The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat was the first game pack released for The Sims 4 franchise; it was released on January 13, 2015. This game pack offers players the opportunity to experience a camping and outdoor lifestyle away from the comfort of their Sims' homes. Players will be able to venture into the wilderness and explore the natural beauty of the newly introduced world, Granite Falls, where they can go fishing, gather resources, and interact with the local wildlife. This pack offers a unique experience for players who are passionate about the great outdoors and want to explore a new way of living in the virtual world.
In Outdoor Retreat, players will experience a focus on camping and outdoor activities. While it also doesn't have a direct predecessor, it incorporates elements from previous games such as The Sims: Vacation and The Sims 2: Bon Voyage. The game pack provides players with a unique way to live their Sims' lives in the great outdoors, with various activities and objects that allow them to immerse themselves in a camping and outdoor lifestyle in Granite Falls. Players can engage in activities like hiking, gathering resources, roasting marshmallows around the campfire, and much more. In comparison to the expansion packs, game packs offer much fewer features.
Sources for this article include EA.com and SimsCommunity.com .
Everything New In A Nutshell
- Going On Vacation
- New World (Granite Falls)
- New Trait (Squeamish)
- New Aspiration - Outdoor Enthusiast (Nature)
- New Skill (Herbalism)
- New CAS, Build/Buy Items
Going On Vacation
In The Sims 4, vacationing was initially introduced with the Outdoor Retreat pack, but it was later made available in any residential world with the release of Patch 103. While Sims can technically reside within a destination world indefinitely by continuously extending their vacation time, it would require a steady income of money. For Sims with a career, vacation days are limited, and working from home is an option. The good news is that a Sim's job or school performance does not suffer while on vacation. For Sims who make money through activities like painting or writing, vacationing should be less of a problem.
To go on vacation in The Sims 4, players can use their phone or computer's "Take a Vacation" function to invite up to seven other Sims. In order to have a place to stay, players must book at least one rental lot in the destination world. Once on vacation, Sims can join or leave at any time, providing flexibility for players to customize their Sims' vacation experience. While on vacation, Sims can still receive phone calls and invitations from events in their main world, which they can attend if they choose to do so.
However, once the event is over, they cannot automatically return to the vacation lot and will have to make their way back manually. The player can switch control to one of the Sims still on vacation, and have the Sim who attended the event rejoin the vacation. It's important to note that Sims may experience homesickness while on vacation, which could result in a sad moodlet.
Overall, The Sims 4 provides a great opportunity for players to take their Sims on vacation and explore new worlds. Whether it's the natural beauty of Granite Falls in the Outdoor Retreat pack or the sunny beaches of Sulani in the Island Living pack, players can enjoy a variety of vacation destinations.
Granite Falls
Granite Falls, the first and one of the few destination worlds in The Sims 4, is an idyllic, nature-oriented location surrounded by pine trees, lakes, and sprawling valleys. However, it is not a world where players can live permanently without cheats or mods. The world is primarily designed for camping and all related activities, but Sims can also rent pre-built indoor lots for a more comfortable experience. The world contains a total of five rental lots and one community lot, each offering different opportunities for exploration and relaxation.
Players can also edit these lots as they see fit, including changing lot assignments or editing the build itself, as long as no Sims are currently vacationing in them. Whether Sims choose to rough it in the wilderness or enjoy a cozy cabin, Granite Falls offers a variety of options for a memorable vacation.
This world is set in a national park and offers a variety of outdoor activities for Sims to enjoy. Some of the activities that players can engage in while on vacation in Granite Falls include hiking, fishing, and exploring the great outdoors. Hiking in Granite Falls is a great way for Sims to explore the natural beauty of the park. Players can guide their Sims through the forest and enjoy the scenery while burning some calories. Along the way, they may even stumble upon hidden areas or discover new plants and wildlife, and collect insects. Fishing is another great activity for Sims, as they can catch fish in the rivers and lakes throughout the park. They can use the fish they catch to cook meals or sell them for some extra cash.
Sims can also engage in a variety of other outdoor activities such as camping, roasting marshmallows over a campfire, stargazing, and playing horseshoes. The newly added Weenie Roast event, in which players can earn rewards if they get gold, is a great way to experience a campfire in Granite Falls, but also any other world. Additionally, the park has a ranger station where players can purchase supplies and learn more about the area. Sims can even interact with other vacationers and park staff to make new friends and socialize.
One unique feature of Granite Falls is the hermit who lives in a secluded cabin deep in the woods. Sims can visit the hermit and engage in a variety of interactions, such as trading items or asking for advice. The hermit may even give Sims a special gift if they complete a certain task. Overall, Granite Falls world provides a wonderful vacation experience for Sims and players alike. With so many outdoor activities to engage in, players can create a truly immersive and unique vacation experience for their Sims.
Squeamish Trait
The squeamish trait is a new trait that is added with the Outdoor Retreat. It adds an extra layer of challenge to the Sims' lives, as players must find ways to work around many of the negative effects of the trait and still achieve their Sims' goals.
As mentioned in the trait's description, Sims with this trait are easily disgusted by the sight of blood or other unpleasant things, such as dirty dishes, garbage, or even other Sims' bad hygiene. The Squeamish trait causes Sims to have a negative moodlet when they encounter these things, making them feel uncomfortable and even sick.
Trait Name | In-Game Description | Trait Type |
|---|---|---|
 Squeamish | Squeamish Sims are nauseated by the sight of creepy crawlies, vomiting, violence and death. These Sims become Uncomfortable near anything dirty. | Lifestyle |
Sims with the Squeamish trait may also have difficulty with certain careers, such as Doctor or owning Vet Clinic where they may be a lot of uncomfortable situations and filthy environments occasionally. They may also struggle with certain skills, such as fishing, where they may have to handle live bait such as insects or catch fish.
However, there are some ways to mitigate the negative effects of the Squeamish trait, such as cleaning up the environment or avoiding situations that trigger their disgust. Players should keep in mind that this trait conflicts with the Freegan, Glutton, Loves The Outdoors, and Slob traits. With all of these considerations, having these Sims enjoy a vacation in Granite Falls itself might be a challenge on its own, but it could also be a great way for these Sims to get out of their comfort zone.
Outdoor Enthusiast Aspiration
The Outdoor Enthusiast Aspiration is an ideal choice for players who want to fully immerse themselves in the Outdoor Retreat pack and explore the wild outdoors. This aspiration focuses on outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, and staying in a tent. Tasks include catching identifying plants, collecting insects, and achieving the highest level of herbalism skills. The aspiration also challenges Sims to explore the secret areas of Granite Falls as Sims will need to befriend the hermit to become a true outdoor expert.
The Outdoor Enthusiast Aspiration is perfect for players who want to fully experience the new world and its features. Evidently, this aspiration is perfect for Sims that Loves the Outdoors; however, it is not as suitable for those who prefer a more urban or indoor lifestyle or Squeamish, as it requires a lot of outdoor activities and exploration.
After completing this aspiration, Sims will be rewarded with the Survivalist trait, which is perfect for those who enjoy spending time in Granite Falls or engaging in outdoor activities. This trait allows Sims to thrive when living off the land and camping, resulting in a consistently high fun meter compared to Sims without the trait.
Additionally, outdoor activities will provide powerful moodlets lasting up to six hours, which can be triggered by simple actions such as waking up outside or sitting on a log. The Survivalist trait is especially useful for Sims participating in the Off-the-Grid lot challenge, as it provides an advantage in managing their needs and overall enjoyment of outdoor living.
Herbalism Skill
The Herbalism skill in The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat pack is all about a Sim's ability to identify and brew various herbal remedies. Sims can increase their Herbalism skill in a variety of ways, such as by practicing identifying the various herbs that grow in Granite Falls' forest or by brewing herbal recipes. Reading the Herbalism skill book or talking to the Hermit of Granite Falls can also give a slight boost to the skill.
As Sims progress through the levels, they will be able to unlock powerful herbal remedies, such as the Elixir of Fertility at level 10, which increases the chance of giving birth to twins or triplets. This can be particularly useful for players who want to take on fun challenges like the 100 babies challenge.
While these recipes generally require herbs from Granite Falls, some of them also require gardening or catching insects. Although it doesn't offer extensive gameplay, working on the Herbalism skill during visits to Granite Falls and completing the aspiration can be a fun and rewarding experience for players.
New CAS And Build/Buy Items
The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat pack offers a range of new CAS items that match the theme of the pack. There are around 90 items that include outdoorsy outfits and accessories that are perfect for Sims who want to immerse themselves in the nature-oriented world of Granite Falls. The new clothing and hair items come in a range of styles, from camping gear to cozy outdoor wear.
There is even a bear costume. These new items cater to Sims of all ages except toddlers and genders, making it easy to create a cohesive outdoor look for the whole family. With these new CAS items, Sims can dress the part for their camping trips and outdoor adventures in Granite Falls.
The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat introduces over 60 new build/buy items that bring the beauty of nature to life. The pack is heavily focused on camping and the outdoors, and as such, many of the new items are designed to be used while camping. These items include portable beds, tents, and food-related items, which can be purchased from the ranger's station in Granite Falls or in build mode.
Additionally, there are other pieces of furniture such as the Campfires that can be purchased through build mode to enhance the outdoor experience. The new items offer a lot of functionality, making it easier for players to create the perfect outdoor retreat. From cozy cabins to sprawling campsites, players can create a unique outdoor space that reflects their Sims' personalities and interests.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S