Like most games these days, The Sims 4 makes its money from selling add-ons. It does this in the form of Expansion Packs, Games Packs, Stuff Packs and Kits. But what’s the difference, what’s available and which are the best Sims 4 Expansion Packs? We’ve got all the answers.
* Review scores are, where possible, from Metacritic, which provides an average from a number of review websites. Where not available, other sources have been used. In all cases, an “out of 10” review score is provided, for consistency and simplicity.
What are Sims 4 Expansion Packs?
Expansion Packs contain major new features, such as objects, clothes, styles, worlds and life states, all themed appropriately for that pack.
These are the most expensive add-ons for Sims 4 and cost around £34.99 each.
| Expansion Pack | Description | Review Score* |
|---|---|---|
| Get to Work | Allows Sims to run their own business and introduces three active careers: Doctor, Detective and Scientist. Adds the world of Magnolia Promenade, with 4 retail lots. | 7.5 |
| Get Together | Focuses on socialising, partying, creating and managing clubs, along with a European-inspired world named Windenburg. | 7.5 |
| City Living | Allows Sims to rent apartments, sing karaoke and go to festivals. Introduces a city world named San Myshuno. | 7.5 |
| Cats & Dogs | Lets Sims own cats and dogs, along with the ability to build and manage vet clinics. Adds a world named Brindleton Bay. | 8 |
| Seasons | Adds weather, seasons, holidays and a new botanist profession. | 8 |
| Get Famous | Adds a celebrity system, an acting career and a new world catered towards film-making and famous Sims. Adds a world named Del Sol Valley (think Los Angeles and Hollywood). | 7.5 |
| Island Living | Focuses on relaxation, island life, exploring the ocean in many ways, enjoying various beach activities, and reintroduces mermaids as a playable life state. | 8.5 |
| Discover University | Re-introduces the college experience, along witgh robots, roommates and new careers. Also adds the new campus world of Britechester. | 8 |
| Eco Lifestyle | Focuses on sustainability, sustainable living, renewable energy and crafting. | 8 |
| Snowy Escape | Adds winter-based activities in a Japanese-based world named Mt. Komorebi. | 8 |
| Cottage Living | Focuses on country life, farming and various farm animals. Introduces a rural world named Henford-on-Bagley. | 8 |
What are Sims 4 Game Packs?
Game Packs are intended to be smaller than full expansion pack but may contain new features, objects, clothes, styles, worlds and life states. They usually cost around £17.99 each.
| Game Pack | Description | Review Score* |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Retreat | Sims can holiday outdoors in a national park. Adds the Herbalism skill, as well as outfits, objects, and game interactions related to outdoor activities. Adds a new world called Granite Falls. | 7 |
| Spa Day | Adds massages, meditation, mud baths, saunas, yoga, and a new Wellness skill, as well as new outfits, objects and game interactions relating to spas. Adds the Spa lot type. | 7.5 |
| Dine Out | Sims can visit, build and run their own restaurants. Restaurant owners can experiment with new foods and employ staff. Also includes new outfits and objects relating to restaurants. | 7 |
| Vampires | Adds the Vampire life state, with different powers and weaknesses. Includes a new aspiration, lot traits and new outfits and objects relating to vampires. Adds a world named Forgotten Hollow. | 8 |
| Parenthood | Allows young adult and older Sims to control and shape their child or teen’s life. Additions include acne and school projects. Toddlers, children, and teen Sims can now be rebellious to their parents and other siblings. Parents can discipline children by being strict or nurturing. | 9 |
| Jungle Adventure | Includes new food, dance moves, music, clothing and objects relating to Latin American culture. Ancient artifacts and mysterious relics can be excavated and examined. Adds a destination world named Selvadorada. | 8 |
| StrangerVille | Includes a new aspiration, clothing and objects. Adds a world named StrangerVille, including a storyline with a mystery to be solved. | 7.5 |
| Realm of Magic | Adds Spellcasters, magical gameplay, and Art Nouveau-style objects and clothing. Adds a world named Glimmerbrook, with a special location named the Magic Realm. | 8.5 |
| Star Wars: Journey to Batuu | Adds new types of aliens and other Star Wars-inspired outfits, objects and characters. Adds a destination world named Batuu with a Star Wars-style storyline. | 7 |
| Dream Home Decorator | Adds an interior decorator active career. Adds several new types of furniture, such as sectional seating, built-in stovetops, ovens, and toaster ovens. | 8 |
| My Wedding Stories | Includes a revamped wedding event system, wedding-related events and activities as well as several formalwear outfits. Adds a world named Tartosa. | 6 |
| Werewolves | Adds the Werewolf life state as well as a world called Moonwood Mill. | 8 |
What are Sims 4 Stuff Packs?
A Stuff Pack is an even smaller add-on pack which typically includes only new objects and clothes for Sims, though some stuff packs do include gameplay changes. They typically cost £8.99 each.
The following Stuff Packs are available (no reviews are available due to their small content size):
- Luxury Party Stuff
- Perfect Patio Stuff
- Cool Kitchen Stuff
- Spooky Stuff
- Movie Hangout Stuff
- Romantic Garden Stuff
- Kids Room Stuff
- Backyard Stuff
- Vintage Glamour Stuff
- Bowling Night Stuff
- Fitness Stuff
- Toddler Stuff
- Laundry Day Stuff
- My First Pet Stuff
- Moschino Stuff
- Tiny Living Stuff
- Nifty Knitting Stuff
- Paranormal Stuff
What are Sims 4 Kits?
Kits are the smallest content packs, with each kit exclusively focusing on adding Build mode items, Create-a-Sim items, or gameplay additions. They are the cheapest add-on, usually costing £4.99 each.
The following Kits have been made available (no reviews are available due to their small content size):
- Bust the Dust Kit
- Country Kitchen Kit
- Throwback Fit Kit
- Courtyard Oasis Kit
- Industrial Loft Kit
- Fashion Street Kit
- Incheon Arrivals Kit
- Blooming Rooms Kit
- Modern Menswear Kit
- Carnaval Streetwear Kit
- Décor to the Max Kit
- Little Campers Kit
- Moonlight Chic Kit
Where can I buy Packs or Kits?
For PC or Mac, you can buy directly from the Origin or Steam app. Xbox and PlayStation owners can purchase from their platform stores.
In all cases, you can also buy vouchers for individual Packs or Kits, which you can then redeem in any of the above named stores. Popular places to buy these vouchers are Amazon and CDKeys.
You can view available Packs and Kits from the Sims home screen…
How can I save money on a Pack or Kit?
There are a number of ways of avoiding paying full price for a Sims 4 Pack or Kit:
- Look for savings on download codes. For example, the Seasons Expansion Pack is available, for PC/Mac, for £17.49 from Amazon or £16.99 from CDKeys.
- EA often have sales on the Packs/Kits, with them regularly being half price. At the time of writing, The Seasons Expansion Pack is available from PC/Mac directly from Origin for £17.49.
- On Origin they often sell bundles, where you get one Expansion Pack, one Game Pack and a Stuff Pack at discount price. For example, you can get Get Together, Spa Day and Movie Hangout for £44.99 (and, right now, it’s discounted to £35.99). Buying the three packs separately, with no other discount applied, would cost £61.97.
Can I transfer a Pack or Kit to a different platform?
Sims 4 is available on PC, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation. However, packs and kits cannot be transferred across platforms, with the exception of between Mac and PC, which share the Origin app as their provider.
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