Created in 1999, and launched in 2000, the Sims is one of the most beloved gaming franchises of all. Giving players the chance to create whole cities from scratch, and to populate them with charismatic families and individuals (not to mention pets), the Sims has captivated two generations of players, with absorbing gameplay and lifelike simulations of everyday communities.
Sims 4 was released in 2014 and remains the most recent version of the game. Since then, it has been released for multiple platforms, received expansion packs and mods, and a whole market of accessories and products has arisen to feed the appetite of Sims fans.
This hotukdeals buyer's guide will introduce the game and its predecessors, outline the various ways to make a Sims 4 purchase, as well as handy information like the various expansion packs, cheats, and whether the game is available online. But before all that, it's time to tell the Sims story.
The Sims originated in a much older (and truly legendary) series of games: the Sim City franchise. Created by Will Wright in the late 1980s, Sim City was the first game to allow players to plan and build imaginary cities, complete with housing, businesses, railway networks and if you were very unlucky, visits from Godzilla.
The original Sim City received numerous updates, most notably Sim City 2000, which took an isometric viewpoint (something that would be resurrected in the Sims). But by the late 1990s, the energy had faded behind the city-building genre, and gamers wanted more.
Feeling the need for a new project, Wright gathered together a team at the developer Maxis (soon to be absorbed by Electronic Arts), and combined the city management aspects of Sim City with popular character management toys like Tamagotchi. The result was an original type of game, which let players create and guide virtual characters through urban worlds, from birth to school, and into numerous careers.
When it was unveiled at the E3 show in 1999, the first Sims game wowed attendees. And the same applied when it launched for PC in 2000. At the time, Wright and his team didn't know, but they had stumbled upon a hugely popular new form of game, and customers started to demand ever more content – with new storylines and urban environments to add to their universe.
The initial Sims spawned 7 expansion packs, as well as the Sims Online, which debuted in 2002 – and didn't do as well as expected. However, the Sims 2 was another story. Landing in 2002, the second Sims game featured in-depth 3D graphics and new ideas like genetic resemblances between parents and children. The team also introduced “Wants and Fears” - allowing players to create deeper characters with recognisably human traits.
Again, expansions followed, with universities, more businesses, seasonal variations, and apartments added to the mix. When Sims 3 came around, it moved things on even further, with international destinations, characters playing jokes on each other and even a sci-fi themed expansion.
By 2014, the franchise was still going strong, and the expansions continued to flow – from tropical islands to curry-eating contests. As real-life has changed, so have the Sims, meaning that the gameplay has shifted constantly, ensuring that a game released in 2014 still seems contemporary, and still has the same freshness it had upon release.
When it arrived, the Sims 4 confused quite a few players. During development, Maxis had encouraged fans to expect a deep real-time multiplayer experience – something earlier Sims titles hadn't quite managed to achieve. But when the game appeared, the multiplayer element had been removed, causing some hostile reactions. However, what remained was still a major enhancement over earlier games, with plenty of innovative additions:
Flexible Character Customisation – Players can change the aspirations and character aspects of every character, add different looks and costumes, and generally dictate who they are to a degree unparalleled in previous games. You can determine their facial appearance, athleticism, and much more – all via easy to use sliders. But Sims remain autonomous and free to make their own mistakes.
Social Lives – Socialising matters a lot more in The Sims 4, with the chance for Sims to attend lavish parties, join clubs, and generally mingle with their fellow characters.
User Community – While the real-time multiplayer feature isn't present, Maxis has added a Sims Community that players can join. It's a great place to share ideas about community setups and character development and to discuss the game with your fellow players.
Two New Worlds – The basic version of The Sims 4 ships with two “worlds” for Sims to inhabit: Oasis Springs and Willow Creek. Both are fairly generic, American-style urban environments, but there are plenty of additional environments to explore with expansion packs, including island and jungle locations.
The basic aim of the game will be familiar for players of previous Sims editions. Create characters, guide them through careers, help them earn Simoleons, and spend the cash on lifestyles to suit their aspirations. The game doesn't have predetermined “goals”, as such. Instead, it's a true sand-box title that works by providing players with maximum freedom to experiment and create.
As usual with PC games, The Sims 4 came with a set of minimum and recommended specs. As the game was released in 2014, most buyers should be able to meet the recommended specs, but it's worth setting them out anyway, just to be sure.
The minimum specifications:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 or AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 6600, ATI Radeon X1300, or Intel GMA X4500
RAM: 2GB
Disk Space: 10GB
VRAM: 128MB
OS: Windows XP
And the recommended specifications:
CPU: Intel Core i5-750 or AMD Athlon X4
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 or above
RAM: 4GB
Disk Space: 10GB
VRAM: 1024MB
OS: 64 Bit Windows 7,8, or 8.1
The Sims 4 is available for PCs, Xbox One, and the Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4), and it comes in a variety of different editions and packages.
The Sims 4 Xbox One – The Xbox One version of The Sims 4 arrived in 2017 and offered a similar graphical experience to the PC. The major difference between desktop versions of the game and console options is the transition from mouse and keyboard to game controllers, and Maxis came up with a clever interface to translate every control function to Microsoft's games system.
The game comes in a Standard Edition, which can be purchased from Microsoft, or gaming retailers like Argos and Amazon. There's also a more expensive Deluxe Party Edition, which for around £5 more comes with a tiki bar and light show, and the opportunity to dress your characters in animal-themed hats.
The Sims 4 PS4 – The game is very similar on the PS4 to the Xbox One, as are the various buying options. The cheapest way to get started is the Standard Edition, which comes with Build Mode and the flexible character building tool.
However, if you want to experience the Tropical Island map, you'll need to purchase the Island Living expansion pack separately. Optional extras also include the Stranger Things-influenced Strangerville pack, the Spa Day pack, and Bowling Night. All can be ordered online via the PlayStation website.
As with the Xbox One version, purchasers can go for the Deluxe Party Edition if they want to boost their Sims' social lives. As with the Xbox edition, there's also a Cats and Dogs Bundle. As the name suggests, this bundle allows you to add in all sorts of pets to your characters' lives.
The Sims 4 PC – The original platform, and probably the best version of all, thanks to the ability to control your Sims universe via a combination of keys and mouse. As with the two consoles considered above, buyers can opt for the Standard Edition, which comes with the core game and nothing else.
Alternatively, PC owners can buy the Digital Deluxe Edition for around £10 more. This comes with the party-themed content available for consoles, as well as animal hats, and The Sims 4 soundtrack. So it's a slight step up from the Deluxe Party Edition for Xbox and PS4 – but won't be essential for all gamers.
Whatever system they own, buyers will have a choice of purchasing the stand-alone game, then adding expansions individually, or purchasing bundles with various expansions included. It's not always clear which method is the cheapest. Sometimes, there will be deals for cheap Sims 4 packs at hotukdeals, and at other times bundles will be discounted. So stay alert and check for sale bargains.
If you really need to save money, it makes sense to buy the standard version, then patiently add expansions as deals appear. You'll be surprised by how often retailers cut the price of The Sims 4 expansion packs, but remember to check back often with hotukdeals, as discounts tend to be time-limited.
Additionally, buyers may want to know is Sims 4 on mobile? Previous Sims editions have come with mobile game counterparts, and the 4th iteration is exactly the same. The Sims Mobile arrived in 2017 and offers a stripped-down but recognisable version of the Sims universe that you can take with you anywhere.
The Sims hasn't always been a critical darling, but it has generally received positive feedback from the gaming press – largely due to its endless playability, rather than any major gameplay innovations.
Sims 4 wasn't really an exception. PC Gamer gave it 79%, with the reviewer expressing slight tiredness with the game's portrayal of prosperous Californian lifestyles, but praising the character mechanism, and the ability to make Sims “multi-task” instead of carrying out one activity at a time. But the review also noted multiple glitches (such as dates sitting at opposite ends of a bar and talking across a crowd of drinkers). And it also noted that there's no real difficulty involved. As the writer suggested, “while you'll be asked to earn money and social standing and career success in order to achieve those wishes actually getting there is a matter of time rather than effort.” So, for hardened strategy gamers, The Sims 4 won't provide much of a challenge.
But that's not really the point of The Sims. It's an experience and a form of relaxation, not a competition or quest – at least not in the usual sense. Even so, it's worth noting that feedback for the PC version was usually qualified – and glowing reviews haven't been common.
If anything, the console versions of The Sims 4 have attracted less praise. In fact, reception was very mixed, with some commentators responding with hostility. For instance, IGN – while admitting that its reviewer was immersed in the action – criticised the number of bugs present in the Xbox and PS4 versions, as well as the slightly unwieldy joypad-based control system. Any enhanced content added since 2014 for the PC version is present in the console editions, including popular accessories like dishwashers and swimming pools.
Across all platforms, reviewers have also complained about some surprising omissions. For example, there aren't any cars in The Sims 4 universe, which detracts from its realism. And the designers also limited the number of buildings Sims could access, relative to The Sims 3 (see below). So the sense of freedom which marked out earlier Sims titles may not be as strong.
While reviews for the main game haven't been amazing, feedback about its expansion packs has been more promising. For instance, the Island Living pack has a Metacritic rating of 84 out of 100, with commentators agreeing that the pack delivered a step up in terms of complexity and realism. So don't be misled by earlier reviews. When you add the core game and expansion packs together, The Sims 4 is a much more impressive product.
Given the middling judgement of gaming reviewers, owners of earlier editions in The Sims family may be asking should I get Sims 4 or 3? As usual, there's a big price gap between the latest edition and older versions, and while there is a quality gap, Sims 3 isn't exactly an unenjoyable game to play.
The Sims 3 also has some advantages over its successor. Most importantly, the game world is more interactive and larger, being dedicated more to exploration than to the emotional development of characters. Most players agree that The Sims 3 features more in-depth gameplay out of the box, and has better DLC packs (at the moment), so it may be a better starting point for gamers on a budget. And, bizarrely, the creators removed the “toddler” stage from babies in Sims 4 – selling it back to players as a DLC feature. It's all there in Sims 3, providing a more satisfying portrayal of growing up.
On the other hand, there's no denying that Sims 4 wins out on the graphics front and loading screens should be less of a bugbear. Most commenters tend to find the emotion-based character system deeper and more fulfilling as well, even if there were a few more clothing and hairstyle options in Sims 3.
Having said that, Sims 3 is a high-quality game, and still has a huge fan base, with many people refusing to move over to the 4th edition. If you can pick it up cheap via hotukdeals, it's well worth giving it a try.
If you do decide to go for The Sims 4, expansion backs will be a big part of your buying and gaming experience. As we said earlier, the basic Sims 4 package doesn't come with a huge amount of content and tends to become a little repetitive after a while. Fortunately, several DLC packs have arrived to spice up the action:
Get to Work – Released in 2015, Get to Work introduced the professions of Doctor, Scientist, and Detective to The Sims universe. Players can also create retail stores, while (strangely) the add-on also opens up an alien-themed world called Sixam, complete with alien Sims.
Get Together – A Christmas 2015 release, Get Together was all about joining clubs. Now, Sims could link up with fellow characters for sports and other activities, including foosball and darts. The stately Windenberg neighbourhood came as part of the add-on, and there were a few visual tweaks for the general gameplay as well.
City Living – Launched in 2016, City Living introduced the city of San Myshuno, and worked in the professionals of politician, social media, and critic. Apartments were brought back into the game, and the Spice Festival made its debut, along with a unique curry eating festival.
Cats & Dogs – Launched in 2017, Cats & Dogs saw the long-awaited introduction of pets to The Sims 4 universe (something that had been seen in various previous editions but was withheld from the original version of The Sims 4).
Seasons - Unveiled in 2018, Seasons introduced seasonal variations in weather and activities, as well as the Botanist profession.
Get Famous – Another 2018 release, Get Famous brought in the “profession” of Social Media Influencer, allowing Sims to audition for fame and fortune. It also added the new community of Del Sol Valley.
Island Living – Launched in 2019, Island Living introduced the tropical “paradise” of Sulani, with its own lifestyles and weather. It also added the professions of Conservationist, Diver, Fisherman, and Lifeguard, as well as “playable mermaids”.
When added together, these Expansion Packs add a lot of functionality to the core Sims 4 product, so fans will want to collect as many as possible. However, with packs retailing for £5-10 each, the bill for collecting every edition can be pretty steep. So always check for cheap Sims 4 expansion packs at hotukdeals, and look for discount bundles as well.
These major Expansion Packs have also been joined by several Game Packs, which are much cheaper, and introduce far less content. Options range quite widely, including a Vampire-themed pack, Dine Out (which lets Sims create restaurants), and Parenthood (which provides much more flexibility about shaping the lives of kids and teens).
Finally, players will also come across what are known as Stuff Packs. These tend to be very limited, offering a few objects or items of clothing. For example, there's a Fitness Stuff pack, with fitness apparel, a treadmill, and fitness videos. The Toddler Stuff add-on is also popular with those who have added the parenting expansions. Remember to look for Stuff Packs when ordering Expansion Packs, as they tend to go together, and may be included free of charge.
Alternatively, you might decide to avoid add-ons altogether. In that case, you'll miss out on new worlds, careers, and objects. But there are ways to enhance the original without spending vast amounts of real-world cash. Mods are one option (see below), but using Sims 4 cheats to earn in-game currency is another. That way, you can explore all of the game's features and get full value for money.
To implement cheats, you'll need to customise your PC installation via a specific mod, which can be found here. This mod adds the “cheat console” to your game, which can be called up by pressing “Control, Shift, and C.” When that's done, type in “testingcheats true”. Now, type “motherlode” to earn 50,000 Simoleons straight away. Other cheats can unlock content that's normally hidden or implement effects like enhancing the size of buildings. It's a good way to compensate for not spending vast amounts on add-ons.
So far, we've dealt with officially licensed add-ons for The Sims 4, but that's not quite the end of the story when it comes to additional content. PC owners can also benefit from user-created add-ons, known as “mods”, and The Sims has quite a library of mods to pick from.
Mods could add new objects or new careers. They can open up architectural possibilities and help to sort out annoying bugs. At the same time, they aren't official, so do carry an element of risk. However, if you choose highly rated mods from repositories like ModTheSims.info, you should be fine. Mods won't tend to have the slickness of official releases, but fill in the gaps left by the developers, and can be game-changing at times.
Multiplayer fans may still be wondering is Sims 4 online? That's a good question, because previous instalments in the series have been strictly offline games, with no participation from other users, and limited ways to show off your communities. The only exception to that pattern was The Sims Online, which ran from 2002-2008, and was cancelled due to lack of interest.
However, when The Sims 4 was in development, the creators acknowledged the appetite for multiplayer Sims-style gaming. And this feature was heavily trailed, resulting in massive disappointment when it failed to materialise.
So you can't play The Sims 4 online. But what you can do is sign up for The Gallery, an online platform to compare Sims creations, and contact other players. It's not exactly a massive multiplayer game world, but it may be better than nothing.
The Sims has attracted a global audience, which has been spellbound by the ability to create human characters, steering them through the tests of life, and guiding them to fulfil their dreams or fail in the attempt. And The Sims 4 is a worthy addition to the family, offering plenty of enhancements and gaming experiences for Xbox, PS4, and PC gamers.
However, when you add up the cost of the initial game and all of the various DLC packs, buying a full version of The Sims 4 could cost well over £100, so it's a hefty expense – especially for cash-strapped parents. Fortunately, there are ways to save.
Firstly, think about whether you need the Standard Edition or bundles with extra DLC included. Bundles will be more expensive off the bat but could work out cheaper if you are likely to need the bundle in question. For example, the Cats & Dogs bundle is a popular option, because of the inevitable appeal of adding pets to Sims households.
Then again, you may find cheap Sims 4 packs at hotukdeals, which drive costs below even the most reasonably priced bundles. In any case, it makes sense to shop around at hotukdeals for any Sims-related products. Our Sims 4 sale features bargains from major UK gaming merchants like Amazon, Argos, GAME, CD Keys, PlayStation PSN, Microsoft Store, and EA Origin. Whether you want to get started with the Deluxe Party Edition, or you're hunting for an elusive Stuff Pack, you'll most likely find it in our listings.
Prices aren't necessarily constant throughout the year, so timing purchases may also help. Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November are great times to hunt down deals, and Amazon Prime Day offers plenty of reductions. Origin runs periodic Sims sales, which are featured at hotukdeals, and PSN and Microsoft do the same. So check back with our listings regularly, and snap up Sims 4 deals as soon as they appear. It's the cheapest and easiest way to a fully-stocked Sims 4 collection.
Created by the brains behind Sim City, The Sims allows players to create characters and guide them through life, from childhood to school life, university, work, and raising a family. One of the most addictive gaming experiences around, The Sims is educational, fascinating, and absorbing in equal measure, and it doesn't have to be expensive, either. You can find The Sims 4 cheap at the best place to find the latest gaming bargains: the hotukdeals Sims 4 listings.
