The base game can always be improved
The base game can always be improved
Picture this: your paycheck comes in. You suddenly have a bit of disposable income to spend on something fun, so you open up Steam and see that there’s a sale on Sims 4 DLC going on. So, you go to buy some cool new content for your sims to play with, but you can’t decide on which pack would be the most fun! Here are some of the best Sims 4 DLC packs that will be sure to breathe some new life into this ten-year-old game.
Now that the base game is completely free, there’s more of a reason to consider spending money on the extra packs, which come in 4 different price categories: kits ($4.99), stuff packs ($9.99), game packs ($19.99), and expansion packs ($39.99). Each of these offer different amounts of content, often reflecting the price.
Now, it’s important to make one distinction: “best” doesn’t necessarily mean “worth it.” The Sims 4 DLCs can add some amazing things to the game, and I definitely recommend checking some of them out, but only ever buy them if they’re on sale. For instance, a common complaint people have about kits is that they’re half the price of stuff packs, but they only contain about a third of the content. Luckily, EA tends to have sales every few months, so you won’t have to wait long.
This expansion pack is basically the definition of “should have been in the base game.” Seasons is one of a few expansion packs that doesn’t come with its own world for you to settle down in, but what it lacks in new spaces to build, it makes up for in how it changes the existing spaces. As the name suggests, seasons, add seasons. You get a huge addition to the in-game calendar, which is now filled with brand new holidays and traditions. You can even create your own! This pack is the only way to access weather, changing seasons, and holidays other than birthdays. It’s practically mandatory to get the full experience of the Sims 4.
Get the Seasons Expansion Pack here.
For years, simmers have been looking for ways to put multiple homes on the same lot, and, with the semi-recent For Rent Expansion Pack, you now can! Live out your dreams of becoming a landlord and manage your property, or play a more realistic life and get into the renting scene.
For Rent also has one of the coolest new worlds of any pack: Tomarang, a sprawling town inspired by several South-East Asian countries. It’s a style we haven’t really seen anywhere else in the Sims franchise, and For Rent makes it feel very atmospheric.
Get the For Rent Expansion Pack here.
Generally, Stuff Packs don’t add a huge amount of content, which is why simmers always celebrate so much when we get a small pack with a lot to do. Not only is there a great furniture selection in this pack, with an exclusive feature and death related to the Murphy beds included in the pack, but Tiny Living also includes a brand new lot type: tiny house residential. These buildings have tons of unique benefits depending on how tiny the house actually is. For example, if you have the tiniest house you can, you get a massive boost to relationship and skill gains when on your lot. If you’re on a budget, Tiny Living may be the only pack that could be worth its normal price.
Get the Tiny Living Stuff Pack here.
Dream Home Decorator is the greatest Sims 4 pack we never knew we needed. Game Packs in the Sims 4 tend to be a bit overlooked, generally because they tend to be pretty hit or miss. Not only is it recommended to wait until sales to buy new Sims 4 DLC, but it’s also good to wait in general when a new pack comes out. Some of the consistently least-liked and glitchiest packs are Journey to Batuu, Dine Out, and My Wedding Stories, which are all Game Packs. This is why diamonds in the ruff like DHD are so exciting.
Dream Home Decorator gives your sims the ability to work as an interior designer, traveling to other peoples homes to give them complete furniture makeovers. You get to play the Property Brothers as you move from home to home in an exclusive active career that really puts you at the helm of the decision making.
DHD also has some of the best build mode items of any Sims 4 pack. It offers a ton of new modular furniture and shelves that can snap together to create fully customizable and form-fit your home. This pack also prioritized matching wood colors in the swatches, so no more of the classic Sims problem that the wood colors just don't match!
Get the Dream Home Decorator Pack here.
There’s never been a better time to start looking into DLC for the Sims 4. Remember, and I cannot stress this enough, never buy a pack unless it’s on sale. It’s never worth it, and you’ll probably feel upset about your spending habits after. Trust me, I know the feeling.
