For almost a decade, The Sims 4 has been consistently compared with its predecessor, The Sims 3, one of the best-selling PC games of all time. While The Sims 4 has received mixed reviews due to the omission of popular Sims 3 game elements, the franchise has a chance to turn it around with the release of The Sims 4 Growing Together. The expansion pack is slated for release on March 16th and will include various new features oriented around family and growing up. With all the latest content, Growing Together might beat The Sims 3: Generations as the best family-oriented pack.
Longtime fans of The Sims franchise might recognize gameplay mechanics in The Sims 4 Growing Together that were included in both The Sims 3 and The Sims 2. For instance, social chemistry between Sims was prevalent in The Sims 2, while tree houses and the midlife crisis scenario were first introduced in The Sims 3. Although this continues the pattern of Sims 4 expansion packs emulating previous content, some elements in the Growing Together trailer, like family dynamics, seem genuinely unique. More sophisticated core gameplay bodes well for more innovation in The Sims 5, aka "Project Rene."
The Sims 3: Generations Raised The Bar For Realistic, Family-Oriented Gameplay
The Sims 3: Generations was released in May 2011, shortly after the base game's release. The pack was themed around making each Sim life stage feel more developed and allowing Simmers to bring their Sim families together. Although the expansion was arguably a collection of small changes, they culminated in gameplay that refreshed the entire Sims 3 experience. For instance, Generations oriented the younger life stages around imagination, including costumes, toys, and the ability to dream. The teenage life stage was centered around rebellion, allowing Sims to have the "Rebellious" trait, pull pranks, and get sent to boarding school.
The most exciting developments in The Sims 3: Generations included the advent of "memories" to keep track of monumental moments in a Sim's life and a whole host of afterschool activities. For example, student Sims could become scouts, take ballet classes, or join the school band and the debate team. The expansion also included sleeping bags, bunk beds, treehouses, strollers, camcorders, and other exclusive objects that unlocked a host of new interactions between Sims. Generations also expanded the variety of events that could be held in The Sims 3, adding prom and wedding celebrations similar to The Sims 4 My Wedding Stories and High SchoolYears.
How The Sims 4 Growing Together Innovates On Content Introduced In The Sims 3 Generations
While Sims 4 players still have to wait a bit before Growing Together is released, the trailer for the expansion provides clues about how it might rise above Generations. The new content coincides with a Sims 4 update that includes a new infancy life stage that was not included in The Sims 3. This addition allows Growing Together to include changing tables, breastfeeding, infant carriers, infant-specific traits, and gameplay unique to The Sims 4. While the expansion also has treehouses, families must work together to build them, turning the activity into a family bonding event.
Growing Together also introduces a system for Sim compatibility that informs how they might interact. For instance, two Workaholic or Athletic Sims might be competitive with each other, while Sims with the Goofball trait might joke around. Milestones have also been overhauled, introducing myriad life events that are themed around each life stage. Both of these systems have the potential to create gameplay that is significantly more complex than in previous expansion packs, including Generations. With the inclusion of a brand-new town called San Sequoia, hopes are high that the Growing Together pack will deliver on the nuanced gameplay it promises.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
