Everyone knows The Sims – AKA, the ultimate life simulation game that gives you the ultimate power to create your own character and navigate their reality. As *self-diagnosed* control freaks, a personalised, self-determined life sounds appealing RN. And, luckily for us, The Sims 4 Free Base Game has just become free. *Waves goodbye to any spare time*.
Add to the fun with the packs below…
In case you’ve been living under a bridge, The Sims is one of the most beloved video games of all time. The game mirrors all of life’s complexities, providing options for relationship drama, certain preferable – or non-preferable – personality types, work, and finance struggles (if, unlike us, you play the realistic way, and not the motherlode-cheat, lavish way) and even death. And those are only the realistic options – beware of potential werewolves, vampires and, just a warning, you may even be paid a visit by the Grim Reaper. Prepare to be ghosted… quite literally.
A simulated world has never felt so appealing. Real life seems to be growing more challenging daily, and the societal and physical restrictions placed on the way we live our lives are increasingly apparent. So sometimes we need a bit of escapism.
Just think: a place where we can be who we want, live where we want and have what we want. And a place where money (pretty much) grows on trees. (Did someone say motherlode cheat? In just a few clicks, you are 50,000 simoleons richer.) From curating your own families and ‘woohoo’ing to your heart's content to exploring unlimited dream homes, locations, and lives, the impossible (for most of us) is made possible.
The sky really is the limit on the opportunities for creativity and discovery, and with no limitations, you can make characters that reflect you, who you want to be, or even characters you wouldn’t want to be. In The Sims, the socially unacceptable becomes acceptable. We’ve all accidentally, or not so accidentally, summoned death onto a Sim at one point or another.
The developers of The Sims stress inclusivity as a major objective they want to embed into the game. And the update earlier this year did not disappoint. The franchise introduced features where players can now control their Sims’ romantic attraction, allowing choice in who they are attracted to and how they show this. Sims can now express their attraction through ‘woohoo’ing and/or romantically because, reality check, we don’t all show our love in the same way.
The Sims has also added customisable pronouns with the help of LGBTQIA+ support initiatives It Gets Better Project and GLAAD, to implement options that allow for the true self-expression of players. You can now also allow your characters to rock stereotypically masculine or feminine outfits, to get pregnant, and choose how they use the toilet – regardless of gender. Did we also mention that this function cannot be turned off? EA stated, “LGBTQIA+ identities are a fact of life and not a toggle to be switched on and off.” Amen.
Do you know what everyone refers to as that ‘lightbulb moment’? When you’re struck with sudden inspiration. Well, that’s exactly what The Sims encourages. And that green, diamond-shaped ‘Plumbob’ symbol represents this. Their new ‘Spark Something’ campaign celebrates the creative spark ignited between players keen to discover, create and take inspiration from each other. As every time you play, you can explore a different path.
Now it’s your turn to Pass The Spark! The Sims 4 will continue to release new packs, kits, and, once again, free Sims Delivery Express drops – of which you can expect a new one each month. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Inspiration is contagious. Spark something and show off your creativity in The Sims.
