With the recent announcement from EA that the company is putting all focus into the continuation ofThe Sims 4, many players in the gaming community are worrying about how unsatisfactoryThe Sims 4experience has been for the last ten years. The issue seems to lie within the base game, as many players argue thatfundamental features that came with later expansion packs such asSeasonsandGrowing Togethershould have been made available from the beginning. For the last decade, what has felt like EA simply releasing never-ending add-on content has grown tiresome for players.
However, considering EA is now planning to expand onThe Sims 4as well asintroducingProject Reneand a new Sims mobile game, one can assume that the developers have new gameplay features and content in store for the future of the franchise - though this will only be successful if executed well. After a decade ofThe Sims 4,there are plenty of features that could make its base game more exciting, immersive, and overall fun for the player.
10Cars, And The Ability To Control Them
Drive Vehicles In A Simulated World
Cars have been a feature available inThe Sims 2NightlifeandThe Sims 3, but they have not made it intoThe Sims 4.When a Sim can have a house, run a business, and has the ability to travel across the various worlds inThe Sims 4, it’s somewhat a mystery why cars have not been added to the game.
Why Keeping The Sims 4 Alive Is A Better Idea Than The Sims 5
After a decade, it looks like The Sims 4 will continue as the primary entry for the series instead of moving to The Sims 5, but that’s for the best.
Were cars to be included in the base game, one way that would make this feature differentiate from cars in previousSimsgameswould be the ability to control them, enabling players to further explore the game’s world. This might be too big an ask for a game that already struggles under theweight of its many expansions, but it would certainly be an improvement over its predecessors.
9More In-Depth Features On A Sim’s Cellphone
Expand Mobile Functionality Beyond Calls And Texts
Some features are available on the cellphone inThe Sims 4, but it feels like for a decade’s worth of work,these features don’t reap too many rewards for players.Rather than the ability to just add to a Sim’s story, it would be a fun feature to be able to create a Sim’s online social media profiles, create custom feeds, and to have more stimulating text message features, all within the base game.
In a digital age where social media is so unbelievably prominent, the cell phone inThe Sims 4has a lot of potential for some more detailed features. These have been expanded with recent packs, but there’s still room for improvement, aswhat’s currently on offer with Social Bunny a little barebones, with repetitive social media comments and texts.
8More Interactive Careers In The Arts
Immerse Sims In Creative Careers
Interactive careers inThe Simsalways make the game far more exciting,but the options that come with theGet To WorkandGet Famousexpansions are limited. It would be worthwhile to introduce more careers within the arts.
A career path from a busking musician up to a worldwide famous rockstar playing in various festivals and making music videos would make for interesting gameplay andcould fulfill many a player’s rockstar dream. A career as a dancer could also make for a fun experience with features reminiscent of dance mats where the player can get hands-on with a Sim’s dance moves.
7Makeup Could Incentivize More Creativity
Unleash Creativity With Customizable Makeup
With the world’s beauty community thriving and players looking for more cosmetic features in games,the world of makeupcould add another level of gameplay toThe Sims 4.A makeup artist career where a Sim can go to beauty college, work in retail, or as a freelance makeup artist could prove exciting. Additionally, a makeup skill could be introduced which a Sim can improve over time with practice and studying. There could also be social events inThe Sims 4where Sims gather for makeup masterclasses and fashion and beauty shows. Additionally, a feature for a Sim’s beauty routine to be more extensive could be a satisfying experience for many players.
Another feature in this category that could also allow for some interesting gameplay would be for a Sim to be able to start their own makeup or cosmetic brand.A player could invent the brand’s name, choose the products, and sell them.This career path could allow a player to see a Sim’s brand become a household name and could allow for many interesting avenues for the gameplay to explore.
6The Ability to Mix And Match Clothing Items
Personalize Outfits With Mix-and-Match Options
Rather than just selecting a top and some bottoms in Create-A-Sim, it would be a great feature tobe able to select different clothing items and put them all together.Being unable to select a single T-shirt to pair with a single leather jacket can take away from a player’s creativity and dampen the desire to explore fashion whenThe Simsis essentially a virtual dollhouse experience.
For all-in-one outfits that are available inThe Sims 4, it would be a nice feature to be able to separate each of the items in the outfit and to pair them with other items toallow for more creativity as a player. Already having the assets created for the overall look means that this might not be too much of a stretch for the game’s - and developer’s - capabilities, but this simple change could have a big impact for fans.
5Financial Milestones Like Loans And Investments
Manage Finances With Loans And Investments
This feature may not sound all too exciting, but it’s been seen to work inAnimal Crossing, where a player isconstantly in debt to Tom Nookas they reach various financial milestones that require debt to be paid off in order to receive rewards.
InThe Sims 4, this could provide more incentives for a player tobuild a bit more of a life story for their Simwhile further exploring different career paths. This feature would add an element of realism toThe Sims 4that could contribute to a better life simulator experience for many players. SinceRags-to-Riches is such a popularSimschallenge, this is a feature that would greatly improve the roleplaying available in the game.
4Storylines That Impact Generations
Create Lasting Legacies With Multi-Generational Stories
As generations of Sims grow, it would be great forThe Sims 4to allow Sims to leave a rich legacy behind.The game could enable various traits to be inherited from generation to generation and for family histories to have the power to influence future generations.
There could be a feature that would allow players to learn all about a Sim’s ancestors as well as their career history, and businesses could be passed down through generations. What’s more, there could be a feature where Sims recognize each other through the mutual connections of each other’s families.This is something woefully neglected in the gamethat would be a huge boon to those who play across generations.
3Allow Sims to Set Up Their Own Market Stall
Become A Market Entrepreneur
A feature that would lean a little more into farming sim elements of the game and could appeal massively to the cozy gaming community would be the ability for aSim to be able to craft and create items to sell at a flea market. While the flea market exists as part of theCity Livingexpansion, it’s merely an event your Sim can attend, rather than work at.
From baked goods, cosmetic items, and various crafts, this feature would enable a player to optimize creativity and engage in a range of activities that boost a Sim’s skills among a number of hobbies. An elevation of the table item that allows you to sell your own goods, as well as Plopsy,the flea market could run on a certain day of the week at a certain time and would allow a Sim to prepare items to showcase every week.
2Tattoo And Piercing Parlors
Express Yourself With Tattoos And Piercings
Although tattoos and piercings are available in the Create-A-Sim feature,visiting a tattoo and piercing parlor is an experience in itself that could add an element of fun as well as personalization toThe Sims 4.
Players could experience a slightly more alternative avenue in the game, as a Sim can decide on a broad variety of piercings or tattoos to have done while visiting the parlor and experiencing all the emotions that can come with them. From bravery to fear, the emotional mechanics of such a feature could be a fun gameplay experience. It could also go deeper, potentially causing rifts in families when Young Adults get tattoos their Elders might not appreciate!
1Better Interactions With Other Sims
Experience Dynamic Interactions With Sims
One of the main critiques ofThe Sims 4is its NPCs and repetitive dialogue and events. While EA has gone to great lengths to try and make Sims more realistic,players still see the same interactions over and over again, which can kill immersion. Improving scripts both in conversations and in events could add a whole new level of gameplay and storyline outcomes inThe Sims 4.
This is something some gamer developers have been experimenting with via AI. Here, that could allow numerous new actions to take place in Live Mode that would make the game run with more interesting outcomes for the player and add a little bit more spice to a Sim’s everyday actions. Whether or notThe Sims 4can improve with features like this one remains to be seen, but fans are still holding out hope.
