There are several family lineages and storylines that span multiple games in The Sims series. These lines can be used to create a rough timeline of events in the series. Generally speaking, the events of The Sims 3 occur the earliest in the in-universe chronology of the series, followed by the events of The Sims and then The Sims 2. For example, Bob Newbie and Betty Simovitch appear as teenagers in The Sims 3, are married in The Sims, and have had a child and have died by The Sims 2. However, there are several instances (especially with The Sims 3) where events do not seem to agree with the in-universe chronology. There are several player theories which attempt to resolve these discrepancies. The Sims 4 does not follow the in-universe chronology of the series, but does have some returning