Creating a virtual life with an exciting career and family legacy in The Sims 4 has appealed to fans for decades. Since the release of its first iteration in 2000, The Sims has allowed players a space to build homes and act out odd social situations with none of the consequences of real life. However, The Sims has taken DLC to a whole new level, especially in its more recent versions of the game. Players can spend a shocking amount of money to have access to everything The Sims offers, and the value in content doesn't seem to balance out.
The Sims 4, while boasting a particularly nice character creator and fancy graphics, hasn't managed to do anything unique in its expansion and game packs. Most of the content is the same as The Sims 3, with slightly different wording for the pack titles. Whenever a new version of The Sims drops, the old content becomes obsolete, as nothing ports over to the newer version. This leaves players to repurchase content that was in their older games all over again if they want to play everything the updated version has to offer.
Another problem that The Sims 4 smacked fans with when it released was that the base game had almost nothing in it. For $49.99 USD, players got a tiny map, long load screens when traveling anywhere, and minimal lots and housing options. Furniture, clothing, and hairstyles are meager, and outside of the very basics of The Sims games it has almost nothing to make it stand out from past versions, despite being a full-priced game. For players, this means forking over the cash to have access to even the most basic functions players have come to expect from the games in the past versions. The kicker is, most of the DLC isn't even worth what players are stuck paying.
The Sims 4 Expansion Packs
All The Sims 4 DLC packs include furniture, hairstyles and other décor items, as well as the added traits, careers and world maps. Below are the main features that each Sims 4 expansion pack includes besides decoration and wearable items.
- Get to Work - 39.99 USD
This pack adds the careers doctor, detective, and scientist. It allows players to create and run businesses, and build new skills that are career-oriented.
- Get Together - 39.99 USD
This pack allows players to create and join clubs, engage in social events with other Sims, and learn to dance and DJ. It also includes the Windenburg map.
- City Living - 39.99 USD
This pack adds the Myshuno map, as well as cultural festivals that have competitions and street performances. Players can live in apartments and work their way up to a penthouse, as well as have careers as food and art critics, in politics, or in social media.
- Cats and Dogs - 39.99 USD
Players can create and raise cats and dogs, as well as build bonds between pets and their Sims. They can open a vet clinic and have a veterinarian career. This pack includes the Brindleton Bay map.
- Seasons - 39.99 USD
Players can experience the four seasons and the weather that comes with it. It also includes seasonal activities and holidays, as well as gardening and botany careers.
- Get Famous - 39.39 USD
Players can become rich and famous. They can pursue a career in acting and live in the Del Sol Valley map. This pack has a heavy focus on fashion and design.
- Island Living - 39.99 USD
This pack includes the Sulani map, as well as careers as a conservationist, fisher, diver, and lifeguard. Players can immerse their Sims in island culture.
- Discover University - 39.99 USD
Britechester University and Foxbury Institute maps are included in this pack. Players can attend classes and engage in university life social events like juice pong, soccer and debate club.
- Eco Lifestyle - 39.99 USD
This pack includes the Evergreen Harbor map. Players can explore sustainable living like recycling and vertical gardens. What they do affects the community of the game.
- Snowy Escape - 39.99 USD
Players can teach their Sims to ski, snowboard and rock-climb. It also includes hot springs and Lifestyle and Sentiments traits for Sims.
The Sims 4 Game Packs
The Sims 4 Game Packs don't usually include as much as the full expansion packs, but have more in them than Sims 4 Stuff Packs. Some include mini-maps as well as new activities for players' Sims to engage in.
- Outdoor Retreat - 19.99 USD
This back includes the Granite Falls map, as well as camping, stargazing, and campfire activities. The herbalist also gets to learn exotic potions.
- Dine Out - 9.99 USD
Players can open and manage restaurants as well as dine out and try new food.
- Spa Day - 19.99 USD
This pack includes spa venues, a wellness skill, and massages with mood benefits.
- Vampires - 19.99 USD
This pack includes vampires and supernatural powers. Players can investigate the Forgotten Hollow map and achieve immortality for their sim.
- Parenthood - 19.99 USD
This pack includes new parenting skills, the ability to shape a child sim's personality and future through events, and family activities.
- Jungle Adventure - 19.99 USD
This packs has the Selvadorada map and jungle exploration. Players can find a hidden temple and collect ancient artifacts.
- Strangerville - 19.99 USD
Players gain access to the Strangerville map and a narrative they can explore to discover the weird things happening in the town.
- Realm of Magic - 19.99 USD
Players can access the Glimmerbrook map as well as the Realm of Magic. They can learn to cast magic and can obtain a familiar.
- Journey to Batuu Star Wars Pack - 19.99 USD
Players get the Batuu map, can join the Resistance or the First Order, and even team up with Rey or Kylo Ren. They can get lightsabers and have a droid.
The Sims 4 Stuff Packs
The Sims 4 stuff packs don't include much beyond furniture, clothing and hairstyles. Some include traits or new skills, but are predominantly filled with things for players to use in their homes.
- Luxury Party - 9.99 USD
- Perfect Patio - 9.99 USD
- Cool Kitchen - 9.99 USD
- Spooky - 9.99 USD
- Movie Hangout - 9.99 USD
- Kids Room - 9.99 USD
- Backyard - 9.99 USD
- Vintage Glamour - 9.99 USD
- Bowling Night - 9.99 USD
- Fitness - 9.99 USD
- Toddler - 9.99 USD
- Laundry Day - 9.99 USD
- My First Pet - 9.99 USD
If players invest in every pack that is available at the full price, it would cost $749.67 USD going into 2021 to have access to all the DLC that is currently out for The Sims 4. Players pay a game's full price over and over, only to gain a handful of extra features for their base game. The packs definitely add up overtime, and don't have any worth as far as long-term investment, as a new game will eventually come out and, at some point in the future, Sims 4 servers will eventually close. While The Sims 4 is a fun game, it is questionable if the cost is worth what fans are getting. With more DLC likely to come in the future, the price for the game in its entirety will continue to climb. For fans that could be bad news, as all the DLC packs will likely become obsolete when the next version of the game releases sometime in the future.
The Sims 4 is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.