For many fans, The Sims 4 is synonymous with creativity. The game presents a largely blank canvas, letting you create whoever you want and guide their lives as you see fit. People play The Sims 4 in many different ways. Some focus on character development. They guide their Sims through all the stages of their lives and explore developing relationships along the way. Others prefer the building aspect. These users spend all their time making the house of their dreams, or even recreating iconic fictional locations in-game. Others focus on exploring the game’s extensive library of DLC. They use the more outlandish packs on offer to send their characters on bizarre and exciting journeys.
But despite all the many options on offer in The Sims 4 itself, some players look farther. These fans create custom content, or CC. This can take the form of new furniture, clothing items, hairstyles, and much more. With access to CC, your options in The Sims 4 are virtually limitless. And fortunately, many creators of CC do in fact make it available online. This means fans can add it to their games with the touch of a button. If your Sims 4 world is getting a bit too bland for you, here are some of the best CC expansions you can use to spice it up.
#1: The Sims 4 Goes Back in Time
For the most part, The Sims 4’s setting is distinctly modern. Particularly nostalgic fans might prefer to shake things up, though. Back in 2011, Maxis released The Sims Medieval, a spin off which brought the life simulation series into medieval times and gave players access to swords and sorcery. As well-loved as this game was, it never received any sort of sequel. The rest of the franchise has trended much closer to the present day. Luckily for medieval-minded players, custom content is here to soothe your nostalgia.
Custom content creator Simverses has produced a truly massive amount of custom content themed around medieval times. At their blog, you can find countless supplies to line the halls of your castle. This creator offers numerous pieces of furniture and decorations, as well as musical lutes, alchemy kits, and more. There are even medieval surgery tables and punishment stocks, so you can simulate the less-pleasant aspects of medieval life as well. There are even redesigned pet toys to keep the immersion strong. If you miss the days of controlling a whole kingdom of Sims, Simverses’ CC is ideal for you.
#2: Hitting the Beach
Going back to the dark ages isn’t the only way to bring a more fantastical angle to The Sims 4. The Sims Resource boasts a truly massive amount of CC in its crossover pack, Life’s A Beach. This set combines the efforts of numerous artists and creators into a staggering 500+ items all inspired by beaches and oceans. This set goes well beyond swimsuits and surfboards, too. Using the items in Life’s A Beach, you can transform your sims into elegant merfolk, and decorate their homes with enchanting aquatic flare. Of course, if you want to stay more grounded, there are countless beachwear outfits as well. Life’s A Beach lets you stay comfortable and stylish both above and below the waves.
#3: The Sims 4 Goes Viral
Of course, whimsy and magic aren’t for everyone. Some fans may simply want to decorate their homes in pursuit of the ultimate goal: online stardom. ZWHSIMS’ Super Streamer Kit is ideal for these people. This kit boasts 33 items inspired by the lifestyle of professional video game streamers. The set’s modern furniture will fit right into the background of your Sim’s streamer setup, and with the new gaming PCs offered by this mod, you’ll be able to stream the most demanding games The Sims 4 has to offer with ease. This pack might not be as large and elaborate as bringing your whole game into the middle ages, but if streaming is a career that interests you, the extra immersion will surely be appreciated.
#4: Take The Red Pill
At its core, The Sims 4 is an immersive simulator presenting an elaborate virtual world. EA might not appreciate such a comparison, but this does make it remarkably similar to the dystopian setting of The Matrix, a world where unwitting humans are plugged into a simulation of earth while merciless computers use their bodies as a power source. If you want to highlight this similarity and give your Sims a chance to break through into the real world, you’ll need The Glitch Collection, available from Maxis Match CC World.
This pack is a collaboration between creators Sentate and Arethabee, and it offers a variety of clothing and hairstyles directly inspired by the iconic 1999 action film. Whatever else can be said for The Matrix, it certainly had a distinct style, and now you can mimic that shiny black leather look right in the middle of your Sim’s neighborhood.
#5: Expanding Hijabs
The Sims 4 has, in the past, struggled with inclusivity. An update early in 2023 aimed to address this by including more features for trans and disabled Sims. If you want to help your copy of the game along still further, you can look into CC like the hijabs offered by AanHamdan93. This CC pack boasts numerous options for hijabs, bolstering the modest inventory in the base game. It even offers varieties that count as hair and hats, so you’re covered no matter what when it comes to pairing your new hijabs with other clothing pieces and accessories. AanHamdan93 has even included new dress options so you’re guaranteed to have something nice to match your new hijab.
#6: Living In The Past
Nostalgia can be a huge motivator for creativity, and nowhere is this more evident than in the XS Collection. This CC pack is a collab between creators Aretha and Ikari, and it boasts numerous clothing items inspired by the bygone days of the 2000s. That era’s bright colors, odd angles, and abstract cuts shine forth in this pack, which offers about twenty items for you to enjoy. If you’re a ’90s baby who wants to live out the good old days, you should definitely give this pack a look.
#7: Getting Spicy
The Sims 4 is meant to be a generally family-friendly game, but with CC, you can let things get a bit more risque. Sentate’s Midnight Collection offers 29 lingerie options, allowing your Sims to get intimate in truly elegant and luxurious ways. These gorgeous lingerie can spice up any Sim’s bedtime routine; while the majority are designed for female Sims, men have not been excluded. The most intimate moments of a Sim’s relationship have always been censored by the game’s infamous “WooHoo” activity, but with the Midnight Collection, you can still organize a very special night for your characters.
#8: Taking Your Sims To School
Of course, The Sims 4 CC isn’t just clothes and accessories. CC creator red hot chili simblr has created a very impressive structure known as Windenburg University. This immersive college structure has everything your teen Sims need to prepare themselves for the world. The creator was thorough in decorating Windenburg University; you can move your teens into their new dorms, send them to class at a variety of lecture halls, and even have them report to the dean’s office when they get in trouble. The only problem is that the building is listed as a library instead of a residential lot, making it hard for Sims to actually live there. The creator recommends giving it the teen hangout trait to encourage students to stick around and learn.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©GameSpot Trailers / The Sims Studio / Electronic Arts / Maxis.