The Sims 3: Island Paradise

The main pros of the game

• Unique Features: The expansion introduces exciting gameplay elements such as houseboats, resort management, scuba diving, and mermaids, which many players found enjoyable.
• Visual Appeal: The island of Isla Paradiso is described as beautiful and well-designed, providing a picturesque setting for gameplay.
• New Content: Players appreciated the additional clothing options, hairstyles, furniture, and water vehicles that come with the expansion.
• Potential for Profit: Managing a resort allows players to earn significant in-game income without sending their Sims to traditional jobs, adding a new layer of gameplay.

The main cons of the game

• Severe Lag and Freezing: A significant number of players reported frequent lag spikes and freezing issues, especially when playing in the new island world. This has been a major detractor for many users.
• Performance Issues: Many reviews mentioned that even high-end PCs struggled with the performance of the expansion, leading to frustration during gameplay.
• Bugs and Glitches: Users encountered various bugs that affected gameplay, including issues with routing and unresponsive Sims, which made the experience less enjoyable.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Limited Island-Themed Construction Options: Some players expressed disappointment over the lack of traditional island-themed construction options (e.g., Hawaiian or Tiki styles) for building resorts or homes.
• Mermaid Creation Limitations: Users noted that they could not create mermaids in the Create-A-Sim mode, which was seen as a missed opportunity given the expansion's focus on mermaids.
• Robustness of Resort Management: Some players felt that the resort management system could be more in-depth and engaging, with more options and features to enhance gameplay.

Summary

• Overall, while The Sims 3: Island Paradise offers a wealth of new content and unique features that many players find enjoyable, the persistent performance issues and bugs significantly detract from the experience for a large portion of the player base.

Summary generated on: October 31, 2025