The release of The Sims 4: Growing Together has been highly anticipated by fans, with the potential of being one of the best expansions of the franchise. This expansion pack introduces a new world with many unique features and activities that heavily focus on family and growing up. In addition to these new gameplay elements, the pack also includes over 190 new build items that allow Simmers to create the home of their dreams.
The build items in Growing Together range from typical objects like windows, flooring, and wallpapers to unique items that are family-oriented and child-friendly. The pack features a contemporary and modern design style that allows players to create spacious environments with large windows, designer-like lighting, and more. Among the many new and functional items are suitcases, carriers, photo collages, a treehouse, splash pods, and more.
One of the controversial items in the pack is the infant changing station. While this is a great and immersive addition to The Sims 4, some players argue it should have been included in the base game update that introduced infants. Currently, the base game update that introduced infants did not include some crucial items, such as the changing stations. Regardless, the new items in Growing Together offer players more options to create unique and functional homes for their Sims.
All Sims 4: Growing Together Build and Buy Items
Growing Together offers many new items across almost every Buy category, except for the Pets category. This comprehensive addition highlights the attention to detail given by the developers to ensure that no aspect of the game is overlooked. While there are no new pet items, players can still have their infants interact with household pets if they own the Cats & Dogs expansion pack.
However, it's important to note that some items in each category may be duplicates with different functions. The off-the-grid, water features, and transportation categories, while providing an easier way to find new items, do not offer anything entirely unique. The Build items, on the other hand, may not have new items in every category but still offer a considerable amount of new styles for players to use in their builds. It is important to note that all the items listed are not considered to be debug or environment objects.
All Build Mode Items
The Build items category boasts three new styled rooms for various functions, including a new bathroom, a cozy living room, and a children's bedroom with bunk beds. In addition to these rooms, there are also many single items available such as windows, adding a sense of spaciousness to the Sims.
The expansion pack also introduces new Walls, Flooring, Foundation, Doors, Fence, Chimney, Wall Sculpture, Fountain Decor, and Stairs Railing options. Among these new items, the whale-like looking Fountain Decor stands out, appearing in various sections of the buy mode items.
Buy Mode: Comfort Items
The comfort items section comprises a collection of new beds, primarily focusing on bunk beds. Like other bunk-bed items in the game, the upper and bottom section items are grouped together, but players can separate, rotate, replace, or combine them with other items.
In this section, players can also find sleeping bags for children and older Sims, ideal for slumber parties and potential stayovers. Additionally, there is a new newborn bassinet, comfortable chairs, and large couches, among many other new objects.
Buy Mode: Surfaces
The focus of this section is primarily on the addition of new dining tables and side tables, along with other surface clutter items. Most tables in this category boast a sleek and contemporary design, with modern cuts of wood and glass or gold accents.
Buy Mode: Plumbing
Compared to many other categories, the plumbing section doesn't offer many new items, with only five new items and their respective swatches. This pack introduces two new potty stools, a sink with cabinets, a bath and shower combination, and lastly, a public toilet that is most suitable for non-residential zones like parks.
Buy Mode: Activities and Skills
Although the Growing Together pack doesn't introduce new skills, it offers numerous unique features and activities, including the keepsake box, children's bicycles, a treehouse set, and other items. This category also includes exciting new activity items that enable players to create their own splash pads anywhere they desire. It's worth noting that the splash pads and the whale mentioned earlier can be placed slightly outside of the lot limits, despite being large items.
Buy Mode: Decorations
The Decoration category boasts the most extensive selection of items, particularly wall decorations such as posters, curtains, mirrors, and photo collages, as well as decorative objects for children's rooms. Additionally, this category offers a variety of potted plants, carpets, and other decorative items that could complement a recreation center's ambiance.
Buy Mode: Kids
The Kids category is nearly as comprehensive as the Decor category and includes all items for newborns, infants, toddlers, and children. While many of these items are already available in other categories, such as sleeping bags, decor, and toys, this category offers a dedicated section for players to peruse all kid-related items without sifting through other categories.
Buy Mode: Lighting
The Lighting category showcases a fresh assortment of modern lights for walls, ceilings, and floors. Although ceiling lamps may appear somewhat alike at first glance, they are essentially the same light available in various lengths, enabling them to adapt to any wall height and design preference.
Buy Mode: Electronics
Surprisingly, the Electronics category offers only one new item - a colorful speaker named "Life's a Ball Speaker." This versatile speaker comes in 11 different swatches, making it suitable for various home styles.
Buy Mode: Appliances
The Appliances category includes four new items: a trash bin, stove oven, fridge, and extractor hood. The fridge and stove oven in this set are of relatively high quality and come with a hefty price tag.
Buy Mode: Storage
The Storage section provides a diverse array of items, from small items such as keepsake boxes to moderately sized modern pieces to large bookshelves with geometric designs that may be better suited for a modern library than a home lot.
Limited-Time Purchase Bonus Items
If players purchase The Sims 4 Growing Together before April 27th, 2023, they will receive access to the bonus content "Outdoor Playtime Digital Content." This set includes items such as a swing set, toddler slide, and infant carrier that can help parent or child Sims enjoy fun and active lives outdoors.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.