It's not a secret that The Sims 4 has made it harder for players to kill Sims. The chances of a Sim dying by fire or drowning, for example, are not that high compared to previous games. It may seem weird, but some devious players desire to kill a certain Sim for many reasons: story progression, being annoying, or a bunch of other reasons.
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The most common deaths in The Sims 4 are the ones related to real-life daily activities, like getting burned alive by a cheap stove or being electrocuted too many times. Meanwhile, uncommon deaths are extremely unexpected. For example, a Sim could be killed by a wild rabbit or crushed under a vending machine. Read on to find out all the ways to kill Sims in The Sims 4.
Updated on October 14, 2025, by Ashely Claudino: The Adventure Awaits expansion pack brought new exciting features to The Sims 4, including several physical activities. Therefore, many gamers would expect that these demanding physical activities could be lethal for some Sims, but that is not the case. Adventure Awaits does not add any new deaths to The Sims 4. However, we have updated this list and added more useful information about other deaths in the game. We have also included which pack introduces each type of death to The Sims 4.
How to Kill a Sim in The Sims 4
In The Sims 4, Sims can face a range of possible, often unexpected, deaths that can strike from accidental missteps or carefully planned schemes. While some players embrace these fates for storytelling, others prefer to guide their Sims away from danger. Players can choose death types in Create-A-Sim or take their chances based on choices made in Live Mode. Here are all of the possible deaths in The Sims 4:
|
Death |
Pack |
Description |
Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Death by Anger |
Base game |
These Sims were so angry that they had a stroke and died. Alive Sims will gain an Angry Moodlet when in their presence. |
Continue to anger a Sim after they have received the Enraged moodlet. |
|
Death by Beetle Juice |
Eco Lifestyle |
This death is the fastest. Players won't even have a chance to plead with Grim Reaper. It's caused by drinking three Beetles Juice Drinks. |
Mix Beetle Juice at a bar and drink three in a row. |
|
Death by Being Crushed By a Murphy Bed |
Tiny Living |
Sims were crushed by a Murphy Bed after attempting to put it down too many times. They get their Energy from possessing other Sims. |
There is a chance this may happen while using the Murphy Bed. Players can upgrade the Murphy Bed with Handiness Skill to reduce the risk. |
|
Death by Being Swarmed By Flies |
Eco Lifestyle |
In Eco Lifestyle, Simmers can bond with flies. If it goes wrong, they'll be eaten alive. Flies will stay around this Sim even after death. |
There is a chance of this happening when Sims use the Bond with Flies interaction on a dumpster. |
|
Death by a Broken Heart |
Lovestruck |
Sims who experience a lot of romantic turmoil in their lives can die of heartbreak. This is caused by repeated rejection, bad dates, bad breakups, jealousy, and depressed eating (which can result in choking). |
Continue to sadden a Sim after they've endured too many negative romantic interactions. |
|
Death by Cowplant |
Base game |
An Adult Cowplant can eat Sims, thus killing them. When these Ghosts are angry, they can kill plants. |
Starve a Cowplant until it shows the Sim its tongue-cake. Eat the cake to receive a negative moodlet. Eat it a second time while the moodlet is active to suffer death by Cowplant. |
|
Death by Crow |
Life and Death |
If Sims are consistently mean or mischievous to a crow, they will be attacked by the crow and die. |
Continue to use mean interactions on a crow. |
|
Death by Drowning |
Base game |
By swimming while tired or building a fence around the pool, Sims will drown. These Ghosts are afraid of water and form puddles when they move. |
Continue to swim after a Sim is beyond exhausted. |
|
Death by Electrocution |
Base game |
Fixing electrical objects while standing in a puddle or with low Handiness Skill will cause Sims to die by Electrocution. They can break objects by possessing them. |
Repair electronic objects with a low Handiness Skill. If the Sim is standing on a puddle while repairing the object, the chances of electrocution go up. |
|
Death by Embarrassment |
Base game |
These Sims were Mortified before dying, they'll even stay Embarrassed after death. |
Continue to endure embarrassing situations after getting the Mortified moodlet. |
|
Enchanted by Nature |
Fairy Sims can regenerate Emotional Force by absorbing the emotions of other Sims. If a fairy Sim absorbs too many powerful emotions, they will become overloaded, which will lead to death by laughter. |
Continue to absorb powerful emotions after receiving the Critical Hysterical Overload moodlet. |
|
|
Death by Emotional Starvation |
Enchanted by Nature |
Fairy Sims don't need food in order to survive, but they do need Emotional Force. |
If players don't acquire enough Emotional Force to keep their Fairy Sims content, they will die of Emotional Starvation. |
|
Death by Falling from Heights |
Snowy Escape |
If Sims tried to climb with no gear, no necessary preparations, and in bad weather, there is a big chance they'll fall to their death. |
Go on a difficult mountain route while exhausted, with low skill, gear, or while the weather is particularly bad to increase chances of falling. |
|
Death by Fire |
Base game |
Fire hazards are very common, either by cooking on a cheap stove with no Skill or by putting a rug near a lit fireplace. After death, these ghosts can set objects on fire. |
Be on fire without being extinguished for too long. |
|
Death by Flowers |
Seasons |
Creating a Death Flower arrangement (or a normal one with the Death Flower scent) will cause Sims to age. For example, a Toddler will become a Child, while a Child will grow into a Teen. Meanwhile, Elders will die as it’s the last stage of their life. |
Scent a bouquet with a Death Flower using the Flower Arranging Skill. Have an elder Sim smell it. |
|
Death by Freezing |
Seasons |
Swimming or wearing light clothes in very cold weather can freeze Sims to death. These Ghosts can cool hot Sims or kill them by Freezing. |
Swim in cold water, wear hot-weather clothing outside, or stay out for too long during the winter. |
|
Death by Hunger |
Base game |
Players can delete every food source and starve their Sim to death. After death, Hunger needs decay more quickly, and they can eat even if they’re full. |
Not eating until the Hunger Need has been fully depleted. |
|
Death by Killer Chicken |
Cottage Living |
Repeatedly use the mischievous or mean interactions with chickens in The Sims 4 until they attack the Sims. If they survived the attack, repeat the steps until they're dead. |
Continue to use mean interactions on a chicken. |
|
Death by Killer Rabbit |
Cottage Living |
Killed by a wild rabbit by using the steps mentioned above, but on a rabbit. |
Continue to use mean interactions on a rabbit. |
|
Death by Laughter |
Base game |
If the Sim is Very Playful and, after a while, becomes Hysterical, they'll die from laughter. Nearby Sims will get a Playful Moodlet when in the Ghost's presence. |
Continue to engage in playful activities after Sims get the Hysterical moodlet. |
|
Death by Lightning |
Seasons |
When there is a thunderstorm, if Sim gets struck by lightning too many times, they'll die. |
Remain outside in a thunderstorm after Sims get the Charged moodlet. |
|
Death by Magic Overload |
Realm of Magic |
Spellcasters who keep performing spells while their meter is full will die from overload. Spellcasters will keep their abilities even after death. |
Continue to cast spells after Sims get the Dangerously Overcharged. |
|
Death by Meteor |
Base game |
Sims can get a scared moodlet while looking through a telescope that will send a meteor crashing into them if they do not seek cover indoors. |
Remain outside after receiving a warning while looking through the telescope. |
|
Death by Old Age |
Base game |
These Sims lived their life to the fullest and died a normal death. They take a nap most of the time as Ghosts. |
This can happen at any point once an elder Sim has filled their Age meter completely. Players can check this in the Simology (Y) panel. |
|
Death by Overexertion |
Base game |
If Elders keep WooHoo'ing or exercising while tired, they'll die from Overexertion. |
Have an elder Sim continue to perform physical activities after they get the Dangerously Tired moodlet. |
|
Death by Overheating |
Seasons |
During a heatwave, Simmers can force their Sim to wear heavy clothing and to warm themselves on a fireplace. This will result in their death. After death, they warm up cold Sims or kill them by overheating. |
Wear cold-weather clothes on a hot day. |
|
Death by Poison |
Jungle Adventure |
While exploring a jungle, Sims might get poisoned by many things, like spiders and scorpions. If players don't treat them immediately, they'll die. These Ghosts will often burp, making Sims around them pass out |
Not taking an antidote after being poisoned. |
|
Death by Pufferfish |
City Living |
If Sims had a low Cooking Skill and made a Pufferfish Nigiri, there's a 50% chance they'll die from poisoning. |
Have a Sim learn and cook a Poor Quality Pufferfish Nigiri dish. Those who eat it are at risk of death. |
|
Death by Rabid Rodent Fever |
My First Pet |
Sims can get bitten by a Rodent Pet. If not treated, they'll die from an illness. These Ghosts will resemble a giant rodent. |
Not treating a rodent bite. |
|
Death by Research Archive Machine |
Discover University |
These Sims went beyond their limits on the Electromagnetic Research Archive Machine and suffered death by overexertion. |
Continue to use the Contribute Knowledge interaction on the Research Archive Machine while dazed. |
|
Death by Steam |
Spa Day |
After the Superfluous Steaming Moodlet while being in the Sauna, if players forced their Sim to stay, they'll eventually die from the steam. |
Remain in a sauna once Sims get the Superfluous Steaming moodlet. |
|
Death by Stink Capsule |
High School Years |
Sims can suffocate from a Stink Capsule that is set off in their locker. |
Fail to plant a second stink capsule while Self Stinked moodlet is still active. |
|
Death by Sunlight |
Vampires |
Vampires will die if they stay out too long in the sun. |
Have a vampire Sim in the sun until they run out of vampire energy. |
|
Death by The Mother |
Strangerville |
While solving the Strangerville mystery, Sims can be consumed and killed by the Mother. These Ghosts’ needs don’t decay. |
Sims can be killed by the Mother if they attempt to fight it without the proper preparation. |
|
Death by Too Many Out Of Body Experiences |
Life and Death |
Too many dips in the Baleful Bog, which allows Sims to temporarily become ghosts, can result in permanent death. |
Continue to indulge in Out of Body experiences in Baleful Bog. |
|
Death by Urban Myth |
High School Years |
Failing to summon an Urban Myth can cause Sims to get terrified to death. |
Have a Sim with Level 8 of the Mischief Skill summon an urban myth on another Sim to scare them. While the moodlet is active, they can do it again to induce death. |
|
Death by Vending Machine |
Snowy Escape |
These Sims were crushed by a vending machine because they kept shaking it and climbing on it until it fell on them. |
Continue to shake a vending machine while the Close Call moodlet is active. |
Here's a more detailed look at some of the most common and iconic ways that Sims can die in the game:
Death By a Broken Heart
One of the most difficult deaths to achieve is death by a broken heart. Sims who experience a repeated string of bad dates, bouts of jealousy, rejection, and breakups run the risk of dying from their sorrowful feelings. Players will have to ignore the warning notifications and intentionally sabotage dates to cause this death.
If Sims are at risk of dying as a result of their romantic turmoil, they should avoid depressed eating. Repeatedly devouring food from the Sweetheart Box can result in death by a broken heart. The Sim will be seen crying and choking on their food until they keel over and die.
Death By Drowning
Perhaps the most legendary death featured in The Sims is one where they get stuck in a body of water before eventually drowning. This was a way for players to show their psychotic side, with people loving the idea of creating pools, telling a Sim to enter, and removing the ladder to see them drown.
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The fact that pools weren't initially present in The Sims 4 was a source of discontent for many. However, they were added later on in a patch and let players access their dark side and sacrifice Sims once again.
Death By Electrocution
When objects are broken in a Sim's house and their Handiness skill isn't all that high, then players are better off calling a repairman instead. This is because Sims who try and fix electrical appliances without the know-how stand a risk of passing away after getting shocked.
Death by Electrocution can come out of nowhere and isn't really a great thing to experience either. If players are obstinate about improving their Sim's Handiness skill work by learning the same thing practically, then ensure that the Sim isn't standing in or around water while fixing an appliance to reduce the risk of an electrical shock.
Death by Emotional Overload
Fairy Sims, introduced to The Sims 4 with the Enchanted by Nature expansion pack, require Emotional Force in order to survive. One of the various ways to regenerate Emotional Force in The Sims 4 is to absorb the emotions of others.
While fairies can detect the emotions in the room and detect if a Sim is feeling a dangerously powerful emotion, they may skip this step entirely. If a Sim absorbs too many powerful emotions within a certain period of time, they will slowly enter a state of overload and get a deadly case of the giggles.
Death By Fire
Players would obviously panic if a fire bursts out in their house, especially since it can lead to the death of a Sim. It doesn't help that regular Sims take ages to extinguish a fire, which can lead to the blaze spreading to other places.
Make sure to keep smoke detectors in every room of a house, especially in the kitchen. It automatically calls the fire department and ensures that players don't have to waste precious seconds seeking out a phone to call the department.
Death By Hunger
Death by Hunger is something that most players won't experience until they actively decide to remove any sources of food from the house. If Sims start saying Simlish phrases such as "Feebee Lay!" And "Shooflee!", it is a call for help that should not be ignored. This slow and agonizing death will make players feel like monsters if it happens.
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Keep the fridge stocked and don't be afraid to order in if a Sim's Hunger reaches critical levels. Anything is better than letting Sims starve painfully till they eventually succumb to their needs.
Death By Old Age
Sure, it's heartbreaking to see a beloved Sim die of old age, but players should feel proud to know they kept their Sim alive long enough to earn a peaceful death. After all, a big part of The Sims is creating generations, and the fact that a Sim lived a long and hearty life means that they've left a legacy of their own over time.
Of course, players can delay the inevitable by trying to negotiate with the Grim Reaper when they come for a person's soul. Try asking Sims who have a high Relationship with the potential victim to try and do the same, since it increases the chances of that Sim's lifespan being extended.
Death By Anger
The moodlet system in The Sims 4 has been a source of great contention in the series. Some people feel that this gameplay mechanic makes certain interactions more meaningful, while others felt that Sims end up changing moods so frequently that it turned everyone's personality to be fairly similar, which was a cardinal sin in the eyes of most players.
However, over time, people have warmed up to the moodlet system and realized how it can make gameplay more engaging than even before, In fact, some of these moodlets can become so strong and overpowering that Sims can suffer from many adverse conditions as a result. A rather notable example of this is how Sims who get furious can pop a gasket and get a stroke, leading to their unexpected demise!
Death By Embarrassment
Another moodlet that can affect Sims is embarrassment, which generally happens when Sims soil themselves, get rejected, or anything else along the same lines. Sims who suffer such indignities over and over again can get mortified over time, which can be rather rough on a Sim in a way that no one would expect.
Sims who get embarrassed to a huge extent will end up dying of embarrassment, suffering from extreme mortification. It's a rather amusing death, although players will find it rather hard to see the humor in things if a Sim they were particularly attached to ended up passing away because of this moodlet.
Death By Too Many Out Of Body Experiences
One of Ravenwood's most compelling tourist attractions is the Baleful Bog. Dipping into the murky waters allows for Sims to have an Out Of Body Experience that will temporarily turn them into ghosts. During this time, they can enjoy all the perks of being a ghost, including spooking other Sims and working on their Ghost Mastery. Their progression carries over to the next time the Sim becomes a ghost.
While having Out Of Body Experiences can be freeing and thrilling, overindulging in this habit can have deadly consequences. Repeated use of the Baleful Bog can result in death and permanently turn Sims into a ghost.
The Sims 4
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 26%
- Released
- September 2, 2014
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Cross-Platform Play
- Xbox, PlayStation, and computer versions of Sims 4 are all separate games incompatible with each other
- Cross Save
- no
- Franchise
- The Sims
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- How Long To Beat
- N/A
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 22 GB (November 2023)
