Sims 4 Teen Life Stage Needs a Complete Overhaul

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As The Sims’ 25th anniversary event winds down, fans are eagerly anticipating that Electronic Arts (EA) and Maxis will shift their attention back towards The Sims 4. Ever since its debut in 2014, players have expressed concerns about various aspects of The Sims 4, primarily due to the omission of key gameplay features that were present in the earlier games in the series. Although EA and Maxis have enriched The Sims 4 by both expanding the core game and through DLC packs since its launch, certain areas still seem underdeveloped.

A significant feature that took a hit in the initial release of The Sims 4 was the portrayal of life stages. Initially, Toddlers were absent from The Sims 4 entirely, and the baby-centric gameplay was quite basic compared to previous games in the series. Despite babies maturing after 72 hours, similar to earlier versions, players felt strongly that life stages are crucial to The Sims experience. Following feedback from players, Toddlers were introduced into The Sims 4 in 2017 and babies received two life stages, Newborns and Infants, in 2023. Now, players have been advocating for more attention to Elders, but another life stage could also benefit from development by EA and Maxis.

The Sims 4 Needs to Overhaul Teens

The High School Years Expansion Pack could be seen as EA and Maxis’s effort to enrich the game’s life stage with additional content. However, the Teen life stage seems to lag behind compared to the other stages in The Sims 4. For players who haven’t bought this Expansion Pack, interacting with Teens might feel rather dull. Many teen-oriented hobbies are also tied to DLC, such as activities related to child and teen-friendly public venues like bowling alleys, roller skating rinks, ice skating rinks, and arcades.

In my experience as a Sims player, it’s important to clarify that The Sims 4 developers, EA and Maxis, have indeed striven to enrich gameplay for teen characters in the base game. Initially, when The Sims 4 was first released in 2014, part-time jobs weren’t included. However, I’m happy to say that this feature was eventually incorporated into the game around six years ago.

Although some of these jobs are found within Expansion Packs, base game players can easily find their teen Sims getting hired for various rabbit hole careers such as babysitters, baristas, fast food workers, manual laborers, and retail employees without any complications.

However, it’s worth noting that if a teen Sim is engaged in part-time work, they are unable to participate in after-school activities. These after-school activities are exclusive DLC content, accessible through the Seasons, Get Famous, and High School Years Expansion Packs.

Mods Could Inspire a Teenage Revamp in The Sims 4

As a die-hard Sims fan, I’ve noticed that even with EA and Maxis’s continuous efforts to enhance the teen life stage in The Sims 4, it still seems a bit flat for many players. Modifications for this life stage are incredibly popular and offer valuable insights into potential expansions for the game. However, due to The Sims 4 maintaining its Teen rating, mods like Delinquent Teens, Runaway, or Teen Pregnancy probably won’t make it into the base game.

That being said, a mod that allows teens to drop out of school and take on full-time jobs could be a fantastic addition to The Sims 4 base game, adding depth and immersion. While this might fit better as an expansion for the Growing Together or Parenthood Expansion Packs, giving older teen siblings more responsibilities is another mod-inspired gameplay feature that could thrive in the game.

In simpler terms, players have the opportunity to enhance skills for their teenage characters before they reach adulthood, helping them excel in their future careers. This life stage is crucial, particularly when deciding heirs for legacy challenges. However, it appears that the Teen life stage could benefit from more focus in The Sims 4, and hopefully, we’ll see more developments in this area soon.

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2025-03-13 22:34