Games

The Best Mods In Sims 4 That Act As Free Expansions

Published

2 months ago

November 1, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents

Adding mods to
The Sims 4
can enhance gameplay without needing to buy more DLC packs.
Mods like Meaningful Stories can make emotions feel more realistic and engaging for players.
Players can enjoy more autonomous interactions and unique personalities with mods like Have Some Personality Please!

The Sims 4 base game became free to play on October 18, 2022, bringing more players to the fourth installment of the popular franchise. Players might have snagged some DLCs during sales, but owning the entire collection can become a pricey endeavor.

3:34

27 Of The Weirdest Sims 4 Mods

There are hundreds of mods that make Sims 4 a better game. However, some modifications are weird, from crazy hats to very loved up Sims. Check it out!

Mods and CC available for The Sims 4 can give players a chance to add some more content to games without the need to purchase more DLC. While some mods require certain packs to function, they can still revamp the pack that they’re based on or introduce something completely new, such as occult themes, functional objects, and interactions.

Updated On November 1, 2024, by Nahda Nabiilah: While searching for custom content, players may have stumbled upon a mod or two created by the amazing Sims Community. There are a variety of mods Simmers can download and add to their own Sims 4 game. Some may give you a real-life experience like giving birth or attending a funeral, while others are somewhat normal and resemble something The Sims 4 will add eventually to the game like a dating app, which was introduced in the Lovestruck Expansion Pack. It can also come in the form of an Occult found in old Sims games like fairies.

19 Meaningful Stories

Created By roBurky

Classic Sims Character Recreated in The Sims 4

The moodlets in The Sims 4 are a great addition that makes certain emotions more powerful in Sims if they engage in a particular course of action. This lets them access unique interactions and partake in things that were blocked off to them otherwise. However, this feature also has its weaknesses, with many fans not really huge fans of the fact that a Sims’s mood see-saws at any given opportunity, making things feel more random instead of immersive.

This is fixed with the addition of Meaningful Stories, a mod that aims to make these moodlets more natural and engaging than ever before. Players need to pay more attention to these moodlets than ever before, trying to capitalize on positive emotions while avoiding or muting out negative ones that can bring a Sim down. Happiness is something that fans have to work toward, and any Sim with a negative moodlet will require a ton of love and care to get out of this state.

18 Have Some Personality Please!

Created By PolarBearSims

Autonomous interactions in The Sims 4 should be a natural extension of a Sim’s personality, and these virtual characters should ideally do things that adhere to their likes and dislikes. Instead, most Sims act brain-dead if a player isn’t actively deciding each and every action they perform. This can make it rather banal to control Sims that feel like wooden puppets without the player’s involvement, which is why the Have More Personality Please! mod has shot up the ranks as one of the most popular mods fans of The Sims 4 can download.

With this mod, Sims left to their own devices will perform more complex interactions in line with their personality. This helps each Sim feel unique instead of carrying out the same action over and over again. Players who like to leave Sims alone from time to time instead of micromanaging everything they do will find this mod to be downright necessary to enjoy the game.

17 Zombie Apocalypse

Created By Sacrificial Mods

Players who want to drastically change the way they play The Sims 4 and add a more supernatural touch to everything that happens in the game will love what the Zombie Apocalypse mod brings to the game. Sacrificial Mods have garnered a reputation for changing the gameplay of The Sims 4 in meaningful ways, and this mod is no exception.

3:30

19 Simulation Games That Have Great World Building

These simulation games do a great job at world-building by creating interesting lore and context, making players feel more immersed in the gameplay.

The idea of a Sim trying to survive in a virtual zombie apocalypse is pretty engaging, and players must do everything in their power to not let their Sim succumb to these undead monstrosities. However, if a Sim gets infected, the story isn’t over. In such a scenario, players take on the role of an infected Sim who can spread the virus to others, injecting a bit of chaos into the neighborhood.

16 SimDa Dating App

Created By LittleMsSam

Given how The Sims tries to emulate real life, many people find it rather odd that the game never added an in-universe version of a dating app. After all, the prevalence of these apps in modern times should have made it an easy thing to include in The Sims 4, but EA shied away from this.

However, players looking for a bit more realism in The Sims 4 can download a mod that lets players access a dating app on their phone called SimDa. It lets players go out on a date or just seek out a fling, making for a mature and exciting way for Sims to pass their time.

15 WonderfulWhims

Created By TURBODRIVER

The Sims 4: Lounge in Del Sol Valley, Diego looking at Vanessa with attraction moodlet

TURBODRIVER is one of the best-known names in The Sims modding community. While his WickedWhims mod may have a few too many adult elements for some players to enjoy, the non-adult changes brought about by this mod were so great that they’ve been packaged in an SFW mod.

WonderfulWhims is a great mod that makes attraction and chemistry more realistic than ever before. Many personality traits, Sim behaviors, and other such facets are taken into account while calculating the chances of two Sims liking each other, which makes the game feel more realistic in this department.

Created By LittleMsSam

There are a lot of ways that players can make their Sims spend time in the game, but the vast majority of them require players to actively participate in these social events. This is fun in some instances but can become slightly grating after a point.

6:42

The Sims 4: All The Worlds In The Game, Ranked

The Sims 4 offers players tons of different worlds to settle down in. Here’s how they all rank.

With the Social Activities mod, Sims can be set to meet their friends, family, or loved ones without requiring any direct interjections. It’s a great way to make events more believable and lets players avoid any social interactions that they don’t want to partake in.

13 Functional Amusement Park Objects

Created By WICKED PIXXEL

A carousel in The Sims 4 made by the modder Waronkcc

The Sims 4 hasn’t had a similar release to The Sims 3’s Roaring Heights store content. The High School Years expansion pack, released on July 28th, 2022, includes a Ferris wheel and a haunted house attraction by the Plumbite Pier, but that’s all.

If players are looking for more amusement park attractions and additions to their builds, the various functional objects and attractions by WICKED PIXXEL are a fantastic place to look. WICKED PIXXEL’s releases include bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, a carousel swing, and various types of roller coasters.

12 Romance In France

Created By NANDO

Image showing the mod title of The Sims 4 Romance in France mod.

After the base game update that allowed lots in all residential worlds to be made rentable, the Romance in France mod by NANDO gives players a chance to send their Sims to France for a romantic getaway. Magnolia Promenade, the world that shipped with the Get to Work expansion pack, is transformed into Paris.

The world’s landscape and background have been revamped to resemble the stunning views of Paris, and an Eiffel Tower object that lights up at night has been added. There are some suggestions to download lots that enhance the immersion of the Romance in France mod, such as restaurants, retail stores, and a rentable lot for a romantic vacation. Players can recreate the feeling of being in Paris.

11 Fairies Vs Witches

Created By SpinningPlumbobs

Compilation of screenshots from The Sims 4 showing fairies from the Fairies vs Witches mod

Werewolves, Spellcasters, Aliens, Mermaids, and Vampires have been added to The Sims 4 throughout the years. However, an entry into the occult list that some players have been missing since The Sims 3: Supernatural expansion pack is Fairies. The Fairies vs. Witches mod by SpinningPlumbobs adds the whimsical winged creatures back into the game with the support of the Realm of Magic game pack.

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After making an offering to The Giving Fairy item, Sims can be turned into fairies. Sims can fly, meet other Fairies in the secret Sylvan Glade lot, and teach their offspring about Fairy magic. The mod also includes witches, with their own darker origin and gameplay.

10 Medieval Windenburg

Created By TheSenseMedieval

Map view of The Sims 4 Medieval Windenburg mod

The last medieval entry into the Sims franchise was The Sims Medieval, a spin-off title based on The Sims 3 game engine. More than a decade after the release of the spin-off’s DLC, Pirates and Nobles, players can immerse their Sims into a medieval world with the Medieval Windenburg mod by TheSenseMedieval.

The Medieval Windenburg mod includes a world map replacement to set the Windenburg world back into the medieval era. The world’s scenery and objects have been re-textured to bring out a more rustic vibe, and modern objects like cars have been removed. Players would just need to download some lots off the gallery and make some medieval-themed Sims, and The Sims Medieval is basically revived in The Sims 4.

9 Medieval Clothes And Objects

Created By Simverses

Medieval sims, a windmill, and medieval style armoire made by the modder Simverses for The Sims 4

Simverses creates custom content with a medieval theme for The Sims 4. The modder has a large offering of downloads that help players furnish their lots and dress Sims in their medieval worlds.

Clothing offerings are available to all ages, genders, and gender frames in Create-A-Sim and Simverses has created default replacements for NPC clothing, giving the background characters in players’ medieval saves some lore-friendly garb. There are also default replacements for various objects that make them more medieval-themed, and there are downloads for medieval-themed buildings and lots.

8 Career Overhaul Suite

Created By Kuttoe

Careers are one of the most used features while playing, as players need a source of money in The Sims 4 if they decide to play without cheats. However, some members of the Sims community thought that it was still lacking some important elements and decided to take matters into their own hands, thus the Career Overhaul Suite was created.

By downloading this mod, you will add tons of new content and layers of complexity to the careers feature. Players now need to have higher skill requirements for any desired job, they will start with much lower pay rates and will be rewarded with more upon getting a promotion. Also, the more famous you are, the more Simoleons you earn, and many more interesting changes.

7 Healthcare Redux

Created By a.deep.indigo

Using the Healthcare Redux Mod, a Sim can choose healthcare services and from different doctors.

The Healthcare Redux mod gives a more in-depth look at diseases and treatments in The Sims 4. There will be many new maladies that are split into chronic illnesses, accidents, injuries, medical emergencies, and pregnancy-related illnesses. Each one of them has its own side effects as well as its own treatment system.

Simmers can now also plan a hospital visit or a doctor appointment to try and cure the Sims disease. For more realism, you can look up the Health Insurance option and choose the most suitable one.

6 Royalty Mod

Created By LlazyNeiph

Two monarchs as part of The Sims 4 Royalty Mod sitting on their thrones

The Royalty Mod by LlazyNeiph introduces a complex system of social classes, careers, activities, and more. With the Royalty Mod, Sims can become monarchs and assign their heirs, as well as hire a royal advisor. Titles can be bestowed and taken away, and these titles are easily customizable thanks to LlazyNeiph’s tutorial found on his modding page.

The Sims 4: My Wedding Stories: How To Renew Your Vows

Renewing vows is not just a simple interaction anymore in The Sims 4, as players can now plan a Vow Renewal event.

The Missing Princess update also provided players with an aspiration that injects some story with the mod’s gameplay. Taking inspiration from the fantasy film Anastasia, Sims aspire to reveal their status as a long-lost missing prince/princess and prove their royal heritage.

5 Breeze Of Greece

Created By NANDO & SixamCC

Sims 4 Breeze of Greece mod screenshot showing the mod title and views of Simtorini

NANDO has created another world mod in collaboration with SixamCC, providing vacation-seeking Sims a Santorini-inspired world that uses the Granite Falls world that shipped with the Outdoor Retreat game pack. The Breeze of Greece mod changes the scenery of the Granite Falls world, replaces the map view, and brings in a new world icon that reflects the sunny breezy image of Simtorini. Aptly named, Simtorini creates a stunningly realistic getaway world for any Sim.

The mod also provides a local plaza with an entertainment stage and a food court. Sims can also sell their items on vendor tables in the plaza. The Breeze of Greece mod does not include lots in the download, but players can download Greece-inspired lots off of the gallery to enhance their Sims’ vacation experience.

4 Werewolves Mod

Created By SpinningPlumbobs

A werewolf in The Sims 4 snarling as part of the Werewolves mod

Before the release of the Werewolves game pack and mods that enhance it, modder SpinningPlumbobs released the Werewolves Mod. The mod doesn’t require the Werewolves game pack to function, giving players a truly independent werewolf experience if they don’t have the game pack.

In this mod, Werewolves are referred to as Lycans. Sims can become a Lycan after being attacked by an afflicted Sim. The mod allows Sims to become one of three Lycans of differing appearances. Sims can research Lycan lore and consult the Occult Professor to start their journey to being a terrifying lunar creature.

3 Pufferhead Stuff Pack

Created By Mlys

Collage featuring The Sims 4 Pufferhead Stuff pack images that include the Sims using their merch

Sims deserve to have their own fandoms and interests. Enter the Pufferhead Stuff Pack. Henry Puffer is a character in The Sims 4 universe that is Sims’ equivalent to Harry Potter. The modder Mlys decided to expand this fictional universe (within a fictional universe) and create the Pufferhead Stuff Pack.

The pack gives Pufferhead Sims the memorabilia and merch of their dreams, with clothing items and objects to show their support for their Harnocks house. Super fans can even answer a quiz that Mlys made to sort them into one of four Harnocks houses: Alpaggard, Leetlefloof, Ivybell, and Owlenmoon.

2 Childbirth Mod

Created By PandaSama

The Childbirth Mod by Pandasama makes the journey of pregnancy incredibly more realistic and personal.

By downloading the Childbirth Mod, players unlock a lot of possibilities for the usual pregnancy and childbirth experience. You can now call an obstetrician to choose between giving birth at home with the correct equipment or having a baby at the hospital after getting an epidural. The Sim also needs to walk around for a few hours to deal with contractions.

Additionally, there are other amazing features in the mod, like before giving birth, Simmers can host a gender-reveal party and invite guests. Also, there is a lactation option where you use a pump to get milk or get formula from the buy mode to feed the baby. Parents can also take Tylenol to deal with the pain, which makes it even more realistic.

1 My Wedding Mod

Created By Caradriel

Just married Sims in The Sims 4 with the bride kissing her groom's hand

Weddings in The Sims 4 before the My Wedding Stories game pack were either a single event or an immediate elopement. The game pack introduced more gameplay and events revolving around weddings and traditions. If players want expanded wedding gameplay without buying a new pack, the My Wedding Mod by Caradriel brings a lot of depth.

Players can send their Sims to sign legal documents for their nuptials and make plans for their wedding day. Sims can rent a wedding venue, hire services for hair and makeup, and make a gift registry. The mod also unlocks more social interactions around weddings, and Sims can even go on honeymoons based on their differing budgets.