The Sims 4 recently released its eighteenth stuff pack DLC, titled Paranormal. The new stuff pack focuses on all things spooky, introducing Haunted Houses, psychic Mediums, and much more to The Sims 4. Players have been anticipating the Paranormal stuff pack since the release of community-voted Nifty Knitting, where a concept similar to Paranormal was pitched to players in the initial round of voting. The gallery has surged with new Haunted Houses and spooky Sims to aid players in their Paranormal gameplay.
Paranormal isn’t the first supernaturally tied DLC to come to The Sims 4, but it is the first to debut in a while. Supernatural content is typically tied to game packs and expansion packs, so it was interesting to see Paranormal release as a stuff pack. Luckily, this stuff pack has pretty much surpassed players’ expectations, with many saying it feels more like a game pack than a stuff pack because of its immense amount of content. However, despite how well it stands on its own, there’s one game pack that will enhance Paranormal gameplay even further.
The Sims 4: Realm of Magic
Released in 2019 as a game pack, Realm of Magic introduced players to the world of Glimmerbrook as well as the Magical Realm and added Spellcasters to the game. Witches and wizards were previously introduced in The Sims 3: Supernatural, so it was nice to see them make an improved return to the next generation of Sims games.
Realm of Magic added new Create-a-Sim (CAS) styles and Build/Buy mode items to present players with a fully mystical experience when playing with Spellcasters. The furniture and architectural details included in the pack are in the elegant Art Nouveau style, which had been used in other Sims games, like The Sims 2, as well. Though the CAS items are formulated to fit a certain aesthetic, the Build/Buy items could actually mix fairly easily with other The Sims 4 items.
Spellcaster Sims can be created in CAS like other occults, or players can create Sims and have them ask one of the three Sages to turn them into one. Once the Sim is a Spellcaster, the perks system works very similarly to the one introduced in Vampires or celebrities from the Get Famous expansion pack. Spellcasters can use wands to cast spells and curses, create potions, have familiars, and even ride brooms as a new form of transportation.
Why Realm of Magic is Perfect for Paranormal
Spellcasters are already in-tune with magical energy, so they build the “Medium” skill faster than other Sims. This comes in handy if players want their Sim to pursue a career as a Paranormal Investigator, which requires mastery of the Medium skill before becoming a licensed investigator. Though it depends on the aesthetic players are trying to create for their Sims, the Realm of Magic and Paranormal CAS items also work fairly well together.
Art Nouveau meets boho-chic when these two packs are installed, which can work as a very cohesive aesthetic in both CAS and Build/Buy mode. The seemingly 70s-inspired Build/Buy items from Paranormal can definitely mix well with the items from Realm of Magic, especially when players have an eye for building and decorating in The Sims 4.
Realm of Magic is already fun on its own thanks to the Spellcasters, and Paranormal is fun thanks to the spooky elements added to the game, but combining the two makes a very special supernatural duo. Realm of Magic is by no means required to play Paranormal, but it can make the new stuff pack an even more fun and rewarding experience.
The Sims 4: Paranormal is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
