FreeTime gave Sims something they had never really had before: a life outside of work. Released on February 26, 2008 by Maxis and Electronic Arts, this seventh expansion pack for The Sims 2 added a full hobby system, reworked the aspiration mechanics, and dropped over 100 new objects into the catalog.
It was also the first Sims 2 expansion pack released exclusively for Windows, skipping macOS entirely.
The hobbies system
The centerpiece of FreeTime is hobbies. Every Sim can discover and pursue any of ten hobby categories:
- Arts & Crafts
- Cuisine
- Film & Literature
- Fitness
- Games
- Music & Dance
- Nature
- Science
- Sports
- Tinkering
Hobbies are not just labels. Each one connects to specific in-game activities. A Sim interested in Cuisine can prepare cheese platters. Fitness-oriented Sims can go jogging. Science enthusiasts can search for UFOs with a telescope. These activities tie directly into skill gains and need satisfaction, so hobbies become part of how a household runs day to day.
Enthusiasm and rewards
Each hobby tracks enthusiasm on a ten-level scale. Sims build enthusiasm by spending time on hobby-related activities, and lose it if they stop. As enthusiasm grows, new social options open up. Sims can talk about their hobbies with others, give instruction to less experienced Sims, and even blog about what they are doing.
At higher enthusiasm levels, Sims can join dedicated hobby clubs where they meet other Sims with similar interests. Reaching level ten in any hobby earns a commemorative plaque.
Befriending a hobby instructor also helps with career advancement in related fields, tying the hobby system into progression outside the home.
Five new careers
FreeTime added five career tracks to the game:
- Architecture
- Dance
- Entertainment
- Intelligence
- Oceanography
Each career connects to the hobby system, so a Sim who spends their free time on a relevant hobby has an easier path up the career ladder.
Aspiration overhaul
Beyond hobbies, FreeTime reworked how aspirations function. The expansion introduced a lifetime aspiration meter that tracks major milestones: graduating school, a first WooHoo, having or adopting a child, reaching the top of a career. Each milestone earns points toward lifetime aspiration rewards.
The reward system has four tiers, and each aspiration type has its own bonuses. Family Sims, for example, can learn a recipe for soup that cures illness. Sims who max out their lifetime aspiration meter reach a permanent platinum mood, keeping them happy without constant maintenance.
FreeTime also introduced secondary aspirations. For the first time, a Sim could draw wants and fears from two aspiration types at once, making personalities feel less one-note.
Desiderata Valley
The expansion ships with Desiderata Valley, a new pre-built neighborhood with its own families and storylines. It is a smaller, more focused neighborhood that gives players a ready-made space to explore FreeTime's new systems without needing to build from scratch.
What else is in the box
FreeTime packed in a lot beyond the headline features. The novel-writing system was expanded with genre selection, giving Sims more control over what they write. The painting easel gained new options, including still-life paintings. The expansion also added over 100 new objects for both Build and Buy mode.
The soundtrack was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, known for his work with Devo and various film and television scores.
For players interested in other Sims 2 expansions, the University expansion took a similarly systems-driven approach by building an entire college experience around new mechanics.