The Sims 2 Guide: Steps to Reset and Backup Your Neighborhood

In The Sims 2, there will inevitably come a moment when players may wish to back up or reset their neighborhoods. Unlike its successors, TS2 employs a unique system where multiple saved games are not utilized. Each neighborhood is designed to evolve continually, with player decisions having lasting effects. Unfortunately, the TS2: Legacy Collection lacks modern quality-of-life features, compelling players to rely on traditional methods dating back two decades. Consequently, backing up or resetting neighborhoods necessitates moving files and folders through Windows, rather than using in-game options.

Resetting a neighborhood can be particularly advantageous if you are dissatisfied with the trajectory of a storyline. At first glance, certain families may appear disconnected or unremarkable. However, delving into memories and family trees reveals connections that link characters back to The Sims 1. A notable example is Brandi Broke, who may present as another new Sim when encountered at a public venue. It isn’t until you explore her narrative further that the connection to Bob and Betty Newbie from TS1‘s tutorial becomes apparent.

How to Save Existing Neighborhoods

Only One Version Can Exist

EA Games documents folder for The Sims 2 neighborhoods

Making a custom neighborhood save in The Sims 2

To successfully preserve your current gameplay state in The Sims 2, you must access the game files through Windows File Explorer. You can quickly locate this feature on your desktop or by searching in the Task Bar. Once you have it open, follow this directory path:

Documents\[Windows User Name]\EA Games\The Sims 2 Legacy Collection\Neighborhoods

Folder	Neighborhood	Source
N001	Pleasantview	TS2 Base Game
N002	Strangetown
N003	Veronaville
N004 and greater	Custom Neighborhoods
Tutorial	Learn To Play mode
E001	Belladonna Cove	TS2: Apartment Life
F001	Desiderata Valley	TS2: FreeTime
G001	Riverblossom Hills	TS2: Seasons

Once located, make sure to copy the relevant neighborhood folder and store it in a readily accessible location. This can even be a new subfolder within the original directory. This method is currently the only way to back up data in the TS2: Legacy Collection, but there have been indications from EA about potential patches that could streamline this process in the future.

How to Replace a Neighborhood With the Maxis Default

Original Data Is Based On Store And Expansion

Restoring neighborhoods in The Sims 2 can prove to be somewhat intricate. First, you must locate the stored data specific to the version you purchased, whether from the EA App, Steam, or the Epic Games Store. Access these directories using Windows File Explorer:

EA App: [drive]\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 2 Legacy Collection
Steam: [drive]\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 2 Legacy Collection
Epic Games Store: [drive]\Program Files\Epic Games\The Sims 2 Legacy Collection

Open the folder that corresponds to the expansion related to the neighborhood you wish to restore. The base game files are categorized under Base, while expansions like TS2: Seasons, TS2: FreeTime, and TS2: Apartment Life can be found under EP5, EP7, and EP8, respectively. Dig a bit deeper within the folder hierarchy to find the specific location for neighborhoods:

[expansion]\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods

Copy the neighborhood folder you want to restore (e.g., N001, E001) and paste it back into the “Documents\ EA Games\The Sims 2 Legacy Collection\Neighborhoods”directory to replace the previous version. Players transitioning from TS4 or TS3 should be aware that the Family Bin is associated with the Characters subfolder. This action will erase all created Sims, as The Sims 2 does not offer a universal Gallery feature, saving Sims instead as non-descriptive file names (e.g., N003_User01020.package).

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