The Sims 4 is arguably the leading life simulation game, so the player community always anticipates new expansion packs. These packs bring major new features, mechanics, and thematic content that enhance the base game.
Expansion packs are larger content releases than other packs, such as Game Packs and Stuff Packs. Here’s what we know about The Sims 4 Life and Death Expansion.
Release Date
The Sims 4 Life and Death expansion will be released on October 31, 2024. It was officially announced earlier this month, following some earlier teasers from EA.
Launching the expansion just in time for Halloween seems like a clever strategy, as it fits perfectly with the pack's supernatural and eerie themes. This release will be available on multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.
What to Expect in The Sims 4: Life and Death Expansion
This expansion dives into the macabre aspects of life and death, allowing players to explore the afterlife with new gameplay systems, careers, and supernatural elements.
New World
The expansion introduces a hauntingly beautiful brand-new world called Ravenwood, which is split into three unique neighborhoods:
- Crow’s Crossing
- Whispering Glen
- Mourningvale
These areas are rich in supernatural elements, allowing Sims to interact with the living and the dead. They can visit graveyards and participate in local festivals tied to the themes of life and death.
Soul’s Journey
The Soul’s Journey is the core of this expansion. This system encourages Sims to complete life goals through a Bucket List.
As they progress through their lives, Sims can work toward fulfilling their goals, desires, and bucket list items.
This system allows Sims to gain significant rewards for living a full and meaningful life. If a Sim has fully completed their Soul’s Journey by meeting key life milestones, they can unlock the opportunity to be reborn after death.
Upon rebirth, Sims return to life with the special Burning Soul trait, which grants unique abilities and connections to their past lives. Reborn Sims can carry forward certain skills, traits, and milestones from their previous existence, making them more powerful in their next life.
Death in The Sims 4: Life and Death doesn’t have to be the end for your Sims. They can continue their Soul’s Journey in the afterlife by lingering as ghosts. Ghost Sims can complete unfinished business.
While in their ghostly form, Sims have access to special ghost powers. These ghosts can interact with the living in various ways, from helping around the house to causing supernatural mischief.
Ghosts also grow more powerful over time, developing abilities such as levitation or scaring living Sims for Simoleons. Ghost Sims can also customize their appearance and participate in activities like Spectral Woohoo.
New Careers
Career-wise, Sims can dive into two new professions. Here’s what you can choose from:
- Grim Reaper Profession: In this career, Sims works closely with the iconic Grim Reaper as they climb the ranks from a humble “Grimtern” to a full-fledged soul-reaper. This involves soul-reaping missions and reaper training at the Netherworld Department of Death (N.W.D.D.). Players will decide the fate of Sims' souls, determining who stays dead and who gets a second chance at life.
- Undertaker Career: For those who prefer a more grounded role, the Undertaker career allows Sims to plan funerals and manage their fellow Sims' last rites. This career path focuses on the emotional and logistical aspects of death.
Grief itself is given new dimensions in this pack. Depending on their traits and relationships, Sims will experience one of four grief types: Denial, Holding It Together, Anger, or Blues.
These emotions influence their behavior and interactions with others. Players can also plan personalized funerals, selecting attendees, activities, and even the dress code for the event.
Ghost Sims might even attend their funerals. Sims can also prepare for their departure by drafting wills and selecting heirlooms to pass on to loved ones.
These wills ensure that possessions and wealth are distributed according to the player's wishes. Players can also designate caretakers for their Sims' pets or children. Heirlooms carry sentimental value and can be passed down through generations.
That covers everything we know about The Sims 4: Life and Death Expansion, which promises to add exciting new features and emotional depth to your Sims experiences.