The Sims News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

A new update coming to adds important customization features with new hairstyles and colors for the Sims. With the help of the modding community, players on PC have been able to achieve pretty realistic game play, but players on consoles have not been able to experience this for themselves, which is why base game updates like these are important.

A Sims 4 player online has created an impressive abandoned church in the game, with some seriously eerie vibes. The Sims 4 gives players the tools to create just about anything they can imagine, and it's great to see how gamers are continuing to innovate in the game.

A fan of The Sims 4 has unlocked a super rare achievement in the game, called Legacy Leader. It's an achievement that ties into the number of households and generations in the world, and even more experienced The Sims 4 players report not knowing of its existence.

One veteran discovered a fun and rare achievement that not many players might be aware of. series is known for its interesting achievements and challenges that players can take on. Some challenges are created by Simmers, while others are created by Maxis itself. Some of the best challenges go hand in hand with achievements and are dependent on the players' preferences and time constraints. It makes sense that a lot of the achievements go unnoticed because of how in-depth they are, much like the one that this Simmer discovered after years of playing.

has improved inclusion and representation with new updates. Players appreciate and receive these changes that build a more diverse and representative world. However, continues to neglect key features that would make it more accessible for all players.

A fan of Stardew Valley and The Sims has recreated three of the farming title's bachelorettes within The Sims 4. The recreations are impressive and are just one way that fans of Stardew Valley show appreciation for the game outside of the scope of it.

packs a lot of memorable bachelors and bachelorettes into one small town, and seeing some of its most popular characters brought to life in brings them into a whole new dimension. series has always offered some powerful tools for creativity, and includes the most robust suite of character customization features to date. Making original characters from scratch is one fun possibility, but it's also been used time and time again for impressive recreations of familiar figures from other franchises.

Players of The Sims 4 can look forward to two new DLC packs arriving on April 18. The Sims 4's Urban Homage and Party Essentials Kits will add new items, clothing, accessories, and more to the game.

New Kits announced for have fans scratching their heads, wondering why Electronic Arts doesn't refresh previous DLC releases instead. Fans of series are no strangers to disappointing updates and kits, but the most recent announcement is an interesting choice for the team to make. With the addition of a new shopping cart button while in-game, blatantly encourages players to buy more packs, and fans are becoming more and moreconcerned with the quantity of the paid DLC over the quality of it.

A gamer has found and shared a letter addressed to their mother requesting their own copy of the Sims 2, and the composition is just as funny as it is wholesome. The Sims 4 is the latest entry in the franchise, and it was released nearly a decade ago. Even though many fans still visit older games in the series, such as The Sims 2, it's safe to say that most players have more than gotten used to The Sims 4's quality of life improvements and gameplay additions.

A Sims 4 player has discovered a strange glitch in the game, which causes a recently-deceased Sim to offer condolences to their own living family members. The Sims 4 takes players through the entire life cycle of a Sim, from birth until death, but it seems this one character was not ready to say goodbye.

The free-to-play game, , is a great place for players to explore not only a life sim but also an incredible building and design opportunity. With the option to create and live out the family of your dreams, the only thing that could make that better is the chance to design and decorate a gorgeous home for them to reside in.

A Sims 4 player online has recreated their real-life cat in the game with incredible details, including near-perfect markings. Despite The Sims 4 approaching its 10th anniversary this year, it remains the premier life simulator title for these kinds of recreations.

With more expansion packs coming to , planning a vacation in a residential world could be a fun getaway for you and your characters. It is usually difficult to enjoy the extreme differences between worlds without substantial planning to visit limited destination spots. However, an update for the game allows those who own DLC areas to vacation in almost any world they please.

A Sims 2 fan and gamer recently received their mom's old gaming PC, and discovered that she had tons of custom content and an unusual family addition to her played household. The player's Sims 2 discovery is igniting nostalgia among fellow fans and may even help to recover custom content that's been long gone from the internet.

A creative fan of The Sims has recreated both Mario and Luigi in the game, and the results are uncanny. When it comes to life simulation games, The Sims is one of the biggest franchises in the genre, and the in-depth character creator has allowed many fans to create some great lookalikes.

While Aerith's home in may feel like a home away from home for many fans, one talented player was able to recreate it with an impressive amount of detail in an entirely different game. Through Cloud Strife's adventure through Midgar and beyond, the home of his companion and potential love interest is positioned as a safe haven amongst the imposing steel and metal of the surrounding city. The dark tones of Shinra are replaced by the greenery of a flourishing garden, a garden that was faithfully captured by 's house builder system.

While may have a passionate community that adores the game, one disgruntled fan has taken it upon themselves to fix one of the widely hated parts of the game. Despite Maxis' life simulator impressing with the sheer size of its scope, players have long argued that the constant rollout of paid DLC, both minor and major, has made the title feel like a chore. Some have accused publisher EA of greedy business practices which came to a head when a recent update added a new UI element to the main menu which advertised more DLC.

If you are simulating family life in , you will be looking to have a baby and the possible gender. Expanding the family obviously hinges on pregnancy and how it works. Once your Sims have WooHooed using the "" mechanic, you can't really choose your baby's gender after pregnancy. However, there is a way to influence gender or outright use cheats if you really want to change it.

The Sims 5's map has seemingly been leaked online. Codenamed Project Rene, Maxis' next entry in its beloved series of charming life simulators was first revealed to the public in October 2022 at the Beyond The Sims Summit event.

The Sims 4 will soon be giving away its Blooming Rooms Kit, Electronic Arts has revealed. But unlike some of the most recent The Sims 4 freebies, this one may not be available across all platforms.

The vast amount of stories you can enact with different characters in also includes iconic settings in the Game Pack. Several cheats you can activate with this expansion allow you to expand upon an adventure reminiscent of a galaxy far, far away. The right codes can unlock your creativity to give life to fascinating ideas set in a legendary universe.

A dedicated Taylor Swift fan has created their very own version of the Eras Tour within The Sims 4. Swift embarked on the career-defining Eras Tour back in 2023 and remains ongoing, with one player of The Sims 4 finding their own unique way to pay tribute.

There’s a The Sims movie in the works, and it’s already signed up some major star-power in the form of Margot ‘Barbie’ Robbie’s production company and the director behind Marvel show Loki and the upcoming second season of The Last of Us. EA’s on board, too.

As first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, a film version of The Sims is in the works with some pretty big names involved in the project.

A bizarre screenshot from The Sims 4 has confused many fans, and also resembles a scene from the supernatural show The Leftovers. Since the first game in the franchise, The Sims is filled with intriguing mysteries, and The Sims 4 is no different.

OneThe Sims 4 player has pointed out an unusual quirk in the appearance of pregnant Sims from different angles. This observation has captured the interest of fellow members within The Sims 4 community, sparking a discussion among them.

A Sims 4 player online has shown off their incredible castle build from the game, complete with glamorous interior design. The creation goes to show that despite The Sims 4 turning 10 this year, it's still possible to create some beautiful builds in the game.

A talented Sims 4 player has shared their incredible mobile home creation, purpose-built to house a family of four on the road. Despite The Sims 4 approaching its 10th birthday later this year, gamers aren't done showing off what's possible in it yet.

players should not miss out on the opportunity of claiming a premium and normally paid DLC for free, while the offer lasts. The popular simulation game and the most recent in the franchise by Electronic Arts (EA) offers a lot to play with through its base game but gets even better with the expansion packs that add more content. The problem is that most of these DLC packs in are paid, which may discourage some players from getting the add-on content.

The Sims 4 just made another reference to Final Fantasy 14 in its newest DLC pack, Crystal Creations. This cheeky nod to Final Fantasy 14 proves that some of the developers of The Sims 4 are fans of the critically acclaimed MMORPG.

EA is currently giving away The Sims 4Backyard Stuff DLC. The limited-time promo adds to the growing list of The Sims 4 content packs that have been treated to 100% discounts in recent times.

A recently emerged The Sims 5 leak has raised questions among the fandom about what Electronic Arts and Maxis have in store for the game. Among other things, some fans are concerned about the art style and general direction of the next entry in The Sims franchise.

The impact that franchise has made on the gaming world is incredible, and it all began with the classic title back in 2000. The social simulation video game opened up a new realm of possibilities for video games and introduced many to the world of gaming who previously had little interest in what was available. While the series has evolved and grown over the years, many fans still hold fond memories of the original and might find themselves wishing they could return to that world.

A fan of The Sims 4 recreated a classic Sim using the game's character creation. After almost a decade since it's launch, The Sims 4 is still receiving many expansion packs that allow players to personalize their gameplay experience.

One highly dedicated The Sims 4 player has recently gone through the effort of building a large apartment complex for mermaids. The images of their impressive feat of engineering later made the rounds on social media, eliciting praise from The Sims 4 fandom even though the building couldn't serve its planned purpose in the end.

often hosts celebrity guests, but a player's latest discovery should appeal specifically to Taylor Swift fans. In its decades-long run,has often featured celebrities through in-game references and even full-blown digital recreations of famous actors and musicians. The latest chapter in the sprawling life-sim is no different, but on this occasion, superstar Swift is at the center of the inside joke.

The Sims 4 introduced an aggressive way of advertising DLC in its latest and highly controversial update. Over the course of nearly a decade,The Sims 4 has come a long way. Features that were missing in its lackluster launch were slowly introduced through a long list of updates, game packs, and expansions that improved on the base game. However, in order to enjoy the full breadth of content in The Sims 4, new players are expected to spend over a thousand dollars, as the fourth installment of Maxis' legendary series boasts 15 expansions, and nearly 60 game packs, stuff packs, and kits in its list of DLCs.

An in-progress version of the next entry in The Sims series has just been leaked online, and some fans are rushing to get a peek at what developer Maxis has been up to recently. The last entry in the long-running series from Maxis and EA first launched back in 2014 and, while it has received lots of expansions and updates over the years, many fans would argue the franchise is long overdue for a sequel. While the next title in The Sims franchise is currently in the works, there has been little in the way of concrete details for some time.

The Sims 4 has been around for quite a while now. Released in 2014, it seems Maxis and EA are further along with the next installment. While we can’t label it officially as The Sims 5, this next game release might have already leaked online. Reports are surfacing that players can gain access to the game for the PC and Android platforms. 

The Sims 4 will explore gems as a skill and occupation in its upcoming Crystal Creations Stuff Pack. The Sims 4 has four different types of DLC: expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, and kits. DLC is categorized and priced according to how much content it'll bring to the table. Kits were the latest addition to The Sims 4, and after they were introduced, EA stopped releasing stuff packs for a considerable amount of time.

In , your Sim characters can try to find and harvest new types of plant items throughout the Henford-on-Bagley area. Ranging from mushrooms to berries, these objects are scattered across different locations, like Finchwick, Old New Henford, and Bramblewood. You can help villagers with errands and cook food or animal treat recipes by collecting each new harvestable.

The Sims 4 has added vitiligo to the game in a recently added Sims Delivery Express update, making it possible for every gamer to use these customization options for free. The Sims 4 is nearly a decade old but is still frequently updated. The developers try to implement as many requested features as possible, especially if their purpose is to make the game more inclusive. The Sims 4 is a life simulator, and it's not all about making up stories for a household of Sims and the people surrounding them, it's also about being able to be authentic and feel comfortable in one's own skin.

A dedicated player of The Sims 4 has created a highly detailed house for others to enjoy. Maxis’ simulation franchise has been going strong since the first game was released back in 2000, and 2014’s The Sims 4 was no different, proving to be a massive hit for fans. The game alone has received over 15 DLC packs to date, with the most recent content launching in 2023.

Occult sims in are supernatural sims that possess unique skills or abilities that go above and beyond what ordinary humans can do. These unique sims are spread across multiple game and expansion packs, with the most recent, game pack, having been released in 2022. There are eight main types of occult sims, and all are available to interact, play as, or both.

The Sims 4 recently released a kit focused on castle building, and a player has managed to make an incredible castle, resorting only to the items available in the base game and this new pack. The Sims 4 went free-to-play in 2022, and this made it possible for a greater number of gamers to enjoy the game. While players can enjoy dozens of features with the base game, they can also significantly diversify the type of gameplay they get access to by purchasing additional content.

An Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan recreated Merry, their favorite villager in the game, as a The Sims 4 character. The Sims 4 has a good character creation system, and the result of this experiment is a human that greatly resembles Merry, the peppy cat.

Just like in the real world, living in is expensive, which makes the best-paying careers tempting ventures. Upon its release in 2014, the game came packaged with ten full-time careers, each with two distinct career branches. Since then, plenty of additional options have made their way into the game — whether it's through base game patches, content packs, or expansions, and many of the newer careers can be even more lucrative than what came with the base game.

Every player knows that is an expensive franchise to be a fan of, but searching out websites that offer custom content can be a good way to avoid burdening a wallet. Since its creation in 2014, has created many additional content DLCs, with more being added regularly. The cost of all of these add-ons can quickly add up, totaling over $1,000. Custom content, also known as CC, offers a perfect alternative to still getting fun new furniture and extras for the game without the price tag. Created by fellow players and shared for free across the web, CC allows players to flesh out without breaking the bank.

Expansion Pack adds versatile, foundational features that can be used to extremely creative ends, but a lack of cohesiveness in some areas and an epidemic of set pieces and rabbit holes hold it back from its full potential. isn't so much about outright new objectives and activities in the way DLC like or are; it instead focuses on introducing new frameworks that can be iterated upon, like the Clubs system of. Depending on a particular player's gameplay style, this may be a positive or a negative, and those who prefer more structured releases may find this one falls short.

isn't perfect, but it's hard to give up on. First released in 2014, but it's had regular updates and DLC drops in the decade since. The most recent DLC, , came out a few months ago in July 2023. But whether they wait anxiously for every single new release or content themselves with the base game and a wealth of player-created content, 's most ardent devotees have become inextricably attached to the game in the near-decade since its release.

If you are looking to add a Sim to your home in , there are four methods you can use. Much like real life, lets you add a potential roommate or a romantic partner to your household if you meet the requirements. There are many reasons for a player to add a Sim to their household, but the most common ones include having a friend as a roommate/housemate or partners wanting to have a child. Needless to say, when you add a Sim to your household, there are many new and engaging scenarios you will experience.

Another Expansion Pack is coming to , and this time it will allow players to become property owners and run their own apartment buildings for a little community of Sims, or become a tenant in an already established complex or duplex. The notion of having multi-residential buildings in has been requested many times over the years and opens up a plethora of opportunities for hilarious hi-jinks and dramatic interactions. As a twisted bonus, the expansion gives a whole new way for Sims to die a gross and painful death by mold.

The Sims 5, still officially known by the codename Project Rene, will be free-to-play. Further, the mega-popular life simulator, The Sims 4, will continue to receive new updates and peacefully cohabitate alongside it. We also got the down-low on the first new Stuff Pack in more than two-and-a-half years, if that wasn't enough.

The Sims 4's first Stuff Pack in two-and-a-half years arrives — Home Chef Hustle — has been given a release date, and will be introducing some hardcore small appliance action to all platforms from next Thursday, 28th September.

Hometopia is an upcoming simulation game that genuinely sparks so much excitement deep within me. It blends all of my favorite House Flipper qualities with The Sims 4’s own dollhouse-esque vibes, creating an irresistible wholesome gameplay experience. Hometopia is all about what you can create, whether you choose to design your dream home or a Barbie-inspired mansion. The fun doesn’t end there, though, as the game actually supports co-op so you can build alongside your friends.

The Sims 4 is my long-standing favorite simulation game, and it has a lot to do with its constant incoming stream of new content. EA releases regular new packs for the game steadily, whether those be in the form of smaller kits or bigger expansions with new worlds and more. The latest pack revealed by EA is none other than a cooking-themed stuff pack for The Sims 4. It brings a little bit of everything to help your Sims live out their wildest chef-related dreams with it, from new kitchen decorations to recipes.

EA will make money on the game from content expansions and other microtransactions.

The next entry in The Sims series, codenamed Project Rene, will be available to play without a core game purchase or subscription at launch.

Lyndsay Pearson, VP of franchise creative for The Sims at Maxis Studios, confirmed on Tuesday that The Sims 5 (currently titled Project Rene) will be free to download across all platforms when it launches following a since removed job listing published in June that stated the title would be free-to-enter. 

EA has confirmed that The Sims 5, currently under development at Maxis as Project Rene, will be “free to download” in the newest Behind The Sims video released for the game. Essentially, this means that players will be able to jump into the game and play around without having to make any purchases or pay for any subscriptions. This confirms an earlier job listing that suggested that the game would be “free to join”.

The Sims 5, also knows as Project Rene, was announced last year, though further details on the title are pretty light so far. We've only had a few job listings and a handful gameplay features to go off of since then, with more recent rumors suggesting the title will be free-to-play when it does launch. Thankfully, publisher EA came out with some more details earlier today, confirming that the game will be "free to download" and that it will exist alongside The Sims 4.

In some big Sims news today, EA has confirmed that The Sims 5, codenamed Project Rene, will be “free to download when it's ready."

EA has launched another of its Behind the Sims showcases at the internet, this one bringing confirmation that The Sims 5 — or codename Project Rene as it's officially known at present — will indeed be a free-to-play game, as previously leaked, and will coexist alongside The Sims 4. Oh, and there was also some news on The Sims 4's first Stuff Pack in over two-and-a-half years.

The Sims 5 will be “free to download”, Electronic Arts has confirmed.

The Sims franchise is a long-running one that has quite a plethora of games to pick from. But the game franchise mainly plays out the same when it comes to the mainline series. Overall, the title puts players into the control of a group of characters made by the player. I’m sure you’re well familiar with the IP by now. But if, for some reason, you’ve somehow slept on this franchise, players create a humanoid character to live within a home. From there, you’re determining how their lives are run.

EA has now confirmed that The Sims 5, or Project Rene, will be free to play, and while it will still sell content packs, the game could also launch with features traditionally locked behind Sims DLC. 

We've seen a lot of The Sims-likes lately, but this might just be the cutest one yet.

By Andrew Webster, an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.

With summer teetering on the precipice, threatening to tumble into a rainy, windswept autumn any day now, EA is wisely hedging its bets with its two newly announced The Sims 4 Kit packs — both arriving Thursday, 7th September — giving us sun, fun, and swimwear on one side, and resolutely indoor luxury living on the other.

There are plenty of jobs to get involved with in The Sims, but none as interesting as the Secret Agent Career. Gone are the days in The Sims where a job was this noncommital thing that you made your Sims drag themselves to daily. With The Sims 4, it’s a crucial part of the game that you can goad your characters along through as they advance, learn new things, and progress in all aspects of their lives and loves. In this bite-sized guide, we’ll review how you can Browse Intelligence in The Sims 4.

The Sims 4 is getting two new Kits - the small-ish pieces of DLC which add new items, and no new mechanics, to the construction toybox. The Poolside Splash kit adds new "brght and playful" swimwear and poolside floaties, while the Modern Luxe kit adds expensive décor for use in posh homes. Both kits launch later this week on September 7th.

The Sims 4 has long dominated the life simulation arena, but a pair of hopeful rivals are soon stepping into the ring to challenge the undisputed champ. Life By You and Paralives both have grand plans to unseat (or at least share it with) EA’s life sim juggernaut, and they both promise to set themselves apart with features that Simmers have long been asking for. But I only have one question for both of them: can I kill my Sims? Or Parafolk? Or… Lifers? In the case of Paralives, the answer is thankfully a big fat yes.

A new update on the autonomy system of Paralives showcases one key advantage over The Sims series, as characters can make independent decisions, including using the bathroom and developing new hobbies. 

Upcoming life sim Paralives is set to give their characters a little more autonomy than The Sims, meaning they have the ability to go to the bathroom by themselves.

This upcoming building sim is the perfect mix of The Sims 4 and House Flipper, and it's out as soon as next month.

Paralives is probably my most highly anticipated simulation game right now, and it has a lot to do with its variety of promising features shown thus far. From an entirely unique language to deeply intricate emotions, Paralives places a lot of detail into its people and makes them feel realistic. While EA has done much of this with The Sims 4, there are areas in which many of us have hoped to see improvements. One of these is the bill and energy system, which Paralives seems to already have on lock.

Paradox has confirmed that Life By You and its early access has been pushed back from September of this year to March 2024. 

Life by You, an upcoming life sim which we once hailed as the pro-nudity competitor to The Sims 4, has had its early access launch delayed until March 5, 2024 - six months later than its original release date.