The Sims: Vacation (titled The Sims: On Holiday in Europe) is a 2002 expansion pack for The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The expansion introduces the ability for the player's Sims to take vacations, as well as new social features including interests, daily and lifetime relationships, and new interactions. Vacation was announced by EA in January 2002, following speculation about a vacation-themed fourth expansion to the game, and was shipped in March 2002.
Upon release, Vacation was a commercial success and the highest-selling computer game of 2002 in NPD sales charts. The expansion received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising the new locations and variety of additional objects and activities, whilst critiquing the approach as generally similar to the previous expansion, The Sims: Hot Date, and additional performance issues. The concept of travelling to different areas was later introduced in The Sims 2: Bon Voyage.
Gameplay
thumb|left|Vacation Island features beach, forest and alpine-themed lots for Sims to visit.
Vacation introduces the ability for player Sims to take vacations to a separate area, Vacation Island. Whilst in Vacation Island, Sims are not required to work, have a reduced rate of decay for moods, and have no time limit to return to their home lot.
Reception
Sales
Vacation was a commercial success upon release. The expansion was estimated by NPD sales charts as the best-selling computer game of 2002 by units sold, remaining in the first place in sales charts for several months between March and May 2002.
Reviews
According to review aggregator Metacritic, Vacation received "generally favorable" reviews. The design of the vacation lots was praised, with Andrew Park of GameSpot describing them as "colorful" and "interesting", Other reviewers noted that Vacation was not a new concept and relied on new features already introduced in previous expansions, particularly the inclusion of visitable locations in Hot Date. Agata Budinska of PC Powerplay similarly remarked that managing Sims on vacation was "pretty hard work" to maintain Sim needs and funds.