Written by Generation Archives, the product this guide describes. Generation Archives is not affiliated with or endorsed by Electronic Arts or The Sims.
A free family tree maker for your Sims legacy
A Sims legacy gets complicated fast. By generation four you have heirs, spares, three marriages, a surprise set of twins, an adopted toddler, and a townie who married into the family twice. The in-game family tree helps, but it only shows so much, and relatives who move out or pass on can be hard to keep track of.
Generation Archives is a free family tree maker that works well for Sims legacies. You can place every Sim exactly where you want them, attach screenshots and tag each Sim in them, write up each generation's story, and share the whole tree with a single link. You can try it in the demo right now, no signup needed.
Why keep a legacy tree outside the game
Plenty of simmers keep a separate tree for a few simple reasons:
- Saves get messy. A family tree kept outside the game is a record you control.
- Some relatives are easy to lose track of. Sims who move out or pass on can drop out of sight, but not out of your legacy.
- Legacy challenges run for years. A decades or ten-generation challenge is easier to follow with the whole family in one place.
- Sharing. Posting your tree next to a legacy update lets readers follow along.
What makes a good Sims family tree maker
Handles lots of partners and remarriages
Sims remarry. A lot. Generation Archives supports multiple spouses per person, so a founder with three spouses can have children attached to each of them, and you can see at a glance which heir came from which marriage.
Handles adoption and step-families
Sims adopt, blend families, and occasionally raise a niece after a tragic cooking accident. Any person can have any number of parents, so an adopted heir can show both the birth parents and the Sims who raised them.
To add an adoptive or step-parent, you simply add them as another parent of the Sim. One honest note: parent types are not labeled yet, so a birth parent and an adoptive parent look the same on the tree. You can note the relationship in the Sim's biography, such as "Adopted by Vera and Tom in generation 3." See how to show adoptive and step-parents for more ideas.
Lets you arrange the tree yourself
By generation six, an automatic layout can turn into a tangle. In Generation Archives you can drag any Sim anywhere. Keep the heir line down the middle and put the spares off to the sides, or group each generation in a row.
Even better, a tree can have multiple named layouts:
- "Heirs only": the main line, readable at a glance.
- "Everyone": every spare, spouse, and cousin.
- "Generation 5": just the current household and their parents, for your latest update.
All layouts share the same Sims and relationships, so you only enter each Sim once.
Shows screenshots, not just names
This is where a legacy tree really comes alive. Upload a screenshot and draw a box around each Sim to tag them. A wedding screenshot links to the couple and every guest you tag. A family portrait links to everyone in it.
You can also add photo notes ("Generation 2 wedding, Windenburg, spring") and write a biography or story for each Sim, so traits, aspirations, and memorable moments live right next to their portrait.
Screenshots do not have to be uploaded. If you already post them to an image host, you can link them instead.
Works on the laptop you play on, and your phone
Generation Archives runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install. It also works in your phone's browser, which is handy for adding a newborn while the game is loading.
Setting up a legacy tree: a quick plan
- Start with the founder. Add your founder and their first spouse.
- Add each generation as it happens. Add children, then their spouses and children. Add birth years if you track them in Sim days or real dates.
- Add screenshots. A portrait per Sim, and group screenshots for weddings and birthdays. Tag each Sim.
- Write it up. Give each heir a short biography, and add a story for each generation.
- Make layouts. Create "Heirs only" and "Everyone" layouts once the tree gets busy.
- Share it. Make the tree public and copy the share link into your legacy post.
Sharing your legacy
Trees are private by default, which is nice while you are still planning. When you are ready, make the tree public and share its link. Readers can open it and click around without needing to change anything.
You can also invite a friend to edit with you, which is handy for a shared save or a collaborative challenge.
Print the whole legacy on one page
Open Import / export on the tree toolbar to export your whole tree as a single large PDF page, screenshots included, in the layout you arranged. Prefer an image? Export it as PNG or JPEG instead. It makes a great end-of-challenge poster or a reference sheet to keep beside you while you play.
Already tracking your legacy in Family Echo?
Many simmers use Family Echo, and it is a good, free tool. If you want to add screenshots, arrange the tree yourself, or keep several layouts, you can bring your tree across.
In Family Echo, click Download below the tree and choose Read-only HTML, then import it into a free Generation Archives account. Your Sims, their relationships, birth years, and photos come across. The step-by-step guide is here: import a Family Echo tree.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes. Building and sharing your tree is free. Linking screenshots you host elsewhere is free, and hosting them with us is optional.
Does it connect to my Sims save?
No. You add Sims yourself. That also means it works for any Sims game, any pack, and any challenge rules.
Can a Sim have more than two parents?
Yes. Any Sim can have any number of parents, so adopted and blended families fit. The parent type is not labeled, so note it in the biography.
Can I keep more than one layout?
Yes. Keep a tidy heir-line layout and a full everyone layout of the same tree.
Can I share my tree in a post?
Yes. Make the tree public and paste the share link. It stays private until you do.
Start your legacy tree
Open the demo and try dragging a few Sims around, no signup required. When you are ready to keep your legacy, create a free account and start with your founder.
Try the demo Sample tree Create a free account