When The Sims 4 was released, fans were extremely dissapointed with the lack of features that were included in the base Game. There were no weather changes, no pools, no toddlers, very limited skin colors, not enough diverse hair, and very repetitive gameplay. Overall, it was a pretty dissapointing base for a game that was so long awaited by loyal players. This caused an uproar in The Sims community.
The creators didn't take this criticism lightly, though, and later released updates to solve these issues. A free update took place on November 4th, 2014. Simmers could now build pools! They added toddlers in the January 12th, 2017 patch... yeah, that came a little late; but we got them nonetheless! Even later than that, though, came an update in December of 2020. This update included over 100 new skin tones, and different options for more diverse hair.
So yes, The Sims 4 creators DO listen to their fans. At least we got some well-deserved free updates that many simmers believe should've been in the Base Game to begin with. That being said, though, not everything can be given to us for free...
Just like in The Sims 3, The Sims 4 base game does not include any weather changes. It is always sunny, warm, and just straight up unrealistic for most players. Many fans believe weather changes should be included in the base game, because The Sims is supposed to be a realistic life simulation game. So why do we have to purchase an additional add-on to the game just to have our gameplay feel somewhat like real life? Are these packs even worth it?
Starting out with what I believe to be one of the most important ones, we have The Sims 4 Seasons Expansion Pack. This pack was released on June 22nd, 2018. That is almost four years after the base game. We had to wait four whole years to have our Sims experience any sort of weather changes in our gameplay. That being said, though, I believe those four years were worth it. Not only did they add four seasons and weather effects including rain and snow, but they also added so many extra features. This Expansion Pack gives Simmers the ability to have their Sims celebrate holidays, and even customize and create their OWN holidays using the new calendar feature. The calendar also allows players to plan events, rather than using the phone in game.
The pack also tracks the weather, meaning players can see if it's going to be sunny, rainy, snowy, cold, hot, cloudy, etc. Those are all amazing features that The Sims 4 Seasons includes, the only downside is that there is no new world included with this pack. Most Expansion Packs add a new world into your game, which makes sense for that $39.99 price tag. Nonetheless, I believe that this pack is one of the ones that are most worth purchasing. My gameplay personally improved greatly with this pack, and many others agree; via OpenCritic, 88% of critics recommend The Sims 4 Seasons Expansion Pack.
Let's continue with the topic of expansion packs. There are a few that I just don't think are worth spending money on. Those include, The Sims 4 Horse Ranch, The Sims 4 High School Years, and The Sims 4 Snowy Escape. Of course, this is all opinion-based. If someone is an avid horse enthusiast, then they probably would love the Horse Ranch pack. For me personally, I love the world that comes with this pack (Chestnut Ridge,) and it includes some pretty nice Build and Buy Mode items as well as Create-a-Sim items. I was very excited when I bought this pack, but was slightly let down by the overall experience. The creation of horses is fun and detailed, the sims can look cute with the new clothing and hair options, but I don't believe this pack is worth $39.99. I believe it would've been better as a game pack. As for the High School Expansion Pack, and the Snowy Escape Expansion Pack, they have equal ratings for me. I would say the worlds that they come with (Copperdale and Mt. Komorebi) are beautiful, and that's really the only thing that is worth it to me.
It's fun that players can follow their Sims to high school with them and engage in school activities, but I rarely find myself actually doing that. It's more of a hassle than an enjoyment. And the idea of skiing and snowboarding is also fun but after the first couple of times, it gets boring watching my Sims do the same animation over and over again. Those are three packs that I could've absolutely gone without, but don't fret, because there are many packs that I would 100% recommend to players.
The Sims 4 For Rent, Growing Together, City Living, and Cats and Dogs are all very good packs for any player to purchase, in my opinion. For Rent allows players to turn any residential lot into a multi-family lot; meaning multiple Sims families can live on the same lot, but in their own units. This for me was an absolute game changer for my gameplay. I have used this feature every single time I played since purchasing this pack, and will continue to do so. The options are endless when it comes to this feature! You can create townhouses, apartments, duplexes, you name it! Another cool thing about this pack is that your Sims can become a property manager that can either live amongst their tenants, or in a seperate residence. Just be sure to keep your unit ratings high, and keep those tenants happy!
With new milestones, personality traits, self-discovery, social dynamics, family dynamics, and much more; The Sims 4 Growing Together is a worthwhile addition to any players game who is looking for a boost of realism and depth. This pack deserves the Expansion Pack title because of all that is added to the game itself, the Create a Sim Mode, and the Build and Buy Mode. Read more about this pack here. The same thing goes for City Living and Cats and Dogs. These packs add realism, depth, and so much fun to The Sims 4! With apartment living, festivals, pets, new traits, new aspirations, and much more; I couldn't imagine my gameplay without these packs! I highly recommend these Expansion Packs to any Sims 4 player. Read more about City Living here, and Cats and Dogs here.
I'm not going to dive deep into every single Sims 4 DLC, because then we would be here forever. But the honorable mentions of Expansion Packs above are worth looking into. It's time to move onto Game Packs and Stuff Packs, though. If I'm being completely honest, this section may be a little short. Out of twelve Game Packs, only two are worth it in my opinion.
Sure, if you want to be able to play as a vampire or werewolf or create potions and cast spells, then you may enjoy the supernatural Game Packs that The Sims 4 offers. I do enjoy those sorts of things, I just don't feel that it was worth spending $19.99 on. It's not everyday that I'm playing as a supernatural being in my gameplay, because I more so enjoy the realistic aspect of The Sims 4. This is why I love The Sims 4 Dine Out, and The Sims 4 Parenthood. Dine Out allows your Sims to own and eat at restaurants. You can customize your own menu, hire staff and create uniforms, go on dates, take aesthetic food photos, and more.
This pack is super fun and adds depth to the game, even if you don't want your Sim to be a restaurant owner, you can still get a lot out of this pack! Whether you want your Sim to experience fancy dinner dates at a seafood restaurant, or just simply go to brunch with family, there's a range of options for players to experience. As for The Sims 4 Parenthood, I can't say enough good things about this Game Pack.
With the ability to develop your Sims parenting skills, shape your Sims childhood, participate in family activities, and more, this Game Pack really packs a punch! Overall, if you're more into playing The Sims to escape reality, then maybe you would better enjoy their more supernatural Game Packs like Realm of Magic, Werewolves, Vampires, etc. But if you're into realistic gameplay and family gameplay, maybe stick with Parenthood, Dine and Out when purchasing Game Packs that would be worth spending your money on.
Last but not least, we have Stuff Packs. Now, stuff packs are the smallest DLC available in The Sims 4. For $9.99 a pack, you can't really expect to get much added onto your game. I definitely would not buy every available Stuff Pack. I would stick to Expansion Packs and Game Packs if you're looking for some noticeable changes to your game.
That being said, though, I of course have some honorable mentions. Starting with The Sims 4 Tiny Living. If you're into the whole concept of tiny houses like I am, then this pack would be great for you! This pack adds a brand new never created before new residential lot type with three different tiers: small, tiny, and micro. This allows you to create genuine tiny homes in the game with size restrictions, and of course comes with smaller-sized furniture to fit inside! Your Sims bills can even be lower by living this way!
Some other fun Stuff Packs include: The Sims 4 Nifty Knitting, where your Sims can knit clothing and other items; and even sell them on an online marketplace called "Plopsy!" The Sims 4 Movie Hangout, which gives your Sims the ability to watch movies on a projector screen or on their TV, eat popcorn, and "set the mood" with decor and lighting. And The Sims 4 Home Chef Hustle, which includes new appliances, new recipes, the ability to open a food stand and feed the neighborhood, and some fresh new styles for your Sims.
All in all, devoted Sims players should do what they feel would benefit their game. Everyone has different gameplay styles, and that’s okay! I just think it is helpful to really know what you’re going to experience by purchasing certain add ons. Expectations can be set very high for players, and its good to do research before giving into those expectations and purchasing anything on a whim. There are definitely some incredible packs that can be bought for The Sims 4, while others are not really worth the money. I hope this was helpful in deciding on your next purchase, or even deciding to just stick it out with what you already have.