Are you a fan of *The Sims 4* and looking to spice up your gameplay with a historical twist? The Decades Challenge might just be what you need. This challenge lets your Sims journey through different time periods, starting from 1890 and progressing all the way to 2010 or 2020. With the ongoing Blast from the Past event, it's the perfect time to dive into this engaging experience.
Rules of the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4
It’s crucial to turn off automatic aging and follow specific life expectancy guidelines to mimic historical changes. Sims are categorized into those born before 1950 and those born after. Here’s how aging works for each group:
- Baby: Age after 1 day (6 months old)
- Infant: Age after 3 days (2 years old)
- Toddler: Age after 8 days (6 years old)
- Child: Age after 14 days (13 years old)
- Teen: Age after 12 days (19 years old)
For Sims born before 1950:
- Young Adult: Age after 26 days (32 years old)
- Adult: Age after 36 days (50 years old)
- Elder: Dies after about 14 days (around 60 years old)
For Sims born after 1950:
- Young Adult: Age after 32 days (35 years old)
- Adult: Age after 60 days (65 years old)
- Elder: Dies after about 56 days (around 90 years old)
To start, you can either begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple of young adults. Including one Sim's parents in the household adds a touch of multi-generational living, common in the early years. Ensure your Sims' outfits reflect the appropriate time period for added authenticity.
Housing rules include avoiding Strangerville entirely and not using Del Sol Valley until the 1950s. For maximum realism, Sulani should also be off-limits. Singles can live in apartments, but they must move to a house upon marriage.
When it comes to technology, phones and computers can be used for necessary gameplay elements but not for entertainment or communication until the correct decade. Job choices should align with the era you're simulating.
The Sims 4 Decades Challenge Difficulties
1890s
Only male heirs are allowed. Daughters must take the Creative trait and move out upon marriage. WooHooing is prohibited, and Sims can only sleep together to try for a baby. Babies are born at home. Men work period-appropriate jobs like woodworking, while women manage the household or take up freelancing or gardening if widowed. No electricity is allowed, and kids must attend elementary school. University education is available for both genders but must focus on period-appropriate majors. Start cultivating a Cow Plant.
1900s
Lamps and indoor plumbing are permitted, but showers are not. Jobs and education rules remain the same as in the 1890s. Phonographs for music are allowed.
1910s
Males are drafted for World War I and must eat Cow Plant cake. Roll a dice to determine their fate: odd numbers eat again, even numbers return home. If all males perish, the oldest female and her husband become the heirs. High school becomes mandatory with a C average requirement. Men can attend university post-war, and women can take manual labor jobs.
1920s
Women can be heirs and don't need to move out when married. The Creative trait is optional for daughters. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work if their husbands don’t earn enough. Prohibition rules apply, so no alcohol.
1930s
Kegs are allowed at university, but the Great Depression impacts employment, with Sims losing their jobs at the start of the decade and only being able to find new ones after a week. Prohibition ends, and meals are restricted to one cooked meal a day, with the rest being scavenged, caught, or grown.
1940s
Follow World War I rules for World War II. Each household must have a victory garden with four or more plants. Thermostats, washers, and dryers are permitted. A radio is mandatory, with at least one Sim listening for an hour daily. High schoolers are no longer sent away for poor grades, and teens can work part-time.
1950s
The oldest son goes to the Korean War using the same rules. Showers and cheap TVs are now allowed. High school is mandatory, and phones can be used for calls.
1960s
The oldest two children of any gender go to the Vietnam War. College majors are unrestricted. Women can take maternity leave, and WooHooing is no longer restricted to trying for a baby.
1970s
The Vietnam War rules apply again. Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves, dishwashers, lottery tickets, and food delivery are now available.
1980s
Gaming is permitted, and at least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies are allowed, and babies should be born at the hospital.
1990s
Laptops and unrestricted TV watching are allowed. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted. Texting is permitted, and families must build a Y2K shelter and stay in it for three days.
2000s
Computer and phone restrictions, except for Trendi, are lifted. Babies can be born at home or in the hospital. All music and TV channels are allowed.
2010s
Journalism with print media is no longer allowed. Same-sex marriages are permitted. All part-time work, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator, are allowed.
That's a comprehensive guide to the Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4*. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack enhances the experience, you can adjust the challenge to fit any packs you own. Dive into the challenge and experience the rich tapestry of history through your Sims' lives.
*The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
