The Sims 4 is the fourth main installment of one of the most popular life simulators and cozy games in the world. While all previous versions, even without DLCs, were paid, the base game of TS4 has been available to download completely free of charge for several years now.
Really, is Sims 4 free? Yes! Today, we will comprehensively answer this and numerous other questions – we’ll explain the mechanics, discuss what to do in Sims 4 without any expansions, and whether it’s worth downloading this game. Keep reading!
The Phenomenon of The Sims Series
On January 31, 2025, The Sims series celebrated its 25th birthday. The first game in the series was released in 2000 and became the best-selling PC game within its first two years. While there were other life sims available at the time (such as Little Computer People from 1985), none approached the concept as comprehensively and in such detail as The Sims.
Players quickly fell in love with a title that allowed them to personalize the characters they played with (in a very limited way by today’s standards, though it’s worth remembering that in the 1990s and 2000s, character customization in games was not the rule). The game offered a great deal of freedom in customizing surroundings and attending to the characters’ needs and relationships with others.
These very mechanisms are what make The Sims series so compelling. From the second installment onwards, the games have offered significant character customization options, freedom in building and decorating homes (limited only by in-game funds, called Simoleons, and some rules defining the game’s physics), and complete autonomy in making decisions and creating your own storylines.
Released in 2014 for PC and later in 2017 for PS4 and Xbox One, The Sims 4 is the most technologically advanced installment of the series to date. The character creator offers vast possibilities, the building tools are extensive, and the gameplay opportunities are virtually limitless.
What to Do in Sims 4?
Since the release of The Sims 4 and its expansions, many years have passed, and you’re likely aware that a plethora of DLCs and expansions have been created for this title. These expansions add various accessories, from hairstyles and outfits to home furnishings and neighborhood decor. Other packs introduce narrative threads and features such as pets, mythical creatures, additional career or school options, cities, holiday resorts, and much more.
Each of these expansions brings something new to the game and creates hundreds of new scenarios. However, even the base game alone provides plenty of content. So, what can you do in the free version of The Sims 4?
The fun begins with creating your family (or a single Sim if you prefer playing with just one character). You can choose from dozens of body types, facial shapes, eye shapes, and more. Additionally, you can use sliders and the mouse to adjust the size, placement, or shape of various body parts, enabling you to create highly diverse characters. Of course, you can also choose pre-made options. On top of that, you can assign unique traits, preferences, and aspirations to your characters.
When starting the game, you can either choose one of the pre-made houses (and modify it later) or build one from scratch using hundreds of available furnishings and accessories. After that, you can essentially do whatever you want. Send your Sims to work or school, tend to garden, practice music or painting, pursue a career and complete related tasks, or have your Sims earn money only for their basic needs.
You can also opt for complete self-sufficiency by building a house without utilities and having your Sim gather food independently. The possibilities are endless! While the game may lack the thrill of a ghostly nighttime visit, the risk of being bitten by a vampire, or the joy of owning a cat or dog, the base game still offers a lot of entertainment.
Sims have always needed food and shelter, as well as basic needs like hygiene and fun, represented by meters that players must fill. However, The Sims 4 introduced additional emotions and moods, which further enrich gameplay and sometimes disrupt your plans for a Sim, making the game even more engaging.
Your characters can feel happy and energized, making them eager to complete tasks, but they can also feel sad, scared, unwell, or even nauseous. These states influence their willingness to cooperate with the player and interact with other NPCs. In The Sims 4, you can have enemies who might start fights during every encounter, and phobias that can prevent your Sim from participating in certain activities.
Is It Worth Downloading Free Sims 4?
If you’re still wondering whether it’s worth downloading the base version of The Sims 4 for free and are worried that you might get bored without expansions, rest assured. Even the base game offers countless hours of entertainment. Here are a few sample scenarios you can play out:
Self-Sufficient Hermit
Create a creative Sim who loves nature and has a green thumb. Build a house without essential services (using equipment that doesn’t require electricity or water) and provide a space for growing crops.
To eat, your Sim will have to fish or grow fruits and vegetables (or sneak hot dogs from parks). Bills will be minimal, and to maintain the parcel, your Sim will need to earn money by selling treasures or paintings, or performing for tips. Will they survive without modern conveniences?
Opposite Twins
Design twins with entirely opposite preferences, ambitions, and traits. Decorate their home to reflect their dreams and goals (yes, in The Sims 4, Sims indicate what they’d like to have in their homes), and lead their careers in opposing directions. Then, watch the chaos unfold. MWAHAHA!
Will your Sims maintain a positive family relationship, or will every meeting in the shared living room end in a brawl?
Rags to Riches
Create a young adult with the ambition to become wealthy. Start them in a tiny home that meets only their basic needs. Depending on their traits and chosen field, build their career from scratch.
Make your Sim live frugally – avoid fulfilling any of their whims initially and focus on saving as they slowly build their fortune and career. Develop their skills in many areas. For instance, have them repair broken appliances, learn painting, writing, cooking, gardening, or public speaking. Over time, their mastered skills will bring in extra income.
As an adult, your Sim will likely be wealthy and hold a high position in their chosen career. Then… sell everything, move them into a luxurious mansion, and entirely change their career path, because… why not?
Why Is Sims 4 Free?
With so much to do in the base game of The Sims 4, you might wonder how it became free.
As you likely know and as we mentioned earlier, the game has numerous DLCs. Currently, there are about 70 extras, including narrative expansions, expansion packs, and kits with themed accessories.
The base game is free, primarily to attract new players. Eventually, most veteran Sims fans want more from the gameplay. It’s worth noting that The Sims 4 isn’t officially a “free game” but rather a “free-to-play” game. Like many games operating under this model, it offers core mechanics and content free of charge, while encouraging players to purchase additional enhancements. Simply take a look at the game’s main menu before starting – it’s filled with prompts and suggestions about what you could gain by purchasing a DLC.
Once you’ve “built everything” and explored every possible scenario, you may find yourself wanting more. Sometimes it’s new furniture for a more “realistic” house, sometimes it’s the thrill of ghostly visits, and other times it’s the desire to recreate your own family but feel like it’s missing a beloved pet. Expansions add mechanics that can transform gameplay – for instance, playing as a vampire with unique needs.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the base version of The Sims 4 is absolutely worth downloading and trying out. There’s plenty to do, and you can spend countless hours enjoying the game. However, the expansions undeniably turn the game into a much richer, varied, and immersive experience, allowing you to truly let your imagination run wild!