If you’re looking for fun things to do in sims 4, look no further! Here are over 25 sims 4 gameplay ideas you can use whenever you get bored.
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Maybe you’re a long-time sims player like me or a brand new player who just got the base game for free.
Either way, it can be hard to keep The Sims 4 interesting all the time!
Sometimes it just gets boring.
But don’t worry because today, I’m sharing with you a list of things that you can do when you get bored with the sims.
It includes everything from base game gameplay ideas to ideas for players who LOVE mods and custom content. There’s truly something for everyone!
Sims 4 Gameplay Ideas
Here are the best gameplay ideas to get you hooked on The Sims 4!
1. Play a Save File
One of the best ways to add newness and variety to your gameplay is with a save file!
Simmers add new lots, new families, and redo the worlds then upload these for other players to download.
One of my absolute favorite sims 4 save files to play is Simlicy’s save file. The incredible lots that she builds always spark ideas for stories! I talk all about it in my list of the 31 Best Sims 4 Save Files.
Or if you’re feeling extra creative, try creating your own save file!
2. Go CC Shopping & Make Beautiful Sims in CAS
Here’s a little secret: sometimes I go cc shopping, download TONS of cc, and never even end up playing the sims 4. 🙈
It’s just too much fun looking at all the cc that simmers create and putting it in my cc folder.
And it’s one of the reasons I started this blog because I’m that obsessed with sims 4 custom content and mods.
If you want to know where I find all of my cc for sims 4, here are my favorite cc websites.
Or if you prefer curated lists of the best sims 4 cc with easy-to-download links, then check out all of my custom content lists!
3. Play The Bob Pancakes vs Rob Waffles Challenge
If you’re looking for a unique storyline idea for the sims 4, then you’ve found it!
My Bob Pancakes vs Rob Waffles mini challenge is different than ANY other sims 4 challenge I’ve ever played and leads to some pretty hilarious and interesting gameplay.
You can find all of the details linked below.
4. Start a New Sims 4 Challenge
Speaking of challenges, I have a list of over 75 challenges so you’ll seriously never run out of fun things to do in sims 4!
The list includes everything from build challenges to CAS challenges to legacy challenges. Boredom who?
5. Create your Favorite TV Show Characters in CAS
Sometimes it’s fun to just mess around in Create-a-Sim. Why not try and recreate your favorite tv show characters in The Sims?
6. Have a Sims Photoshoot
Do you have a favorite sim or sim family? Why not do a photoshoot?
You can even edit your sims screenshots and create gorgeous graphics & images to share on Pinterest, Tumblr, or Twitter!
Before starting your photoshoot, I would download a few things to make your photos look even better:
Then after you take your in-game screenshots, you can edit the photos in something like Canva.
Canva is SO easy to use compared to expensive software like Photoshop. It’s how I edit all of my images for this blog!
(P.s. if you don’t know how to use custom poses, I have a super simple how-to guide HERE!)
7. Download Gameplay Mods
Mods are the BEST way to make your game feel new again!
They give you new, and most importantly, FREE content to explore in the sims 4.
If you need help finding mods to download, here are the mods I can’t play without!
8. Live Out Your Dream Life
When I was a kid, this was my go-to way of playing The Sims.
Back then it was Sims 2, but this is still totally applicable to the sims 4!
I would create myself in the game, envisioning what I wanted my future to be like, and play my “dream life.”
So for example, whoever my crush was at the time would become the sim I would marry and have kids with.
Then I would start my own business because that’s always been my dream.
Finally, I would build and decorate my super expensive dream home.
And of course, I would cheat and give myself ALL the simoleons!😂
9. Buy a New Expansion Pack
Nothing reignites interest in playing like new content!
If you have the extra funds (and haven’t already bought them all!) purchase an expansion pack and spend time playing through all of the new features!.
To make sure you’re not wasting your money, here are the best sims 4 expansion packs ranked by a real player.
10. Create a Music Video
PLEASE tell me someone remembers the glory days of sims music videos and this national treasure of a sims 2 music video featuring Avril Lavigne’s classic song Girlfriend!?
I can’t even tell you how many times I watched that growing up.😂
I think these music videos would be even more fun to do in sims 4 with the gorgeous graphics, all of the custom poses, and even deco sims to fill up the backgrounds!
11. Try to Complete all Sims 4 Achievements
Because they quit adding to it quite a few expansions ago, some of you may not even know that sims 4 achievements are a thing!
To find them while in game, click on the menu in the right-hand corner and click on Achievements.
This will bring up an entire list of things to complete in the sims.
This is an especially great idea for new players who just have the sims 4 base game, because you can do nearly everything on the list without any packs.
12. Start a Legacy Challenge
If you’re feeling bored with the sims 4, you can always count on a good legacy challenge to get you out of your gameplay slump.
These challenges are long, so you’ll have lots to do!
Typically, the premise is to follow one family through ten generations while building up their wealth and completing goals along the way.
Here are the 31+ Most Popular Sims 4 Legacy Challenges!
13. Wants Only Gameplay
Wants & Fears have finally been added to The Sims 4! You may remember that these used to be called whims.
I find it super fun to let my sims run the show and try complete as many of their wants as possible!
To make this gameplay idea even better, I highly recommend downloading The Hopes & Fears mod. This mod will add a larger variety of wants to your game.
14. Build a House
One of the best sims 4 ideas for those that are super creative is to build!
Some simmers are extremely talented when it comes to building lots and houses, and maybe you’re one of them!
Build something new, unique, funky, cool, or interesting to look at.
And if you need some inspiration, you can check out my list of 101+ Sims 4 Build ideas!
15. Create the Perfect Holiday Calendar
Holidays are a fun way for your sims to spend their days! And they also make gameplay fun for you too.
You’ll have tasks to complete and cute decorations to put up.
Take the time to set up your perfect sims holiday calendar and use it every time you play the sims from now on!
If you need some help with this, I’ve written a list of sims holiday ideas!
16. Play a Family with all Lot Challenges Enabled
This sims 4 challenge is pure CHAOS.
Load up your game as usual, create a family, and move them into a lot they can afford.
Now go into the lot challenges panel and enable ALL OF THEM!
Then try to survive. Good luck!
And if you want, maybe record or stream the challenge, because not only is it fun to play, but it’s soo fun to watch!
17. Download Custom Aspirations & Traits
Create totally unique sims and tell all new stories with custom aspiration and trait mods!
If you don’t want to waste your precious gameplay time digging around the internet to find good ones to download, check out my list of the absolute best sims 4 custom traits and the custom aspirations you need in your sims game.
18. Try to Woohoo Everyone
This one is self-explanatory.
Have your sim attempt to woohoo every sim that crosses their path.🔥
You could even turn this into the 100 baby challenge if you want.
19. Play the It’s Complicated Challenge
If you love fun sims 4 storylines, then here’s another challenge you have to try!
In this one, you’ll decide the fate of a dysfunctional family while playing through everything in the Relationship & Pregnancy Overhaul Mod.
Things get pretty complicated.
For all of the challenge details, click the link below.
20. Decorate a Lot with Custom Content Furniture
There’s nothing that amazes me more than the furniture cc that custom content creators make. It all looks SO good!
Why not spend some time downloading incredible sims 4 build cc and decorating a house worthy of being put in Architectural Digest?
21. Download & Play Custom Scenarios
I LOVE scenarios! They added a fun new gameplay element to the sims 4 that I wasn’t expecting.
If you’ve already played through all of the scenarios that the sims has put out, try playing a custom scenario!
Or if you missed one of the time-limited scenarios, use this mod by TwistedMexi to play it now.
22. Give your Sims Total Control
Create a new sims family. The more dysfunctional the better.
Maybe add some conflicting traits, toddlers, and pets.
Then move them into a lot, turn on full autonomy, and let the game run.
See what drama ensues as your sims do whatever they want!
23. Build a House from a Real Floor Plan
If you LOVE creating realistic builds in the sims, then use my list of floor plans to build something incredible!
And if you’re feeling brave, share it on the gallery or Tumblr so others can download it.
24. Play The Woohoo Your Way to The Top Challenge
If you have The Sims 4 Get Famous expansion pack, you have to try this challenge!
Create a fame-obsessed sim who will do anything to be in the limelight.
For all of the challenge details, click the link below.
25. Download New Careers
Something I LOVE doing in the sims is having my sims work their way up in a career. It must be the achiever in me.
If you’re the same but have gotten bored with the jobs that come with the game, then download some new ones to play through!
I have an entire list of Sims 4 Job Mods & Active Career Mods you can download.
26. Play The Old Sims Games Instead
This may be an unconventional suggestion for sims 4 gameplay ideas, but hey, you can always trust me to be real with you!
Maybe it’s just time to take a break from the sims 4 and play the old sims games instead.
A nice break could reignite your love for the game and spark some ideas.
Try playing The Sims 2 or The Sims 3 again (or for the first time!)
Honestly, my favorite sims games were always the offshoots they put out like Sims life stories, pet stories, castaway stories, and especially The Sims Medieval!
Hopefully, after reading this list of ideas, you’re no longer bored! I know how frustrating it can be to find yourself uninterested in playing your absolute favorite game.
For even more sims 4 ideas, check out all of my sims 4 challenge ideas or gameplay posts.
This post was all about Sims 4 Gameplay Ideas.
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Kels
Monday 15th of July 2024
Hi, I have no idea if you’re gonna see this but I just wanted to let you know that a channel on YouTube called Maple Simie has stolen the thumbnail you have used for this article and another article and used it for their own videos. The reason I am saying it is stolen is that she has done this before to others and claims her thumbnails are the work of an graphic designer that she pays, but she claims that the person she uses doesn’t know anything about the sims. I’m telling you all this because its a recurring theme for her and she doesn’t take any responsibility or accountability for the stolen thumbnails and passes the blame onto an imaginary person and while she claims to be changing her thumbnails she has been known to delete comments and purposely ignore anyone who reaches out to her. The only known time she has replied to comments was when one of the YouTuber she stole from commented on her video asking for the thumbnail to be deleted and when that same YouTubers friends and community members reached out for an explanation after she deliberately only changed two of the four thumbnails that she had stole. I don’t want to cause unnecessary drama for her but I do want her to take accountability for her actions and that is why I am reaching out to you.
Juli
Saturday 27th of July 2024
Hi Kels - thanks so much for the heads up! I just went ahead and commented on the video that Maple Simie posted w/ our thumbnail. Really unfortunate, but happens a lot in this industry. Hopefully in the future Maple Simie will at least give us some attribution, but not holding my breath.
Willow
Friday 29th of March 2024
I've been playing since The Sims released in 2000 (I was 12!) and seeing the progression of where the series began, to the many in betweens, and to where it's at now, is amazing.
I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that there are people out there who weren't even alive during those first few Sims, and are only experiencing The Sims 4.
One of my favorites was The Sims Online (TSO). I paid the $10 fee each month (well, my mom did lol) and I played the crap out of that game. It was probably one of, if not my top, favorite one.
There are SO. MANY. THINGS. for TS4 now. Mods, the Gallery coming together into what it is now, and even the quirks and traits of the Sims ("cringe" as a trait now??? Whaaaat?!)
I definitely saved your post, and your main page, so I can keep up on your future posts :)
Keep up the amazing job!
Juli
Wednesday 15th of May 2024
Willow, Thank you so much for the kind words. I too was an original Sims player in 2000. It's comments like these that keep me going. I really appreciate your support!
Monique
Thursday 28th of September 2023
Why don’t y’all make it where the game doesn’t load to go right next door to visit a neighbor I know y’all can do it cause y’all did it want say for the sims 3
Juli
Wednesday 8th of November 2023
Thanks for the input Monique. Can you tell me which mod you are referring to, and I can direct you to the mod author?