The Sims 2: FreeTime
Later reception
### Later reception

Critical analysis of *FreeTime* in the years following its release has leaned positive; in a 2022 retrospective of *Sims 2* expansion packs for *TheGamer*, Gabrielle Castania ranked *FreeTime* as the game's second best expansion behind *[The Sims 2: University](/wiki/The_Sims_2:University "University")*. Nonetheless, writing for the same publication, Madeline Bliek felt its included neighborhood Desiderata Valley was "quite average" and poorly distinguished plotwise from other premade neighborhoods in the game, deeming it her least favorite of them.

, no expansion pack for *[The Sims 4](/wiki/The_Sims_4 "The Sims 4")* has addressed exactly the same themes as *FreeTime*. Several analyses of *The Sims 4* have given the specific example of *FreeTime* hobby system as a missing element of the later game. Deven McClure, a senior writer at *[Screen Rant](/wiki/Screen_Rant "Screen Rant")*, compared *FreeTime* more complex system to the simpler system of social clubs in *[The Sims 4: Get Together](/wiki/The_Sims_4:Get_Together "Get Together")*. She argued that a *FreeTime*\-like system would add substantial depth to the game, including new ways to differentiate sims from one another, for sims to socialize, and for players to construct backstories for their characters. Steph Panecasio, an associate editor at *[CNET](/wiki/CNET "CNET")*, referenced in particular that *FreeTime* allowed younger sims to pursue hobbies and to attend after\-school activities.


How do younger sims benefit from hobbies in FreeTime?