As The Sims' twenty-fifth anniversary celebration comes to an end, players are waiting for EA and Maxis to return focus to The Sims 4. Players have taken issue with much about The Sims 4 since its release in 2014, particularly due to the absence of mainstay gameplay features that appeared in the series's previous titles. Of course, EA and Maxis have expanded The Sims 4, by adding to the base game and through DLC, since its launch, but some areas still feel lackluster.
One core aspect of The Sims franchise that was reduced in the launch version of The Sims 4 is life stages. Upon release, Toddlers were missing from The Sims 4 completely, and the gameplay that centered around babies was incredibly rudimentary compared to the franchise’s previous installments, despite the fact that babies aged up after 72 hours like in previous titles. Though Simmers made their voices heard about other missing gameplay features, they put particular emphasis on just how important life stages are to The Sims. Toddlers were eventually added to The Sims 4 in 2017, and babies were given two life stages, Newborns and Infants, in 2023. Since these updates, Simmers have turned their focus toward giving Elders more love, but one other life stage also deserves attention from EA and Maxis.
The Sims 1 and 2's Resurgence Make a Case for One Specific Sims 4 DLC
After the success of The Sims' nostalgia-fueled twenty-fifth anniversary events and releases, The Sims 4 could capitalize on nostalgia yet again.
The Sims 4 Needs to Overhaul Teens
The High School Years Expansion Pack may have been EA and Maxis’s attempt at giving the life stage more content, but Teens are still far behind the game's other life stages. And for players who have not purchased that The Sims 4 Expansion Pack, playing with Teens may feel especially boring. Many hobbies that suit teenagers are also exclusive to DLC, such as those that are associated with child and teen-friendly public spaces, like bowling alleys, roller and ice skating rinks, and arcades.
This is not to say that EA and Maxis haven’t attempted to expand gameplay for Teens in The Sims 4 base game. Upon its debut in 2014, part-time jobs were not part of The Sims 4. This feature would eventually be added to the game about six years ago. While some of the jobs that were added are in Expansion Packs, base game players can have their Teens hired for rabbit hole careers as babysitters, baristas, fast food employees, manual laborers, and retail employees with no issues. However, Teens that are enrolled in part-time jobs cannot also participate in after-school activities, which are DLC exclusive through the Seasons, Get Famous, and High School Years Expansion Packs.
Mods Could Inspire a Teenage Revamp in The Sims 4
For many players, Teens still feel lackluster, despite EA and Maxis’s efforts to improve the life stage. Mods for the life stage are extraordinarily popular, and they may provide insight into the ways in which teenagers could see further expansion in The Sims 4. At the end of the day, The Sims 4 must maintain its rating of Teen, making mods like Delinquent Teens, Runaway, or Teen Pregnancy unlikely to make the crossover to the base game. However, a mod that gives full-time jobs to Teens that drop out of high school would translate well into The Sims 4 base game and add further immersion. Though this might make more sense as an expansion to the Growing Together or Parenthood Expansion Packs, placing more responsibility on Teens who are older siblings is yet another mod-inspired gameplay feature that could be successful.
Players can, of course, focus on developing skills for their Teens prior to aging up to adulthood to set them up for a successful Adult career. The life stage is also important for legacy challenges, especially when it comes to selecting heirs. Nevertheless, the Teen life stage deserves more attention from EA and Maxis, and, with any luck, it will see further expansion in The Sims 4.
The Sims 4
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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
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
