After over six years since release, the selection of DLC for The Sims 4 is incredibly large. This can make just looking at the list of extra content feel both overwhelming and expensive for newcomers to the franchise.
While discounts on expansion, game, and stuff packs are frequent, it's still incredibly costly to buy everything, so decisions have to be made. These guides are here to help you make them. We offer some broad advice as well as reviews and articles that outline the specific content of each and every expansion, game, and stuff pack.
The Sims 4 Base Game And Guides
These articles are focused on DLC packs available for The Sims 4. If you're looking for more general advice about how to play The Sims 4, you can check out our base game guide hub for guides to everything from building to woohoo.
The main purpose of this guide is to help you find the best DLC for the way you play the game. If you're a builder, stylist or storyteller there will be a pack that suits your style. Once you've got your hands on some extra content there is so much to explore. If you find yourself in need of some extra guidance check out our hub for DLC-specific guides.
Choosing The Best Packs For The Sims 4
For many people, searching for "best Sims 4 expansion packs" seems like a great place to start but often these lists are often useless, beyond being fun to read. One person's most loved pack is another's most hated, as it all depends on how you play the game and what type of content you enjoy.
While we do have a list of the best expansion packs, as well as a ranked list of game packs, and another for stuff packs, these aren't the most useful ways of determining what content to buy.
To help give a better overview of the packs that are likely to appeal to specific types of players we also produced some lists that span the different types of content with a focus on common gameplay styles. These are a more specific starting point to get an idea of what's likely to appeal to you.
Once you've narrowed the choices down we also have some articles specifically written to explore each pack's content.
Things You Need To Know About Expansion And Game Packs
The "things you need to know before you buy" series was written in order to explore each expansion and game pack's content in more depth. These guides focus mostly on the gameplay aspects, with just a small summary of the create a sim and build buy items.
This is because the Origin listings for DLC show you all the clothing and furniture in each pack as small thumbnails, but the gameplay is incredibly difficult to judge from the few sentences on offer.
If you want an opinion-free overview of the content you can expect from each pack check out these guides for every expansion and game pack to date.
Expansion Packs
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Get To Work
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Get Together
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy City Living
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Cats & Dogs
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Seasons
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Get Famous
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Island Living
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Discover University
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Eco Lifestyle
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Snowy Escape
Game Packs
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Outdoor Retreat
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Spa Day
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Dine Out
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Vampires
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Parenthood
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Jungle Adventure
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Strangerville
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Realm of Magic
- Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Star Wars: Journey To Batuu
Things You Can Only Get In Stuff Packs
Stuff packs are very different from expansion and game packs as usually the content is focused on create-a-sim items as well as furniture and decor. Gameplay in stuff packs has, until recently, been very limited, meaning the "know before you buy" format didn't fit. The result was the "things you can only get" series.
These guides explore in more detail clothing, furniture, or decor items in every stuff pack. Since these packs are so heavily focused on items the idea is that these articles will showcase different styles and swatches in more detail.
Stuff Packs
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Luxury Party Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Perfect Patio Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Cool Kitchen Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Spooky Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Movie Hangout Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Romantic Garden Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Kids Room Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Backyard Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Vintage Glamour Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Bowling Night Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Fitness Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Toddler Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Laundry Day Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In My First Pet Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Moschino Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Tiny Living Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Nifty Knitting Stuff
- The Best Items You Can Only Get In Paranormal Stuff
Previews And Reviews
We also have good old-fashioned previews and reviews for the more recent packs, from Strangerville onwards. Some of these are scored reviews but many of the game and stuff packs are non-scored overviews. These add more opinion to the information you can get from the other articles and can be useful to find out more.
There are also some other articles that answer common questions about specific packs. These are also included in this list.
Dream Home Decorator
Courtyard Oasis Kit
Paranormal Stuff
Snowy Escape
- Snowy Escape Preview: There Are No Rabbit Holes In This Deep Snow
- Snowy Escape Review: A Return To Greatness
Star Wars: Journey To Batuu
- Journey To Batuu Preview: Join The Resistance!
- Journey To Batuu Review: "Your Focus Determines Your Reality"
- Journey To Batuu: Questions Fans Have, Answered
Nifty Knitting Stuff
Eco Lifestyle
- Eco Lifestyle Preview: Don't Judge A Game By Its Trailer
- Eco Lifestyle Pack Is Lit
- Ways Eco Lifestyle Changes The Game
Tiny Living Stuff
Discover University
- Discover University: Gameplay Preview
- Discover University: Create A Sim Preview
- Discover University: Build And Buy Preview
- Discover University Review: A Juice Keg Full Of Content
- Questions Fans Have About Discover University Gameplay, Answered
Realm of Magic
Moschino Stuff
Island Living
- Exciting New Things Island Living Brings To The Game
- Island Living Preview: An Excellent Expansion With So Much To Explore
- Island Living Review: Dive Into The Most Detailed Expansion To Date
Strangerville
As more DLC is released, this list will be updated with new reviews, overviews, and opinion pieces about The Sims 4's content. Keep checking back for the latest updates.