Love, Lies & Loading Screens: The Sims as a Soap Opera

Why I Keep Loading the Same Save File

Often dismissed as campy or melodramatic, the term “soap opera” doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. But whether we admit it or not, most of us are watching some form of soap opera, maybe not the daytime dramas our parents loved, but serialized, character-driven stories packed with drama are everywhere.

Think Yellowstone, Grey’s Anatomy, Euphoria, or The Bachelor. Even reality TV leans heavily on classic soap ingredients: messy love triangles, personal reinventions, wild betrayals, and juicy cliffhangers. These are the exact elements that keep us binge-watching, and they’re also what make The Sims such a compelling, enduring game.

Live Mode Unlocked: Drama Is the Gameplay

At first glance, The Sims looks like a quirky life simulator or a virtual dollhouse. But longtime players know better: The real magic of The Sims lies in its open-ended storytelling. From romantic heartbreak to alien abductions, simmering feuds to surprise ghost encounters, the game is a fertile playground for drama.

Take the iconic Bella and Mortimer Goth, for instance, a love story wrapped in mystery, legacy, and the occasional extraterrestrial interference. The lore is rich, the characters feel real, and you, the player, control the chaos.

There’s no script (unless you write one). Want Bob and Eliza Pancakes to divorce? Go for it. Prefer a love triangle with Nancy Landgraab? Even better. Or maybe Bob’s final swim is in a pool with no ladder. The game gives you the framework, how you shape the story is entirely up to you.

1977 Cast photo from the daytime drama General Hospital.

Create-a-Story Mode: Why Soap Operas Feel So Familiar

My obsession with storytelling didn’t start with The Sims. It started with soaps.

I was raised on General Hospital and Days of Our Lives. In fact, I was literally named after a Days character. (And yes, my older sister is Laura, of Luke & Laura fame). These shows were my gateway drug to serialized storytelling, long before I knew what screenwriting even was.

As a kid, I created epic storylines with my stuffed animals, Littlest Pet Shop figures, and Playmobil Dollhouse sets. Murder, heartbreak, reunions, natural disasters, it was all fair game. I remember an old computer game where I could drag-and-drop props, characters, and set pieces into customizable scenes. Looking back, it was the proto-Sims.

By college, I was the only one in my screenwriting class turning in soap opera specs. The structure, the longevity of the characters, the ripple effects of one decision years down the line, that’s always captivated me.

Escaping IRL: Finding Calm in Alternate Universes

Let’s be real: The world right now feels like an endless string of plot twists, and not the good kind. So when I’m not at a concert, writing my own torrid tales, or exploring the great outdoors with my dog, I escape to my Sims universe.

In my game, things can be chill or wildly chaotic, but the rules are mine. Nobody’s starting wars. Diversity is baked into the game. People (sometimes) come back from the dead. And I get to explore every “what if” my real life never had time for.

It’s not just escapism. It’s creativity. It’s healing. It’s also incredibly fun.

And when I need a breather from all the plotlines, I switch gears and dive into Build Mode, designing entire worlds, curating cozy neighborhoods, or creating vacation destinations that feel pulled from my wildest dreams. I get to be both the storyteller and the architect.

Final Thoughts: Storytelling as a Skill Tree

The Sims, like soap operas, is more than what it appears on the surface. It's a storytelling engine, a therapeutic tool, and an artistic outlet. It’s allowed me to carry my lifelong love for melodrama and serialized fiction into an interactive, creative space where anything is possible.

Whether you’re rebuilding your dream house, raising a Sim family, or crafting the next great fictional scandal, just remember, you’re not “just” playing a game. You’re leveling up in empathy, imagination, and self-expression.