The Sims 4 Werewolves is all about releasing your wild side, adding a new occult to the game alongside new items, clothing, and lore. This latest Sims 4 DLC was officially announced earlier this month, and introduces a werewolf life state which adds new actions and needs along with many pack-centric social mechanics set in the new world called Moonwood Mill. Screen Rant attended a special hands-off preview of the game led by Lead Producer Morgan Henry, Art Director Cheyenne Kelsey, and Game Designer Scott Dai that demonstrated the Pack's gameplay, Create-A-Sim features, and items.

Werewolves in The Sims 4 feature very similar mechanics to that of their occult cohort vampires, with skill tree-based abilities, special occult activities, and extensive CAS customization of their supernatural form. A new industrial grunge aesthetic accompanies the game, which is evident in much of the new furniture and clothing. The aim of developers was to give players all the tools they need to have a unique werewolf experience, and despite some initial misgivings about the Sims 4 werewolf appearance, it seems developers have succeeded.

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The Sims 4 Werewolves preview presentation outlined four main pillars for the Game Pack:

  • Create Your Own Werewolf: Players can customize every aspect of their beast form in Create-A-Sim, changing everything from their face to their howl. New clothes and coat customization tools help players make a distinct, personalized werewolf.
  • Find Community In A Pack (Or Make It On Your Own As A Lone Wolf): New world Moonwood Mill is inhabited by two different werewolf packs players can join that each embody different values. Players can become a part of a werewolf community or strike it out on their own.
  • Live On The Wild Side: Players can explore two new systems, wolf progression and lunar cycles, as they create the story of their Sims 4 werewolf. Werewolves will get stronger, expand their powers, and manage their fury.
  • Uncover Lycanthrope Lore: Moonwood Mill was once a successful lumber milling town that has now fallen into deep decline. Secrets about what happened to the town and the magic behind werewolves can be discovered through a myriad of ways, and players can enjoy new collectibles.

Design for the new town of Moonwood Mill is inspired by the Pacific Northwest, full of pine trees and fog. It includes 2 residential lots, a library, a bar, and one empty lot. Three of the five buildings in Moonwood Mill were designed by fan-favorite Sims 4 Youtuber and builder James Turner, which is very promising considering the consistent high quality of Turner's creations. Moonwood Mill includes several other interactive elements outside of new lots, adding things like a sparring pit and a crescent moon-shaped lake that contains a coveted new fish.

Moonwood Mill has a storied past that players can discover as they play The Sims 4 Werewolves, learning about the town's history, the origin of werewolves, and a vampire feud. A local librarian, Wolfgang, helps players learn about the lore behind werewolves with new werewolf-themed books to read. Players can also interact with locals to acquire information, although Henry warns that players who "go too far down the wrong path" will have to "deal with Greg," a mysterious new Sim who was ominously brought up multiple times during the presentation. A new digging action that comes with the werewolf form can be used to literally dig up secrets, with the Game Pack introducing new collectibles to The Sims 4.

Sims 4 Moonwood Mill lake from the Werewolves Game Pack.

The two main features introduced in The Sims 4 Werewolves are a skill tree and fury meter. Players earn skill points by participating in werewolf activities like howling at the moon and interacting with their pack, which they can then spend to unlock a host of new abilities. Some relate to quality of life, allowing werewolves to care for their needs more efficiently, while others are more extreme, like immortality and transformation control. Without transformation control, Sims will be unable to stop from changing into their beastly form when their fury meter is filled. Along the way, werewolves will develop different temperaments that affect their situational reactions, similar to the fame quirks of the Sims 4 Get Famous DLC. The concept of fated mates has also been introduced, a new form of romantic relationship that comes with special moodlets.

Players have lots of ways they can craft their werewolf's values, one of which being the pack they choose to join. The player has their choice between The Moonwood Collective, described as "seasoned, rustic werewolves that value tradition, community, and self control," and The Wild Things, which are a "scrappy, free-spirited crew of rebellious werewolves that value improvement, self acceptance, and are inspired by punk and grunge aesthetics." Once being admitted to a pack after a series of trials, players risk being disciplined if they do not adhere to pack priorities.

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A new lunar cycles system will have different affects on werewolves based on the stage of the moon - for example, a Sim included in the preview had received an athletic skill buff from a waxing moon. Lunar cycles will also be added to the base game, including different lighting effects based on the phases and new moon-focused conversational options. Also coming to the base game is a long-requested small telescope, which will be accompanied by a new Sims 4 death.

Much of the clothing added with The Sims 4 Werewolves fittingly features rips and tears in an effort to add an extra possible layer of werewolf storytelling. Henry stated that developers wanted to reflect both werewolf packs in Create-A-Sim through different clothing, with both The Moonwood Collective's "dark academia" style and the grunge leanings of The Wild Things being represented. Almost all new clothing is designed to look good on both feminine and masculine frames, which is a welcome surprise. New furniture items include many new plants, fences, and some adorable werewolf-themed items.

The Sims 4 Werewolves Create-A-Sim features some of the most extensive Sims 4 customization options seen yet. New paint tools for designing fur patterns through either free drawing or stencils are now available, as is the ability to add body scars. If desired, a Sim's werewolf form can be linked to their human form, giving the beast a strong resemblance to how they look normally. Conversely, if players choose to unlink their werewolf form, the beast can take on any appearance ranging from cuddly to terrifying.

Sims 4 Werewolves CAS options.

Overall, it seems this new Sims 4 Game Pack may exceed player expectations. Although there are a few disappointments, such as no new Woohoos - although Sims can now Woohoo in werewolf form - and the inability to create custom werewolf packs, it appears developers have intently listened to players' wishes. Sims fans can look forward to a robust occult storytelling experience when The Sims 4 Werewolves releases on June 16.

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The Sims 4 Werewolves Game Pack releases June 16 for PC, Mac, Playstation, and Xbox consoles.