims 3: Ambitions even though I am trying to do the collection) due to me not having the Sims 3 base game. I do have the base game via Origin. I saw at the bottom of the article ” You will need The Sims 3 Base Game, which is not included in The Sims 3 Packs Collection. You won’t be able to transfer over The Sims 3 Base Game from Steam to Origin, only the Packs, so I recommend getting The Sims 3 Starter Pack on Origin (in case you don’t have it already)” I already have the Sims 3 Starter Pack on Origin, so I am not sure why it will not let me complete the purchase? Any info is appreciated, thanks in advance.
I have the same problem.
I had to buy the base game in Steam. Makes sense to I guess, article didn’t really make it that clear though with trying to use from Origin.
I had the same issue. Unfortunately you have to own the base game on Steam to buy any dlc
Yeah that is what I ended up doing. Not totally a problem since it was only 10 bucks, but wish the article made that a bit more clear.
I got all the dlc thanks to this article. One thing to note though for others wanting to buy, you have to have the Sims 3 basegame on Steam to buy dlc for it even if you already own it on Origin. It is currently on sale as well for 50% off though, until January 5th I believe. It sucks, but I think with how big of a deal this is it’s worth it