The Sims 4

 PC
User Score
4.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 2630 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 680 out of 2630
  2. Mixed: 543 out of 2630
  3. Negative: 1,407 out of 2630
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  1. Jesperlange1
    Sep 5, 2014
    0
    Normally you would expect a sequel to be better, but EA/Maxis has suprised us again.... We thought they had learned from the disaster of Simcity... But yet again EA/Maxis has just proven to us, that we should never pre purchase their games.

    If you are wondering whether to buy this game, DON'T! The new features aren't nearly enough to makeup the missing features from sims 3. This is    Normally you would expect a sequel to be better, but EA/Maxis has suprised us again.... We thought they had learned from the disaster of Simcity... But yet again EA/Maxis has just proven to us, that we should never pre purchase their games.

    If you are wondering whether to buy this game, DON'T! The new features aren't nearly enough to makeup the missing features from sims 3. This is definitely one of the biggest dissapointments of the year. And if you are wondering why it has so high critic reviews, they have been bribed!!!!!!!    … Expand
  2. Craphead
    Sep 7, 2014
    0
    Wow, for the price that EA asks this game has absolutely NOTHING. So little to do, so disappointing, and less freedom than in previous Sims games, I hope they release expansions quicker than they did with earlier parts because this game has like nothing in it.
  3. Todesfurcht
    Sep 7, 2014
    0
    DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!
    This game went a step behind, instead of a step forward.
    Let it be said that I have been here since the very first Sims game was made. I've seen EA develop and learn many things over the years. This game is only more proof of what we feared, taking from the base game to add to expansion packs. Pros: 1. Beautiful game. A mixture of Sims 2 and Sims 3 graphics. It    DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!
    This game went a step behind, instead of a step forward.
    Let it be said that I have been here since the very first Sims game was made. I've seen EA develop and learn many things over the years. This game is only more proof of what we feared, taking from the base game to add to expansion packs.

    Pros:
    1. Beautiful game. A mixture of Sims 2 and Sims 3 graphics. It was obviously trying to make everyone happy with the formula of realisim and cartoonism.
    2. Create-A-Sim has mindblowing mechanics. Being able to push and pull at any part of my Sim's body was heavily amusing.
    3. The Sims AI's have been tweaked. They can multi-task, hold multiple conversations at once, and show emotion.
    4. The new build system. It's quick, easy, and barely time consuming. Beautiful homes can be created with little stress.
    5. Gameplay is smooth and runs much better than the Sims 3.

    Cons:
    1. Again, weather fails to make an appearance in the base game. No rain, no snow, no hail, no anything of the sort.
    2. Toddlers were ripped from the game completely. Newborn babies suddenly turn into a child.
    3. Swimming pools were torn from us as well. No more drowning our hated Sims.
    4. Open world was completely removed. To get to a destination, you must use the travel option on your phone.
    5. No vehicles of any sort.
    6. Hospitals, work buildings, and schools are completely gone. The game is a giant rabbit hole, very much like the Sims 2.
    7. Loading this, loading that. Constant loading wherever you want to go. (I just keep my Sims in the house!)
    8. Base game is very small. There is a lack of activities, a lack of consequences for actions, and overall story development seems to be completely missing. The amount of clothing in the game is pathetic.
    9. Our customization has been dumbed down once again. There is no longer a create-a-style option. You're forced with EA's handpicked colors for furniture and walls. Even a color wheel would have been acceptable.
    10. The skills take ages to develop. You find yourself almost constantly having to worry about your Sim's needs. Especially in public. There is no time to reach their job requirements and their aspirations. Majority of the time spent playing will be spent messing with their moodlets. (Unless you get fed up and cheat, as I did.)
    11. Forced online game installation. You must have a high speed internet connection for the Origin program, or it will claim you're offline and refuse to install the game.
    12. You're forced to play in only two "worlds". Both of which are ridiculously tiny, very little room to create tons of families.
    13. Camera controls are glitchy and slow. Edge scrolling has never been more painful.
    14. There is nothing new or unique about this game. Multi-tasking is the only evolutionary thing this game has to offer.
    15. Sims die very easily. You can laugh to death, or cry to death. Go figure.
    16. A total of 12 hours worth of playtime. By then you have seen everything or done everything there is to do.
    17. Items we have always had in previous games are completely missing without any explanation. EA blames their "new game engine".
    18. The game will soon have to bare with however many glitchy expansion packs EA will decide to release in the near future.

    Within the first twelve hours of gameplay, I have already come upon a few bugs:
    1. The loading screen music is constantly playing in the background in all of my saves. Had to mute the game's music.
    2. I adopted a girl and it suddenly became my Sim's sister. (and my husband's daughter. Figure that one out.)
    3. THE SIMS REFUSE TO CLEAN UP THE DIRTY DISHES. They will pick up a plate and hold it for a few seconds before putting it right back down. (I have found that having the game on normal speed will correct the issue in some instances.)
    4. The sliders in CAS will sometimes bug, and completely alter something. (One time I was editing my Sim's eyebrows and their eyes got really wide. It acted like I was using both of the sliders. The undo button did not correct the issue.)
    The patches are not fast enough to compensate for the amount of issues. Simple things slipped right past EA's testing.

    In conclusion, stay with The Sims 3, 2 and 1 for now. We'll see what direction EA decides to go in after these reviews.    … Expand
  4. Vihazur
    Sep 8, 2014
    1
    Seriously, EA? How the hell do you manage to drop the ball even on this one? Do you even care about making fun games at all anymore, or is it all about advertising and cashing out on whatever IP you can trash in the process? Good game development aside, how is being that myopic even a good business model?
  5. IDeathstalkerI
    Sep 14, 2014
    4
    The game is an absolute disappointment, I'm not saying that the game is bad but it is very disappointing. I've been playing 'The Sims' since the first one, as a big fan of the series this is a big let down..
  6. Shelledfade
    Sep 8, 2014
    0
    EA strikes again. No one should be surprised at this point. They ruined dragon age 2, they messed up Crysis 2 where it didn't even release with dx11 and the plot had nothing to do with the first game/first games expansion pack. They royally destroyed Sim City. There still isn't even any game-of-the-year edition for any of the mass effects, you need to buy all the dlc individually which isEA strikes again. No one should be surprised at this point. They ruined dragon age 2, they messed up Crysis 2 where it didn't even release with dx11 and the plot had nothing to do with the first game/first games expansion pack. They royally destroyed Sim City. There still isn't even any game-of-the-year edition for any of the mass effects, you need to buy all the dlc individually which is idiotic this far down the road. Ruined dead space 3 with its horrible plot and warped it into a CoD space shooter instead of a horror/scare game. They absolutely killed battlefield franchise. 3 was a disaster with its horrible netcode and 4 was no different, then they come out with hardline which is basically 100% dlc content for bf4 turned into a 59.99 standalone game, absolutely F***ING ABSURD.

    EA are the worst, they might even be worse or as bad as ubisoft at this point. When EA isn't developing disasters like sim city and the sims 4 it does its part in destroying games as a publisher. How the F*** this company hasn't died off yet is a god damn universal mystery.    … Expand
  7. Ironflesh
    Sep 4, 2014
    3
    Only EA can make a sequel that is a lesser game than the previous version. I seriously think they have a policy to destroy franchises after a few iterations.

    This game is fun for 10 or so hours then you see how shallow it actually is. You can actually spot where they removed content to add later for dlc. Like certain elements don't make sense unless there was something specific to    Only EA can make a sequel that is a lesser game than the previous version. I seriously think they have a policy to destroy franchises after a few iterations.

    This game is fun for 10 or so hours then you see how shallow it actually is. You can actually spot where they removed content to add later for dlc. Like certain elements don't make sense unless there was something specific to follow but that "thing" is not there. Basically it is either unfinished or one of the worst cases of holding stuff back for DLC that I have ever seen.    … Expand
  8. Str-Sascha
    Sep 4, 2014
    2
    After the create a sim demo i was really pleased about the look of the game and i just thought that there was no customization due to the fact that it was a demo... But really after booting up i was shocked about everything! No create your own style, very small selection of clothes, then in the game no open world, loading screens between you and you neighbor,.. so many features wentAfter the create a sim demo i was really pleased about the look of the game and i just thought that there was no customization due to the fact that it was a demo... But really after booting up i was shocked about everything! No create your own style, very small selection of clothes, then in the game no open world, loading screens between you and you neighbor,.. so many features went missing in this version witch means that you have to pay extra money to get expansion packs soon...

    To recap. They did it again... They took a good game like simcity and made it **** and that's what happened to sims now... really disappointed    … Expand
  9. Maidenchina
    Sep 4, 2014
    3
    1. Who cares about pools and toddlers? Move past that already.
    2. Where are the design tools? Why can't I change the texture/color of my sofa to match my recliner?
    3. With the improved emotions system, Why doesn't my sim care that her husband cheated on her with another sim? 4. Where's the color wheel picker for hair, eyes, and clothing colors? Why am I limited to a few colors, and even    1. Who cares about pools and toddlers? Move past that already.
    2. Where are the design tools? Why can't I change the texture/color of my sofa to match my recliner?
    3. With the improved emotions system, Why doesn't my sim care that her husband cheated on her with another sim?
    4. Where's the color wheel picker for hair, eyes, and clothing colors? Why am I limited to a few colors, and even a single color on some items?
    5. wheres the mailman? the repo man? wheres the grocery store?
    6. Why can't I add lots to the neighborhood? why must I bulldoze a lot to create a new one? (I may be wrong about this one.. Just as of yet, Haven't found the way to do it so assuming it went the way of the swimming pool)
    I've only played for about 18 hours so far, and already I'm bummed about this game. There just aren't enough improvements to justify the roll backs. The price should not have been $60. A more fair price would have been $40. And if EA wants me to buy at least 10 expansions... They better hope they aren't more than $20 each.    … Expand
  10. Bananadog
    Sep 15, 2014
    3
    First off: I'm a huge "The Sims" fan, but Sims 4 disappointed me.
    Sims 4 improved the creation of a Sim and a House alot - But thats about it.
    The game itself is not really bad, but if you compare it to "The Sims 3" it's just garbage. They've cut major features like toddlers and pools. Also the world got smaller and you have to view the loading screen if you want to visit someone elses    First off: I'm a huge "The Sims" fan, but Sims 4 disappointed me.
    Sims 4 improved the creation of a Sim and a House alot - But thats about it.
    The game itself is not really bad, but if you compare it to "The Sims 3" it's just garbage. They've cut major features like toddlers and pools. Also the world got smaller and you have to view the loading screen if you want to visit someone elses house.
    And the worse thing out of all is that most of the cut features are probably gonna come back as DLC's.
    It is a waste of money if you own "The Sims 3"    … Expand
  11. Hestia23
    Sep 4, 2014
    2
    I'm very satisfied that the game engine has improved a lot in comparison to The Sims 3. Sim customization and build mode is excellent. However, the lack of style customization for objects and clothing irks me a lot. They didn't at least allow us to have a color wheel option, which really irritates me! Some of the color contrasts in the game get annoying.

    There are only two available    I'm very satisfied that the game engine has improved a lot in comparison to The Sims 3. Sim customization and build mode is excellent. However, the lack of style customization for objects and clothing irks me a lot. They didn't at least allow us to have a color wheel option, which really irritates me! Some of the color contrasts in the game get annoying.

    There are only two available services that you can call up and that's: The maid and pizza delivery. In the past Sims games, you're able to call up even more than that. You can't place empty lots in the world anymore (This goes all the way back to The Sims 1 - I was fine at that time) and you only have a very limited amount of public venues to visit. You are required to load into other neighborhood homes even though they are within the same small open world little block.

    In live mode, if you zoom out, you see several backdrops. Such as more houses, trains, trams and cars. These are actually only decor. There are only a select few houses in which you can visit and the rest are decorations. No one lives there, no one can live there and you can't visit.

    The game is rushed, bare boned and watered down. It's highly disappointing and definitely not worth $80US. I would at least wait for sales or content to be patched through. If it takes EA to sell DLCs to add in more content (Which would be unsurprising), then it's best to invest elsewhere.    … Expand
  12. ckaniphoenix
    Sep 4, 2014
    2
    Very, very stripped down game. Severe clipping issues. Lots of features were lost in this incarnation. The world itself looks like Sims standing in front of a Dora the explorer backdrop.
  13. Simerica
    Sep 4, 2014
    1
    I'm waiting to find out that the Sims fans have been punked. Seriously, this has to be a joke. This game is a complete joke, and an insult to Sims fans who have spent years and money investing in this series. Unless this game is reworked, the series has officially been put down. It makes me sad to say that. I will explain why I don't think this will improve with expansion packsI'm waiting to find out that the Sims fans have been punked. Seriously, this has to be a joke. This game is a complete joke, and an insult to Sims fans who have spent years and money investing in this series. Unless this game is reworked, the series has officially been put down. It makes me sad to say that. I will explain why I don't think this will improve with expansion packs later.

    I am a long time Sims fan. I have every expansion pack, game, stuff pack ever released since the Sims 1. I even have most of the overpriced store items. I really was looking forward to this, and pushed aside all of the doubts pregame.

    The good- Create a sim (CAS) has a lot if improvements. The clothes in the base game of The Sims 4 are much improved from earlier versions. When I played the demo, I was very excited in seeing cute and stylish clothes offered in CAS. I've never liked male clothes in this game, but this one has stylish and modern clothes for both sexes. The hair, glasses, and accessories are cute as well. The UI for CAS is easy to navigate, and I like that they categorize the types of clothing you can use. I also love the flexibility in modelling the faces. For the first time, I feel as if I can create strong ethnic features and distinctive faces.

    The bad: There are many problems with TS4, but I will only highlight the area that is lacking the most for me, and that's the incompleteness of the game. Practically everyone, even people who have given this "game" a good review have mentioned that this game is lacking of content. And don't be fooled into thinking that the game may be incomplete due to the fact that it's only the base game. As someone who has owned base games of the sims 1-3, I can absolutely say that this game has WAY LESS than the base games from previous entries in the franchise. And it's not even close.

    When I loaded the game, there were two empty lots. TWO. I thought, seriously??? That is IT? Apart from that, there are four community lots- a museum, a library, a gym, and a lounge. There was also a park I think, but that's it. The neighborhood is tiny. Then you, have to endure the fact that each lot has a loading screen. Even to go next door, there is a loading screen. So, when you have two sims, and you travel with one to another lot, you LOSE the control of the other. Not that there's many lots to visit. Isn't this what happened in the Sims 2?

    Don't be fooled by the things you read by EA claiming this is a much "improved" game. They brag about the "seamless" travel between the different neighborhoods. Sure you can travel between the two available neighborhoods. However, those two neighborhoods combined are maybe a third the size of a normal neighborhood in previous versions of the game. There are no restaurants, grocery stores, business centers, theaters.. there's practically nothing.

    EA said that with the advanced new system for emotions, moods, etc, they had to leave some things out. As someone very familiar with all the games, I have to say that the moods are cool, but that's it, just kind of interesting. The addition of the moods in no way make up for ridiculously incomplete neighborhood. They didn't leave some things out, they left everything out.

    EA said that this game would run so much better on your computer, that the lag would no problem anymore, etc. Two problems with that claim for me. First, yes, I agree, the game runs smoother with less lag (though I have a pretty decent computer so I never had a lot of lag). And I would hope it would, the neighborhood is so stripped down that there isn't nearly enough content to cause lag. Because as I've mentioned many times already, there's NOTHING THERE. Second, this unfortunately claim was also completely untrue for me as there were a lot of bugs when I played, such as actions being cancelled, Sims getting stuck...etc

    I don't think this game will get better because it's started so low. TS4 is so far below the other versions, I can't see expansions making up for what they failed to add when they are starting on such a low bar.

    I submitted a return request. I never thought I would do it for my favorite game in the world. I encourage others who bought this game on Origin and who dislike it to do the same. Do not reward EA with good first week sales for giving us crap. Within 24 hours of first launch of the game, you can submit your return request. The link is here. https://www.origin.com/en-us/great-game-guarantee

    My last thing to say is that I a really annoyed at EA for completely letting us down. What the hell were you doing for all these years??    … Expand
  14. HipsterFruit
    Sep 5, 2014
    3
    Big prize, **** content. Footage showed on E3 isn't what I expected after premiere. To many limitations due to The Sims 3 which destroys gameplay. If you are Sims-maniac and you want to pay for incomplete game, go for it!
  15. Grace-Logan
    Sep 5, 2014
    3
    I thought The Sims 3 was great. I usually play the games for the design features in characters and homes, not for going through multiple generations of sims.

    The Sims 4 fell short. The new sim creator is awesome and really useful for getting really unique sims. However, the only thing that's different about it, is body mods. The lack of diversity with the hair styles and clothes across    I thought The Sims 3 was great. I usually play the games for the design features in characters and homes, not for going through multiple generations of sims.

    The Sims 4 fell short. The new sim creator is awesome and really useful for getting really unique sims. However, the only thing that's different about it, is body mods. The lack of diversity with the hair styles and clothes across the ages teen, young adult and adult was a huge disappointment and for a game that's supposed to be focused more on the sims personalities, there's less traits than the starter for sims three. The Build/Buy mode is inconvenient, annoying and slow. It's hard to navigate and difficult to get a grasp of. Not a lot of designs to choose from and really plain.

    If they pulled the emotions and sim creator from Sims 4 and chucked it in Sims 3 the game would have a hell of a lot more to show for. As it stands, the worlds are small with barely anything to do in them, you have load screens to go to most lots, you have no control over what your sim is doing whilst at work or school. You can't have them slack off or work hard or sleep or suck up to their boss. Your sim just disappears from the game for however many minutes it takes to go to work or school.

    There's less social interactions to choose from and less ways to interact with your surroundings, you can't even lock the doors. The camera is a pain in the arse to deal with even with the Sims3 option ticked. The lots are smaller, there's not a lot of room in the worlds. The graphics are very cartoon like ad I could make a perfect replica of Gintoki fro Gintama, the hair styles are that carton like. In some cases it looks alright but the girls hair doesn't really suit the art style.

    It doesn't feel like completed game, feels like a trial for the new sim creator. Everything else kind of feels like it was an after thought, compared with the obvious effort put into making the sim creator.    … Expand
  16. Megadacity
    Sep 7, 2014
    3
    Having read various reviews and reflections, but being a massive fan of The Sims series I thought I'd still give the game a pop, but treat it less like a sequel of The Sims 3, and more as a standalone game in it's own right to stave off disappointment. Whilst there are many positive features of The Sims 4 (love the effect of emotions, the art, the depth of skills, highly-engaging newHaving read various reviews and reflections, but being a massive fan of The Sims series I thought I'd still give the game a pop, but treat it less like a sequel of The Sims 3, and more as a standalone game in it's own right to stave off disappointment. Whilst there are many positive features of The Sims 4 (love the effect of emotions, the art, the depth of skills, highly-engaging new objects, more morally lax Sims, having mixology bars in the base game) there are quite a few issues with it asides from the ones previously highlighted, i.e.:-

    - Just to move from lot to lot requires a refresh screen, and this gets dull quickly. As the neighbourhoods are divided into districts (with fixed places to put your lot, a departure from the Open Worlds of Sims 3 where you could bung a lot anywhere) I would expect the refresh screen to appear if I was travelling to a new district. That would be fine. However a refresh screen appears even if you visit a neighboring lot, or any of the lots within the district that your Sim resides. Very tedious.

    - I have a decent new laptop with a Nvidia Geforce GTX 860m graphics card. It's no beast but it's pretty good. I found that the game started to lag pretty badly if you tried to play it extensively. What is the point of having a close-world base game with a lag issue? It's the worst of both Sims 2 and Sims 3 worlds.

    - The controls are not intuitive. For example you have to jump through hoops to save an existing household, or move select members of your household elsewhere.

    - The lack of story progression is a pity. I like to see my Sim neighbourhood naturally evolve, and I don't particularly like to manage this.

    - Some features seem broken or lack interactions that are fundamental to game play. Anyone playing the Sims 4 knows what I mean. This makes it feel rather clunky and half-baked.

    - The game crashed a lot for me. For example if I tried to marry Sims it would crash. Maybe my sim was too commitment-phobic for her own good after all.

    - The lack of a creature is disappointing. I really like the fantasy element of the Sims.

    - You have to micromanage your Sims so much more. I.e. in The Sims 3 you could choose to have your Sim going fishing for an hour, or after they caught five fish. There were similar time limitations you could put on other interactions. Now this is removed, which means you have to closely guard your Sims and cancel interactions to get them to move onto the next task in the interaction queue.

    - I don't like the mouse only controls for Create-A-Sim. Each to their own but I sometimes found it difficult to mold a sim as I wanted them.

    - The Sims now seem stupider rather than more intelligent. A Sim just dozily watching their house burn down (especially as there are no firemen in the game) or choosing to eat on someone's bed rather than an empty dining room table is not a smart simmie. I know this is billed as the new and exciting 'weird' behaviour, but it just seems like there is something missing in the AI.

    - The teenagers look like adults. Both confusing and feels a bit lazy.

    Actually the first time I have been disappointed with a Sims base game so very early. Like many have said before, it is clearly half-finished and obviously the result of EA breathing down the neck of the developers to get the game to market earlier than it was clearly ready. An extra 6 months and I am sure the game could have been something polished. For me to like this game the bugs/lag need to be fixed, at least within districts it should be possible to openly navigate between lots, and some story progression would be good. Otherwise given that I no longer want to play the game and I only bought it Thursday, the series is over for me.    … Expand
  17. Auntee
    Sep 14, 2014
    1
    I was excited to download this newest version and have been looking forward to the release. After playing for a couple of hours I wondered if I had somehow received an incomplete copy of the game. The neighborhoods are small. If there is a way add more empty lots (there are only 2 or 3 total in each neighborhood) I couldn't find it. Cannot merge households as far as I can tell. Its aI was excited to download this newest version and have been looking forward to the release. After playing for a couple of hours I wondered if I had somehow received an incomplete copy of the game. The neighborhoods are small. If there is a way add more empty lots (there are only 2 or 3 total in each neighborhood) I couldn't find it. Cannot merge households as far as I can tell. Its a big bust and I have already requested a refund from Origin Game guarantee. It really isn't much better than Sims 2 except the sims are more realistic. I didn't really mind the travel function much...the loading time was not long...but there is no place you really want to go with your Sims. I'm just so disappointed.… Expand
  18. NightWolf88
    Sep 14, 2014
    4
    The worst game of the Sims franchise, after a couple of hour playing you will start feeling that you are playing in a prison world. Is inconceivable that with today’s technology they didn’t developed a open world. Not recommended if you actually like The Sims.
  19. kirshan
    Sep 15, 2014
    0
    This game is so terrible!
    I bought this game with an expectation that it was going to be a liberating experience, but all I've seen is limits and loading screens, let me live a little! the only two things that they did improve is the multitasking and building, which really could have been added to the Sims 3 in a patch, they're not that complex to make. and emotions.... what's the point    This game is so terrible!
    I bought this game with an expectation that it was going to be a liberating experience, but all I've seen is limits and loading screens, let me live a little! the only two things that they did improve is the multitasking and building, which really could have been added to the Sims 3 in a patch, they're not that complex to make. and emotions.... what's the point of that!

    not worth the money, and I'm not talking Simoleons    … Expand
  20. crozakos
    Sep 8, 2014
    4
    This game is crap. The Sims 3 already had some features removed from The Sims 2, but that was acceptable. This game had 89 features REMOVED from the game. It has less than The Sims 3. Hell, even The ORIGINAL Sims had more features than this game. And Maxis actually DEFENDED the missing features by saying "We improved the character creator, added better A.I. and better graphics". TheThis game is crap. The Sims 3 already had some features removed from The Sims 2, but that was acceptable. This game had 89 features REMOVED from the game. It has less than The Sims 3. Hell, even The ORIGINAL Sims had more features than this game. And Maxis actually DEFENDED the missing features by saying "We improved the character creator, added better A.I. and better graphics". The graphics are the same as The Sims 3. Everything you see in the trailer is pre-rendered fifa/madden **** A.K.A. EA's hype generator. To give you an example of how unaceptable the game is, I'll tell you some of the missing features that were in previous games:

    - No toddlers*
    - No pools*
    - No public area editing*
    - No open world. Everything you see in the distance might as well have been a wall painted*
    - No sheds, garages ect. Instead you're limited to just a house.*
    - No diseases*
    - No public jobs*
    - No unlimited floors (max. 3 floors)
    - No party invitations
    - No private schools*
    - No garages/garage doors*
    - No swimming*
    - No pets*
    - No seasons*

    Also, if your computer has more than 4GBs of RAM, you're f*cked

    * Probably DLC    … Expand
  21. dehvious
    Sep 4, 2014
    2
    Pros:
    -The game is pretty
    -You can customize your sims to look just like you -The load times are short Cons: -No open worls -Demon babies -The game feels incomplete Basically if you want to make sims and build houses for $70, this is your dream game. But besides that the game is massive amounts of yawn. I would've given the game a higher score but then I realized everything    Pros:
    -The game is pretty
    -You can customize your sims to look just like you
    -The load times are short

    Cons:
    -No open worls
    -Demon babies
    -The game feels incomplete

    Basically if you want to make sims and build houses for $70, this is your dream game. But besides that the game is massive amounts of yawn. I would've given the game a higher score but then I realized everything that is missing (jobs, other lots, toddlers) will all be added later on for DLC that I will have to shove out $30-$50 for. I just paid $70 and tell me that you can't put something in a game that we both know will be made to pay for later on, is complete bull. EA has proven time and time again, that they do not care about their consumers. I wouldn't be surprised if they bought the positive reviews from critics.    … Expand
  22. furisodeshon
    Sep 4, 2014
    3
    Well, it's a shame that we have been waiting for so long for this. The Sims 4 is nothing but a 2.0 version of The Sims 2, or an PC version of The Sims FreePlay. When I first saw the trailer, I was impressed with how they improved the graphics, gameplay and I was getting anxious about this game that was looking very, but very promising. Create a Sim is good, the better CAS in the franchise,Well, it's a shame that we have been waiting for so long for this. The Sims 4 is nothing but a 2.0 version of The Sims 2, or an PC version of The Sims FreePlay. When I first saw the trailer, I was impressed with how they improved the graphics, gameplay and I was getting anxious about this game that was looking very, but very promising. Create a Sim is good, the better CAS in the franchise, except for the huge lack of "personality options". We don't have more than 10 aspirations to choose, the options to costumize your sim personality are pretty few. So, I created my sims and I was ready to start living. When you finish the creation, the game directs you to the map so you can choose your land, that's when I realized that the both cities are RIDICULOUS. It has some houses, which only 1/3 of them are occupied. Which city doesn't have more than a gym, a karaoke, a bar, a museum and a park.

    The sims on your town just keep running around the city, they don't have a life. They grow old, but they don't work, don't have child, don't do NOTHING but walk around the city like zombies and visit the same public places that you are visiting. I don't know why they took off EVERYTHING cool that they created on Sims 3 just to have a game with crowded public places and silly, useless and anoying emotions. As a TS fan, I was very disappointed. More than 80 stuff was taken off from the game. It is two steps forward on build mode and create a sim, and five back on gameplay. Maybe. MAYBE the game can get better with some expansions pack, but then I'll need to take off some more $200 bucks from my wallet just to have a "complete" game, and still I won't gonna have more fun that I could have with Sims 3, which one is far more cheap AND better. It's just not worth the money, even if you are an The Sims fan. Thank God I can refund this crap.    … Expand
  23. LindoWicker
    Sep 6, 2014
    3
    Just a shame, this is the second big release EA have had in recent times and on both occasions they seem to fall short. Sim City was pretty awful. The sims 4 follows this with a lack lustre version of Sims 3. The graphics are a minor improvement but the gameplay/content is severely gimped. Every incantation should bring something new to the series, to make it seem fresh. This bringsJust a shame, this is the second big release EA have had in recent times and on both occasions they seem to fall short. Sim City was pretty awful. The sims 4 follows this with a lack lustre version of Sims 3. The graphics are a minor improvement but the gameplay/content is severely gimped. Every incantation should bring something new to the series, to make it seem fresh. This brings nothing new, if I'm honest I felt like I was playing the android version. Its probably going to be DLC heavy to make this game work. So in essence be prepared to spend a lot of money on DLC to make this good.
    Sufficed to say I won't be buying anymore EA products.    … Expand
  24. ElDavo
    Sep 6, 2014
    0
    I have played all the sims games since the original and honestly this is the worst vanilla game they have made. The graphics are not a huge step up, the shrunken 'worlds' with loading screens feels like a huge step back from TS3. There are so many missing things and the game has so many bugs.
    I have repeatedly had to restart the game because my sims have had:
    Experience bars stuck above    I have played all the sims games since the original and honestly this is the worst vanilla game they have made. The graphics are not a huge step up, the shrunken 'worlds' with loading screens feels like a huge step back from TS3. There are so many missing things and the game has so many bugs.
    I have repeatedly had to restart the game because my sims have had:
    Experience bars stuck above their heads
    phones stuck in hands
    forks stuck in hands
    conversation box that doesnt leave even though the person you were talking to left 2 days ago!

    I just finished making a house which took ages after being frustrated with the lack of floors and inability to create different colours, moved my sims in and then the game crashed...

    Want my money back!    … Expand
  25. Edeyz
    Sep 7, 2014
    0
    Normally games about double their content/graphics/AI ect. after about 2 years, not half it for every 1.
    It is extremely unlikely I will ever buy a new sims game, and after the mess that was Simcity, nor will I even look at another EA game.
  26. kyarijames
    Sep 7, 2014
    0
    I'm not happy this game is a failure thus far. In fact, I'm HEARTBROKEN. But, yes, that's how bad it is. I understand that some people like the game. I don't know why, but thats fine. Regardless, I feel like that is part of the problem. This game reflects the attitude of "You'll buy it anyway" and i cant stand that. This has such a huge following and is such a cash flow for EA that theyI'm not happy this game is a failure thus far. In fact, I'm HEARTBROKEN. But, yes, that's how bad it is. I understand that some people like the game. I don't know why, but thats fine. Regardless, I feel like that is part of the problem. This game reflects the attitude of "You'll buy it anyway" and i cant stand that. This has such a huge following and is such a cash flow for EA that they don't even have to try. Here is a vastly inferior base game that will end up costing you hundreds more if you want to *really experience* and have fun with it. I say enough is enough. For $70, I expect something worth my time from the BEGINNING… Expand
  27. ItSucksIB_tch
    Sep 7, 2014
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. EA, What Are You Doing!?

    I'll start off by summing my grievances up really quick: the best features of The Sims 4 could have simply been patched into The Sims 3. Better controls in Create-A-Sim, the new Build Mode, the Multi-tasking, the Emotions are interesting and desirable features. Upgrades and patches at best. Not worth the years of hype and excitement and certainly not worth $60-$80 users have been paying for a bare bones letdown. (All of these scores of 10-8 I've been seeing? I'll generously assume that you're unfamiliar with The Sims games 1-3 or you're just being Sweethearts. Just a sweet heart doesn't get the truth out to EA. Call me Crucial, but a 3 is way too high a score.)

    Why does Origin have so much control over product I worked and paid for? Why do I HAVE to be on-line to play a game I used to play off-line!? I want the option to do either. On days with really bad weather, sometimes I played The Sims because I couldn't get online. Sometimes when I would travel, I would whip out my notebook to pass some time because there was No Internet Access. I spent $80+ so you can tell me when I can and can't play? Are you Serious? If that's not supposed to be the case then my game has a serious bug.

    I can't explore the World because there is no "World". Just lots that are so limited and small, the game is empty. There is no challenge to get to the "cool jobs" so the cool jobs aren' t cool, just cheesy. The game is so kiddie now. (Mommy, that's what I want to do when I grow up! Make a Mess, just like EA!) Jobs like Astronaut and Secret Agent should be over-the-top rewards for progressing, right? Something rare that not everyone chooses to reach for, so its special.

    HMMM.... What Else Is Missing?
    The Styling Tool everyone is addicted to! Where's the creative freedom?!
    No Toddlers? I really LIKED the Toddlers so don't get me started. Doesn't seem like you can create an actual lineage. (Even if you could, where would you put them?) I even wasted money on the Official Game Guide. Get this Readers: you don't catch the carpool to work, you transport and sit bored until your Sim returns. You can't even look at their needs. I don't even see cars and bikes for individual families. Another Stuff Pack. Anyway, you don't have to go to any stores for recipes, food, books or music. (I don't want my Sim to have THAT much convenience! I Want to get them out of the house for that. At least make my loners shop online! They're Sims, as in "simulation" of humans, right? Charge them S&H like us! No, I take that part back...) Anyway, no more classes for skills, no movies, no concerts, no ball games, no swimming in pools, beaches,or oceans; no diners and restaurants, no variety in night life or work life. Even the Repo Man and Burglars are out of the picture. (I LIKED sending my Sim to have a night on the town and running in to relatives accidentally. I enjoyed hubby beating up the burglar and getting extra WooHoo. Letting Snobbish former-rich Sims feel the pain of poverty as the Repo Man dawns their doorstep is funny. I think if you don't pay your bills in the game, the power should shut off like in The Sims 4. If you wait too long you Still should face the Repo Man.) The game is totally stripped. Just change the name so The Sims franchise can save face.

    If I wanted to play a sucky version of The Sims 2, I wouldn't have bought The Sims 3 AND the down-loadable content (dlc) AND the expansion packs AND the stuff packs. The Sims 2 had more features starting off than this sorry excuse for entertainment anyway.

    Obviously, this lack of content and piss poor game play is a ploy to grossly exploit consumers as EA milks our pockets by charging big bucks for expansion packs, stuff packs, and dlc. It's business, I get it. At least make the game so intriguing and fun that we can't wait for the next package and download instead of frustrating so many people. I agree with CypherDivine:

    "Used to be "EA games, challenge everything" now it's "EA games, charge everything" "

    I have enjoyed The Sims 1-3 since I was a kid. A preteen, actually. Now as I try to climb a career to increase my meager income to something I consider to be "gainful", I don't enjoy wasting my money. If I get something, its because I think it will be good and I'll enjoy it for a while.

    Again Readers, The Game Is Not Worth $60-$80! In comparison to it's predecessors, its worthless. So before charging us consumers for endless "packs" and downloads, I wish EA would do something about it. Unlikely, huh? I want to tell EA, what are you doing? Even though I doubt EA will ever see this, I hope someone will take note. I never heard of MetaCritic until I felt like searching to see if others felt like I did. I made this account just to let anyone who can do anything know how dissatisfied and disgusted I am. I'm actually more insulted than anything. At this moment EA and The Sims 4 has really put a bad taste in my mouth.    … Expand
  28. Supermeja
    Sep 7, 2014
    0
    If this game came out AFTER Sims 2, then it would be worthwhile. Seriously, HOW do you make a SEQUEL WORSE? How do you improve 1 or 2 things, and remove/destroy everything else? EA-- that's how. The controls are a nightmare. The camera is wonky. The game loads for EVERYTHING. The graphics look like something from the Nintendo GameCube. It looks like a high end Facebook App. It should'veIf this game came out AFTER Sims 2, then it would be worthwhile. Seriously, HOW do you make a SEQUEL WORSE? How do you improve 1 or 2 things, and remove/destroy everything else? EA-- that's how. The controls are a nightmare. The camera is wonky. The game loads for EVERYTHING. The graphics look like something from the Nintendo GameCube. It looks like a high end Facebook App. It should've been called The Sims 2 HD Remix.. The game was SO bad I got a full refund on an opened copy--- and an apology from the store.… Expand
  29. Reagh
    Sep 8, 2014
    3
    I'm not usually disappointed enough in a game to take the time to write a bad review, but I have to make an exception for this one because I was very excited about its release and I should have seen the red flags before forking out $70 for it. This felt nothing at all like any of the previous sim games. the days went by way too fast, it shouldn't take 9 sim hours to water your plants. II'm not usually disappointed enough in a game to take the time to write a bad review, but I have to make an exception for this one because I was very excited about its release and I should have seen the red flags before forking out $70 for it. This felt nothing at all like any of the previous sim games. the days went by way too fast, it shouldn't take 9 sim hours to water your plants. I don't need dramatic music and huge drops in moods just cause my sim has to pee or wants a bagel. I didn't feel like I was seeing any "weird" stories occurring unless it was mine of the obsessive lady who spends all day watering 6 plants and walks funny. If I had time out of watering my plants to even be slightly social, I was always cranky because some dramatic music would play and Id have to eat or use the washroom. It felt more like a time management game I would play for free on any free gaming website with a little better graphics. I'm really not feelin' this one EA, and this is coming from someone who has previously purchased nearly every expansion for sims, sims 2 and 3. Not likely I'll put any more money into this one.… Expand
  30. C88kee
    Sep 15, 2014
    1
    I'm bored and it hasn't even been a month yet. I've been playing since the game came out hoping my feelings would change. And I still feel the same. This game is missing so many elements I feel made the Sims addictive and enjoyable. The loading time is shorter but it's stupid to have to sit through a loading screen just to go next door. IMO Sims 3 base game wasn't even THIS boring. II'm bored and it hasn't even been a month yet. I've been playing since the game came out hoping my feelings would change. And I still feel the same. This game is missing so many elements I feel made the Sims addictive and enjoyable. The loading time is shorter but it's stupid to have to sit through a loading screen just to go next door. IMO Sims 3 base game wasn't even THIS boring. I would say I want my money back but I got my copy as a gift. I feel sorry for anyone who paid for this game. It's high priced for nothing. I've already gone back to playing Sims 3.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
7
#7 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 75
  3. Negative: 2 out of 75
  1. Cubed3
    Jul 23, 2020
    60
    While an enjoyable title that has been polished up and seems generally very modern, it cannot be expected that The Sims 4 is not going to be compared to The Sims 3. In this respect, it seems that while the game took a few steps forwards, it also took a few steps backwards by abandoning features that were very helpful and appreciated in the previous versions. It does have new features that people have been waiting for, such as emotions and more personality for the Sims. As for now, for some players it may not quite be worth to abandon The Sims 3 for it, but for new players looking for a first experience with the franchise, they may have an easier time navigating than former The Sims 3 players. People that have previously enjoyed the latter may be disappointed by the menus (Sim creation, building, or navigating town), as they have been so massively oversimplified that they are now actually confusing.
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  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 25, 2014
    80
    The Sims 4 is once again a new beginning. Needs more content and soon, please. [Oct 2014]
  3. CD-Action
    Oct 24, 2014
    40
    The Sims 4 is just a foundation of a game. How would you react if you bought a new Elder Scrolls game and realized that half of the cities are unavailable (because TES6: World Adventures is around the corner), there are only 4 weapons (TES6: Accessories), you can’t ride horses (TES6: Pets), there are only 12 quests (TES6: Careers), 2 guilds (TES6: Friends) and 3 spells (TES6: Supernatural)? [Nov 2014, p.50]
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