After the required EA/Maxis splash screens and the title screen, the player will first see a progress bar with the title "Downloading Essential Game Data." After that, the game gives the player an initial menu that they will see every time they run the game. It offers New Game, Continue/Load Saved Game (grayed out in the initial display), Sound On/Off and Exit. Selecting a new game when there is already a saved game will prompt the player that the preceding game will be lost. Selecting a saved game will always give you the option to update the content of the game.

Once a new game is selected, the player will be given the option to Create-A-Sim or to Download-A-Sim. Either of these choices leads into a short download of assets to the handset. In both modes, players may browse their options with the joystick.

After Sim selection/customization, the player must select a zodiac sign and an aspiration, which is accomplished with the use of a colorful wheel depicting all 12 signs on the outside, and the four Aspirations are on the inside. A mock ball spins around the wheel, and where the "ball" lands determines a bonus profile, of Simoleans, trading objects, and functional objects. These rewards are presented to the player right away.

Then, as the phone downloads the game data for the Block and Houses, your Sim is moving to Splendington by means of driving down an old farm road; this is represented in the game as a top-down driving game. The potholes take money away from your Sim, hitting Simoleans confers Simoleans onto them.

After arriving on the block, the player will be given a series of dialogue boxes about the town of Splendington and what they've come here to do. They will be given an option to read a tutorial explaining the controls and objectives of the game.

A "welcome wagon" of local Sims will be arrive outside on the initial entry on to the House lot, at the beginning of a new game, and at every update of the Block that includes a level-up.

The same basic resource management play style of the original PC game is very much a part of this mobile game. Managing your Sim's needs (Hunger, Bladder, Comfort, Fun, Environment, Social, Hygiene), and satisfying a variety of Wants will provide fun challenges for the new player and franchise fan alike.

All Sims arrive on the Block with a selection of objects that they can trade for. Trades are a simple one-to-one negotiation, with a single accept/reject prompt confirming the trade. Players may also gift objects to the other Sims, causing their SimQ stat to rise based on the generosity of the gift.

In connection with their job, the player's Sim has special objects based on their Aspiration which they may sell to both make Simoleans and to progress in the game. Savvy selling of these special objects will enable the player to unlock, download, and play new game levels.

One of the most amusing elements of game play is the whimsical process of socializing and making friends with other Sims. Initially the player sees the person they are talking to in a ? view shot; as they increase their relationship score the image becomes a close up. Relationship scores are saved from day to day, generating Daily and Life scores from the average of the two. Sims' relationship scores and personality affect how well any given social interaction will go.