The Sims 4 is now the longest-running title in The Sims franchise, being six years old and still going strong. During its lifespan, the game has had many DLC packs released for it. There are nine expansions, nine game packs, and 17 stuff packs. This means a huge amount of extra content to choose from.
With all these options it can be difficult to work out what will make the most difference to your game., especially when there are so many ways to play. We take a look across all the types of content and find the very best packs for builders as well as those who prefer family, legacy, and generational gameplay.
Updated on April 20, 2022, by Anastasia Maillot: The Sims 4 shows no sign of stopping, even with rumors of The Sims 5 now in early development. EA has graced fans with numerous new packs and expansions since the last update and has even introduced Kits, which are small bite-sized bits of content usually centered around create-a-sim or build mode. Fans looking to invest in their next pack or expansion will still want to consider what their main focus in the game is, as even some of the newer DLCs don't always provide equal content to legacy players and builders. Here's which packs and expansions are best for builders, and which ones are more focused on family gameplay.
19 Both: Cottage Living
Cottage Living at first glance is a very builder-favoring expansion, but thanks to all the new farm-related activities, it does provide some good fun for legacy players as well. However, perhaps it does skew more towards builders thanks to all of its rustic items.
Legacy players will have the chance to raise animals at their farm, while builders can finally create their perfect British countryside cottage in Henford-on-Bagley, the new picturesque world included in the expansion pack.
18 Builders: Get Famous
Get Famous is a bit of a weird one. For legacy players, it's almost automatically a miss since it doesn't feature that much in-depth family gameplay and focuses mostly on fame. However, for builders, there are not that many new lots to actually build on. Thankfully, the items make this expansion worthwhile.
There are a lot of special and unique pieces that can make decorating and building unique, whimsical houses interesting and easier for builders in particular. This is because the pack features a bunch of set pieces for the acting career, so players have a ton of cool and weird items to choose from for their new builds.
17 Legacy: My Wedding Stories
After a somewhat controversial release, My Wedding Stories has solidified itself as a must-have game pack for any legacy players. It makes weddings, a notoriously buggy and annoying feature in The Sims 4, a much more interesting process for players. And since weddings are an important part of any legacy household, it's a no-brainer why My Wedding Stories is so good for legacy gameplay.
Players have a lot of new wedding-themed activities and interactions from wedding planning to the actual ceremony. With new events as well, players have an easier time telling the stories they want with their households.
16 Builders: Dream Home Decorator
This game pack not only comes with a whole host of cool decorative items and build mode additions, but it also has a new interior decorator career path. This is the perfect game pack for builders who don't enjoy playing in live mode as much, since it actually adds a nice active career for builders to enjoy while still engaging in decorating and home improvement.
The new items are also top-tier with this pack and are sure to inspire a lot of builders to rethink and renovate their older builds. It's a good addition to any builder's arsenal if they're looking for a fresh pack with a solid selection of new items, including couches and shelves that can be designed and pieced together in Ikea-style.
15 Builders: City Living Expansion
City Living is a solid choice for all builders and not just because of the apartment system. Apartments themselves offer unique gameplay and building opportunities but can be frustrating due to the way they interact with the gallery. Since most are also uneditable externally this can be limiting.
However, City Living also offers something else that's valuable to builders, run-down furniture. If players have ever wanted to build a starter home with truly starter furniture then this pack has everything covered. Cheap and cheerful is the name of the game and the upgraded versions mean players can create builds that truly evolve.
14 Legacy: Get Together Expansion
Often overlooked, Get Together includes a huge amount of content that's perfect for legacy players. The most obvious addition is the expansive and beautiful world of Windenburg but that's just the beginning. There are also plenty of new activities to enjoy including arcade machines and foosball as well as the new café lots to visit.
The club system also has a huge amount of uses for gameplay. Players can easily bring groups of Sims together and encourage certain behavior. This is perfect for playdates, book clubs, and any number of other activities. It's also the closest we have to hobbies, a staple of family gameplay for many.
13 Both: Snowy Escape Expansion
Snowy Escape is an expansion pack that truly lives up to its name, offering gameplay for many different types of players. Mt. Komorebi is the first dual-purpose world, allowing for both residential and vacation lots. This gives players a lot of flexibility in terms of both builds and gameplay.
For builders, the Japanese-inspired items match together perfectly and allow players to create unique and stunning builds. Meanwhile, gameplay fans will be kept interested with the range of sports activities families can enjoy together as well as the new Onsen lot and three new festivals to explore, including one aimed at children.
12 Builders: Tiny Living Stuff Pack
Tiny Living Stuff is a fantastic choice for anyone who loves to build. It's the only pack to include a whole new way of building lots by introducing the tiny residential lot trait. This means that players can build lots of up to 32, 64, or 100 tiles and each size will give the sims who live there increased bonuses.
The pack also contains a huge selection of versatile and space-saving items. These include the iconic Murphy Bed as well as small dressers, a one tile desk, tables, chairs, a sofa, and combination units for a TV, stereo, and bookcase with all the functionality of these three items in one media unit.
11 Legacy: Laundry Day Stuff Pack
Generally, legacy players won't often get as much out of stuff packs due to their focus on items but Laundry Day Stuff is well worth the investment. It introduces a few furniture pieces to help players create a laundry room but the main selling point is laundry itself. The pack adds the ability to generate dirty clothes and then wash and dry them.
Players can use the washer and dryer or a traditional washtub and clothesline. The process of doing laundry, as well as having to collect dirty clothing from teenagers' bedroom floors, adds a realistic element of gameplay that those who play with families will often enjoy.
10 Both: Kids Rooms Stuff Pack / Toddler Stuff Pack
These packs are linked together due to them being the two stuff packs that add the most to both builder's and legacy players' games by adding items for the age ranges most often ignored. Kids Room Stuff is the better of the pair for builders and Toddler Stuff edges the win for family gameplay.
The Kids Room Stuff pack has a focus on bedrooms and includes full bedroom sets for children as well as a huge amount of clothing. There is also a puppet theatre and the Voidcritter collection system. This means that kids' bedrooms will be more vibrant and players can also give them a greater clothing choice and some options for play making it a smart choice for all types of players.
Toddler Stuff is infamous for its terrible ball pit but the pack is much more than that. It also contains other playground equipment, new toyboxes, and some miscellaneous items for creating a child-friendly yard in family homes. Here the main selling point is the huge range of toddler clothing, something often ignored in other packs, which is what gives it the edge for gameplay lovers.
9 Builders: Eco Lifestyle Expansion
Eco Lifestyle is a great pack for builders and introduces new dynamics to builds. The eco-footprint system means that building materials are assigned values for being industrial or eco-friendly and these will affect the footprint of the lot and in turn the world. It's a new way of building that makes creators think more about the items they use.
The expansion pack also includes Evergreen Harbor which is a versatile world with apartments, houses, and community lots that can take on different forms. As well as these flexible ways to build, there are also items to produce container builds and a range of green energy options to add realism and a new level of creativity to anything players can imagine.
8 Legacy: Cats & Dogs Expansion
What's a family home without a pet? For those who love family-oriented gameplay, Cats & Dogs allows players to add furry friends to their household. The pets alone are a perfect addition for legacy players but the pack also has much more to offer.
The town of Brindleton Bay is unique and beautiful, situated by the ocean and with a very distinctive style. Players will also find a brand new career in the form of owning and running a vet clinic as well as a range of decor well suited to family homes. There are also some well-built homes in Brindleton Bay as well as some interesting neighbors to get to know.
7 Both: Discover University Expansion
One expansion that adds a huge amount to both gameplay and build and buy is Discover University. For gameplay lovers, this pack allows a more flexible university experience than ever before. Students can be of any age from young adult upward and can study either part-time or full time. They can even take out student loans to pay fees and choose to live off-campus at home. Degrees can be earned at one of two universities, where there are also other activities to get involved in. Once the player's sim passes their course they'll gain advantages in related careers.
In terms of build and buy mode, there are also a number of flexible options for builders to enjoy. The furniture is themed around university dorms and as such, it contains a large number of versatile items including bookcases, bedroom furniture, mini-fridges, and other space-saving items. There are also several new activity-related items that add unique touches to community spaces.
6 Builders: Vampires Game Pack
Vampires is the game pack with one of the strongest selections of build and buy items. While vampire gameplay is also enjoyable, it's much more niche. The build and buy items are far more flexible in comparison as they can be easily used outside of supernatural builds.
The pack comes with the small and spooky town of Forgotten Hollow which contains few lots but a purely creepy gothic vibe. The items that come with it are ideal for any build that's either gothic or victorian. As well as bats and gargoyles, there are also some generic victorian style decor items that fit well in a period mansion or a home such as The Goth's in Willow Creek. The furniture and fixtures especially are ornate and unique, differing from other items in the game, yet complimenting them well.
5 Legacy: Parenthood Game Pack
The Parenthood game pack is the best investment for a legacy player. It introduces a huge amount of family-oriented gameplay that adds a lot to family stories and interactions. Curfews, phases, parenting skills, and a whole heap of new interactions come in this pack. Players also find new activities like building school projects.
Alongside this, there are some family home staples in the build and buy catalog to allow even those who rarely build to add a few cute touches to their homes. Items such as kid's artwork, scattered pens, and other clutter add more realism to family homes. There are also skills for toddlers to learn and traits to teach kids, all of which can affect them when they age up. This means the pack becomes meaningful for all generations.
4 Both: Jungle Adventure Game Pack
While Jungle Adventure is a more unconventional vacation-based game pack, this uniqueness makes it a more solid choice for both builders and gameplay lovers in terms of adding vacation worlds to the game.
In terms of gameplay, Selvadorada is a beautiful world to visit. It's gorgeous and tropical and players can go walking through the picturesque jungle, visit the local markets or socialize and learn about the culture in the nearby bar. There's even a museum-type area to explore. The archaeology skills and temple exploration also add new dimensions to storytelling, as do the dangers in the area. However, for those who want a relaxing time, players can simply chill in a villa in the beautiful vista.
For builders, this pack has a lot. It has items players could use to build temples, villas, vacation homes, marketplaces, and more. Simmers can also access a huge range of items and even create their own museum. Selvadorada is also a beautiful world to build in with the two aspects combined to make an interesting and challenging build experience.
3 Both: Paranormal Stuff Pack
It's not an exaggeration to say that Paranormal is the most stuffed stuff pack we've ever seen. As well as the expected build and buy and create-a-sim items there's a brand new career, skill, and lot type. Assuming players are happy to explore the unexplained, they'll love exploring the unique new specters and of course welcoming Bonehilda back into their lives.
Builders are likely to be tempted by the complimentary mix and match bohemian-style furniture, as well as some of the very best couches and chairs we've ever seen in the game.
2 Both: Realm Of Magic Game Pack
Once again players will need a love of the occult to enjoy Realm of Magic but for those who do then, despite its glitches, they'll still find it a solid investment. The new Spellcaster life state opens a huge amount of gameplay thanks to a progression system and three different schools of spells to learn, alongside a range of potions. It truly is a gameplay journey to master magic.
For builders, there are plenty of intricate and unique pieces to enjoy including a kitchen., dining set, doors, and windows as well as a wide range of cabinets and clutter items. There's plenty here to create some builds with a truly magical feel.
1 Both: Seasons Expansion
Seasons is hands down the most essential pack for players of all types. It contains a huge amount of new gameplay mechanics, adds a massive amount of realism, and has some of the best, and cheapest build and buy items around.
The Seasons pack primarily adds seasons, bringing realistic wind, rain, snow, and sunshine to all sim worlds. Each world even has its own unique climate. Alongside this, there is the calendar system that adds holidays and celebrations, as well as the flower arranging skill that makes a great career or hobby, as does beekeeping which is also in this pack.
For builders, Seasons contains a massive amount of simple essentials such as windows, doors, and basic furniture, all with neutral swatches and cheap prices. There are also items set to mark the passing of seasons including decor that allows players to celebrate in style.