Origin is running a massive sale on The Sims 4 expansion packs at the moment. If you’re looking to expand your collection, you’re probably which Sims 4 expansion pack is best? While that depends largely on your style of play, we had to wonder: what would The Sims 4 expansion packs be like if their worlds were impacted by a global pandemic?
Just to be clear (seriously, just in case) the blurbs and the verdicts here are meant as an imagined review. The overviews contain real information about what is included in all the Sims 4 expansion packs.
The Sims 4: Get to Work
Good news for The Sims 4 Get to Work expansion pack – the Sims are all essential workers so their careers in the Magnolia Promenade neighbourhood added with this expansion will continue as usual. The Get To Work Sims 4 expansion pack adds the active Doctor, Detective, or Scientist careers.
Hospital births introduced by The Sims 4 Get To Work Expansion pack is fine for Sims giving birth during the pandemic, but their partners will have to stay at home (a convenient excuse for some, perhaps).
Bad news for some others, though. The pack also introduced creating and running a retail business. Everything from bakeries, clothing boutiques, art galleries, bookstores and whatever else. Bad luck, though, those will have to shut under the early stages of lockdown.
On the bright side, the baking skill introduced with this pack will come in useful to pass the time during lockdown and get on the bread baking trend.
As for the aliens, we’re not sure how they respond to transmission of a virus, but we’re sure they’re ready to use human subjects to experiment.
Oh and how convenient that this pack introduces an illness system, huh?
Sims 4 Get To Work Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Cash register
- Chemical analyzer
- Chemistry lab
- Cloning machine
- Invention Constructor
- Mannequins
- Photo studio
- Satellite dish
- SimRay
- Vending machine
- Wormhole generator
- X-ray machine
New Lot assignment
- Retail
New Radio Station
- Easy Listening
- New Television Channel
- !#*%&$@% (Alien exclusive)
New Skill
- Baking
New Careers
- Detective
- Doctor
- Scientist
New Collectibles
- Geodes
- Plants
- Fang Flower
- Glow Orb
- Quill Fruit
- Metals
- Blutonium
- Solarium
- Crystals
- Crandestine
- Nitelite
Other New Features
- New secret lot: Sixam
- Hospital births
- Illness system
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Still playable with essential workers.
The Sims 4: Get Together
It’s a big fat NOPE for The Sims 4 Get Together Expansion during pandemic levels. Windenburg’s beautiful setting and clubs will mean preciously little during the age of social distancing and self-isolation. And those arcade machines and dance floors touched by multiple Sims’ hands? Ick.
But hey, you can always use the bonfire to just burn all your clothes and groceries to be sure they are virus-free, right?
Sorry for you, aspiring hipster-cafe owners, your dream of a coffee bar serving Flat Whites and other trendy treats will have to wait. Popularity-seeking Sims will have to use social media for attention just like the rest of us, but DJs might be able to get through this if they can find a way to stream their tunes to the world.
The emotional texts that come with the pack are ideal for feeling all the feels and frustration when there is just no certainty about the future post-pandemic.
Sims 4 Get Together Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Bonfire
- Closets
- Dance floors
- Dartboard
- Diving platforms
- DJ booths
- Don’t Wake the Llama
- Espresso bars
- Foosball table
- Multiplayer arcade machine
- Party bushes
New Lot Assignment
- Caf?
New Traits
- Dance Machine
- Insider
New Radio Stations
- Breakbeats (DJ booth)
- Chill Out (DJ booth)
- Chip Tune (DJ booth)
- Drum ‘n’ Bass (DJ booth)
- Groovin’ (DJ booth)
- Hip Hop (DJ booth)
- House (DJ booth)
- Machine (DJ booth)
- Noise (DJ booth)
- Remixes (DJ booth)
New Skills
- Dancing
- DJ Mixing
New Aspiration
- Leader of the Pack (Popularity)
Other New Features
- Sims can pick a nude outfit
- Emotional texts
- Natural pool colors
- Special Bar Nights & Happy Hours
- New foods and drinks exclusive to bars
- Barista and DJ NPCs
- Dance party social event
- New WooHoo locations: Closet and WooHoo bush
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Realistically grim – all that investment into things we just can’t do anymore.
The Sims 4: City Living
Grubby apartments and loud festivals are a no-go in pandemic land with The Sims 4 City Living expansion.
High rise living is bad news if you find yourself in the middle of a pandemic. And those neighbours and their noise disturbance will be much harder to stop now that you can’t just barge in or bang on the door at the risk of being confronted with somebody in a maid’s uniform and a wrestling mask.
The Politician career that comes with The Sims 4 City Living expansion is pandemic-tastic. Use the misery of San Myshuno’s residents to advance your career ? who cares about putting an end to the spread, right?
Buskers, though, will have to settle for playing to an audience of none until further notice. But at least there are gaming consoles to help pass all that newly found free time now that your Sims is unemployed.
The Sims 4 City Living expansion pack introduces Social Media as a career ? but influencers might find there’s not much to influence in a recession.
As for dying, Death by Pufferfish will the least of Sims worries when there’s a virus spreading like wildfire.
New Objects
- Basketball court
- Bubble bar
- Bubble bottles
- Busking area
- Fireworks
- Food stalls
- Game consoles
- Karaoke machine
- Keyboard
- Podium
- Street gallery
- Street vendor table
- Talking toilet
- Wall and ground murals
New Lot Assignments
- Arts center
- Karaoke bar
New Traits
- Unflirty
- Vegetarian
New Lot Traits
- Chef’s Kitchen
- Quake Zone
- Good Schools
- Mean Vibe
- Home Studio
- Sunny Aspect
- Cursed
- Grody
- Gremlins
- Penny Pixies
- Party Place
- Filthy
- Haunted
- Romantic Aura
- Great Soil
- Child’s Play
- On Ley Line
- Gnomes
New Radio Stations
- Spop
- Talk Radio
- World
New Television Channels
- Civic Public Access
- PolitiSim
- World Culture Network
New Skill
- Singing
New Aspiration
- City Native
New Careers
- Politician
- Critic
- Social Media
New Collectibles
- City Posters
- Snow Globes
- Fish
- Tuna
- Pufferfish
New Type of Death
- Death by Pufferfish
Other New Features
- Sims can visit rabbit-hole venues
- Street performing
- Spices
- Landlord and Vendor NPCs
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Absolutely perfect for a view of our dystopian future.
The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs
Good news! Sims won’t have to die miserable and alone because this pack adds furry friends to console them during social isolation.
The robot vacuum means you limit the risk of transmission if you have to share accommodation and one of you is more likely to comply with rules and regulations than the other.
The Vet Clinic and the Veterinarian career can be helpful for preventing economic ruin during a lockdown, if your Sims made good life choices and actually chose this as a career, obviously.
Sims 4 Cats & Dogs Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Cat condos
- Food bowls
- Food stalls
- Litter boxes
- Medicine vending machine
- Mouse hole
- Pet exam table
- Pet obstacle courses
- Pet surgery station
- Pet toy box
- Robot vacuum
- Scratching posts
- Vet crafting table
New Lot Assignment
- Vet clinic
New Traits
- Cat Lover
- Dog Lover
New Lot Traits
- Breeding Grounds
- Cat Friendly
- Cat Hangout
- Dog Friendly
- Dog Hangout
- Training Ground
New Radio Station
- Singer-Songwriter
New Skills
- Pet Training
- Veterinarian
New Aspiration
- Friend of the Animals
- .
New Collectibles
- Feathers
- Plants
- Catnip
- Madnip
- Napnip
- Nuzzlenip
Other New Features
- Stray pets
- Gourmet pet food
- Pet treats
- Simstagram accounts for pets
- Mystery boxes found by pets
- New WooHoo location: Brindleton Bay’s lighthouse
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Not great for realism play. A blessed relief if you want to escape reality.
The Sims 4: Seasons
Pick your season to be miserable in and disappoint your children with no presents during the holiday celebrations because nobody has any money. Increase the risk of your Sims becoming ill by being out in the snow without the appropriate outfit.
Perfect to experience the severe disappointment of bad life choices. A freelance flower arranging career or a gig as a gardener might have sounded like a good idea at the time, but it’s not much use now that nobody’s got any use for services, is it?
There is some good news, though. The bees will be much happier with pollution levels reduced thanks to the new work-from-home culture. So maybe there’s a side hustle selling (sanitised) honey?
Sims 4 Seasons Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Beekeeper box
- Christmas tree
- Flower arranging table
- Food stalls
- Holiday decorations box
- Kiddie pool
- Money tree
- Patchy the Straw Man
- Presents
- Scouting board
- Skating rinks
- Snowpals
- Sprinklers
- Swingsets
- Thermostat
- Umbrella racks
- Water balloon bucket
- Weather-controlling machine
New Aspiration Reward Traits
- Heat Acclimation
- Cold Acclimation
- Iceproof
- Waterproof
- Storm Chaser
New Radio Station
- Summer Strut
New Television Channels
- Weather Forecast
- Countdown to Midnight
New Skills
- Flower arranging
- Skating (secret skill)
New Careers
- Gardener
- Scout (afterschool activity)
New Collectibles
- Plants
- Begonia
- Christmas Rose
- Crocus
- Dahlia
- Holly
- Snowdrop
- Green Bean
- Bell Pepper
- Green Peas
New Types of Death
- Death by Flowers
- Death by Freezing
- Death by Lightning
- Death by Overheating
Other New Features
- Outerwear clothing
- Mud/Snowball/Water balloon fights
- Holiday crafts
- Grand meals
- Gift giving
- Singing holiday songs
- Making snow angels
- Taking showers in the rain
- Playing in the rain
- Lightning bending
- Father Winter and Flower Bunny NPCs
- New WooHoo location: Leaf pile
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Great for perpetual disappointment all year round and to teach children the realities of miserable holidays being a fact of life. Fortunately, you can still countdown to midnight by socially distancing and tuning into the TV.
The Sims 4: Get Famous
Oh dear. Seems like narcissism isn’t such a good thing, after all, is it? The studios are closed, reward season won’t happen and before you know it, you are a has-been who everyone has forgotten.
But hey, you’ve got that lavish mansion in Del Sol Valley with plenty of objects for the repo-people to come and repossess, so at least you won’t end up homeless and evicted. That said, you might find the money vault useful for self-isolating or hiding everything to stop it being repossessed.
Sims 4 Get Famous Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Bouncer doors
- Celestial Crystal Crown
- Drones
- Green screens
- Money vault
- Music station
- Styling station
- Sleeping pods
- Stage props
- Vault door
- Video station
- Wardrobe platform
- Water garden
New Trait
- Self-Absorbed
New Lot Traits
- Hottest Spot in Town
- Up-and-Coming Hotspot
- Celebrity Home
New NPCs
- Bouncers
- Make-up artists
- Directors
- Actors
- A-Listers
- Fans
- Paparazzi
New Skills
- Acting
- Media production
New Aspirations
- World-Famous Celebrity
- Master Actor
New Careers
- Actor (active career)
- Drama Club (afterschool activity)
New Pre-made Townies
- Baby Ariel
- Kayla Flemming
- Izzy Fabulous
- Brytani Cho
- Dustin Broke
- Dirk Dreamer
- Holly Alto
Other New Features
- Reputation
- Scars and gold teeth in Create a Sim
- Blind dates
- Giving residence keys to good friends
- New WooHoo locations: Sleeping pod and money vaul
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Great for those who want to revel in how much a pandemic levels everyone.
The Sims 4: Island Living
Like many ilands during a global pandemic, Sulani is likely to be largely isolated from the outbreaks. Because of its distance from most places and the travel restrictions in place, Sims here will mostly carry on as normal.
And even during those early stages of lockdown restrictions, at least it can be done on your beachfront property while basking in the sun.
When the world has gone to total hell in a handcart, Sims on Sulani can continue living their self-sufficiency life with their fish traps and even continue making a living through the part-time fisherman career.
Sims 4 Island Living Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Beach supplies vending machine
- Beach towels
- Bonfire
- Canoes
- Fish traps
- Float loungers
- Food stalls
- Swings
- Water scooters
New Lot Assignment
- Beach
New Traits
- Child of the Islands
- Child of the Ocean
New Lot Traits
- Oceanic Paradise
- Island Spirits
- Volcanic Activity
New Radio Station
- Island Radio
New Aspiration
- Beach Life (Location)
New Career
- Conservationist
New Part-Time Jobs
- Diver
- Fisherman
- Lifeguard
New Collectibles
- Plants
- Coconut
- Pineapple
- Taro Root
- Kava Root
- Seashells
- Tropical Fish
- Buried Treasure
- Underwater Photos
Other New Features
- Ocean swimming
- Residential beach lots
- Pier ladders
- Building sand castles
- Dolphins
- Sharks
- Turtles
- Seagulls
- Snorkeling
- Floating
- Suntanning/Sun burning
- Volcanic activity, such as eruptions
- Odd jobs
- Festivals
- Elemental spirits
- Kava parties
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: As long as the volcano doesn’t erupt and completely destroy the island, Sulani is one of the preferred places to be during crisis times. Mind you, a this point a volcanic eruption wiping out an entire planet doesn’t seem like the worst thing that could happen.
The Sims 4: Discover University
University is closed, so Sims can enjoy the stress of not only being broke and having nothing to do – but not having a degree all while student debt mounts. The catastrophic meltdown might not be exclusive to Servo anymore.
Sims 4 Discover University Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Bathroom stalls
- Bicycles
- Cafeteria station
- Communal shower
- Juice keg
- Mini-fridge
- Personal storage chest
- Ping-pong table
- Quadcopter
- Soccer ball
New Lot Assignments
- Foxbury Commons
- UBrite Commons
- University Housing
New Lot Traits
- Study Spot
- University Student Hang Out
New Aspiration
- Academic (Knowledge)
New Skills
- Research & Debate[4]
- Robotics
New Careers
- Education
- Engineer
- E-Sports Competitor (afterschool activity)
- Law
- Soccer Team Player (afterschool activity)
New Life State
- Servo
New Types of Death
- Catastrophic Meltdown (Servos only)
Other New Features
- Facial piercings
- Minimalistic tattoos
- Repo-people
- Roommates
- Scholarships
- Secret society
- Shower WooHoo
- Skill classes
- Student loans
- Student organizations
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: So many communal activities, so many restrictions on movement. Practically useless.
The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle
Thank goodness for the social distancing regulations in Evergreen Harbor. Those annoying activists won’t be in your face all the time anymore. Just remember that whichever Neighbourhood Action Plan was enacted at the start of lockdown will be the one you are stuck with for at least a month.
If you chose the dystopian route, not only will Sims have to battle a virus – but the environmental challenges that affect them, too.
Crafty Sims have an ideal opportunity to preach the way of recycling and when the world collapses and all power grids go down, those solar panels and wind turbines won’t look so silly anymore.
The community lots can be repurposed and converted into cost-effective community housing taking this from the gentrification station pack to a vision of a Utopian future in the year 3 968.
Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Expansion: Quick overview
New Objects
- Candle-making station
- Community voting board
- Dew collector
- Dumpster
- Fabricator
- Hydroponic garden planter
- Juice fizzing machine
- Fuel-powered generator
- Insect farm
- Recycler
- Solar panels and solar-panelled roofing
- Wind turbine
- Vertical garden planter
New Lot Assignment
- Community space
New Traits
- Freegan
- Green fiend
- Maker
- Recycle disciple
New Lot Traits
- Eco Lot
- Geothermal
- Landfill Lot
- Natural Well
- Reduce and Recycle
New Radio Station
- Americana
New Aspirations
- Eco Innovator
- Master Maker (Creativity)
New Career
- Civil designer
New Career Branch
- Crafter branch for the freelancer career
New Skills
- Fabrication
- Juice fizzing
New Types of Death
- Death by beetles
- Death by being swarmed by flies
New Weather Type
- Acid rain
New WooHoo Location
- Dumpster
Other New Features
- Dumpster diving
- Fizzy juice crafting
- Furniture making
- Influence
- Selling surplus water and electricity for reduced bills and profit
- Neighbourhood action plans
Sims 4 pandemic verdict: Perfectly dystopian and ideal to further self-sufficiency. Introverts rejoice at the options this pack offer to never have to engage with another Sim in person (from a distance or not) ever again.