SIM-PLY MAGNIFICENT

Yet it's not just everyone's favourite life simulation that celebrates a big milestone this year

- CHERYL MULLIN

NOTHING is guaranteed to make you feel old faster than learning one of your favourite games is about to turn 30.

What's more, it's not the only game from your formative years marking a landmark anniversary in 2025.

This year marks the anniversary of some incredible games that would kick-start franchises which remain fan favourites to this day.

PaperBoy and Space Harrier both turn 40 while Tekken 2, Command and Conquer, Rayman and Time Crisis mark their 30th anniversaries. Red Dead Redemption, Pokémon Black and White, Bioshock 2 and Mass Effect 2 all turn 15, while Bloodborne, Splatoon and Rocket League are 10.

More importantly, 2025 marks the anniversary of some brilliant consoles, the PS2 and PS5, turning 25 and five respectively.

Here are five other titles marking landmarks this year.

THE SIMS (PEGI 12)

Released: February 2000

Life simulation games are 10 a penny now, but when The Sims first landed on consoles it was like nothing anyone had seen before.

The game was developed by Will Wright, as a successor to his 1989 hit SimCity and unlike other, more structured games, The Sims gave you almost unlimited control over the world you were building.

You chose your own goals and objectives, and customised everything about your Sims' life, from their appearance and personality to their skill sets and relationships.

If you got bored, you could even come up with creative ways to off them - but only if you wanted to risk them returning to haunt your game from beyond the digital grave.

There have been four main instalments of The Sims and countless expansion packs and add-ons in the last 25 years, including packs that introduced things such as pets, seasons, and even Ikea furniture.