The Sims 2: Pleasantview Play Order Guide

The Sims 2 is a game with a lot of lore. However, you gotta keep in mind that unlike in TS4, there's no story progression unless you are actively playing the household. In this article, you'll find the best way to explore the story of one of the best towns in the game, the home of the franchise's most iconic sims.

The Lothario Family

Don Lothario is a notorious bachelor and a very messy sim, in more ways than one. This household serves as a tutorial on juggling multiple romantic interests simultaneously. You need to make sure that the girls don't meet each other because this will cause drama.

1. Call Over Nina Caliente – Before she arrives, tidy up the lot and hire a maid.

2. Romantic Encounter – Get Nina into the hot tub and initiate a ‘WooHoo’ to fulfill one of Don’s aspirations.

3. Watch Out for the Maid – If present, she will witness Don’s infidelity and react negatively.

4. Dismiss Nina – Ensure she leaves the lot before moving on.

5. Call Dina Caliente – You might notice that her stats aren't high enough for them to WooHoo immediately. Engage in romantic interactions to make Don fall in love with her before repeating the hot tub scenario.

Stop here and do not call over Don's fiance - Cassandra. If you've played the game, you already know why. If you don't - you're about to find out. Once done, players can continue with Don or switch to the Goth family. 

The Goth Family

The Goth family is the most iconic household in the whole The Sims franchise. It consists of three members, unlike in the other installments of the game. You'll notice that Bella is missing in TS2. Why? Well, that's why Pleasantview is so mysterious. The primary focus is on Cassandra Goth, her daughter, and her romantic journey with Don Lothario. Once you head into the lot, you'll notice the sims are getting ready for a wedding.

1. Kiss Don – Fulfill Cassandra’s want by kissing Don Lothario.

2. Wedding Drama – Click on the wedding arch to initiate marriage. Since Don fears commitment, he will likely reject it, leading Cassandra into aspiration failure and summoning the Sim Shrink. If you want to make sure that this important event happens - don't kiss Don. 

3. Supernatural Activity – Stay long enough to witness ghosts emerging from the graveyard at night.

The Caliente Family

This household introduces the concept of Sims moving in together. The Caliente sisters are iconic sims you might recognize from the other The Sims installments. They're both fiery and ambitious young women, trying to make it in the big city.

1. Greet Mortimer Goth – Mortimer will walk by and this is Dina's chance to talk to him.

2. Propose Engagement – You'll get a pop-up telling you that now is the right time for her to make her move on Mortimer. Go ahead. 

3. Move In or Get Married – Select members of the Goth family to relocate with Mortimer. It can be just Mortimer if you don't want him to bring along Alexander. It's up to you.

4. Move out Nina– Have Nina find her own place via the newspaper after a prompt.

5. Burglars - If you keep playing, the same night you'll be visited by burglars so install an alarm.

The Broke Family

A struggling single-parent household with a rebellious teen and a toddler, the Broke family presents unique challenges. One of the fun things about them is that their backstory seems to be filled with metaphors for substance abuse, that most seasoned simmers already know about.

1. Teach Beau – Focus on teaching the toddler how to walk, talk, and use the potty.

2. Dustin’s Homecoming – At 1 PM, Dustin returns with Angela Pleasant, triggering Brandi’s lecture about his poor grades.

3. A First Kiss – It's time for a romantic moment between Dustin and Angela.

4. Beau’s Birthday – Buy a cake at 6 PM and ensure he grows up happily with a platinum aspiration.

Pregnancy Challenge:

Brandi begins the game pregnant, adding complexity to gameplay. Players must manage her symptoms while caring for Dustin and Beau.

The Dreamer Family

The Dreamer household consist of  a struggling artist and his son, coping with the loss of his mother. One you open up the lot, you'll notice that they're struggling a lot financially. Figure out a way to pay their bills.

1. Painting Mastery – Send Darren upstairs to complete a regular painting.

2. Experiment with Art – Have him create a still life or a portrait.

3. Financial Stability – Sell the paintings and pay the bills.

If Cassandra Goth visits early on, she may flirt or kiss Darren, hinting at a scripted romantic subplot. Darren already has a crush on her so you might want to help them find true love once more.

The Pleasant Family

This household is one of the most popular in The Sims 2 due to the drama surrounding it. Daniel is a cheater, meanwhile his twin daughters hate each other. Will you help them or make things worse?

The Affair Unfolds:

1. Alone Time – With the twins at school and Mary-Sue at work, Daniel Pleasant has the house to himself.

2. The Maid’s Arrival – At 10 AM, she offers to hang out. Accept the invitation.

3. Building Romance – Have them relax on the bed but delay the ‘WooHoo’ interaction.

4. Mary-Sue’s Fate – A chance card ensures she is sent home early, discovering Daniel’s infidelity and gaining a negative memory.

5. Family Fallout – If done after 1 PM, the twins will witness the affair, reacting accordingly. The Sims 4 still has a lot of catching up to do...

What's Next?

Everything is up to you but I can tell you, as a dedicated The Sims 2 fan, what happens in my games. The Darren and Cassandra plot is a must! You can get them engaged and married, moving him and his son into the Goth household. Don works out perfectly with Nina so you can either keep him a bachelor for life or make him be in a relationship with her. Personally, once I fulfil his lifetime aspiration, I make him "retire" from his ways and dedicate himself to the only woman in the town which matched his fiery attitude. Mary-Sue and Daniel are a tough one. You can definitely work on their relationship but I usually move him out. This way Mary-Sue can focus on herself and the relationship between her daughters. Sometimes, for a little extra drama, I make the twins fall for each other's boyfriends. Some players have noted that it seems like the boys represent the other twin which is an interesting way to look at the situation. The Broke family always gets it's act together in my games, finding a better life for each other in Pleasantview.

Conclusion

Each household in The Sims 2 offers unique gameplay elements, from romance and betrayal to family struggles and artistic pursuits. Exploring these households provides insight into the depth and drama of the game. Of course, how things will turn out depends completely on you.