Gameplay-wise, there are few noticeable differences between an adult and a young adult they can still get married, join careers and have children, and will not gain any further traits. They also can have age details, visible in CAS. They will gain a few wrinkles upon aging up from young adults, but not to the same extent as Sims in the elder stage. Adults in The Sims 3 instead represent middle-aged Sims, and are approximately between 40 years old and retirement age. In The Sims 3, the adult stage is no longer the default age when entering Create a Sim, having been replaced in this role by a new version of the young adult stage.
In The Sims 2 for console, adult is the only life stage in the game much like The Sims, Sims do not age. Adult Sims that are 5 days or less away from becoming elders cannot get pregnant. It is the only life stage in which a Sim can get pregnant and get a full-time job.
It is preceded by the teen life stage, or the optional young adult stage if The Sims 2: University is installed.
In The Sims 2, the adult stage is the longest and most important life stage. It is the main lifespan of the Sims in this game. While adult Sims can die if something kills them, they never age, so they have indefinite lifespans. In The Sims, being an adult is permanent and children do not become adults without spells, mods, or third-party tools.
