It’s been almost ten years sinceThe Sims 4made its debut, and in the time since, DLCs have filled out the core skeleton of the title. However, some essential cogs in the machine that madeThe Simsinto the world-beating franchise it is today are still missing fromThe Sims 4’s expansion packs, and Maxis could serve itself well by adopting a blast-from-the-past method to its packs asProject Renedraws closer to becoming a reality.
The Simshas come a long way from itsSimCityinspiration in 1989, evolving into a simulator of day-to-day human life in 2000. Each installment since that first edition at the turn of the century has featured a significant number of post-launch details in addition to the offerings of the base game. Some of these have become synonymous with the very fabric of the green plumbob and have carried on in improved versions to the current state ofThe Sims 4, while others have been more muted (maybe even forgotten) in the grand scheme of things. WithThe Sims 5heralding the dawn of a new era for the franchise, Maxis should celebrate its history before turning the page by bringing back old content in fresh packs.
Expansion Packs from Older Installments Could Contain a Treasure Trove for The Sims 4
Admittedly, most packs from older installments ofThe Simshave appeared in some form inThe Sims 4. However, some content disappeared as the franchise advanced, and there’s a sense of nostalgia ripe for harnessing ahead of Project Rene.
The Sims 3 Supernatural Has More Magic In its Wand
For instance,The Sims 3: Supernaturalbrought a host of occult creatures to the otherwise cozy Sim worlds, and it was one of the most popular expansion packs of its time. TheRealm of Magic DLC wasThe Sims 4’s first attempt at an EPentirely focused onSupernatural’s premise, but there were still significant pieces of the puzzle that didn’t make the cut.
The fortune-teller career path, characterized by the distinctive caravan inThe Sims 3, held so much sway in theSimscommunity that mods have reintroduced it intoThe Sims 4. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of what made Supernatural so special; Magic Mirrors, Fairies, and Zombies also immensely contributed to the charm of the expansion pack. In the case ofThe Sims 4, spellcasters, vampires, and werewolves give some form of occult character, but the weight of the missing details was enough to take away some of its shine. The old flame of random zombie infestations and fairy magic is worth rekindling in another pack beforeProject Rene.
The Sims Medieval and World Adventures Offer Vastly Different Outlooks for The Sims 4
Similarly,The Sims Medievaltook players to aSims worldbased in the Middle Ages, and the quest-driven gameplay on the road to building a kingdom was one of the reasons for its popularity. Although it’s unclear how the mechanics of focusing on an RPG-style dynamic would translate intoThe Sims 4, bearing the distinction of a Hero Sim in the form of a knight or monarch holds a transfixing appeal that is nonexistent in the current game.
Additionally, as much as realism matters inThe Sims,The Sims 4has left behind the real-world travel element that previous versions were keen to dive into. Although Maxis made allowances to travel toislands like Sulani, much like Vacation Island in the first installment of the series andThe Sims 2’s Bon Voyage Far East architectural style in Mt. Komorebi, it neglected to explore what World Adventures embraced inThe Sims 3. Players could visit fictional locations in France, China, and Egypt, and meet culturally-styled locals. BeforeProject Renerolls around, these packs should be revisited in some form for Maxis to lean into its rich background.
The Sims 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
