The Sims 4 Expansion Packs: Are They Worth Buying? Each One, Reviewed

The Sims 4 launched in 2014, but the game is constantly evolving thanks to its expansion packs. Not to be confused with game packs or stuff packs, The Sims 4 expansion packs are larger and designed to enhance gameplay in drastic ways. But are The Sims 4 expansion packs worth buying?

In this article we take a detailed look at all of The Sims 4 expansion packs, give you the pertinent information about each one, and help you decide whether or not they’re worth buying.

Get to Work

Release Date: March 2015

Sending your Sims to work has always been a part of The Sims experience, but always a passive one. Your Sim heads off to work and you don’t get much of a say in what happens there. The Get to Work expansion changes that.

You can become a doctor, dentist, or scientist, and actively control your Sims in their profession—like being able to treat patients, discover clues, or invent something. It’s fun to take part in these, though much like real life you will find it draws you away from everything else.

This expansion also gives you the ability to create your own business. Open for Business for Sims 2 is one of the best expansions and this is a spiritual successor to that—though it doesn’t quite reach the same heights. Considering that, if you’re wondering why you should bother with The Sims 4 over older iterations, check out our analysis of the difference between the Sims games.

In Get to Work you can create your own store, manage employees, keep track of your finances, and more. It’s a bit limited, though, and annoyingly if you want to open a restaurant then you’ll need to buy the Dine Out game pack too.

Should I Buy It? The new jobs get repetitive after a while, but running your own business is fun. If you like growing your Sim’s career then get the Get to Work expansion pack, otherwise give it a miss.

Get Together

Release Date: December 2015

One of the great parts about The Sims is seeing how your characters interact with others. Whether it’s telling stories, cracking jokes, or falling in love, one of the game’s core components is your relationships. The Get Together expansion capitalizes on that, introducing a new club system that brings together a group of Sims with a shared passion.

Whether it’s hanging out at a coffee shop, dancing at a nightclub, or creating your own group around a niche interest, this expansion is perfect for those who like sending their Sims out of the house with others. The addition of the Windenburg world is one of the best parts, with a stylish European vibe that is perfect to spend time in.

Should I Buy It? Creating and managing a club is fun, and it’s great for Sims to interact without micromanagement. Plus the new world looks amazing. If you like the social side of The Sims, get the Get Together expansion pack.

City Living

Release Date: October 2016

The base game of The Sims 4 is good, but there’s no denying that the world feels a little empty. City Living resolves that. In fact, it makes it feel like you’re living in an episode of Friends, since your pals can now get a key to your abode and pop over whenever you want. This expansion just makes the game feel a lot more alive.

The main addition is a world called San Myshuno. Here you can have your Sim rent an apartment, which brings new challenges like landlords, rent, and pests. Most importantly, though, is that it puts you in close contact with your neighbors, forcing natural encounters. Festivals have also been added, so your Sim can mingle with others at things like Geekcon and the Flea Market.

Should I Buy It? This almost makes The Sims 4 feel like an open world and adds some much-needed culture to the game. If you want your Sims to live a modern lifestyle, the City Living expansion pack is well worth buying.

Cats & Dogs

Release Date: November 2017

Some people will need no convincing on this. As you can guess from the name, Cats & Dogs adds pets to the game. It’s been an expansion for every The Sims title and it’s an equally great addition here. While it’s disappointing you can’t directly control your pet, they still have their own traits and require you to clean them, play with them, and train them.

You can also customize your pets in more ways than you’d think possible. Not just in design, but in silly outfits too. It’s wonderfully charming. Sadly, your animal pals can get ill, so there’s also the addition of a veterinary career where your Sims must perform well to increase the rating of their clinic.

Should I Buy It? Unless you have a heart of stone, what are you waiting for? The Cats & Dogs expansion pack adds cats and dogs! Making it a necessity. Especially if you use cameras to monitor your pets in real-life, as you can now do it in The Sims 4 too.

Seasons

Release Date: June 2018

It’s very easy to lose track of time when playing The Sims, but it must feel a bit like that for your characters too. The Seasons expansion pack turns that on its head, letting your Sims celebrate holidays. You can mark them on the calendar to build anticipation, plus create your own special day.

Of course, the big addition here is weather. Crisp snowfalls and sweaty heat not only changes the aesthetic of the world, but it also impacts on your Sims’ emotions too. It’s a game changer to see the seasons transition, and being able to let your Sims splash in puddles, go ice skating, or run around in the sprinkler is awesome. All of this plus a new gardening career, which is perfect for those with green fingers.

Should I Buy It? This is a must-buy The Sims 4 expansion pack. It’s worth it just for the changing weather, but the new seasonal activities make it even better.

Get Famous

Release Date: November 2018

Have you dreamed of turning your Sim into the next Brad Pitt? Or maybe Kim Kardashian? The Get Famous expansion lets your Sims become celebrities, build up a fan base, and become an oh-so-trendy influencer. You get to choose how your Sim gets achieves fame and how much influence they have over the other people living in the town.

As your Sims get famous, fans and paparazzi will want a piece of them. It’s also important to keep up that fame level, by doing things like posting selfies or being spotted in local hot spots. It’s all good fun and offers you a lot of content to delve into.

Should I Buy It? If you’re looking to break the normal Sims gameplay cycle, Get Famous is a great expansion to get since it’s packed with new interactivity.

Island Living

Release Date: June 2019

Most of The Sims 4 expansions expand the base game and can be enjoyed through normal day-to-day gameplay. Island Living is almost entirely focused on the new Sulani world, letting your Sims explore and relax on an island. Your Sim can be productive and help conserve the local environment or chill out and sail on a canoe. You can even meet mermaids and dolphins!

Sulani is full of tradition and culture. It’s nice to gather your Sims around a barbecue to learn about local folklore, and it’s amusing to see how they react to tasting some local delicacies. Island Living is a nice break from the ordinary and gives your Sims a more laid-back life.

Should I Buy It? If you want to send your Sims on a new adventure, away from their normal neighborhoods, the Island Living expansion is perfect for escapism.

Looking Beyond The Sims 4 Expansion Packs

Buying all of The Sims 4 expansion packs isn’t cheap, so hopefully we’ve helped you decide which ones are worth buying.

And if you want to expand The Sims 4 even more, check out our guide detailing how to add mods to The Sims 4.

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