Launched in an era when voyeurism reigned supreme, The Sims was both a curious pleasure and a Lynchian oddity. A new program in Melbourne celebrates its legacy

• Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email

“Who would you put in your pool these days?” asks my friend while we stand in a giant lime-green dollhouse. We’re at Acmi’s celebration of The Sims’ 25th birthday, inside a Y2K-inspired pop-up styled by the interior designer influencers and diehard Simmers Josh and Matt. There are a couple of blocky PCs where people can play the original Sims. There is also a grim reaper and a llama wandering around.

The pool question makes a lot of sense to anyone who has ever spent hours on the blockbuster game. Any dedicated player knows the terrifying death by drowning that awaits their Sim if they take away the pool ladder.