Previous Sims 2 expansions gave the virtual inhabitants a , allow them to attend a University for higher education, open their own business and even adopt Pets. This latest offering, Seasons, gives sims a chance to watch time pass by. As the title indicates, Seasons adds changing temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns to the sim world. Inhabitants of each town will be able to have snowball fights or build snowmen in the winter, or go fishing and catch fireflies during the hotter days. The always-stylish Sims now feature an entirely new wardrobe to match the changing climate. Additionally, hairstyles and accessories (like earmuffs and hats) may be associated to different outfits, instead of the "one-style fits all" method that's familiar to players of the series.

With Seasons, The Sims 2 takes on a more rural tone with a new area comprised of mostly farmland, although players won't drive tractors. Instead, their goals will be considerably scaled down to a backyard garden, or for those who can afford it, a greenhouse. Players can grow vegetables to stock their own fridge, make juices boosted with special properties or sell them. Much like everything else in The Sims, growing a garden requires a good deal of attention and effort; starting with fertilizing the soil and then following up with daily weeding and watering. Luckily, the expansion comes with a command to tend to multiple crops at once, so players won't have to go through the pains of tending to each plot individually. Tools such as sprinkler systems and sunlight lamps streamline the process, and setting up inside a greenhouse will overcome weather problems like early winters or hail. It won't be long before players decide to join a gardening club, which earns special discounts and rewards. Working hard and gaining skills earns talent badges, which offer a boost in different areas while opening up new abilities. However, the game doesn't tell the gamer what each badge does, so it can be difficult to know whether they do anything at all.

Aside from the newfound green thumb, Seasons puts the main focus on having fun. New pool options open up for summer days, and building snowmen and making snow angels activities unfreeze when during the winter season. Players need to keep an eye on their sims to make sure they don't spend TOO much time outdoors. Sims now have thermometers next to their portraits. Stay out in extreme temperature for too long, and sims will either pass out from the heat or get frozen solid by the winter chill. In either case, another sim will come along and rescue them. Similarly, house builders who consistently neglect to put roofs on their homes (a generally unnecessary function before Seasons) will find an unwelcome surprise when bedrooms get covered in snowfall.