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. Sapphiress
    Sep 3, 2014
    9
    I'm so glad they've learned from their past experiences what works and what doesn't. This is a refreshing new take on the franchise with still enough of the UI intact to make it feel like 'home.' The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is I do not like loading screens. No complains anywhere else. No crashes and the interactions are smooth, customizations are a snap since it's not a gameI'm so glad they've learned from their past experiences what works and what doesn't. This is a refreshing new take on the franchise with still enough of the UI intact to make it feel like 'home.' The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is I do not like loading screens. No complains anywhere else. No crashes and the interactions are smooth, customizations are a snap since it's not a game about 'dress me up (which I find a lot of the bad reviews are about).' It's about interactions in my humble opinion, and that's where they've made it shine! Keep up the great work and I look forward to expansions! Remember people, think when the sims were originally Vanilla (no expansions added)...a few of this a few of that. That's what base games are...just the basics!! Give them a fair shake! Plus no crashes thus far (I have a gaming rig) so that's a major plus!!
    **Sim fan since 2000**    … Expand
  2. amfxc
    Sep 3, 2014
    9
    The perfect base game! The loading screens are short as promised and the emotions are actually fun. The reviews on this website are a clear example of people trying to hate on a game they haven't even played.
  3. Hideyseek
    Sep 3, 2014
    9
    A great improvement on The Sims series. Exactly what I would expect out of a sequel with SO MUCH more packed in. Create-A-Sim and Build mode have very intuitive controls and Live Mode shows off the Sims' emotions super well! Tons of fun!
  4. Drones200
    Sep 3, 2014
    9
    Fan since Sims 1 a no bull **** review, haters beware.

    Created an account after reading the negative reviews on here and actually having payed for The Sims 4 when I have torrented every single copy since day 1, not ashamed or scared to admit it. So I guess I feel like my investment deserves a critique where I hope it will be read. There are a LOT of improvements on the core game as    Fan since Sims 1 a no bull **** review, haters beware.

    Created an account after reading the negative reviews on here and actually having payed for The Sims 4 when I have torrented every single copy since day 1, not ashamed or scared to admit it. So I guess I feel like my investment deserves a critique where I hope it will be read.

    There are a LOT of improvements on the core game as whole.
    Lets make a list:
    Free roam is still intact, the fact I had to read a negative review complaining about this made my shake my head for it only proves that the haters always, ALWAYS will be the loudest and whiniest of all voices.
    People still visit your lot and your neighbors lot in fact you can visit all of your neighbors and even a small garden park by your initial house without any loading screens or transitioning.
    I can still jogg around the town and meet people as I do and enjoy the view.

    I think the criticism of the no Free Roam is targeted at the fact not all lots are available without travel/load
    this is true for the gym,library, bar and other higher classes areas but it does not take away ANYTHING from the game at all or the previous Sims in fact it makes it better.
    HOW DOES IT MAKES BETTER YOU ASK? Well the loading times have been drastically lowered from previous titles thanks to this, it is almost seeming less loading times when you actually decide to travel outside of your hood. It increases game performance incredibly and due to this my frames have been consistent and not a single crash, have more then 14 hours logged already. The free roam from before was a complete waste of time and asked a lot more from your system resources then it should also it was very buggy/glitchy and not very smart at all since you rarely cared about how he got there but when he will get there, time is a factor in the sims, always.
    Now the game loads not just the library but ALL of the entertainment/resources venues in a single go and you will experience a smotth transition from home to any other lot elsewhere. Mind you that your neighborhood still contains a multitude of other houses/families/park and constant pass byers in their jogs/walks for you to feel like you are part of the world as a whole which Is what I'm guessing was the criticism directed towards the lack of a before mentioned buggy/glitchy system, progress is good and some people just can't handle it. They my cry and say it takes away from the game but I beg to differ, it keeps it intact while making it more accessible to everyone around the world especially those with systems that are not built for gaming.

    Multi-tasking: HUGE improvement, I can flirt/chat/geek out w.e you can think of as a chat option with anyone while at the same time working out, playing computer games, eating, drinking etc.
    I can read a logic book while I watch tv. yay! I have yet to discover all the different opportunities multi tasking brings but so far i'm very impressed and I am liking it a lot.

    Did they mention the fact you can be a stand up comic, write your own routines and perform them live? You used to have to pay for that.

    Or that I can have sex while I stargaze in the observatory and build my own freaking space ship in my backyard?

    Or that that the building of rooms and expanding my house no longer takes a huge amount of time/investment and frustrating interface? They have already made rooms from you ranging from different tiers and I love selecting them or making my own which thanks to the new UI has made it a lot smoother.

    Did they mention how the new mood-lets gives your sims a ton of new personality? Flirty, tense, sad, confident, embarrassed etc. all come with their quirks and perks that boost your current actions and give new actions from interactions with other sims to items around the world, makes it exciting really.

    Did I mention the fact that the game has ZERO CRASHES and NO LAG AT MAX SETTINGS? :O:O:O
    IF you really ARE a true sims fan you will know how big of a deal this is, even with 3 gig video card and 6 cores it was only a matter of time before the Sims 3 or 2 crashed, especially when designing a huge home.

    The customization of the sims has improved VASTLY. Just two things that I feel must be said, you can take complete control of the size of a woman's waist, breast size and location of said breast entirely. The same applies to the Ass, nothing else must be said, thank you EA.
    My wife is a bodybuilder with RIPPED abs and Legs, seriously the new graphics make her look better then any fitness model, also thanks to the fact I made her ass/boobs ridiculously large while her stomach is slim/ripped    … Expand
  5. Olivia_blu
    Sep 4, 2014
    9
    Of course, the game has less features that The Sims 3 with all the added expansions. Of course, you'll have to pull out the wallet to get those. Those two "issues" aren't as much a problem than what is expected from a Sims game upon release, like it or not, it's no surprise, don't buy the game if you resent that. Now as for the rest of the game, I'm greatly impressed so far. The emotionsOf course, the game has less features that The Sims 3 with all the added expansions. Of course, you'll have to pull out the wallet to get those. Those two "issues" aren't as much a problem than what is expected from a Sims game upon release, like it or not, it's no surprise, don't buy the game if you resent that. Now as for the rest of the game, I'm greatly impressed so far. The emotions are a fun addition that give the spark of life to your sims that the previous game lacked. The ability to multitask is fantastic and adds a layer of subtlety to relationships. But the biggest improvement is to be found in performance. The game is more beautiful than its predecessor, yet it runs smoother than ever. No lag, screen freezes, whether you have a race car of a computer or an old, tired beetle. The price to pay for that is closed lots, you have to go through a loading screen whenever you go to another lot. While it's a bit of a bummer, I loved the open world in The Sims 3, and the sheer size of the cities ; it's a small price to pay for a beautiful *and* playable game. No toddlers is another bummer, but is it a big one? Well, it is if you greatly enjoyed that stage of your sims' lives. I didn't, usually went through it as fast as possible, get the baby skilled up and move on to the more interesting childhood stage. Also, no doubt toddlers will be added to a future expansion, maybe the equivalent of The Sims 6 Generations.
    Overall, the game seems to sit on a strange fence, taking out some features (not necessarily the ones worthy of missing, who really cared about pools?), but adding a lot of depth to the sims themselves. A more constrained outside world, contrasting with a much deeper inner world. I'd have rated the game 8 on its current merits, but I added one point simply because the long trail of zeros in player reviews is disheartening and undeserved. I understand regretting the absence of (minor?) features, but denying the other qualities of the game because of it is just dishonest. Then again, there is probably a lot of EA (deserved) hate involved. But while Sim City was a joke and pretty much a huge failure, fans of the series shouldn't miss this refreshing new installment.    … Expand
  6. Mactac
    Sep 4, 2014
    9
    As a long time fan of The Sims, I had a count down going for The Sims 4 release date. I bought it the day after it was released and I am absolutely blown away by how good the game looks. Yes you don't have toddlers or pools, but those aren't really necessary to play the game. I'll eagerly await the expansion packs that are sure to have those. What I loved about The Sims 4, and what I foundAs a long time fan of The Sims, I had a count down going for The Sims 4 release date. I bought it the day after it was released and I am absolutely blown away by how good the game looks. Yes you don't have toddlers or pools, but those aren't really necessary to play the game. I'll eagerly await the expansion packs that are sure to have those. What I loved about The Sims 4, and what I found lacking in all the others, is how attached you get to your Sims. Sims 4 allows you to build a deeper connection with what's going on in your Sims life. I find myself excited when they learn a skill, eagerly trying to accomplish their desires and overall just paying a lot more attention than before. I don't even feel the need to cheat because I want to watch my Sim grow. The Sims 4 has reignited my love for the game that was lost on all the others. I say play it!… Expand
  7. siegfx
    Sep 4, 2014
    9
    Great Game! I dont know why people are bashing on this.

    This IS the sims, you know you're going to be given a ton of expansion packs coming up (that way they can really give us a lot of stuff each time) the game itself at this stage wont be like the previous sims with complete expansion packs. They have improved loading times, save game time, UI and the overall smoothness of the    Great Game! I dont know why people are bashing on this.

    This IS the sims, you know you're going to be given a ton of expansion packs coming up (that way they can really give us a lot of stuff each time)

    the game itself at this stage wont be like the previous sims with complete expansion packs.

    They have improved loading times, save game time, UI and the overall smoothness of the game.
    It should now be more viable for lower end user.
    The animations are a LOT smoother, new build mood is very good, lighting is SUPERB!! I love the illumination in sims 4!

    I havent played the game that much as I am more of a builder, but I can already see a ton of improvement (especially the roof) on build mode.    … Expand
  8. mboner1
    Sep 4, 2014
    9
    I don't get all the zero scores. You people are being unfair and biased. Not sure if the reviews are written by children or trolls but the game isn't THAT bad. Maybe some people just have unrealistic expectations. If you are a sims fan that doesn't expect the sims 4 to change the world then give it a go cos it's a bit of fun. If you're expecting the sims 4 to be revolutionary then give itI don't get all the zero scores. You people are being unfair and biased. Not sure if the reviews are written by children or trolls but the game isn't THAT bad. Maybe some people just have unrealistic expectations. If you are a sims fan that doesn't expect the sims 4 to change the world then give it a go cos it's a bit of fun. If you're expecting the sims 4 to be revolutionary then give it a miss. I would have given it a 7, but to try and balance out the ridiculous zero scores I chucked on a couple of extra points.… Expand
  9. Johnhenry243
    Sep 5, 2014
    9
    Tbh no open world/loading screens isn't a big deal for me it makes you focus more on the sims rather than what's around it. I could literally watch the sims talk all day it's just hilarious!

    Also you can't compare the past games to this it's a brand new base game and will only get better in the future ^_^ it's not perfect but it's amazing for what it is now and I didn't even realized    Tbh no open world/loading screens isn't a big deal for me it makes you focus more on the sims rather than what's around it. I could literally watch the sims talk all day it's just hilarious!

    Also you can't compare the past games to this it's a brand new base game and will only get better in the future ^_^

    it's not perfect but it's amazing for what it is now and I didn't even realized I played for 5 hours straight.

    My verdict: 9/10    … Expand
  10. hlvspomtactfr
    Sep 5, 2014
    9
    The game runs smooth, significantly better than its predecessor on the same system. The animations and non-binary emotions lead to more character depth. The world looks beautiful, albeit heavily stylized with a pixar-like aesthetic. Livemode is significantly more challenging than its predecessors.

    The aspirations and "whims" are more like the "wants" in Sims 2, where they're short term    The game runs smooth, significantly better than its predecessor on the same system. The animations and non-binary emotions lead to more character depth. The world looks beautiful, albeit heavily stylized with a pixar-like aesthetic. Livemode is significantly more challenging than its predecessors.

    The aspirations and "whims" are more like the "wants" in Sims 2, where they're short term goals generated by a character's personality and life goals. Don't mistake its cartoonish look for depth of gameplay, this is definitely a strategy game, where you have to manage time and manipulate social interaction to meet your goal. It's still a sandbox though. You choose the goals for yourself and the game doesn't punish you if you choose to ignore them.

    If you're reading this, it's likely you already know about "the big changes", but don't let the mostly inaccurate, totally inane lists fool you. Bottom line, this is a fun, high performing game, a game with substance and characters with depth.

    If they patch in moveobjects on, I'll knock the score up to ten.    … Expand
  11. onesim2014
    Sep 5, 2014
    9
    A step up from sims 3, CAS and build mode are less frustrating, the gameplay is finally back. The new interactions and emotion system make the sims 4 extremely fun to play. They have lots of goals and challenges for those who want a bit of direction,
    The load screens are very fast and not only does the game look great but it also runs very smoothly too.
    If you were a fan of sims 2 then    A step up from sims 3, CAS and build mode are less frustrating, the gameplay is finally back. The new interactions and emotion system make the sims 4 extremely fun to play. They have lots of goals and challenges for those who want a bit of direction,
    The load screens are very fast and not only does the game look great but it also runs very smoothly too.
    If you were a fan of sims 2 then you will love this game
    The only negative is their are no toddlers in the game    … Expand
  12. susanleona
    Sep 5, 2014
    9
    I'm in love with this game. The sims seem more real than in any other version and I was so pleasantly surprised because there were so many people on the Sims forum who expressed dislike due to missing items (before they even tried out the game!) that to see how well the game works and to not miss anything is fantastic. The lags and game crashes I had in Sims 3 are not happening. There isI'm in love with this game. The sims seem more real than in any other version and I was so pleasantly surprised because there were so many people on the Sims forum who expressed dislike due to missing items (before they even tried out the game!) that to see how well the game works and to not miss anything is fantastic. The lags and game crashes I had in Sims 3 are not happening. There is a lot to do for a base game and I'm sure I'll be busy until an expansion shows up.… Expand
  13. ekeimy
    Sep 6, 2014
    9
    I have been a fan since the first Sims game ever came out. I loved the 2nd and 3rd Sims games, but they were different from each other - and I LIKE that. I don't want the same exact game every time I play a new one. I read all the negative comments about Sims 4 and was hesitant at first, but I finally decided to give it a try. I honestly don't understand why people are giving it such badI have been a fan since the first Sims game ever came out. I loved the 2nd and 3rd Sims games, but they were different from each other - and I LIKE that. I don't want the same exact game every time I play a new one. I read all the negative comments about Sims 4 and was hesitant at first, but I finally decided to give it a try. I honestly don't understand why people are giving it such bad reviews. It's a base game, people. There will be expansions giving you lots of new things to play with probably very soon. This game is great so far, and will become even better with the expansions and DLCs to come. It's true that you don't have an infinite number of designs to choose from for your objects, and you can't freely roam the neighborhood without a load screen. But the graphics are phenomenal, CAS is very much improved, and your Sims seem more realistic than ever before. Also, the loads are very quick, and for me at least, the existing customization options are good enough. As it is, the game is awesome for my particular gaming style. I urge Sims fans to give it a try to see if it suits them, and remember: if you download it from Origin, you can get a full refund within 24 hours if you don't like it. So really, there's no harm in trying it.

    Also, I hate when people bash the makers of any games. They worked very hard to produce a video game for your enjoyment. So even if it isn't perfect to you, show some appreciation.    … Expand
  14. bastrom19
    Sep 6, 2014
    9
    Normally I don't review games, but following all the bad press this game is getting, I decided to put my two cents out there. A more in depth explanation is after the bullet points.

    The Good: -A more stylized look -Attention to detail -Emotions -Load times -Music -Updated UI -Create a Sim The Bad: -No more open world -Strange conversation mechanics -No toddlers -Price    Normally I don't review games, but following all the bad press this game is getting, I decided to put my two cents out there. A more in depth explanation is after the bullet points.

    The Good:
    -A more stylized look
    -Attention to detail
    -Emotions
    -Load times
    -Music
    -Updated UI
    -Create a Sim

    The Bad:
    -No more open world
    -Strange conversation mechanics
    -No toddlers
    -Price

    Score: 8.5/10

    When I heard that EA was going to hold back review copies until release, I thought "wow, this game is going to be really bad". Upon launch I looked up user reviews and was bombarded with 0 and 1 out of 10's. I initially thought I had really dodged a bullet with this one, but after reading the explanation behind such poor reviews (the only things of substance being the toddlers and pools), decided to check it out to see if it really was as bad as the reviews say it was. I knew about the "Great Game Guarantee" from origin, so if it really was as bad as people were saying, I could return it no problem. I launched the game and was greeted by familiar sounding music. Before I say anything else, I just want to say that the music throughout all of the Sims games is really great, and although some might say its kind of silly to have that be a point in a review, It is a big part of the game. If you were in build mode and some garbage song comes on, you wouldn't be nearly as immersed. Moving on, when I clicked the play button I was met with the the Create a Sim area. I never played the Create a Sim demo, so this was a new experience to me. Although the constant tutorials were kind of annoying, those are only a first time thing, so I let that slide. They obviously put a lot of work into this part of the game. This is the first Sims game where all of the characters I made looked different from one another. After messing around with the tools for a little while, I made a sim that looked strikingly like myself. I moved into an empty lot to get acquainted with the build/buy modes of the game. Much like create a sim, I felt that the huge overhaul of the system made a difference. In a much shorter time than the Sims 3 I had my house all set up and looking nice. A lot of people are complaining about the lack of objects in the game, and I couldn't find the numbers anywhere online, but it seems to have just about as many things to choose from as vanilla Sims 3. I had a lot of fun with the integrated build buy, but the lack of Create a Style was a bit distressing. Although they had a lot of custom options for the furniture, I missed being able to get exactly what I wanted into the game, which was rather disappointing. I began the game, and had a short introduction the new UI, which is a nice improvement. I signed my sim up for work as an entertainer, and was slightly peeved I couldn't follow him to work, and had to stare at an empty home for a couple minutes. This is where the lack of an open world is most annoying, as in TS3 I was able to scroll over to the park and see what other sims were doing, or just explore the map really. Instead I clicked around the house, and I must say, the attention to detail is pretty impressive. The books and the descriptions are what really got me, but the entire game has attention to the littlest things that make it feel a lot more expansive. The next day I had no work, so I decided to take my sim out to meet some friends. I traveled to the park and started talking to one sim while playing chess. The animations really make the interactions feel natural, and the emotion specific actions are a really cool addition to the game. On the subject of emotions, I really like the fact that they now (more noticeably at least) impact how your sim preforms certain tasks. The fact that a goofy mood is better for writing jokes, and an inspired mood is better for painting, and these are just a few of them. I really appreciate the game mechanic, and it seems most people are completely overlooking this. After playing for a couple more hours the game didn't seem to lose any steam, and kept me wrapped up in my sims life, although having group conversations was rather strange, with people just kind of walking up and randomly joining/leaving. I think if the feature was worked on a bit more, it could really work well in the game, but for right now it's just kind of awkward. After a bunch more hours of game time under my belt, I decided to write this review. To cover a few points outside of the actual gameplay, I would like to say that the price is a bit steep. I understand that most games today are $60, as was the Sims 3, but with the knowledge that at least 10 new expansion packs and more stuff packs/DLC are coming, I think a price of $40 would have made the game reach a wider audience ($20 can make a difference). Overall, the game feels like a step up from The Sims 3 in a definite way, and I would recommend it to anyone on the fence about buying (although waiting for a sale couldn't hurt).    … Expand
  15. anonymouse1
    Sep 6, 2014
    9
    Pros
    Emotions, UI, multitasking, build mode, little to no crashing/lag, graphics
    Cons Stuff that I don't miss (CASt, toddlers, pools, rabbitholes, dishwashers) Stuff that I do miss (skin tone/hair/eye color sliders) Dark sims are grey and light. Everyone has been giving this 0 because they say it's "empty". People said the exact same for sims 3- that it's "unfinished" (see its    Pros
    Emotions, UI, multitasking, build mode, little to no crashing/lag, graphics

    Cons
    Stuff that I don't miss (CASt, toddlers, pools, rabbitholes, dishwashers)
    Stuff that I do miss (skin tone/hair/eye color sliders)
    Dark sims are grey and light.

    Everyone has been giving this 0 because they say it's "empty". People said the exact same for sims 3- that it's "unfinished" (see its negative reviews on metacritic). It's not. The lots are actually full now because of the loading screens between lots. The pools didn't give me more than a couple of seconds of entertainment. If you are dying to have something that resembles a pool use a fountain. I would've given this a 7 but because of all the 0's I'll try to balance it out. I dislike the hair style but also realize how it helps performance.    … Expand
  16. sarcasticcat
    Sep 6, 2014
    9
    The Sims 4 is a BASE GAME
    Rather than compare it to The Sims 3,with all the expansion packs, you should compare it to the Sims 3 BASE GAME
    Pros (Vs Sims 3 Base Game) CAS is miles ahead Smoother graphics and user interface More instruments to start off with Emotions Better movement of sims; no movement in grids Better and more realistic animations in general Movement between    The Sims 4 is a BASE GAME
    Rather than compare it to The Sims 3,with all the expansion packs, you should compare it to the Sims 3 BASE GAME

    Pros (Vs Sims 3 Base Game)
    CAS is miles ahead
    Smoother graphics and user interface
    More instruments to start off with
    Emotions
    Better movement of sims; no movement in grids
    Better and more realistic animations in general
    Movement between neighbourhoods. I can see in the future a World Adventures like expansion pack adding new neighbourhoods. And if they have a Late night like expansion you could have your sims go to "Bridgeport" in the evening for the night clubs. Or if there's a "Showtime" there could be a Hollywood neighbourhood where the celebrities live
    Better clothes, hair and accessories than SIms 3 base
    Much faster and slicker.

    Cons:
    No toddlers
    No pools
    No create-a-style
    Loading screens/no open world
    Glitches, however the Sims 3 started off with billions of glitches and I still discover new glitches now.
    No rabbit-hole locations, instead sims just go off the map, however since there is no open world there seems little point for rabbit holes anyway.

    Overall Verdict:
    As a base game, The Sims 4 provides a brilliant BASE for the future. I can see lots of things that could turn it into a great game. It's just a shame they removed some features that had been available in base games since day 1. Personally I recommend waiting either a couple of months for glitches to be discovered and fixed, or even a couple of years and wait for expansion packs if lack of content is annoying you.    … Expand
  17. Sagitta
    Sep 7, 2014
    9
    After a few good, solid das of playing, I can hnoestly say Sims 4 is the best in the series so far. Its a nice balance between the gameplay of Sims 2 and the open world-ness of Sims 3 (minus the agonizing load times and PC-choking requirements).

    I was actually shocked to find 4 plays *better* on my PC than 3 did - and I bought this machine not long after 3 came out. Overall the game    After a few good, solid das of playing, I can hnoestly say Sims 4 is the best in the series so far. Its a nice balance between the gameplay of Sims 2 and the open world-ness of Sims 3 (minus the agonizing load times and PC-choking requirements).

    I was actually shocked to find 4 plays *better* on my PC than 3 did - and I bought this machine not long after 3 came out.

    Overall the game is stable, and I keep discovering new thins hiding deep within the gameplay. I think a lot of the negative reviews are from people who played 15 minutes and then went PFFFt or - worse - haven't played the game at all.

    Pros: Well... almost everything, gameplay wise. The menus and camera can be a bit confusing, but they have a couple settings to revert those to previous incarnations.

    Cons: I only have two. The first is the lack of a more robust autosave feature. While the game crashes very, very rarely (had it happen twice in a week), if you haven't saved, then you're going to be in trouble.

    The second is a bit more important - the first patch resulted in my game crashing on launch. It took me a good couple hours to realize that the game had to be run in administrator mode so the patch could be applied. I wound up uninstalling and sitting through a massive redownload via Origin before realizing what was going on.

    So is it perfect? No. But in the realm of Sims games, I think its a very solid foundation for the inevitable mountains of DLC to come. It's probably the best in the Sims franchise so far.    … Expand
  18. squintlicker
    Sep 7, 2014
    9
    I'd like to start by saying I love the game. I got Sims 1 when it first came out and I haven't missed a release since (skipped an expansion or two). There are two types of people who wrote reviews about the Sims 4. There are people who are disappointed because they don't have everything they want, and there are those who can see where the game is headed. To me, the good outweigh the bad.I'd like to start by saying I love the game. I got Sims 1 when it first came out and I haven't missed a release since (skipped an expansion or two). There are two types of people who wrote reviews about the Sims 4. There are people who are disappointed because they don't have everything they want, and there are those who can see where the game is headed. To me, the good outweigh the bad.

    Bad:
    -Have to load every lot, even your next door neighbor. (This actually makes all load times faster).
    -Some things that have been in the core games have been left out. [Pools, basements, dishwashers]
    -Fewer color options
    -Slow, monetized release of material via DLC. The Sims 3 did this. Sims 2 did this. Every Call of Duty does this now. If you want a long lasting, ever expanding game universe, expect to pay for it. It's the norm in modern video games.

    Good:
    -Incredibly intuitive character creation. Easy and effective.
    -Emotions give more options and create more thinking about your actions.
    -The whole game is more flavorful, and this mostly centers around the emotions and how emotional states will change everyday things (ex: Pee like a champion).
    -Load times are about 3x faster than Sims 3 (see above)

    Overall: I can see why people are complaining. But I can see the skeleton that EA Maxis built, and it's going to be able to hold the weight of the project they are building. It's going to be great.

    Another note: If I can put 20 hours into just one family so far, I know I'm going to get my money's worth from this game.    … Expand
  19. heitorsgodinho
    Sep 7, 2014
    9
    Serio pessoal? vocês estão chorando por causa de algumas coisas que foram retiradas dos games anteriores? Tá ok, eu também ODEIO ter que esperar telas de carregamento constantes, mas veja pelo lado bom, após o primeiro patch (até agora) não tive nenhum problema com bugs ou erros. (Apesar de existirem não me atrapalharam em nada).
    Eu não ia comprar ao jogo devido a essas péssimas analises,    Serio pessoal? vocês estão chorando por causa de algumas coisas que foram retiradas dos games anteriores? Tá ok, eu também ODEIO ter que esperar telas de carregamento constantes, mas veja pelo lado bom, após o primeiro patch (até agora) não tive nenhum problema com bugs ou erros. (Apesar de existirem não me atrapalharam em nada).
    Eu não ia comprar ao jogo devido a essas péssimas analises, o modo criar um sim (CAS) é super avançado, ao contrário do jogo anterior, que na minha opinião só tinha o modo criar um padrão, muitas pessoas estão reclamando que este não está presente no novo jogo, porém temos aqui MUITAS opções de cores disponíveis para serem escolhidas, o modo de construção pode parecer um pouco complicado no inicio mas depois de um tempo você pega o jeito e percebe o quão bom essa ferramenta é.
    A interface do usuário (UI) está muito boa. Os traços e desejo duradouro estão muito melhores do que no jogo anterior, bom mais o jogo não é só rosas é verdade, eles realmente tiraram muitas coisas do jogo como fantasmas,piscinas,bebes,o mundo aberto,ladrões e etc., mas muitas outras coisas (MELHORES) foram adicionadas, como por exemplo, nos outros jogos você era limitado a jogar com seu sim em apenas uma cidade, agora o sim pode visitar outras cidades, e pense bem, outras cidades podem (No futuro) ser disponibilizadas gratuitamente pela Maxis ou pelos próprios jogadores se a ferramenta CAW for lançada no futuro, Agora temos a multitarefa que é SUPER legal como por exemplo, você pode interagir com sims vendo TV ou jogando xadrez por exemplo (Creio que no futuro a Maxis possa lançar um patch que permite apenas que pessoas entrem nas conversas se forem chamadas), você que ainda está em duvida se deve ou não comprar o jogo, ouça meu conselho, se você esquecer um pouquinho dos outros jogos da série você vai amar este. Ao contrário do que parece não sou um grande fan de The Sims, amava o primeiro jogo, jogava muito o segundo, e gostava muito da liberdade do terceiro, e agora novamente posso falar que a Maxis não nos desapontou. (NÃO CULPEM A EA POR TUDO!! ELA SÓ PÚBLICA OS JOGOS POXA) (Muitos EP's serão lançados. E eu não vou comprar nenhum.)    … Expand
  20. rubrub
    Sep 8, 2014
    9
    This The Sims 4 released is really awesome. The new features that made it easier to play the game rocks. Hopefully I would be able to write a review at these pages as well Best IGN Free Game of the Month and Best Collections of Weird and Bizarre Stuffs! .
  21. haylsro
    Sep 8, 2014
    9
    I genuinely cannot understand where all the bad reviews are coming from, it seems to me like people are reading reviews and noticing 'problems' they would never have bothered about before. For example, the load screen when travelling between places. Surely you aren't basing your entire opinions on something so small which, if you ask me, is a major improvement? Why would you want to watchI genuinely cannot understand where all the bad reviews are coming from, it seems to me like people are reading reviews and noticing 'problems' they would never have bothered about before. For example, the load screen when travelling between places. Surely you aren't basing your entire opinions on something so small which, if you ask me, is a major improvement? Why would you want to watch your Sim glitch from place to place (as the Sims 3 was slow to the point it was almost unplayable) when you can travel there within seconds? Granted, there are a number of things missing that I would like to have seen in the Sims 4, such as swimming pools and a larger variety of clothes etc. however i'm fairly sure those things will come in time. It seems to me, the original game was made to be so simplistic with the intention of adding more expansion packs than with the previous games,which I can only assume to be a way of making more money. Wouldn't you? Overall, I would say I am very pleased with the game and I'm glad I ignored the negative reviews, The Sims 4 is a smoother, tidier and all round better looking version of the Sims 3 with tons of added features and a Sim that is much more interactive than before. Please ignore all the negative comments and bad reviews, it's well worth the money!… Expand
  22. AdamF
    Sep 18, 2014
    9
    I want to start off by asking the question, how is this game getting such a bad rep?
    I'm an old school sims player, I've been playing since TSO. The sims 2 happened to be my favorite for the PC and I wasn't really into the whole neighborhood view at all when the sims 3 came out.
    This version of the sims is an awesome updated version of the sims. You can travel between different towns    I want to start off by asking the question, how is this game getting such a bad rep?
    I'm an old school sims player, I've been playing since TSO. The sims 2 happened to be my favorite for the PC and I wasn't really into the whole neighborhood view at all when the sims 3 came out.
    This version of the sims is an awesome updated version of the sims. You can travel between different towns with a loading screen of 5 seconds (Depending on your computer processor). Also you live on a lot, and on that lot you can travel between several different houses without loading screens, and so many people walk by your house and around the lot that you never miss traffic.
    What I do happen do dislike is there is NO dishwashers, nor pools. I'm sure it will come out on an expansion, but as for now that kind of upset me.
    I created an account just to let you know that you aren't wasting your money if you can enjoy a new era of The Sims. people don't understand where the Sims came from to be rating them such low points. The Sims 3 wasn't a step up in some peoples eyes (like mine), however The Sims 4 is really a great change in The Sims series. I Love the emotions, the worlds, the people and how they act, the multitasking, building, and so many more great feature this game has to offer. 9/10 because of no dishwashers or pools.    … Expand
  23. ColeNubson
    Sep 19, 2014
    9
    The Sims 4, very similar to the previous Sims games, is a step forward. Although it takes more than 20 minutes to get used to all the changes, it's as much of a blast as the last games. If you really are a Sims fan, you won't mind having to do without some features likes cars or pools. I found that characters progressed more smoothly and realistically, in relationships and careers. IThe Sims 4, very similar to the previous Sims games, is a step forward. Although it takes more than 20 minutes to get used to all the changes, it's as much of a blast as the last games. If you really are a Sims fan, you won't mind having to do without some features likes cars or pools. I found that characters progressed more smoothly and realistically, in relationships and careers. I hardly found a single glitch while playing the game. The house customization was amazing and I love all the additional options I have when the game is in build mode. Anyone who is complaining about how bad this game is must not be giving it a chance, because once you get used to it, the options are unlimited.… Expand
  24. DBPirate1129
    Jul 17, 2016
    9
    All right, people. I know this game isn't the masterpiece that all the Sims 3 players were expecting but it is absolutely not worth a 3.9. It's nowhere near there.

    This is my first Sims game, I have not purchased any of the DLC, and I'm still enjoying it after 3 months of playtime. Maybe I'm just a settle-for-less kind of a person but I've found the game extremely fun and I'm not    All right, people. I know this game isn't the masterpiece that all the Sims 3 players were expecting but it is absolutely not worth a 3.9. It's nowhere near there.

    This is my first Sims game, I have not purchased any of the DLC, and I'm still enjoying it after 3 months of playtime. Maybe I'm just a settle-for-less kind of a person but I've found the game extremely fun and I'm not planning on getting any of the ridiculously priced DLC anytime soon.

    The Create-a-Sim is very intuitive and super easy to use, the emotions are a great game mechanic (I actually didn't know that they haven't been in a Sims game up until now), and creating homes is surprisingly simple, which is very high praise coming from me.

    Yes, there are areas in which this game could be improved (make it a bit more open, for one), and yes, you may get bored after a while and have to use mods to make it better, but come on, people, this isn't worth a 0. This isn't worth anywhere from a 0-5. As a newcomer to The Sims series, I'm giving this a 9.    … Expand
  25. pikeman101
    Jan 23, 2015
    9
    Overall, I find the Sims 4 to be stunningly underrated - and for bizarre reasons.

    Although many aspects of gameplay have been removed from previous generations (such as Create-A-Style and open worlds), there are clear reasons for these removals, the most obvious being the Create-A-Style removal, due to the extreme lag experienced by many players during almost all Sims 3 gameplay.    Overall, I find the Sims 4 to be stunningly underrated - and for bizarre reasons.

    Although many aspects of gameplay have been removed from previous generations (such as Create-A-Style and open worlds), there are clear reasons for these removals, the most obvious being the Create-A-Style removal, due to the extreme lag experienced by many players during almost all Sims 3 gameplay. Moreover, the multitude of design options available in Create-A-Sim allow for a large variety of options. The loading screens, while present while changing neighbourhoods, are quite short and a small price to pay for nearly-lag-free gameplay.

    One important improvement for the series made by this game is that of family connection. In previous games, families living in the same household required player-directed interaction in order to build relationships, however the Sims 4 allows friendships to be made through simple daily activities like eating a meal together.

    My biggest complaint about this game is its ease. Most aspirations are unrealistically easy to complete and many can be accomplished within the course of a week in-game, any student can achieve a grade of A within four in-game days, without a great deal of focused activity on the part of the player.    … Expand
  26. Dreammer
    Jan 26, 2015
    9
    En başta herkes bulaşık makinesi ve havuz olmamasından yakınmıştı. Ben de hak vermiştim sonuçta havuz yoktu ama sonra patch geldi ve havuz eklendi. Bulaşık makinesi yok hala... Biraz düşününce diğer sims oyunlarından farklı olarak bunda bulaşıkları siz sürükleyip bırakabilirsiniz o yüzden çokta sorun olmaz.
    Sims 4 genel olarak en iyi sims oyunu her şeyi yapabilirsiniz gibi bir şey... Tek    En başta herkes bulaşık makinesi ve havuz olmamasından yakınmıştı. Ben de hak vermiştim sonuçta havuz yoktu ama sonra patch geldi ve havuz eklendi. Bulaşık makinesi yok hala... Biraz düşününce diğer sims oyunlarından farklı olarak bunda bulaşıkları siz sürükleyip bırakabilirsiniz o yüzden çokta sorun olmaz.
    Sims 4 genel olarak en iyi sims oyunu her şeyi yapabilirsiniz gibi bir şey... Tek bir sorunu var o da renk paletinin olmaması. Umarım diğer patchlerde gelir.    … Expand
  27. CammTheGreat08
    Mar 30, 2015
    9
    No this isn't sims 3. This is the sims 4. Although they took away a lot of the features that the previous entry had, it's still a fun and enjoyable game. And with EA and Maxis patching the game, and eventually add expansion packs, it'll be even better! If you don't like it, just don't play it, it's that simple!
  28. ajames600
    Apr 15, 2015
    9
    I'm a Simmer Since the age of 8 YEAH IT started with SIMS 1 then Sims City and SO on!!! Im Actually 19 NOW!

    PEOPLE are totally Crazy and keep on Complaining. THEY ARE MAKING A GAME WHICH IS "HARD PILL TO SWALLOW' BUT ITS TOTALLY WORTH IT...SIMS4 IS IN TRANSITION WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTING THE NEW 3DCGI GRAPHICS AND EDITING .....Yeah They Trim a lot of FEATURES in SIMS 4 UNLIKE Its    I'm a Simmer Since the age of 8 YEAH IT started with SIMS 1 then Sims City and SO on!!! Im Actually 19 NOW!

    PEOPLE are totally Crazy and keep on Complaining. THEY ARE MAKING A GAME WHICH IS "HARD PILL TO SWALLOW' BUT ITS TOTALLY WORTH IT...SIMS4 IS IN TRANSITION WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTING THE NEW 3DCGI GRAPHICS AND EDITING .....Yeah They Trim a lot of FEATURES in SIMS 4 UNLIKE Its Predecessor they CONTAIN a lot of Features, but they add a lot of features also that cant be found in other SIMS Franchise...... Like 3D and FEATURED RICH CAS making you can also create an ALIEN SIM, THE CLOTHES RICH OF CHOICES AND COLORS, the PULLING and Tagging of WAllS,Roof and DELICATE HOUSE Customization when it Comes to Building HOMES..... YOu CAn actually Control your Sims when it's Working Like the Scientist, Detective and Medical Jobs....Yeah Even My Boy Sim was ABDUCTED and and GAVE birth to AN alien..... The Hightech Laboratory Gadgets that can be placed on your Backyard..... Like the NASA TELESCOPE,SPECIMEN Analyzer and ROCKET LAUNCHER that you can actually UPGRADE and CONTROL, No need to take care those annoying BABY because it has no stats yet, YOu can Have an AMAZING PARTY Get-AWAYS!!!, You CAN MAKE YOUR OWN RETAIL STORES, YOU CAN STYLE the MANNEQUIN, MULTI TASKING FEATURES, QUICK LOADING.....

    SO SHUT UP TO THOSE MOTHER **** WHO KEEP ON BLABBING ABOUT THE GAME.......BECAUSE A REAL GAMER NEVER LOOSE HOPE TO THE GAME THEY LOVE!!!! IM A SIMMER FOR 11 YEARS!!! AND SIMs FRANCHISE HAS PROVEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS!!! THE THING I HATE IS THE OVERPRICED SELLING... haaahhahah 60-80$$?    … Expand
  29. joshk1_c
    May 8, 2015
    9
    I don't understand why so many people don't like the game! It's a great game. Of course some things are missing, but how EA/Maxis has been handling things adding a huge feature every month!
    November: Pools!
    December: New Jobs/Mini Holiday Pack! January: Outdoor Retreat! (Game pack) February: Family Trees! March: Basements, Paint from Reference, and lots more! April: The "Get To Work"    I don't understand why so many people don't like the game! It's a great game. Of course some things are missing, but how EA/Maxis has been handling things adding a huge feature every month!
    November: Pools!
    December: New Jobs/Mini Holiday Pack!
    January: Outdoor Retreat! (Game pack)
    February: Family Trees!
    March: Basements, Paint from Reference, and lots more!
    April: The "Get To Work" expansion packs!
    May: And the upcoming stuff pack, Luxury Parties!

    Of course kind of a bummer to not have toddlers, but I'm fine with it!

    It's a fairly good game so I rate it 9/10.    … Expand
  30. marcii
    Dec 26, 2015
    9
    I had had some proviso before I first played with The Sims 4, but all of them flew during the time was flowing. The truth is, some usual element isn't in the game but it is in The Sims 3. I mean the open-world or toddlers. In some cases The Sims 4 returned back to Sims 2; no free moving in the worlds, can't knock the closer neighbor's doors, but the new gameplay makes up for everything;I had had some proviso before I first played with The Sims 4, but all of them flew during the time was flowing. The truth is, some usual element isn't in the game but it is in The Sims 3. I mean the open-world or toddlers. In some cases The Sims 4 returned back to Sims 2; no free moving in the worlds, can't knock the closer neighbor's doors, but the new gameplay makes up for everything; endless storehouse's of opportunities and social interactions, our creations have never smarter than before. The Sims 4 sniffed on me totally, I only felt this when I played with The Sims 2 when I was 10. Good job, EA.… 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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