Even though The Sims 4 is the latest in the franchise and offers many new features, many Sims fans are still turning to The Sims 3 for its open world and deeper gameplay. It may be an older game, but it provides a very different and more challenging experience, which some prefer. However, it does still have some stability issues and can stutter even on the best computer rigs. Luckily, there are plenty of mods out there to make things run smoother and take care of most problems. Despite being an old game, it still gets updates today.

The Sims 3 first came out in 2009 with its last expansion released in 2013, just one year before The Sims 4. It's beloved by the community alongside The Sims 2, as it offers a large variety of gameplay, customization thanks to Create-A-Style, open worlds and different activities and locales to enjoy. Lately, those looking for deeper and less problematic gameplay than The Sims 4 provides have been turning to The Sims 3 to get their fix. While the open world can cause some issues, these mods will do away with most of these problems and keep things running smoothly.

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NRaas ErrorTrap & Overwatch Keep The Sims 3 Bug Free

Cars piling up in The Sims 3

NRaas mods are some of the most well-known and used mods around, but ask any Sims 3 player which ones are essential, and they will likely mention ErrorTrap and Overwatch. The sole purpose of these two mods is to keep an eye out for game errors and fix them. Whether it's a stuck Sim, vehicles multiplying or corruption of files, these mods have players covered.

ErrorTrap checks for corrupt data and fixes it to prevent save issues and crashing. Overwatch cleans things up while playing to prevent lag and junk data from accumulating -- something extremely important for those looking to play several generations of Sims. It cleans up things like inventories, duplicate items, TV's left on and more to prevent the game from slowing down. There are many other NRass mods for those looking for more options and control in the game too.

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NRaas Saver Prevents Sims 3 Saving Issues

Sims 3 NRaas Saver

This NRaas mod isn't quite as popular, but is extremely useful to prevent progress loss should something slip through ErrorTrap or Overwatch and cause the game to crash or freeze up. This is something known to happen with two particular expansions: Island Paradise and World Adventures. Saver acts like an auto-save feature except with a prompt which the player can set to appear. This can be customized to happen as often as desired and is a great way to stay on top of saving the game.

Extra Create-a-Sim Sliders Give Character Customization a Boost

Extra sliders mod for The Sims 3 CAS

10 new CAS Sliders adds exactly what the title says, providing the same level of body customization as The Sims 4. There is one caveat to getting all of them in the game at the same time though, as by default there is a set number of sliders. One additional mod is needed to remove the cap: Awesomemod, a Slider Hack or NRaas' Master Controller. Except for the Slider Hack, these mods are commonly used, as they provide more options and customization for gameplay, like The Sims 4's MC Command Center. It's an easy fix that provides the ability to make any type of Sim desired.

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Lazy Duchess' Smooth Patch Keeps The Sims 3 Running

Bobbing for apples at a Sims 3 Festival

While this mod requires a little setup, it does make the game run a lot smoother, especially when using a lot of content. The Smooth Patch is very simple, it optimizes the game and stabilizes FPS to curtail stuttering and lag, which can happen over long periods of play in the same neighborhood or when using a lot of expansions and custom content. It's not a fix all, but it does help significantly -- unless a computer or laptop's specs aren't great.

Awesome Mod Gives The Sims 3 Players More Control

Sims 3 having a party.

This was mentioned as one of the mods needed to use all 10 sliders for CAS and there is a reason this one is being recommended over NRass' Master Controller and Story Progression: simplicity. Awesomemod is a much more basic version of the NRass mods that still allows players to tweak their game but without a plethora of menus.

This mod an easy place to start while getting used to The Sims 3's gameplay and interface. It consists of two files, the actual mod and a config file which can be easily customized through a webpage before downloading to adjust the gameplay. It's a good starting point for those who like to play their way. Just remember to remove it if upgrading to Master Controller and Story Progression.