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The latest iteration of one of the most popular sim franchises on the planet

The latest iteration of one of the most popular sim franchises on the planet

Vote: (8,594 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: ELECTRONIC ARTS

Version: 1.93.129.1030

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac

Vote:

Program license

(8,594 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

ELECTRONIC ARTS

1.93.129.1030

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac

Pros

  • Beautiful graphics and character animations
  • Constant internet connection is not required to play
  • You'll come back to this game again and again, and the pick-up-and-play game style means you'll never be confused on a return trip
  • Custom content and challenges mean gameplay never gets stale

Cons

  • The base game lacks popular features from previous versions
  • It's very expensive to purchase all of the expansion content
  • You must use the Origin launcher to install and play the game

The latest version of the life simulation series The Sims offers new gameplay, new graphics and the same hefty price tag as previous versions. The game looks better than ever, with crisp character models and lovely background scenery, and long-time players will love the new interactions and multitasking between Sims. While the game shipped with a number of bugs and missing features, now you can enjoy a more-stable base game and seemingly endless content packs.

Create a Sim has gone through an extensive redesign in the Sims 4. Say goodbye to clunky sliders and hello to detailed manipulation of body shape and facial features, letting you customize every detail of your Sim's appearance. Built a freakish monster or the most beautiful Sim in your neighborhood. With the level of fine control offered by Create a Sim, you can bring your Sims to life like never before.

Your Sims seem more lifelike than ever with the increased focus on personality and emotion. Everything your Sims do creates a moodlet with a positive or negative emotion. Help them be happy and they'll perform better at work; keep them miserable, and you'll see temper tantrums, poor performance and emotional meltdowns. The Sims 4 features dozens of mood-altering objects like bubble baths, tea kettles and artwork, so you can finetune your Sims' environment to keep them happy -- or embrace your inner Evil Overlord and drive your Sims to the brink of madness.

You will never run out of things to do with The Sims 4. EA has already released nine expansion packs, including updates versions of popular early expansions. Send your Sims to university, explore the four seasons or raise your very own cats and dogs. If you manage to work your way through the expansion packs, you can add on game packs, which are like mini-expansions. With these lower-priced packs, you can bring vampires, parenthood or magic into your game. Finally, you can even add small, low-priced stuff packs, which offer small updates like patio furniture or luxury party decorations. EA offers regular bundles, which combine multiple packs at a discounted rate.

Gender is no longer a limiting factor with The Sims 4. Any Sim can wear any hairstyle or clothing options, and male Sims can even get pregnant. As with any feature of Sims gameplay, you can easily avoid these options and stick to more traditional roles for your Sims if you prefer.

As with previous versions of The Sims, you can heavily mod your game. Players have created thousands of new clothing items, hairstyles and makeup palettes so you can customize your Sims even more. You can even download furnished homes or Sims made to look like your favorite celebrities. While EA offered substantial support for player-created content in The Sims 3, you'll have to work a little harder to download custom content into your Sims 4 game. Don't worry, though; most player-hosted sites include screenshots and guides to help you get that fabulous hairstyle into your game and onto your Sim's head.

For players hungry to add more structure to this sandbox game, hundreds of unofficial challenges are available. Follow your Sims through ten generations in the popular Legacy Challenge or start with nothing and climb your way out of the Poverty Challenge. You can force your sims to run an insane asylum, raise seven toddlers at the same time or become the neighborhood heartbreaker. One day, you might even write your own popular challenge for other players to enjoy.

Genetics continue to play a role in shaping your Sims' appearances. As with The Sims 3, dominant and recessive genes are not part of the game, meaning a child with one brunette and one blonde parent is equally likely to end up with brown or blonde hair. EA has continued the randomness of genetics, so children occasionally look nothing like their family. Unlike previous games, though, The Sims 4 offers much more variety. Instead of children looking like copies of one parent, The Sims 4 can easily blend hair color, skin color and facial features, creating a more realistic experience. No longer will your Ugly Legacy challenge be over in one generation because your ugly Sim's children take after the other parent.

At its initial release, The Sims 4 faced a number of criticisms. Long-time players were unhappy that popular features from earlier games, like hot tubs, Create-a-Style decorating options and the toddler life stage, were missing from the newest version of The Sims. However, EA has released numerous free and paid updates to the game, bringing back many of the missing features and satisfying long-time players of the franchise.

Fans also criticized many of the bugs that shipped with the initial product. For example, early versions of the game somehow allowed incestuous relationships between characters. Unless you were re-enacting Game of Thrones, this bug was a major issue. Of course, software issues are common with all new games, so it wasn't a surprise that The Sims 4 had a rough patches to smooth away, but many fans kept playing The Sims 3 until the major bugs were fixed.

Pros

  • Beautiful graphics and character animations
  • Constant internet connection is not required to play
  • You'll come back to this game again and again, and the pick-up-and-play game style means you'll never be confused on a return trip
  • Custom content and challenges mean gameplay never gets stale

Cons

  • The base game lacks popular features from previous versions
  • It's very expensive to purchase all of the expansion content
  • You must use the Origin launcher to install and play the game