The Sims 4: Cottage Living is the eleventh expansion pack released for The Sims 4 franchise, and it was released on July 22, 2021. This expansion pack offers players the opportunity to experience a simple, rural life away from the bustling city. Players will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the countryside, care for livestock and wild animals, and grow their own crops on a farm. This pack offers a unique experience for players who are passionate about the rural lifestyle and want to explore a new way of living in the virtual world.
In Cottage Living, players will experience a focus on farm and rural life. While it doesn't have a direct predecessor, it incorporates elements from previous games such as The Sims: Unleashed, The Sims 2: Seasons, and The Sims 3: Pets. The expansion pack provides players with a unique way to live their Sims' lives in the countryside, with various activities and objects that allow them to immerse themselves in a rural and farm-like lifestyle and the small community in the new world, Henford-on-Bagley.
Sources for this article and its images include EA.com and SimsCommunity.com .
Everything New In A Nutshell
- Lifestock and Wild Animals
- New World (Henford-on-Bagley)
- Finchwick Fair and Running Errands
- New Traits (Animal enthusiast, Lactose intolerant)
- New Lot Challenges (Simple Living, Wild Foxes)
- New Aspiration - Country Caretaker (Nature)
- New Skill (Cross-stitch)
- New CAS, Build/Buy Items, and Collectibles
Lifestock And Wild Animals
The Sims 4: Cottage Living expansion pack introduces a rich variety of livestock and wild animals to interact with. Players can acquire farm animals like chickens, cows, and llamas from animal accommodations such as the chicken coop and animal shed. These animals provide items such as eggs, milk, and wool that can be utilized in new and exciting activities like cooking with new recipes and crafting with wool via cross-stitching. The expansion also offers the ability to cultivate oversized produce through gardening. Maintaining a positive relationship with the animals is key to their happiness and the quality of the products they produce. Unique versions of these animals, including the golden chicken and the evil chicken, exist with their own unique benefits and drawbacks. While this pack does not include horses, it does bring a fresh and distinct aspect to The Sims 4 franchise. Players can delve into the world of animal care and management, experimenting with feedable animal treats for different effects.
In Cottage Living, players can also interact with wild animals such as foxes, rabbits, and birds. Building relationships with these creatures not only adds a touch of cuteness to the game but also provides various bonuses such as help with gardening and the delivery of gifts. Foxes are mischievous creatures that must be handled with care, as they can steal eggs and harm chickens if left unchecked. However, befriending a fox can result in a lower chance of harm to the chicken coop and the receipt of various gifts. Rabbits, with their adorable appearance, are a joy to befriend, as it allows players to add a rabbit home to their lot and have rabbits roaming around, helping with gardening and bringing gifts. Wild birds bring a touch of music to the world with their singing, and also help with gardening by taking care of bugs on crops. With this expansion pack, players will have even more opportunities to immerse themselves in the world of rural life and animal interactions.
Henford-On-Bagley
Henford-on-Bagley, the new world introduced in Cottage Living, is a quaint and idyllic rural landscape inspired by the English countryside, particularly the Cotswolds. This world features three neighborhoods and 12 lots, and includes a rental lot in The Bramblewood for Sims to take a vacation. With its rolling hills, fertile farmland, and a rich history of stone-carving, Henford-on-Bagley is the perfect world for Sims seeking a more relaxed, bucolic way of life.
In this world, foxes are a natural presence, appearing on all lots by default, with the Wild Foxes lot challenge enabled. Additionally, rabbits and birds roam the world freely, adding to the immersive and authentic feel of Henford-on-Bagley. These wild animals are mainly exclusive to this world, except for foxes if the challenge is enabled elsewhere. Players can enjoy many cozy activities that this world offers. Sims can forage for mushrooms, explore the ruins, and visit Sophie The Snail in the lush woods. With its numerous water holes and ponds, Henford-on-Bagley is a great place for Sims to swim and relax. Each week, the town residents come together for a farm-themed festival, and there are many beautiful locations for Sims to enjoy picnics.
Famous (or infamous) Agnes Crumplebottom makes a return with this pack, together with her newly featured cousin Agatha Crumplebottom, who are both featured as Garden Shop Owner NPCs in Henford-on-Bagley. Players can see them frequent the village in their garden produce stall, offering a unique contrast in personalities. While Agnes is known for being mean and crude, hitting unsuspecting Sims with her infamous handbag, Agatha is quite sweet and bubbly. With its charming and unique features, Henford-on-Bagley is a must-see for any Sims player looking for a new, cozy world to explore.
Finchwick Fair
The Sims 4: Cottage Living introduces the Finchwick Fair, a weekly event where Sims can showcase their animals, crops, and cooking. The Fair takes place every Saturday at 3:30 pm in the Finchwick district of Henford-on-Bagley and ends at 9:30 pm. The concept is similar to the festivals from City Living and Snowy Escape. Players can find information about the event on the calendar or info boards in the area. A notification will also pop up in the upper right-hand corner of the screen when the Fair starts.
The Fair rotates through five different themes - Chicken, Cow, Garden, Oversized Crop, and Llama - each with unique activities and competitions. To participate, players must have the required animals and produce in their inventory, such as chickens and eggs for the Chicken Fair or a pie for the Garden Fair. The competitions are judged by the mayor and the outcomes are based on the quality and relationship between the Sim and the animal or product entered.
Special animals like Golden Chickens, or produce like rainbow milk or wool, tend to fare better in the competitions, as do high-quality products like Excellent or Perfect pies. The player can also try to bribe the judge, but it may backfire and lower their chances of winning. Prizes include participation and first, second, and third-place ribbons, which are new collection items in the game.
Errands
In Henford-on-Bagley, Sims are given the opportunity to earn money by running errands for some characters in the town. This system shares some similarities with the Odd Jobs from The Sims 4: Island Living, but provides a deeper understanding of the world and its inhabitants. Sims aged teen or older can participate in running errands, regardless of their place of residence. To start an errand, Sims must interact with specific residents of Henford-on-Bagley and use the "Offer Help with Errands" social interaction. The progress and details of the errands can be tracked in the career interface of the Sim. At any given time, a Sim can have up to three active errands.
The errands are divided into two categories: non-repeatable and repeatable. Non-repeatable errands can only be given once to players and after completion, they won't appear on the list again. These errands also serve as introductions to various NPC characters in Henford-on-Bagley, such as Agatha Crumplebottom and Agnes Crumplebottom, giving players a chance to interact with and learn more about them. Repeatable errands, on the other hand, will reappear on the list periodically, and some may be more challenging to complete than others. Players who want to participate in running errands in Henford-on-Bagley are recommended to check the errand list daily.
New Traits
Cottage Living introduces two new traits that align perfectly with the pack's focus on rural and animal-centered living. The first is Animal Enthusiast, which gives Sims positive moodlets from interacting with Chickens, Llamas, Cows, and Cats and Dogs (if players have the Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack). This trait can be used in conjunction with the Cat Lover and Dog Lover traits from that pack, further adding to the animal-friendly atmosphere.
Trait Name | In-Game Description | Trait Type |
|---|---|---|
Animal enthusiast | These Sims are obsessed with animals, and will seek their company often. They will have an easier time caring for animals and getting closer to them. | Lifestyle |
Lactose intolerant | These Sims will become sick if they eat dairy, but will feel great if they have avoided it for a while. | Lifestyle |
The second trait is Lactose Intolerant, which makes Sims uncomfortable when they eat dairy. Despite this, raising cows for milk is still a viable option for these Sims as they can still make money by selling milk and cheese, but they can also produce non-dairy milk, obtained from feeding Veggie treats to their cows. This lactose intolerance adds an extra layer of depth and challenge to the creation of unique Sims, even though it is more of an allergy than a personality trait. Although these Sims generally don't like consuming dairy, they may occasionally get whims that make them want to try it, which can bring them joy, even if it later causes discomfort.
Lot Challenges
Right before the release of Cottage Living, a new feature was brought to the base game with Patch 115 - the conversion of some of the negative lot traits into Lot Challenges. A total of 11 pre-existing lot traits were transformed into lot challenges and two additional challenges were added specifically for the Cottage Living expansion. Unlike lot traits, there is no limit to the number of challenges that a lot can have. The Lot Challenges introduced with Cottage Living bring added benefits and immersion to any world, but they truly shine when experienced in the charming setting of Henford-on-Bagley.
With the first one of the two, the Simple Living lot challenge, players will have to make sure that all cooking materials are either kept in the inventory or stored. This makes cooking a more cost-effective task, as Sims won't need to buy any ingredients, but it also means that the recipes they can prepare will depend on what ingredients are readily available. To overcome this limitation and maintain a diverse diet, players should encourage their Sims to forage in the nearby woods for mushrooms and berries, utilize the livestock and community (such as visiting market stalls) to obtain milk and eggs, and prioritize gardening with a variety of harvests. The newly added canning activity can also be highly beneficial, as it enables Sims to preserve produce and food in small jars for extended periods, ensuring a steady supply of ingredients.
The second lot challenge, the Wild Foxes, adds a little touch of excitement to the gameplay while being more straightforward than the other one. With this lot challenge, foxes will be a common sight on the lot, sometimes trying to steal eggs from chicken coops or attacking bunnies. While this may seem like a nuisance, befriending these wild animals has its benefits. Foxes can become friendly and bring gifts to the Sims. To prevent the adversities of this lot challenge, players must keep their livestock safe from fox attacks by ensuring that the chicken coop is secured. This challenge is the only way to experience wild foxes in other worlds, making it a must-try for players interested in owning a cottage elsewhere.
Country Caretaker Aspiration
The Country Caretaker Aspiration is perfect for players who want to fully experience the Cottage Living pack and live out their farming dreams. This aspiration prioritizes building relationships with animals, farming oversized crops, and exploring all that Henford-on-Bagley has to offer. Tasks include foraging, winning at the Finchwick Fair, obtaining produce from livestock, and befriending wild animals. Unlike the Freelance Botanist aspiration, this one doesn't focus on traditional gardening. The steps of the Country Caretaker Aspiration are achievable as long as players are dedicated to a cottage life with a farm and want to make the most of the pack. It can be completed quickly if Sims put in effort to grow crops, raise livestock, and interact with wild animals. However, for those who are just exploring the pack, this aspiration may not offer much replay value beyond the core features.
The reward for completing the Country Caretaker Aspiration is the Nature Conservationalist trait, which grants Sims improved relationships with animals, increased yields from crops, and more gifts from rabbits and birds. They also receive free grocery delivery and a discount on bills while living in Henford-on-Bagley. This trait is ideal for those who continue to live in Henford-on-Bagley with a cottage lifestyle, as it makes farm life easier and more profitable. With happier and healthier farm animals, better relationships with wild animals, and unique plant interactions, Sims can harvest high-quality products for competitions, making money, and personal use. The free grocery delivery can save money and simplify the Simple Living challenge, and the bill discount makes living in Henford-on-Bagley more affordable, making the Nature Conservationalist a strong trait for many purposes.
Cross-Stitching Skill
Cross-Stitching Skill is a minor skill that maxes out at level five, which lets Sims create charming designs with the sewing technique, that can, later on, be displayed on the wall or gifted to others. Unlike many other expansion pack skills, it is not necessary for Cottage Living's core features and is entirely optional. However, it provides a fun and creative outlet for Sims to showcase their work. Sims can improve this skill by purchasing the Make It Sew Cross-Stitch Kit from Build/Buy Mode or buying Hoops from the Garden Shop in Henford-on-Bagley.
To start stitching, players just need to click on the kit or hoop and select "Stitch from Pattern." As Sims progress through the skill, they will have access to more patterns, including those unlocked through errands and wild-animal gifts. At level five, they will also have the Stitch By Reference option, which allows them to create Cross-Stitch designs based on photos, much like the Paint By Reference option for paintings. With numerous patterns and the ability to create one-of-a-kind designs through reference, Sims can fully enjoy displaying their handiwork in their homes.
New CAS And Build/Buy Items
The Sims 4: Cottage Living pack offers a variety of CAS options, including casual and cozy outfits, accessories, and hairstyles that align with the cottage-core aesthetic. These outfits are perfect for Sims who want to live a simple life and are available for every age and gender, including toddler and child Sims. Overall the items are very well aligned for living a quiet life in a cozy English town and farm life.
Similar to the CAS items, the Cottage Living pack features a rich array of Build/Buy items that embody the cottage-core aesthetic, allowing players to bring their cottage lifestyle vision to life. With a variety of new objects, players can add a plethora of items for their homes and outdoor spaces, that primarily focus on livestock and farming. These items not only add a touch of charm but also bring a lot of functionality, making it easier for players to create their dream cottage retreat.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S