These are all of my favourite downloads for The Sims 2. I used to keep this list on Tumblr, but it became so large that Tumblr was having some problems keeping all of my links properly intact! The list is updated periodically and it was last updated on October 2, 2023. If any of the links aren’t working, please let me know by contacting me at SugaryVirtualSimblr on Tumblr or Lylliannah on Twitter so that I can fix them!
If looking at all of these links is overwhelming and you’re not sure where to start, Lesya made an amazing Tumblr post! Lesya will walk you step-by-step through all of the mods you can choose in order to improve the look and feel of your Sims 2 experience!
Let’s start with some tutorials first!
Enable windows mode through Origin:
Right click the Sims 2 tile in Origin client and select ‘Game properties’, click on the ‘Advanced Launch Options’ tab, type in ’-w’ in the ‘Command Line Arguments’ box and select OK.
Startup Cheats -> LINK
A userstartup.cheat file is a special file that allows players to automatically enable certain cheats upon starting the game. It also allows cheats to be shortened to an “alias”, making them easier to remember and easier to type in.
Graphics Rule Maker -> LINK
Use this tool so that The Sims 2 can detect your graphics card properly!
Amazing resource for manually fixing/improving graphics! -> LINK
This web page by Sims Community covers improving the resolution, playing in windowed mode, enabling smooth edges, fixing black shadows, and more!
Favourite manual screen resolution tutorial! -> LINK
This page has another great tutorial on how to improve the resolution of your game.
Portrait Tutorial -> LINK
This tutorial by Lesya on Tumblr covers some of the best strategies for taking screenshot portraits of your sims.
Community Lot School Tutorial -> LINK
This tutorial by Silivrin on LiveJournal is from 2015, but it’s still incredibly useful!
CAS is too bright -> LINK
This YouTube tutorial by Pixu will help you out if your Create-A-Sim (CAS) lighting is too bright.
Here are the links to my favourite downloads!
Mods:
https://sims2packrat.tumblr.com
If you are a former TS2 player or someone has recommended a mod to you that you can no longer find you might find it here!
Monique Hacked Computers (Sigmund Sims Monique Computer Reskins)
These computers will allow to do all kinds of awesome stuff! Your sims will be able to browse the web, write a novel, and more! Note: Make sure you also download the required original hacked computer and install Apartment Life for these to work!
“The sun, the moon, stars or meteors can’t be seen properly on the sky while playing on a lot if Seasons, any newer expansion pack, or Mansion and Garden Stuff is installed. This mod fixes it. Additionally, it provides better support for displaying neighborhood skyboxes and horizons on lots.”
Voeille’s Pond and Sea Water Overhaul (Be sure to read the notes!)
“I edited Maxis shaders so I finally have properly looking water in all places, with animations and reflections.”
This doubles the lifespan of all of the life stages except babies.
Now you can add up to 50 family members!
I use this to make adults look middle-aged!
These objects cause Sims to be brought to the lot, or to move in with different families.
SimWardrobe/Paladin’s Place Open for Business employee timeclock
Calls in all employees and sends them home again at the times you specify. Also has an option to keep employees fairly paid. This download link was uploaded by Ihatemandatoryregistering onto Sim File Share after SimWardrobe stopped working correctly.
SimWardrobe/Paladin’s Place Open for Business Customer Limit Adjuster
This object allows you to adjust the maximum number of customers that can be on a lot at one time. This download link was also uploaded by Ihatemandatoryregistering onto Sim File Share after SimWardrobe stopped working correctly.
This mod was originally made by Flying Fish Systems (J. M. Pescado & Doctor Boris). The link takes you to a More Awesome Than You archive for the Pets expansion version.
lingeringwillx’s Various Mods on Reddit
This is a link to a list of mods that were either created or modified by the Reddit user lingeringwillx. The ones I downloaded are Choose Service NPC, Do Homework Menu Item, Gussy Up Updated, No Social Worker for Bad Grades, and Visitor No Age Restriction Modified.
FFS “Batbox” Lot Debugger v2.0: NUCLEAR WAR EDITION
“Tons and tons of debugging options. May prevent your game from exploding in a big fiery ball visible from space. May cause your game to explode in a big fiery ball visible from space if misused.”
Amazing Mod Resources: (I don’t have all of these, but there’s a lot of cool stuff!)
These old mods by Chris Hatch that were uploaded by smorbie1 to Sim File Share will allow your sims to drive or walk to different lots.
If you’ve thought of it, Simlogical probably has a mod for it!
“you NEED these Sims 2 controller mods in your game” – acottonsock on YouTube
acottonsock shares many of the mods I already have in my list, but this gives you a more visual guide via a YouTube video. =)
Default Skin:
This is one of my favourite TS2 skin blends and that’s why I decided to go with this one as my default! It makes everyone look so adorable!
Non-Default Skins:
Lilith – Honey Honey Skinblend (Improved Honey)
“This is an improved version of my Honey Skinblend. This version has: prettier collarbones, smoother bodies, bodies match the faces better in terms of color, the nose is slightly lighter, and the lips are more matte. Also the two darkest colors are now less red-based!”
Lilith – Honey Skinblend, Supernatural Edition
There is a default version of this at the above link, but I prefer choosing between the default and this skinblend. “Alien (minty alien to match the original skin by Maxis), Zombie, Vampire, Plantsim (green and wilt state) and Werewolf (brown wolf).”
Lilith – Honey Skinblend, Freckle Edition
A freckled version of the Honey Skinblend! Yay!
Lilith – Eve and Spattergroit Skinblends (Lilith’s Advent 2012)
Lilith’s advent gift for 2012 “…I made two skinblends and recolored them with Trapping’s actions.”
These skins add more diversity to my neighbourhoods!
The darker skins in this collection are SO pretty!
A very large range of skin colours to diversify your neighbourhoods!
This collection also has a great range of skin colours to choose from! The original poster, Ara-Fusilli, deleted their Tumblr but the links to the downloads on the post shared by Pixelated-Finds still work!
Default Replacement Eyes:
Poppet’s Plain and Simple Eyes
I like really simple eyes in a wide range of colours. These are my favourite defaults that I’ve tried so far.
Additional Eyes:
Poppet’s Plain and Simple Eyes
Non-default version of the eyes I use for defaults.
Nose Masks:
You can use these to change the appearance of your sim’s noses.
Freckles:
Jessi-Dot – Freckle Collections
I use these to add freckles to the skins that don’t have freckles already. I believe these are applied via face paint.
Makeup:
Jessi-Dot – The Crocus & The Robin (bottom of post)
Pretty eyeshadows!
Two nose masks and one lipstick.
3 sets of eyeshadows, 3 sets of lips, 6 eyeliners, and one blush.
Lilith – Secret Santa Makeup Set
3 sets of eyeshadows, 4 regular eyeliners, and 9 blush eyeliners.
Brows:
A very nice set of eyebrows that match Poppet’s v2 hair colours.
Lilith – Advent 2012 Eyesbrows
3 sets of eyebrows
Twenty-two eyebrows from Trapping’s Syrendoft set and Mouseyblue’s Pow Brows in Poppet’s v2 colours.
Hair Lines and Scalp Covers:
A bunch of hairlines (and a scalp caps) in Simgaroop’s hair textures.
Maxis Match Scalp Caps by Maxis Continued
A new do or a fix to many flawed custom hair meshes!
Hair:
Poppet v2 Hair via jellybeanery
A bunch of different hairs in Poppet’s v2 texture can be found here!
A wonderful hair collection in Poppet’s v2 texture that I am consistently downloading as they get uploaded.
This is another place where I tend to download nearly every uploaded hair.
For more hair, also check out:
Mikexx2 Hair Dump – “32 hairs for dudes”
Mikexx2 Hair Dump – “75 hairs for ladies”
Mikexx2 Hair Dump – “8 hairs in my Hair System”
Glasses:
“This is a bit retro-flavored celluloid frame glasses. Old fashion and old standby.”
Additional CC:
Infant Hair (and Clothes)
Keoni’s Clothing and Hair Default Replacements
This is a great resource for items that will replace things that come with the game. I don’t normally use hair replacements, but I have found a lot of adorable clothing here.
There are a lot of awesome The Sims 4 to The Sims 2 clothing conversions here!
I spent hours downloaded clothing from here when I first discovered it!
[helgatisha] Recolor SV Backdrop (new version)
I like these backdrops for taking portrait screenshots.
This is a great resource for builders who want to create stunning homes and commercial buildings. There are some great pre-made houses/buildings that can be found here.
I have downloaded most of my pose boxes from here.
A cute ATM machine I use for bank lots.
“Do your Sims have tons of cash lying around but have no where else to invest it in? Well we have the solution for you!”
“The Loan Jar appears under Misc/Misc in the catalog and looks like a tip jar. Sims can borrow money at an interest rate that defaults to 3% per day but can be set anywhere from 1% to 9%.”
Neighbourhoods and Builds:
Danie’s TS2 Edition of Sunset Valley
Populated and unpopulated versions of TS3’s Sunset Valley for TS2!
This was a gift made for Nyansims that is publically available. It’s two small decorated islands that are connected by a bridge.
A small town on a sandy peninsula, surrounded by enormous rock formations.
Llama Express Post Office Project by wndy26
I didn’t feel like making my own post office and came across this one!
Pre-made residential lots.
Simagroop’s Belladonna High School
A really cool high school that is great for storytelling.
Really interesting commercial and residential lots.
Sugary Virtual Simblr 