The Sims Online: 3 Open Source Clones Compared
FreeSO is a full client-side reimplementation of The Sims Online, still actively developed and requiring the original TSO client files from EA to run. Project Dollhouse instead sources its game data from an Internet Archive-hosted copy of The Sims Online and runs as a from-scratch server (via Docker) rather than a client, though its development has since halted. utkencode isn't a playable clone at all — it's a set of decoder/encoder tools for the MicroTalk speech codec that TSO (and several other EA games) uses for audio.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- 2d ago
- Stars
- 976
- Contributors
- 37
- License
- MPL-2.0
- Engine
- MonoGame
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesDepends on original game files (objects, avatars, ui) from The Sims Online, available for download from EA servers.
- Multiplayer
- Online
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Windows
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 2y ago
- Stars
- 123
- Contributors
- 18
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires installation of The Sims Online from the Internet Archive.
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- —
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 8y ago
- Stars
- 15
- Contributors
- 2
- License
- Unlicense
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
| Title | FreeSO | Project Dollhouse | utkencode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Playable | Semi-playable | — |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows | None |
| Play in browser | No | No | No |
| Mobile | No | No | No |
| Project health | |||
| Development status | Active | Halted | Halted |
| Last updated | 2d ago | 2y ago | 8y ago |
| Stars | 976 | 123 | 15 |
| Contributors | 37 | 18 | 2 |
| License | MPL-2.0 | — | Unlicense |
| Engine | MonoGame | — | — |
| Compatibility | |||
| Requires original assets | YesDepends on original game files (objects, avatars, ui) from The Sims Online, available for download from EA servers. | YesRequires installation of The Sims Online from the Internet Archive. | — |
| Multiplayer | Online | — | — |
| Preview | |
Frequently asked questions
Are the The Sims Online clones on this page open source?
Yes — every clone catalogued here is an open-source project. Availability, license, and development-status details for each one are listed in the comparison table above.
What license do these The Sims Online clones use?
FreeSO (MPL-2.0); utkencode (Unlicense).
Do I need to own the original The Sims Online to play these clones?
FreeSO and Project Dollhouse require original game assets to play.
Which The Sims Online clone is the most actively maintained?
FreeSO is currently under active development, based on recent commit activity. See the "Development status" row above for every clone's current status.
See the full write-up for each clone, or go back to The Sims Online.