How To Do The Sims 4 Decades Challenge - News

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge: A Journey Through Time

The Sims 4 community thrives on creating engaging challenges, and the Decades Challenge offers a unique way to experience your Sims' lives across different eras. This guide outlines the rules and difficulties of this historical simulation.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge

Image via EA

Challenge Overview and Rules:

The core concept involves progressing through decades, with each two in-game days representing a year, starting in 1890. You can customize the starting and ending years. Automatic aging is disabled, and lifespan is adjusted based on historical life expectancy: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born after.

Age Progression (in-game days/approximate age):

Baby: 1 day (6 months)
Toddler: 3 days (2 years)
Child: 8 days (6 years)
Teen: 14 days (13 years)
Young Adult (Pre-1950): 26 days (32 years)
Young Adult (Post-1950): 32 days (35 years)
Adult (Pre-1950): 36 days (50 years)
Adult (Post-1950): 60 days (65 years)
Elder (Pre-1950): Dies around 14 days after becoming Elder (approx. 60 years old)
Elder (Post-1950): Dies around 56 days after becoming Elder (approx. 90 years old)

Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple. Multi-generational households are permitted. Clothing and housing should reflect the era. Strangerville and Del Sol Valley (pre-1950s) and Sulani are restricted for increased realism. Apartments are allowed for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house move. Technology use is limited to gameplay necessities; phones, computers, etc., are only available in their respective decades. Job choices should be historically appropriate.

Decade-Specific Challenges:

Each decade presents unique challenges (refer to Cute Coffee Gal's rules for comprehensive details):

1890s: Male heirs only; female Sims with the Creative trait must move out upon marriage. No WooHoo, only "try for baby." Home births. Men perform period-appropriate jobs (e.g., woodworking). Women manage the household, with limited job options if widowed. No electricity. Elementary school is mandatory, high school optional. University is allowed with relevant majors. Begin growing a Cow Plant.
1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers). Other 1890s rules apply. Phonographs are permitted.
1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults are drafted for WWI. They must eat Cow Plant cake (odd numbered dice rolls eat it again). The oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish. High school becomes mandatory (C average required). Women can take manual labor jobs.
1920s: Female heirs are allowed. No Creative trait requirement for daughters. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are permitted. Prohibition: no alcohol.
1930s: Kegs are allowed at university. The Great Depression: Sims lose their jobs initially, regaining them after a week. No business careers. One cooked meal daily; other meals must be scavenged, caught, or grown. Prohibition ends.
1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI). Victory garden with four or more plants. Thermostats, washers, and dryers are allowed. Radio listening is mandatory (one hour daily). No punishment for bad high school grades. Teens can have part-time jobs.
1950s: Korean War draft (same rules). Showers and cheap TVs are allowed. Radio listening is not mandatory. High school is mandatory. Phones are allowed for calls.
1960s: Vietnam War draft (two oldest children). Any college major is allowed. Maternity leave for women. WooHoo is unrestricted.
1970s: Vietnam War draft (two oldest children). Marriage is encouraged but not mandatory. Microwaves and dishwashers are allowed. Lottery tickets and food delivery become available.
1980s: Gaming is allowed. At least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies are allowed; hospital births are preferred.
1990s: Laptops are allowed. TV watching is unrestricted. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted. Texting is allowed. Y2K shelter construction and three-day confinement are mandatory.
2000s: Computer and phone restrictions are lifted (except for Trendi). Home or hospital births are allowed. All music and TV are permitted.
2010s: Journalism (print media) is disallowed. Same-sex marriage is allowed. All part-time jobs are allowed, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator.

The Decades Challenge offers a highly customizable experience, adaptable to different game packs. While Eco Lifestyle is beneficial, the challenge can be adjusted to your available content.

The Sims 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.