How to Complete Sims 4 One Tile Box Challenge: Guidelines, Rules, Tips, and More

I’m always looking for fun challenges to switch up my gameplay, and I recently discovered the viral Sims 4 one tile box challenge. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any official rules and guidelines regarding the challenge, except what creators have recommended and suggested online. So, after thorough research, I’ve decided to create a detailed guideline for those who wish to complete the challenge.

What is The Sims 4 One Tile Box Challenge?

The Sims 4 One Tile Box Challenge is a fun and extreme building challenge whose premise is to trap your Sim in a box. The goal is simple: build a fully functional home for your Sim, starting with a single-tile box. Your Sim is never allowed to leave the box at any point.

This may sound nearly impossible, as your Sim has needs that can cause imminent death when not fulfilled. For instance, without a fridge, your Sim has no means to access food, and they can starve to death.

The challenge aims to push your creativity and problem-solving skills by trapping you in a box.

Challenge Rules

Before starting the challenge, your Sim must adhere to some essential gameplay rules. Note that I’ve compiled these Sim rules and regulations from different creators who have completed the challenge. Some rules were blurry, but I’ve tried to include the most common.

These are:

One Tile Box: You must start with a one-tile box and build tile by tile until you have a fully functional home.
No Front Door: Your Sim’s box cannot have a front door as they must be trapped inside for the entire duration of the challenge. However, some creators suggest that once the challenge is complete and you have a fully functional home, you can build a door.
Zero Funds: The maximum starting funds are zero, so before starting the challenge, use money cheats to set your Simoleons to zero. Just type “money 0” in the cheat console to do this.
No Cheats: Except for the zero funds cheat mentioned above, you’re not allowed to use any other cheats for the entire duration of the challenge. This means no need cheats to fill up your Sim’s bar or no money cheats to earn money.
No Outside Jobs: You’re not allowed to take any outside jobs at any time so as to make money gains difficult. Since you’re locked in a box, you must work from home and earn money that way.
No Convenient Traits: Some creators state that you’re not allowed to use convenient traits, such as Loner. This makes the challenge even more difficult.
One Sim: You can only use one Sim in the household.

In addition the the general gameplay rules, there are some building rules to adhere to:

Walls can be any height
You can’t build a house with a second floor or outdoor area. However, I’ve seen some players state that the latter is acceptable as long as it’s a fenced-off outdoor area. This means it must fit the space and prohibits communication with other Sims.
Some players state that the final home must be 32 tiles, while others say it must be 64 tiles. Since there isn’t any clear information about this, I recommend building a fully functional home with a kitchen, living area, bathroom, and bedroom, regardless of its size. However, it’s wiser to focus on a tiny home so you can complete the challenge quickly.
You don’t have to build a boring cube. just keep the final floor plan with all the essentials.

Challenge Goal

The goal of this challenge is simple:

Keep Your Sim Alive: Ensure all your Sim’s needs are met, from hunger and hygiene to social and bladder, without leaving the box. I’d also recommend turning aging off to prevent aging.
Build a Fully Functional House: You must build a fully functional house that is complete with all the basics, such as a kitchen, living area, bedroom, and toilet.
Become Successful: You must earn enough money from your work-from-home jobs to build a fully functional home.

The challenge will be complete once you’ve achieved all the goals mentioned above. The beauty of this challenge is that you can complete it in the base game. You don’t need any additional Expansion Packs.

Start the Challenge

Step 1: Build 1 x 1 Structure

Create your Sim in CAS and use the randomizer to assign traits. Move into an empty lot in any world and build a one-tile box before setting your funds to zero. The gameplay begins once your Simoleons are set to zero and your Sim is trapped in the box. You may place walls, but many players opt for an open-air design to maximize space.

Step 2: Take Selfies

Now, you’ll have to make money as soon as possible to expand your box. The easiest way to earn Simoleons at this stage is to take selfies. Just click on your phone, take selfies, and sell them. I recommend taking as many pictures as possible to sell them in bulk.

Step 3: Expand Box

Since you live in a 1 x 1 structure, your first priority should be expanding the box. Check the cost of expansion and use this to determine how much you need to earn from taking selfies. You don’t need to build an entire room, just enough space to start placing essential skill objects.

Step 3: Build Essentials

Remember, your Sim has needs that you must fulfill to ensure their survival. So, focus on building the essentials first. I recommend starting with a toilet, as the bladder is one of the needs that diminishes quickly. Once you have enough room and money, buy a toilet and add it to your box.

Second, buy a fridge. It’s possible for your Sim to starve to death in the Sims 4, and we don’t want this. Luckily, owning a fridge gives your Sim access to food without leaving the house.

Another utility you may want to consider is a place to clean up and wash. This can be as small as a sink or a shower. This ensures their hygiene needs remain fulfilled. You can buy a simple counter for your kitchen and add a sink.

Over time, add other essentials like a bed, trash can, sofa, cooker, etc., until you have a fully functional house.

Step 4: Look for More Ways to Make Money

Unfortunately, taking selfies isn’t a sustainable and efficient way to make money to complete the challenge. Many players recommend becoming a painter. It makes more Simeleons as you level up the skill. Just buy the essentials, such as easels, brushes, and paint, to get started.

Other ways to make money include:

Making music
Opening presents and selling them
Rummaging through decoration boxes

I’m sure there are more ways to make money from home in the Sims 4 as long as you do it within the acceptable confines of your home.

Step 5: Pay Bills

You still have to pay your bills even though you’re trapped inside a box. Use your phone to check for any unpaid bills and pay them ASAP. This way, your utilities don’t get shut down over unpaid bills.

Step 6: Build Social Skills

Since your Sim can’t leave the box to interact with other Sims, you must turn to social media to improve your social skills. You can either post stories or join chat rooms. You can also buy a cheap computer and join forums to engage with other Sims.

Tips and Tricks for Success

Here are some essential tips and tricks for successfully completing the Sims 4 one-tile box challenge:

Don’t be afraid to sell objects to fulfil certain needs. For instance, I had to sell my easel at night to buy a bed since my energy needs were low. In the morning, I sold the bed and then repurchased the easel to continue making cash.
Test your build by having a Sim use all the objects to ensure functionality. If they can’t reach something, adjust placements until everything works smoothly.
Select a Tiny Home Residential Lot Type to gain specific perks like lower bills and increased relationship gains.
Check the primary progress occasionally to ensure you’re up to par with everything.
Hold down the Alt key for precise positioning of objects.
Use wall-mounted sinks, TVs, and shelves to free up floor space.

Conclusion

The final goal is to build a fully functional home, and once you have this, you’ve completed the Sims 4 one tile box challenge. Give it a try and see how long your Sim can thrive in the smallest home possible!

Please let me know down below if you faced any hiccups and what you thought about the challenge.