A handy guide on how to juggle the many DLCs and expansions of The Sims 4.
That of The Sims is a franchise that needs no introduction. Since its release, the series has rocked the gaming world, introducing a new genre of simulation destined for enormous success in the future. Indeed, on February 4th the series turned 20 from its first appearance and continues to bewitch critics and gamers with The Sims 4 and yours expansions.
The Sims 4 to date
Although the fourth chapter has now been released 6 years ago, Electronic Arts e Maxis continue to renew and enrich the game with many, many expansions and DLCs of the most varied and original. In fact, since its publication, they have been released over 30 DLCs including expansions, game packs and stuff packs that allow our sims to go to college, have a pet, become vampires, wizards, cops, famous actors, explore the jungle and so much more. But what are the differences between an expansion, a game pack and a stuff pack? and above all, which ones is it actually worth buying?
To answer these doubts, we make available our experience with every single package to make their functioning and their value clearer.
Pack³
As already mentioned in The Sims 4 There are three types of different extra content packages, namely: Expansion Pack, Stuff Pack e Game Pack.
The Expansion Pack represent the classic expansions that have characterized the Sims franchise since its inception. These introduce a large amount of extra content that varies the gameplay of the game with innovative elements, new careers, new neighborhoods, items, clothes and much more. These are the largest packages both in terms of content and size and also for this reason, they are also the most expensive Packs: € 39.99 each (at € 19.99 when discounted).
The Stuff Pack they are much smaller DLC than the classic expansions and usually, they are limited to introducing new clothes and objects. Some of these also bring small changes in gameplay that enrich the world of sims without upsetting it with particular innovations. Given their small size and significantly fewer contents, the Stuff Packs are available for € 9.90 each (€ 4.99 when discounted).
I Game Pack are new features introduced with The Sims 4 that are positioned exactly in the middle between the two types of DLC that we have just seen. In addition to adding a variety of clothes and items, they also introduce new gameplay features, new creatures, new neighborhoods and more, depending on the package. This is not a mass of changes comparable to a real expansion but certainly there is no shortage of news. Game Packs cost € 19.99 (€ 14 if discounted).
Aware of this, let’s briefly analyze each DLC and see which ones are worth buying and which ones to avoid. Undoubtedly, this last opinion varies according to personal tastes and the style of play of each of us therefore, even if the package in question is not recommended, rely on the description to understand if it may interest you anyway.
The Sims 4 Espansioni
At work! – Recommended
The first expansion of The Sim 4, At work! focuses on the world of work by introducing four new active careers: doctor, policeman, scientist and trader. The “active career” puts a stop to the annoying Rabbit Hole of the game (the moments and places where it is not possible to observe the activity of the sims) making us actively participate in his working day.
The expansion introduces a large amount of items and clothing that go beyond the introduced careers as well as a new neighborhood and a new creature, the alien. Active careers are perhaps the widest novelty in terms of gameplay of all expansions and offer an unparalleled degree of empathy in the life of our sims.
Let’s go out together – Not recommended
As the title suggests, We go out together expands the nightlife of our sims by introducing various clubs that sims can enter and get perks, night clubs as well as new skills related to the world of music, such as dance or the ability to mix music as a DJ.
Why do we advise against it?
Despite the innovations introduced, such as the new neighborhood, new community places and many objects with new functions, this is perhaps the poorest expansion ever released that does not introduce any new career (other than the secondary one as a DJ) or new creature. In general, all the news is extremely focused on night clubs and does not affect the daily life of the sims.
City Life – Recommended
Unlike the previous expansion, City Life manages to take the sims “away from home” by introducing several new features that influence their life even during the day. The new added neighborhood is full of life with basketball courts, street performers, periodic festivals and much more. Particularly interesting is also the possibility of letting your Sims live in apartments where they can enjoy city life at its best, perhaps with some roommates.
There is no shortage of interesting new careers and many new objects to build with community lots more IN.
Dogs & Cats – Recommended
One of the most anticipated expansions by fans that has never been lacking in any chapter of the series.
Dogs and cats introduces the sweetest house animals with all the features, objects and gameplay innovations dedicated to them. There is also a new neighborhood and a new career as a veterinarian that will allow you to open your own animal clinic. Again, the expansion hardly affects the universe of sims that don’t have anything to do with animals, but these are impeccably rendered. Purr!
Seasons – Recommended
Another among the expansions most requested by simmers who, as the title suggests, introduces seasons to The Sims 4 that enrich, more than the gameplay, the animations, the aesthetics and the involvement of the players. From rain, to snow, to hot weather, it’s fun to see how our sims interact with their surroundings.
The expansion also introduces a calendar of events, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day and many other holidays in which to gather with friends and relatives and achieve small goals. There is no lack of a new career as a gardener and new skills.
New Stars – Recommended
New Stars introduces a rich “fame” system into the game as well as the new active career of Actor e Influence. The whole VIP system that is created with the expansion brings important changes that greatly enrich the game.
Island Life – Recommended
A new neighborhood, a new creature (the mermaid) and new jobs are introduced with the expansion Life on the Island as well as, of course, the possibility of swimming in the sea and sunbathing. A must for anyone who loves the sea and all the elements and novelties that it entails.
To find out all the details, we invite you to read our review of Life on the Island.
University Life – Not recommended
Being able to enroll their sims at university has been the desire of many gamers and con University life, this desire has finally come true with the latest of The Sims 4 expansions. The DLC introduces a detailed system of courses, scholarships and exams to take and pass to offer your Sims new opportunities and careers.
Why do we advise against it?
Unfortunately, the expansion failed to fully give us the feeling of living a university career as, for example, in The Sims 2, limiting itself to a series of exams and lessons (in the hateful rabbit holes) in sequence without any particular novelty in terms of Gameplay. You will find everything explained in detail in our University Life review.
Ecological Life – Not recommended
This expansion of The Sims 4 introduces elements such as pollution, recycling and the ecological footprint of the Sims for the first time in the history of the franchise. The innovations introduced are many from new jobs to the possibility of starting an online store, from the possibility of generating electricity for your home, neighborhood requests aimed at changing the life of all the Sims in the neighborhood.
Why do we advise against it?
Despite the courage shown by EA Games and Maxis, the expansion is uninteresting and not in line with the wishes of the community. Dealing with pollution EVEN in play is not exactly our idea of ”leisure”. For a more complete description of the expansion, we invite you to read our review.
Snowy Oasis – Recommended
This expansion introduces traditional Japanese atmosphere, culture, clothing and architecture to the game with a distinctive and well-crafted style. This expansion also adds a new Employee career, new aspirations and traits, and great news, Feelings and Lifestyles. These are new elements that affect the relationships with other Sims and the habits of ours respectively. Habits have a much stronger impact than classic Personality Traits, as they reflect the characters’ lived experiences.
For a more detailed description of the expansion, we invite you to read our Review on The Sims 4 – Snowy Oasis.
Country Life – Recommended
The latest expansion of The Sims 4 introduces the long-awaited and sought-after Country Life for the first time in the history of the franchise. This is perhaps one of the biggest expansions that brings a lot of new gameplay. In addition to new animals, including chickens, llamas, cows, rabbits and foxes, in this expansion we find a new trait of the lots that will allow you to eat …