Sims 4 Decades Challenge: Step-by-Step Guide

Embark on a nostalgic journey through time 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 will walk you through the rules and gameplay.

Challenge Overview and Rules:

The Decades Challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 (or 2020, depending on your preference), with each two in-game days representing a year. Automatic aging must be disabled, and life expectancy is adjusted based on historical data: 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 for a multi-generational experience. Costumes and household items should reflect the appropriate era. Certain locations (Strangerville, Del Sol Valley before the 1950s, and Sulani for maximum realism) are restricted. Apartments are allowed for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house. Technology use is limited to gameplay necessities; phones, computers, and other devices are only permitted once they become historically relevant. Job choices should align with the time period.

Challenge Difficulties by Decade:

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

• 1890s: Male heirs only; daughters with the Creative trait must move out after marriage; no WooHoo, only "try for baby"; home births; period-appropriate jobs (e.g., woodworking); women primarily homemakers (freelancing/gardening allowed if widowed); no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; Cow Plant cultivation begins.

• 1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules remain; phonographs permitted.

• 1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults drafted for WWI; Cow Plant cake consumption (dice roll determines additional consumption or return home); oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish; high school mandatory (C average required); women can take manual labor jobs; university for men post-war.

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

• 1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (no business careers, initial job loss, one cooked meal daily, other meals scavenged/grown); Prohibition ends.

• 1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden required; thermostats, washers, dryers allowed; radio mandatory (one hour daily); no punishment for bad high school grades; teens can have part-time jobs.

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

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

• 1970s: Vietnam War draft (two oldest children); 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; no appliance/furniture restrictions; texting allowed; Y2K shelter construction and three-day confinement required.

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

• 2010s: No journalism (print media decline); same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time jobs allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge offers a unique and engaging way to experience the game's depth. While the Eco Lifestyle pack is beneficial, you can adapt the challenge to your existing game content. Enjoy your historical Sims journey!

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