How To Do The Sims 4 Decades Challenge

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge: A Journey Through Time

The Sims 4 community thrives on creating engaging challenges, and the Decades Challenge offers a unique way to experience your Sims' lives across different eras. This guide outlines the rules and difficulties of this historical simulation.

Challenge Overview and Rules:

The challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 (or 2020, depending on your preference), 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. Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple. Parents may also be included in the household, reflecting multi-generational living common in earlier eras. Clothing and household items should reflect the appropriate decade. Certain locations (Strangerville, Del Sol Valley before the 1950s, and Sulani) are restricted to enhance realism. Technology use is limited to its historical availability; phones are permitted for gameplay necessities but not for entertainment or communication until the relevant decade. Job choices should align with the historical period.

Decade-Specific Rules and Difficulties:

For detailed rules, refer to Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary of the key aspects of each decade:

• 1890s: Male heirs only; daughters with the Creative trait must move out upon marriage; no WooHoo, only "try for baby"; home births; period-appropriate male jobs (e.g., woodworking); women primarily manage the household, with limited job options if widowed; no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; begin growing a Cow Plant.

• 1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); job and education rules remain the same; phonographs permitted for music; other 1890s rules apply.

• 1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults are drafted for WWI; they must eat Cow Plant cake (additional cake consumption determined by dice roll); oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish; high school mandatory with a minimum C average; women can pursue manual labor jobs; university allowed for men post-war.

• 1920s: Female heirs allowed; daughters do not need the Creative trait; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options permitted; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).

• 1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression simulation (Sims lose jobs initially, then find new ones after a week); business careers restricted; one cooked meal per day, others scavenged/grown/caught; Prohibition ends.

• 1940s: WWII draft rules (same as WWI); victory garden required (four or more plants); thermostats, washers, and dryers allowed; radio mandatory (one Sim must listen for an hour daily); no punishment for poor high school grades; teens can work part-time.

• 1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not mandatory; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.

• 1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children, any gender); unrestricted college majors; maternity leave for women; WooHoo allowed.

• 1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children, any gender); marriage encouraged, not mandatory; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.

• 1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim must pursue a business career; science babies allowed; hospital births preferred.

• 1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV watching; appliance and furniture restrictions lifted; texting allowed; Y2K shelter construction and three-day confinement required.

• 2000s: Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; unrestricted music and TV.

• 2010s: Journalism (print media) restricted; same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.

The Decades Challenge offers a flexible framework. While the Eco Lifestyle pack enhances the experience, you can adapt the rules to your available game packs. Enjoy your journey through time!

The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.