For over 17 years, The Sims has taken the world by storm and has even made history as one of the best-selling video game franchises to ever be created. With its popularity only skyrocketing since its initial release all the way back in the year 2000, it's hard to deny the series –and its developer, Maxis— of its success. Since launching the first game in the series, The Sims franchise has managed to sell nearly 200 million copies worldwide, across a number of different platforms.

Despite the fame and popularity of The Sims, many players still don’t know that there are countless hidden secrets that have been included in each installment of the series. While most developers prefer to add the odd Easter Egg in their games, Maxis has decided to take it to the next step, as they have included countless hidden skills, traits, items, locations, and even Sims within their worlds. While these hidden secrets aren’t required to be found, they do add another layer of depth to the game that can ultimately help assist your Sim.

RELATED: Hidden Easter Eggs In Sims 4 (2019)

If that wasn’t already enough, Maxis has also developed a number of hidden cheats that can drastically alter the way you play The Sims 4. Everything from increasing your skills, purchasing free houses, and even providing free money. Maxis has thought of every possible scenario and have tried to accommodate everyone’s preferred method of playing.

Updated September 13th, 2020, By Helen Ashcroft: As The Sims 4 fast approaches its sixth birthday in September, we're reminded of just how many more secrets have been packed into the title over the last few years. The game has now covered all the major milestones players were requesting, including the addition of seasons, cats and dogs, and universities. With no news of a Sims 5 to be found, we're now exploring new territory.

Recent content has added some unique features including residential island living, alongside new ways to earn money and forge a career. With all the DLC options now available the game is packed with more secrets than ever before so we thought it was time to add a few more to our list.

20 Secret: Parents Are Proud of Their Kids Art

Parenthood screenshot of a father hugging his toddler.

If you have the Parenthood game pack then you'll know that it comes with a family organizer board. This gameplay object helps set curfews for household members but also has another function you'll spot if you have younger children in the house.

After a while artwork will autonomously appear attached to the board as proud parents display their kid's creations for all to see. This changes as the game progresses, showing a true reflection of parenthood.

19 Secret: San Myshuno Holds A Sinister Secret In A Grotty Apartment

A chalk outline on the floor in a san myshuno apartment.
Via: The Sims Forums

San Myshuno has some beautiful penthouses alongside some grotty apartments. Depending on your budget, your accommodation could be haunted, need some TLC, or even hide a sinister secret.

One of the low rent apartments has a detail no one expected hidden under the carpet. If you remove the flooring, instead of just replacing it, you'll find a sinister white chalk outline on the floor. We don't know what happened here and we've not entirely sure we want to. Just make sure you don't skip a rent payment, just in case.

18 Secret: Vampires Don't Have A Reflection

A vampire using mind control powers on a sim.

Vampires are added to The Sims 4 in a game pack of the same name and are more detailed than ever before. You can have your supernatural sim feed on sim plasma or plasma fruit and decide how they want to focus their power.

RELATED: The Sims 4: 10 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Vampires

All vampires have skills and weaknesses and the three talent trees enable you to customize their personality and vampiric nature. One thing they all have in common however is that none of them have a reflection and will not appear in any of the game's mirrors.

17 Secret: Pop Culture References Can Kill

A sim drinking beetlejuice at a bar followed by the same sim beginning to catch fire.

The Eco Lifestyle expansion contains several secrets but one of the most entertaining is the Beetlejuice reference. In homage to the movie, sims can make juice out of beetle nuggets and then drink three in a row to trigger a surprise.

The trio of drinks echoes the notion of saying Beetlejuice three times to summon the crude "bio-exorcist" ghost. In The Sims 4 however, drinking three Beetlejuices will instead turn your sim into a ghost.

16 Secret: Sims Can Be Left-Handed

A sim family sat around a dining table talking.

Something you likely never even thought of is if your sims are left or right-handed. However, the hand they prefer to use is determined by a hidden trait in the game's code. Just as in real life, most sims are right-handed. However, some will prefer to use their left.

Next time your sims are eating, drawing, carrying items, or using their phones take a look at the hand they use, you may be surprised.

15 Cheat: Lower Your Sims Age

Blossom from Evergreen Harbor watering plants in the community garden.

When we were younger, we all had those tantrums about wanting to be older and more grown-up. But I think we can all agree that growing up isn’t all that it’s cut out to be. If people were completely honest, they would say that it actually sucks. The older we get, the more responsibilities we have to take on, such as paying the bills and getting a job. Everyone quickly notices that these responsibilities start taking away time that you would usually spend on things you love doing.

RELATED: All The Sims 4 Cheats For Better Gameplay

While The Sims isn’t as harsh as reality, growing old still sucks. While the series is riddled with in-game features to age up your Sim such as birthday cakes and potions, there still isn't an official cheat to de-age your Sims. However, following the same method as earlier, shift-click your Sim and select the option to Modify in CAS (Create A Sim), this option will allow you to essentially edit your Sim. Adding the cheat cas.fulleditmode on before doing so will give you even more options.

14 Secret: Rabbit Hole Events

City Living promotional shot of a festival in the city.

Rabbit Hole Events have been around for quite some time, but most players don’t even know they exist since so many players disregard these event invitations. Let's face it: these could easily be mistaken as a mere annoyance from another Sim. Little do they know, these events may actually benefit their Sim for the better.

These events were given the Rabbit Hole nickname by the community as they are often performed –just like workplaces– in a building that is not accessible by the game camera. While you may know that your Sim is attending a specific event, you never actually get to see it. Some of the most common Rabbit Hole Events are seen in the City Living expansion pack where other Sims –the more Sims you know, the more common the events– will invite you to either the circus, opera, or an underground concert.

These events are great if you are looking to change your Sims mood – as depending on the event, their moods can be negatively or positively affected.

13 Secret: The Grilled Cheese Aspiration

Bella, Mortimer and Alexander Goth eat grilled cheese as Cassandra paints it.

The Grilled Cheese aspiration is a hidden aspiration that has made appearances in both The Sims 2: Nightlife, The Sims 2: Free Time, and The Sims 4 through an update that was released in February 2016. When a Sim has unlocked this secret aspiration, you will quickly notice that their only desires revolve around eating grilled cheese sandwiches all the time. You will even find that they fear burning grilled cheese sandwiches or eating them after they have spoiled.

In order to unlock this hidden aspiration in The Sims 4, your Sim will be required to eat three plates of Grilled Cheese in a row. If you’re planning to unlock this aspiration, be prepared as Grilled Cheese will quickly consume your Sim's entire existence.

12 Cheat: Free Real-Estate

The Willow Creek neighborhood map.

Are you in the market for a new house? Is your current house far too small but you can’t seem to afford something bigger? Well, look no further, as properties can be purchased completely free of charge when using one simple cheat.

Some players spend countless hours building up their Sims so that they can afford to live a comfortable life, but sometimes those hours – after building up several different Sim families – can take a toll on your passion for the game. By using the cheat code ‘FreeRealEstate on’ players will be able to purchase any house – empty or occupied– completely free of charge.

Sometimes, a little cheating is all you need to re-ignite your passion for the series, just make sure to enter testingcheats on before you try and grab yourself a free house.

11 Secret: Sylvan Glade

An aerial shot of Sylvan Glade
via carls-sims-4-guide.com

Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure as —just like the Forgotten Grotto in Oasis Springs— there is another secret location to be found within the game at Willow Creek. But this time, the secret location is a little bit different. Unlike the other hidden areas, Sylvan Glade can be accessed by any Sim — even without any special requirements.

RELATED: Sims 4: The Ultimate List Of All The Hidden Lots You Can Discover

If you're thinking about traveling to this secret location, be sure to pack light, as the trip won't take very long at all. Sylvan Glade can be accessed by traveling to Crick Cabana and looking for the big, mystical-looking tree. After watering the tree multiple times, the option to finally ‘Explore’ will appear. After another series of questions, you will finally arrive at your secret destination.

Not only do you have Sylvan Glade to yourself, but you also have a perfect – yet, reliable– location to catch the valuable and rare Treefish.

10 Secret: The Death Flower

Sims 4 Seasons promotional shot with a sim flower arranging in the foreground.

Losing your favorite Sim is always hard, especially when it’s from unexpected events such fire, electrocution, or even the Cow Plant. But little do most people know, you can actually prevent the death of your loved ones entirely (without cheating)!

The Death Flower – a feature that was first introduced in The Sims 3– can be used to prevent the death of your favorite Sim. But there is a catch. Unlike The Sims 3, dead Sims cannot use the Death Flower to revive themselves, but instead, another Sim must give the flower to the Grim Reaper in order to bring the dead Sim back to life.

The Death Flower is a lifesaver –literally– and can be obtained by grafting a Pomegranate to an Orchid.

9 Cheat: Free Money

A money tree in a planter box.

We all love money – especially when it’s free. No matter how much you may deny it, money will generally make you happier. Without money, we wouldn’t be able to pay bills, afford houses, or even eat. So why should your Sims suffer the same cruel fate as the rest of us?

Thanks to the developers, players won’t have to make their Sims suffer, as cheats have been made available to make playing the game not only easier but also more fun. In order to activate cheats, press Control + Shift + C to toggle the console on and off. Many cheats will require you to type ‘testingcheats on’ followed by pressing Enter for them to work correctly.

Depending on how much you are willing to give to your Sim, Maxis has given the player two different money options. By typing ‘kaching’ your Sim will be given $1000, whereas ‘motherlode’ will supply your Sim with a whopping $50,000. You can also simply type money followed by a number to adjust your balance to a specific amount.

8 Secret: The Hermit Of Granite Falls

The secret hedge in Granite Falls that leads to the Hermit.

Pack your hiking gear and get ready for an adventure, as those that own the Outdoor Retreat game pack are in for quite the treat. It offers the opportunity to discover a hidden area and secret Sim. Hidden behind a cave in the Deep Woods of Granite Falls is a secret area that is home to the Hermit – an otherwise, secret Sim that is completely shut off from civilization.

As a requirement of the Outdoor Enthusiast Aspiration, players must locate and befriend this Sim. Befriending the Hermit does pay off though, as once the friendship reaches Good Friends status players can unlock and learn the Herbalism Recipe. This secret area is also a gold mine for fishing spots (the Mountain Lionfish is just one of the five different species available) and collecting gardening resources such as fruits and plant cuttings.

7 Secret: Alien Planet

A shot of the foliage on Sixam

Have you ever wanted to meet Aliens and explore an unknown planet? Well now you can, because as we have already learned: the game's developer (Maxis) loves to create hidden areas for players to find. The Get to Work expansion pack is no exception as the game pack allows players to explore the new world of Sixam. This is a neat little reference to the game’s developer since Sixam is Maxis backward.

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The secret world of Sixam allows your Sim to meet Aliens and collect rare objects that can be taken back to your earth. What makes this area so secret and unknown is the fact that it can only be visited by Sims that have reached level 10 in Rocket Science or have joined and mastered the Scientist Career.

If traveling to an Alien planet wasn’t already cool enough you can even take home an Alien and make them part of your family.

6 Cheat: Fill Your Sims Needs

A sim family having a kava party on their deck in Sulani.

We all understand the struggle of trying to fill your Sims needs, as even the slightest hiccup can cause them to plummet. Needs are even harder to maintain when you have a family or even a job. Eventually, you'll begin to realize that there just isn’t enough time in the day to fulfill all of your Sims needs and wishes. Fortunately —unlike real life– you can alter your Sims needs with a simple line of code and a few clicks of the mouse.

You can prevent your Sim's needs (or even the entire neighborhood's) from decaying, by ensuring that ‘testingcheats on’ is activated and simply shift-clicking your Sim. After shift-clicking, just follow the prompts and there you have it, non-decaying needs – and a much happier Sim.

5 Secret: The Cow Plant

A sim getting a little too close to a cowplant.
via youtube.com

The Cow Plant is easily one of the most intriguing hidden features within The Sims 4 as this elusive beast is not only hard to track down, but also tricky to grow. For those feeling brave and adventurous, you can find the Cow Plant through fishing, space exploration, digging for treasure, or even when harvesting from a dragonfruit that has been grafted with a snapdragon.

Luckily for those without a Green Thumb, the Cow Plant does not require any special requirements and only has three different stages of growth - Horn, Stem, and then the full-grown plant. When the Cow Plant has matured, several unique interactions will be unlocked, such as Feed, Play, Eat Cake, Collect Sample, Milk, and Pet. Beware though, if the Cow Plant isn’t fed every 12 hours, you may just become its dinner!

4 Secret: The Forgotten Grotto

The lake in the forgotten grotto.

There is nothing better than uncovering a hidden location that only you have access too. There's something about the peace and tranquility of these areas that really make them feel quite special. Hidden within each world of The Sims 4 are hidden areas that can only be located upon achieving certain skill levels or simply through deep exploration.

Located in Oasis Springs, The Forgotten Grotto has two different entrances that can only be accessed by Sims that have level 10 in the Handiness skill. The entrances can be found in Desert Bloom Park –far behind the park– and also down the cliff behind the Landgraab Mansion. Just like any hidden area, the Forgotten Grotto comes with one unexpected surprise – the ability to fish in the only location that the Batfish can be found.

3 Cheat: Set Your Own Skill Levels

A sim sitting on a rocking chair and knitting.

One of the biggest factors in The Sims is time. Between getting your children ready for school, preparing your Sims needs before they head off to work, or simply trying not to starve to death, it quickly becomes apparent that you just don't have time to sit in front of a book for hours on end just to gain half a skill point.

RELATED: Sims 4: Everything You Need To Know About Skill Cheats

This is where the skill cheat comes in handy, as it allows you to fast track the process without ever having to touch another book again. Just like the money cheat, follow the necessary steps to activate cheats and then type ‘stats.set_skill_level major_skill X’ – with ‘skill X’ being the skill you want to upgrade and X being the level you want it to be.

2 Secret: Hidden Traits & Rewards

Fitness Stuff promotional shot of sims using the climbing walls.

As we have learned so far, Maxis has a knack for hiding hidden features within the game that they haven’t previously announced. So it comes as no surprise that additional traits and rewards can be earned during gameplay that weren’t included in the Create a Sim editor.

What is most surprising about these hidden traits is the simple fact that they can significantly alter your Sims career or even their general day to day life. Some of these hidden traits include building extra skill when waking up on an early basis, selling items your Sim has created for more Simoleons, using your connections to start careers several levels ahead, and even the ability to build Fun while exercising and not lose Hygiene.

1 Secret: Skills

Two sims playing juice pong in the Foxbury common building.

Although secret skills have always been a part of The Sims series, this hidden feature still remains one of the most unknown features within the game. The Sims 4 is no exception, as the series is full of secret skills that most players are not even aware of such as Juice Pong, Bowling, Work Ethic, Sales, and even Maintenance.

Each of these secret skills has its own advantages that can significantly help your Sim. Hidden skills such as rock climbing give your Sims a much better chance of completing challenges, whereas maintenance helps Sims with jobs in retail by ensuring that stores are kept clean and sold out items are constantly restocked.

NEXT: Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle 8 Ways To Improve Your Eco Footprint (& 8 Ways To Industrialize Your Neighborhood)