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 life 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), optionally including parents to reflect multi-generational households common in earlier eras. Clothing and household items should reflect the appropriate decade. Strangerville and Del Sol Valley (pre-1950s) and Sulani are restricted locations for added realism. Technology use is limited to its availability in each decade; phones are allowed for gameplay necessities but not entertainment until the appropriate era. Job choices should align with the historical context.
Decade-Specific Rules and Difficulties:
Detailed rules can be found in Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary of the key restrictions for each decade:
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1890s: Male heirs only; daughters (with the Creative trait) move out upon marriage; no WooHoo, only "try for baby"; home births; period-appropriate male jobs (e.g., woodworking); women manage the household (with limited freelancing/gardening if widowed); no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; Cow Plant cultivation begins.
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1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules apply; phonographs permitted.
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1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults drafted for WWI (Cow Plant cake consumption and dice roll for consequences); oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish; 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; daughters don't need the Creative trait; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).
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1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (no business careers, initial job loss, one cooked meal daily, other meals scavenged/grown); Prohibition ends.
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1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden (four or more plants); thermostats, washers, and dryers allowed; radio mandatory (one hour daily); no high school punishment; teens can work part-time.
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1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not mandatory; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.
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1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); any college major; maternity leave; WooHoo allowed.
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1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged, not mandatory; 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 (three-day stay).
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2000s: Unrestricted computers and phones (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV allowed.
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2010s: No journalism (print media decline); same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.
The Decades Challenge offers a rich and engaging experience, adaptable to your existing game packs. Remember to consult Cute Coffee Gal's rules for complete details.
The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
