The Sims 4 is the fourth major title in the life simulation video game series The Sims developed by the Redwood Shores studio of Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, The Sims 4 was originally announced on May 6, 2013, and was released in North America on September 2, 2014 for Microsoft Windows. A Mac compatible version of the game was made available for digital download on February 17, 2015. The Sims 4 is the first PC game to top all-format charts in two years. The game has received mixed reviews since its release, with the majority of criticism directed towards its lack of content.
Eight expansion packs have been released. The most recent is Discover University, which was released on November 15, 2019. There have also been several "game packs" released, as well as free updates that include major changes such as the addition of a toddler life stage that was previously non-existent.
Gameplay
The Sims 4 is a life simulation game, similar to its predecessors. Players create a Sim character and control their life to explore different personalities which change the way the game plays out. Sims can now multitask. Sims' moodlets also change the gameplay by influencing the sims' emotional state, introducing new interaction options.
Similar to previous Sims games, player-created challenges abound. One of the most prevalent is the Legacy Challenge, in which players create a single Sim and try to make its family line last for ten generations.
Create a Sim (CAS)
One major change to the Sims 4 Create A Sim functionality is that sliders have been replaced by direct mouse manipulation. By clicking, dragging, and pulling with the mouse, players may directly manipulate the facial features of a Sim. Players can also directly manipulate any body part including the abdomen, chest, legs, arms and feet. In previous Sims games, only the fitness and fatness can be manipulated on a Sims body; however, fitness and fatness levels may still be adjusted in The Sims 4 with sliders as in previous games. The base games comes with over 40 hairstyles for both men and women. There are up to 18 hair colour options per hairstyle. Selections of premade designs of Sims are available to choose from, which range in body shape and ethnicity.
Seven life stages are available including baby, toddler, child, teenager, young adult, adult and elder. The baby life stage is accessible only through the birth of a Sim and not available in Create A Sim. Toddlers were initially absent from the original game release, but were added in the January 2017 patch.
Each Sim also has three traits and an aspiration containing its own hidden trait.
Compared to previous Sims games where everyday, formal, sleepwear, athletic, party and swimwear outfits were restricted to having their own clothing options, all clothing options are now available across all outfits and players are allowed up to 5 outfits per category. There is also a filter panel where clothing options can be sorted by color, material, outfit category, fashion choice, style, content and packs.
In a summer 2016 update, gender options were expanded in the game, allowing any gender expression. With this update, haircuts and outfits can be worn by any Sim of any gender, and pregnancy can become a possibility regardless of the gender.
Build/Buy mode
In The Sims 4, build and buy modes have been combined and is now treated as a single feature.
A detailed build-and-buy system is included along with neighborhoods and landscaping. Some locked buy mode items may be unlocked through the progression of career levels. Entire buildings and rooms can now be moved across a lot. There is a search option to search for build and buy mode options. There are now premade rooms that can be placed instantly. Wall heights can also be adjusted. There is also a pool tool feature with triangular, square and octagonal pool tools. There are build mode cheats such as "motherlode", which enables the player to automatically gain §50,000 (simoleons) added to a Sim's household.
The Gallery
The Sims 4 includes social features, such as importing Sims, lots, and rooms other players have made from The Gallery into the player's game. Players may publish their creations into The Gallery for other players to download into their game instantly.
On January 9, 2015, EA released a version of The Gallery for iOS and Android devices.
Worlds
The Sims 4 base game originally shipped with two worlds: Willow Creek and Oasis Springs. Both worlds contain five neighborhoods and a total of 21 lots. With the release of Outdoor Retreat and Jungle Adventure, the worlds Granite Falls and Selvadorada, respectively, became available for visiting on outdoor vacations. Newcrest became available with a free update, having three neighborhoods with five empty lots in each, for a total of 15 lots. Magnolia Promenade came with the Get to Work Expansion Pack, and Windenburg was introduced in the Get Together Expansion Pack. The City Living Expansion Pack, released in November 2016, introduced the new city of San Myshuno. The Vampires Game Pack added the neighborhood Forgotten Hollow. In November 2017, the seaside town of Brindleton Bay was added in the Cats and Dogs Expansion Pack. In November 2018, the town of Del Sol Valley was added with the Get Famous Expansion Pack. In February 2019, the desert town of Strangerville was added with the release of the Strangerville game pack.In September 2019, the world of Glimmerbrook and its magic realm counterpart (which is accessed via portal) were included with the release of the Realm of Magic game pack. In November 2019, the college town of Britechester was released with the Discover University Expansion Pack.
