Which Sims 4 packs are worth it?
What are the best Sims 4 expansions?Now thatThe Sims 4base game has gone free-to-play, you might be thinking of dropping some cash on the game’s still-very-much-not-free DLC. With 67 official add-on packs and counting at the time of writing — ranging from full expansions to mini kits, and with more still on the way — focusing on what suits your interests is essential, assuming you don’t have the luxury of an unlimited budget.
If you’re finding the selection a bit bewildering, we’re here to help. This page acts as a buyer’s guide forThe Sims 4DLC, giving a full breakdown of every pack’s costs; an overview of what you get with each pack you purchase; and some recommendations based on a mix of targeted play-styles, community favourites, and personal preferences.
How much does all The Sims 4 DLC cost?
There are four levels of DLC available for The Sims 4:expansion packs,game packs,stuff packs, andkits. We’ll go into detail about what each type offers further down the page, but for now, here are the raw costs in all their horrifying glory:
- At the time of writing, Steam and Epic Games Store list the base game as free but still sells the Digital Deluxe Upgrade for the base game for £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99. However, the official EA store no longer lists the Digital Deluxe Upgrade, instead redirecting its listing on their store towards the F2P base game.
Now I should stress, DLC packs for The Sims 4 are frequently discounted, so it’s well worth waiting for a sale to avoid splurging the full cost and emptying your wallet. But even with regular discounts, it’s still a very expensive proposition if you’re inclined to be a completionist.
Therefore, we will also be giving you our recommendations forthe best Sims 4 packsand which ones you might want to skip.
Expansion packs are the big bits of DLC for The Sims 4 which include the major new features. Currently there are 13 expansion packs available to buy.
Each expansion pack has a retail price of £34.99 / $39.99 / €39.99, but they are frequently discounted. To find out what is in each expansion pack, click the expansion pack name below to be redirected to a list of its key features.
Expansion packs are the priciest pieces of DLC for The Sims 4, but they also add the most content. If you’re interested in their features, it’s fair to say that any of the expansion packs are worth investing in.
My personal favourites areGet Together,Seasons,City Living,Island Living, andCats & Dogs. These packs all include new gameplay features that in my opinion are must-haves for a more immersive Sims 4 experience even if you’re playing a save that isn’t focused on them. (Except for Island Living, which just adds a really, really pretty world, seriously it’s gorgeous.) Seasons introduces a bunch of wonderful quality-of-life additions like variable weather and scheduled holidays that will literally change the way you play no matter where you are, while the others add sizeable new worlds for you to muck around in while you test drive their new features.
Of the more recent expansions,Cottage LivingandHorse Ranchdeliver on some long-time fan requested features, wrapped in cute and timely aesthetics.Growing Togetheris a must-have too, with its lovely new world and introduction of some gamechanging relationship overhauls. But as ever with brand-new add-ons, I recommend hanging fire on that purchase until you can pick it up on sale and/or a few patches have been released to iron out the inevitable Day One bugs.
As I said above, there are no bad choices for The Sims 4 expansion packs if you’re interested in what they offer. I will say though that if you aren’t planning to focus on their specific gameplay additions, you can probably afford to skipGet to Work,Discover University, andGet Famous.
Game packs are DLC that are generally lighter in new features than expansion packs, but they’re still a little more substantial than stuff packs. Currently there are 12 game packs available, each featuring a range of stuff for your Sims to do, from visiting vacation destinations to solving a mystery about your local neighbourhood.
Game packs have a retail price of £17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99, but see frequent discounts. To find out what is in each game pack, click the game pack name below to be redirected to a list of its key features.
Most of the game packs are pretty good, and which you like best will probably depend on your play style. I like storytelling, often with a supernatural twist, so my top picks areStrangerVille,Realm of Magic,Vampires, andWerewolves. Players who prefer generational and family-oriented gameplay swear byParenthood, while if Build Mode is your bag thenDream Home Decoratorwas literally made with you in mind.
On the subject of game packs to skip,Dine Outprobably isn’t worth a look unless you specifically want your Sims to run a restaurant business, since the actual dining out part just ends up not being much fun. In a similar vein, theStar Wars: Journey to Batuutie-in is a decent lite-RPG total conversion if you’re a Star Wars fan, but probably won’t do much for you otherwise.
Stuff packs are the smallest full DLC packs for The Sims 4. Generally you’ll only get new objects and clothing options in each one, but there are exceptions that include a new career, new skills, and more. Since there are a whopping 18 stuff packs, it can be confusing which ones are worth investing in.
Stuff packs normally cost £9.99 / $9.99 / €9.99, but you’ll likely find them discounted regularly. If you want to know what’s in each stuff pack, click the stuff pack name below to be redirected to a list of its key features.
Since there are so many stuff packs available, it can be hard to work out which ones are the best buys. I personally prefer a little extra gameplay along with my new CAS and Build Mode items, so my top picks areTiny Living Stuff(which adds micro-home building challenges),Paranormal Stuff(which adds the Paranormal Investigator career), the real-world brand tie-inMoschino Stuff(which adds the Fashion Photographer freelance career), andNifty Knitting Stuff(which adds knitting as a major new skill with unique craftable items).
Beyond those four, which stuff packs you prefer will probably come down to your personal aesthetic and which areas of Build Mode you’re eager to expand. A word of caution if you’re thinking of buyingMy First Pet Stuff, though: you also need to have the Cats & Dogs expansion installed in order to use all its features. This is currently the only DLC for The Sims 4 for which there’s a prerequisite beyond owning the base game, and it’s something to bear in mind.
Kits cost £4.99 / $4.99 / €4.99, and given their small price tag they’ve yet to receive any promotional discounts. If you want to know what’s in each kit, click the kit name below to be redirected to a list of its key features.
I have to be honest here that I was pretty anti the introduction of kits to The Sims 4. The absence of micro-transactions from the game was, in my opinion, one of the biggest improvements over its predecessor, and kits seem like a soft reintroduction of the controversial Sims 3 Store content.
However, my slight dislike of the concept doesn’t mean I think the contents are all bad.Bust the Dust Kitadds brand new gameplay items (vacuum cleaners) and two new aspirations for your Sims to pursue. Sure, they’re both centred around cleaning your house, but if increasing the realism of this life sim gameplay is what you’re into then I get the appeal. Meanwhile,Courtyard Oasis Kitincludes some very pretty Moroccan-inspired Build Mode items, adding a welcome touch of variety in a game which is often heavily focused around North America, Europe, and Japan.
Personally, though, I’m all about theIncheon Arrivals Kit, which at long last allows you to rock a choice of stylish trench coats in The Sims 4 without requiring you to wait (or cheat) to unlock the Criminal career reward. TheEveryday Clutter Kithas also caught my eye: weird as it sounds to pay a fiver to let my Sims be a bit messier around the house, I’m a big fan of using clutter to make my Sims' homes feel more lived-in, so the more options there the better. Finally, I do like theDécor to the Max Kit: its aesthetic is certainly not for everyone, but it’s perfect for re-creating eclectic stately homes. Just look at that flocked wallpaper!
You’re probably looking at all of the DLC available and wondering how you’re ever going to afford all of it. The good news is that, unless you’re a committed completionist, it’s probably not worth buyingeveryDLC pack ever released; and there are ways to reduce the cost to buy them if you so wish.
You can purchasebundlesfor The Sims 4 viaEA’s official site, to be redeemed on the platform of your choosing. Bundles have received an overhaul since the base game went free-to-play, and at the time of writing, the option to build your own bundle still hasn’t made a return. You can, however, purchase a pre-made bundle consisting of one Expansion Pack, one Game Pack, and one Stuff Pack for £44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99 (meaning that you essentially get the Game Pack for free). The following bundles are currently available:
TheEpic Games Storeoffers the same three bundles (Decorator’s Dream,Everyday Sims, andPet Lovers) as the official site, at the same standard price but with frequent discounts that bring the cost in line with that of a single expansion pack. They also featured a time-limited Daring Lifestyle bundle (including Jungle Adventures, Luxury Party Stuff, and Fashion Street Kit) as one of theirfree gameofferings, but this is currently unavailable although it may make a return.
If you own the game onSteam, you have access to one slightly differentplatform-exclusive bundlethat currently contains the Seasons EP alongside the Vampires and Realm of Magic GPs. This bundle retails for £53.22 / $59.97 / €59.97 (that’s a 25% total discount).
Below are all of The Sims 4 DLC packs listed by type, along with a quick summary of all their key features to help you choose which you’d like to check out.
We hope that this guide has been helpful to you in deciding which Sims 4 DLC packs you want to expand your collection with. If you’re looking for more Sims 4 info, check out our comprehensive guide toThe Sims 4 cheats and codes.
