How To Do The Sims 4 Decades Challenge

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 explains the rules and provides a comprehensive overview of this historical simulation.

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 adjust the starting and ending years to personalize your experience. Automatic aging must be disabled, and lifespan is adjusted based on historical life expectancy: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born afterward, reflecting the significant increase in life expectancy around that time.

Age Progression Guidelines:

• Before 1950:

  • Baby: Ages after 1 day (6 months)
  • Toddler: Ages after 3 days (2 years)
  • Child: Ages after 8 days (6 years)
  • Teen: Ages after 14 days (13 years)
  • Young Adult: Ages after 26 days (32 years)
  • Adult: Ages after 36 days (50 years)
  • Elder: Dies after approximately 14 days (around 60 years)

• After 1950:

  • Baby: Ages after 1 day (6 months)
  • Toddler: Ages after 3 days (2 years)
  • Child: Ages after 8 days (6 years)
  • Teen: Ages after 14 days (13 years)
  • Young Adult: Ages after 32 days (35 years)
  • Adult: Ages after 60 days (65 years)
  • Elder: Dies after approximately 56 days (around 90 years)

Begin the challenge with a single young adult Sim or a married young adult couple. Multi-generational households are permitted, reflecting common historical family structures. Sims' appearances should align with the fashion and styles of each decade.

Housing and Technology Restrictions:

Strangerville and Del Sol Valley are off-limits until the 1950s, and Sulani is excluded for maximum realism. Single Sims can live in apartments, but marriage necessitates a house. Phones are allowed for essential gameplay functions but not for entertainment or communication until appropriate for the era. The same applies to computers. Job choices should reflect the available professions of each decade.

Decade-Specific Rules and Challenges (Summary):

For detailed rules, consult Cute Coffee Gal's complete guide. This is a brief overview:

• 1890s: Male heirs only; daughters with the Creative trait must move out upon marriage; no WooHoo, only trying for a baby; home births; period-appropriate jobs; no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with relevant majors; start a Cow Plant.

• 1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing, no showers; other 1890s rules apply; phonographs permitted.

• 1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults drafted for WWI; Cow Plant cake consumption; dice roll determines further cake consumption or return home; oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males die; high school mandatory with a C average or relocation; women can take manual labor jobs; university for men post-war.

• 1920s: Women can be heirs; no Creative trait requirement for daughters; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).

• 1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression: no business careers; all Sims lose jobs initially, then find new ones after a week; one cooked meal per day, other meals scavenged, caught, or grown; Prohibition ends.

• 1940s: WWI draft rules apply to WWII; victory garden with at least four plants; thermostats, washers, and dryers allowed; radio required; teens can have part-time jobs.

• 1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not required; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.

• 1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); any college major; maternity leave; WooHoo allowed.

• 1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged but not required; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.

• 1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim must pursue a business career; science babies; hospital births.

• 1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV; appliance and furniture restrictions removed; texting allowed; Y2K shelter required.

• 2000s: Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV allowed.

• 2010s: No journalism (print media decline); same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.

The Decades Challenge offers a rich and engaging gameplay experience, allowing for significant customization based on available game packs. The Eco Lifestyle pack is highly recommended, but the challenge can be adapted to suit your existing content.

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