The Sims 4

Did You Know?

• The Sims 4 was developed under the codename 'Olympus' with a focus on online multiplayer, but plans changed after the negative launch of Maxis' SimCity in 2013.
• A free playable demo of the Create-a-Sim feature was released on August 12, 2014, for Windows.
• The console versions of The Sims 4 are direct ports of the macOS and Windows versions, co-developed with Blind Squirrel Games.

Gameplay

The Sims 4 is an open-ended social simulation game with no primary objectives or storyline, focusing on creativity and experimentation. Players manage virtual people called Sims, directing their actions, attending to their needs, and helping them reach personal goals. Each Sim has a lifelong aspiration and dynamically generated wants and fears based on current gameplay. The in-game currency is Simoleons, and Sims communicate in Simlish. Sims have six needs—hunger, bladder, hygiene, social, fun, and energy—that deplete over the in-game day and are replenished through household items. Sims earn money primarily by getting a job, and job performance improves by developing skills; for example, a Sim in the Culinary career needs Cooking and Mixology skills. Cheats are available for unlimited money or unlocking hidden options. Paid DLC adds new features, objects, worlds, and clothing. The Windows and macOS versions support modding and custom content. Create-a-Sim allows direct manipulation of facial and bodily features. Sims have eight life stages: newborn, infant, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder. Toddlers were added in a 2017 update, and a 2023 update replaced the baby stage with newborn and infant.

Reception

Before release, Maxis announced that features like swimming pools, toddler Sims, open worlds, and the Create-a-Style color customization tool from The Sims 3 would be absent, sparking player backlash and a Change.org petition. Maxis stated that development resources went to the new game engine, AI simulation, and revamped Create-a-Sim and Build modes, and left open the possibility of reintroducing features later. Upon release, The Sims 4 received mixed or average reviews on Metacritic. Critics criticized missing features and content compared to previous titles, frequent loading screens, and glitches. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, released in 2017, received additional criticism for controller-based controls, bugs, glitches, and performance issues.

Post-release

In response to criticism, Maxis pledged free content and feature updates, reintroducing swimming pools, genealogy, the toddler life stage, and basements. Other major updates added a sandbox world, gender and pronoun customization, gameplay scenarios, terrain manipulation, Neighborhood Stories, a wants and fears system, newborn and infant life stages, and polyamory. Some features required DLC packs to be fully fleshed out. Content updates continue as of 2026. EA affirmed long-term support in 2021, citing a shift to nurture communities. In 2024, IGN's Sarah Thwaites praised the game as maintaining the bar for life simulators and highlighted community support. Following criticism of bugs and instability, Maxis assembled a team in 2024 for more frequent bug fixes and better performance. In September 2022, EA announced the base game would become free-to-play on all platforms starting October 18, 2022, making it the fourth free-to-play Sims entry. Existing players received a free Desert Luxe Kit. In October 2022, Maxis revealed a new title under the working title Project Rene, showing co-op multiplayer in Build mode and cross-compatibility. Project Rene is set to be free-to-play and not a direct sequel. In July 2025, EA president Laura Miele stated Project Rene would be developed in parallel with continued Sims 4 updates due to the large number of existing DLC packs.

Downloadable content packs

Since 2015, paid DLC packs for The Sims 4 have been released in four categories: expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, and kits. Expansion packs are the largest, introducing major features around a theme; game packs are smaller; stuff packs contain a small number of furniture and clothing items; kits focus exclusively on either furniture or clothing. According to Metacritic, expansion and game packs have received reviews ranging from generally favorable to mixed or average. Star Wars: Journey to Batuu, the ninth game pack, was announced on August 27, 2020, and met negative reception from players who felt it overlooked community-requested features; some speculated it was a contractual obligation due to EA's ownership of the Star Wars franchise. An independent poll by Digital Spy ranked Star Wars last out of twenty-one possible themes. Maxis responded by sharing development updates on requested features. My Wedding Stories, the eleventh game pack, was announced on February 8, 2022. Maxis initially said it would not release in Russia due to laws prohibiting homosexuality as a societal norm, but reversed the decision after backlash, releasing it worldwide on February 23, 2022, without alterations. Since March 4, 2022, EA has suspended sales in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. The pack received criticism for bugs and glitches, including rendering the wedding event unplayable, and earned a 62% Metacritic score, the lowest for a Sims 4 game pack. An update on March 31, 2022, addressed some glitches.