The Sims franchise is huge, and there are many opinions on which of the mainline games is the best. The Sims 4 is controversial among long-time fans, leading many to go back to The Sims 3 and The Sims 2, with the latter gaining increasing attention to the point where some are calling for a remaster or remake. While unlikely, as the gameplay has moved forward and evolved since then, there are other Sims games from the older generations which would be perfect candidates for remasters or remakes.
Previous eras of Sims games featured a ton of spinoffs, which used The Sims 2 and The Sims 3's core gameplay in different ways. Games like The Sims Stories Collection, The Sims Medieval, The Sims Bustin' Out, and The Urbz: Sims in the City involved paired-down versions of Sims gameplay (sometimes on consoles) where players could explore worlds and follow storylines.
These games were inspired by the paired down console versions, which had players completing objectives rather than playing the game freely. The spinoff's objectives are used as storytelling devices in a variety of settings. For example, The Sims Castaway and Castaway Stories had Sims stranded on an island and trying to survive or escape, while The Sims Medieval let players take on different roles within a kingdom to solve problems, explore, or simply live in the era. They were very different kinds of Sims games, and it's why they're perfect candidates for remasters and remakes.
These games would do well today with improved visuals, updated gameplay, and maybe even additional twists and turns. They still have the silliness The Sims franchise is known for and the gameplay players love. Some of these even allowed players to create their own characters. They're the perfect blend of Sims gameplay in a different format with a lot of replayability. Even now, these games hold up outside of some dated mechanics and possibly the difficulty level for those new to the franchise.
If EA has any interest in revisiting older Sims titles, these are far better candidates than the mainline games, as it's not really feasible to go backwards with this type of series. Like other games in the simulation genre, it's about building a foundation upon which to improve and evolve the gameplay. However, these spinoff games stand on their own and have never so much as been re-released, meaning there are a ton of Sims fans out there who have yet to experience these hidden gems.