Embark on a historical journey with the Sims 4 Decades Challenge! This engaging community-created challenge lets your Sims experience life across different eras, adding a unique layer of complexity to the game. This guide provides a streamlined overview; for exhaustive rules, consult Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide.
Challenge Overview:
The challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 (or 2020, at your discretion), with each two in-game days representing a year. Automatic aging is disabled, and lifespan is adjusted based on historical life expectancy: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born after.
Lifespan Guidelines:
- Before 1950: Baby (1 day/6 months), Toddler (3 days/2 years), Child (8 days/6 years), Teen (14 days/13 years), Young Adult (26 days/32 years), Adult (36 days/50 years), Elder (dies after ~14 days/around 60 years).
- After 1950: Baby (1 day/6 months), Toddler (3 days/2 years), Child (8 days/6 years), Teen (14 days/13 years), Young Adult (32 days/35 years), Adult (60 days/65 years), Elder (dies after ~56 days/around 90 years).
Gameplay Rules:
Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple. Multi-generational households are permitted. Costumes should reflect the era. Strangerville and Del Sol Valley are off-limits until the 1950s; Sulani is also restricted for maximum realism. Apartments are acceptable for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house. Phones are allowed for essential gameplay functions but not for entertainment or communication until the relevant decade. The same applies to computers. Job choices should be historically appropriate.
Decade-Specific Rules (Summary):
Each decade presents unique challenges:
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1890s: Male heirs only; daughters (Creative trait) move out upon marriage; no WooHoo (only "try for baby"); home births; period-appropriate jobs; women manage the household (freelancing/gardening allowed if widowed); no electricity; elementary school mandatory; university permitted (period-appropriate majors); cultivate a Cow Plant.
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1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules apply; phonographs permitted.
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1910s: WWI draft for male teens/young adults/adults (Cow Plant cake consumption and dice roll determine fate); high school mandatory (C average or relocation); women can take manual labor jobs; university for men post-war.
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1920s: Female heirs allowed; no Creative trait requirement for daughters; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; alcohol prohibited.
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1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (job loss at the start, new jobs after a week); one cooked meal daily, others scavenged/grown/caught; Prohibition ends.
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1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden (4+ plants); thermostats, washers, dryers allowed; radio mandatory (1 hour daily listening).
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1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.
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1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); any college major; maternity leave for women; WooHoo allowed.
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1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.
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1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim in a business career; science babies; hospital births.
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1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV; texting allowed; Y2K shelter (3-day stay mandatory).
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2000s: Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV allowed.
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2010s: No journalism; same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time jobs allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.
The Sims 4 Decades Challenge offers a rewarding and historically immersive experience. Remember to adapt the challenge to your available game packs. The Sims 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
