If you're new to The Sims 4, and especially if you're new to the franchise, then the game can feel complex and slightly intimidating. This is especially true now there are so many new features in the base game alone. There are Sims to create, traits to figure out, houses to build, needs to meet and that's just the start. For those who want to play but are finding themselves overwhelmed don't worry. This guide will help you get started.
Creating Your Sim
A recent addition to the base game is the tutorial. This will guide you through a few basics and we highly recommend playing through it. However, it does have some key differences compared to the regular game so here's what you need to know.
Step one is creating your sim. The tutorial version is more limited than usual to allow you to get used to the basics. It gives you a choice of four aspirations and will generate three random traits for your sim. In regular gameplay, you can choose your own traits as well as an aspiration from a larger selection. Alternatively, in the regular game, you can use the story mode function which chooses these for you based on questions you answer about the sim you wish to create.
To edit the appearance of your sim simply click on them and then go through the options. Clicking the head of your sim offers options for facial features, hair, and accessories while choosing the body of your sim will open options for clothing. Sliders on the left adjust basic body types and clicking each individual section of the body or face allows for more complex manipulation.
If you don't want to customize to this extent then you can also use the small die icon underneath the sim's feet to generate a random appearance. If you would also like to select pre-generated but less random clothing options you can click your sims body then select the second button down, styled looks, to choose from a range of more put together options.
Fulfilling Your Sim's Needs
In the tutorial, your sim will be assigned a tutorial starter home and a roommate. Popups will guide you through your sims needs, camera functionality, and how to interact. Your options will be very limited but you will be able to work out the basics and can experiment with other options later.
The tutorial home is filled with a variety of objects so you can test them out and see what boosts they give to your sim. Different items will fulfill different needs so it's good to watch what fills your sims needs the quickest.
Bladder needs are met with a toilet and hygiene needs with a bath, shower, or sink. Hunger is replenished by clicking on an oven, fridge, or microwave and selecting a meal to cook. You can also select quick meals from a fridge or coolbox. Energy is replenished by sleeping in a bed or napping on a bench or sofa. You can also boost it temporarily with coffee.
Fun and social needs are a little more flexible and less obvious. Social bars are filled quickest with any face to face interaction but there are other options. Sims can also chat online or by using their phone. For sims who live alone, you can chat with neighbors in the street or at community lots or invite people over by using your phone.
Fun needs are quite flexible and while some activities are always considered fun, others will vary, depending on your sim's personality. Simple ways to boost fun include watching tv, listening to music, and reading books. Skill-building activities including gaming, painting, working out, dancing, and more can also boost sim's fun.
If you forget anything then don't worry. Hovering over a category in the needs menu will tell you how to fulfill it.
Living Your Life
The tutorial will also tell your sim to go to work. In the regular game, your sim won't start with a job, unless they were assigned one by the story mode functionality, and you'll have to choose one using your phone or a computer. There are several different careers available and each one has different benefits. Some allow sims to complete tasks at home or choose the rabbit hole option for work, while others just require sims to go to work.
The number of careers available will depend on the extra DLC content you have since some packs introduce new careers, most notably the active careers from Get To Work that allow you to follow your sims to their workplace and direct their day.
If you want to earn money in a different way then you can also create, collect, and sell items. Anything in your inventory can be sold directly by dragging it onto the cash register icon. Skills such as painting, writing, gardening, and fishing will give sims things to sell. You can also venture out into the world and collect frogs, dig rocks, and harvest plants for even more valuables.
In terms of relationships, these are built up through social interaction. Friendly and flirty options are available, as well as mean and funny categories. Interactions from the different categories will determine the type of relationship built. Sometimes building bonds will be much quicker, this is due to differing sim personalities. As relationships are built you can invite sims to move in with you as well as establishing a best friend, boy or girlfriend, or fiance status. You can also get married. These options are not restricted by the gender of your sims.
The tutorial ends once you've completed the tutorial aspiration, which also includes guiding you through promotions, community lots, and other features of the game. You'll then be able to choose your own new aspiration and Alex will move out. At this point, you can stay in the house and continue playing, add a new roommate or start a new household. Since the house is larger than a regular starter home and you'll also have around 20k in simoleons, continuing playing will give you a boost over a regular household, that has to buy their home from their 20k starting funds.
As you start you new adventure, remember that the most important thing is to keep your sim's needs met and everything else can be worked out as you go along. We also have some other guides to help you including building tips and even a cheat guide for if it all gets too difficult!