The Sims 4 is fun to play, but some players find the lack of challenge frustrating. The rags-to-riches challenge has been a favorite among Simmers for some time because it adds a layer of complexity to the game that may be missing from the usual career-climbing gameplay. While the rules vary, the general challenge is to start a Sim in an empty lot with no job, limited Simoleons (or no Simoleons at all), and usually no mods. Sims must forage for food and supplies, working their way up from nothing to eventually owning a home.
Expansion packs are the largest of the packs available for The Sims 4; they usually switch up the gameplay quite significantly, and some of these changes make the rags-to-riches challenge a little more interesting. Here are some of the best expansion packs for players who love the challenge of starting from nothing.
5 Island Living
Island Living is an interesting choice for a rags-to-riches challenge. For one thing, the setting of Sulani is beautiful, making it more interesting to explore when players are searching for items to forage. Plus, Island Living brings with it the opportunity for Sims to do odd jobs. Technically, players can do odd jobs as part of a rags-to-riches challenge without breaking the rules. These are one-off jobs, like helping other Sims to pack up a house or doing some lawn maintenance.
Odd jobs are brilliant for rags-to-riches Sims, as they offer a quick cash injection in return for a few hours of hard work. Some odd jobs will have recommended skills, with a Sim being more likely to succeed if they have a high level in that particular skill. On top of that, Sims can do beachcombing on Sulani to earn some extra Simoleons. Head to a beach, click on the sand, and click 'Beachcomb'. Sims can dig up seashells to sell for a little extra money, but it may take a few attempts to find anything other than trash.
4 Eco Lifestyle
Eco Lifestyle allows Sims to invest their time in sustainable living, from installing solar panels and wind turbines to creating new items from scrap. It's a fun choice for rags-to-riches players because it has interesting new opportunities to make money.
Sims can dumpster dive to collect various bits of furniture; these can be used to craft new items, which players can either use in their Sim's home lot or sell for extra Simoleons. If players can successfully install solar panels or wind turbines, they can save money on their bills later in the challenge and sell excess energy for some extra cash. A long-term goal worth investing in.
3 Cottage Living
Cottage Living was the expansion pack many Simmers were asking for! With a new neighborhood modeled on a quaint English village, Cottage Living is a fun expansion pack for many reasons, and it makes a great choice for rags-to-riches players. Sims can grow and harvest their own crops in Cottage Living, from lettuce to oversize pumpkins. They can also use these crops to create produce, which can be sold for a good chunk of cash. If players want a completely self-sufficient Sim, this is an excellent pack.
Plus, if players can save up some Simoleons, they can purchase animals like cows and chickens; this opens up a steady flow of milk and eggs, which is useful for lowering the food budget. Sims can also enter their prized crops and animals into competitions at the Finchwick Fair, with prizes including ribbons, gardening equipment, and more Simoleons.
2 City Living
City Living introduces the vibrant neighborhood of San Myshuno, a bustling, vibrant city packed with festivals and special events. In City Living, Sims can buy secondhand furniture for the first time. This means that players slightly further along in the challenge can use their hard-won Simoleons to buy some cheap furniture.
Sims can also haggle for lower prices at the Flea Market. Charismatic Sims will do well with this task. The selection isn't huge, which means that players may exhaust the Flea Market after a while. Still, it's a fun challenge when players are trying to furnish their Sims' homes on the lowest possible budget.
1 Get To Work
Get to Work is one of the most criticized expansion packs; some players found the mechanism of selling items to other Sims to be clunky and frustrating, and the lack of playable lots in Magnolia Promenade is a definite letdown. Still, some unique aspects of Get to Work make it fun to explore, especially for a rags-to-riches challenge.
Get to Work enables Sims to sell items using the power of persuasion. This involves a lot of clicking through conversations, but charismatic, outgoing Sims will enjoy this task. When setting up the challenge, players can set their Sim's home plot to 'Retail'. This means Sims can sell items they have grown (or foraged) right from their home lot. Players will need to buy a cash register to get going: the cheapest comes in at 50 Simoleons, so not too much of an expense. This pack works well with other packs, like Cottage Living, as Sims will be able to set up a stall to sell their homemade produce.