The Sims is a long-running franchise, having turned 20 last year. The Sims 4 is its latest endeavor and also the longest-running installment in the franchise. While each iteration of The Sims feels different from the last, there’s also a familiarity there as well. The Sims games have evolved over time, refining some beloved features, retaining other wacky aspects, and overall still feel like the game is about playing with life.
Though each iteration feels different, there are also fan favorites that emerge with every game, whether it’s the base game or DLC. Occult instances in The Sims have been around since the beginning, and many players enjoy playing with occult Sims more than “normal” ones. Though other supernatural beings wouldn’t be introduced to The Sims 3 until later, the expansion pack Ambitions brought in active careers for players, including the Ghost Hunter career. That spectral job seems to have a lot in common with the upcoming Paranormal Investigator career for The Sims 4 as well.
Ghost Hunting in The Sims 3 Ambitions
The Ambitions expansion pack was essentially a modified version of The Sims 2’s Open for Business expansion, but definitely more refined. It introduced “professions” instead of just jobs, and players could control their Sim in their profession rather than sending them down a rabbit-hole to work. The expansion included things like Architectural Designer, Firefighter, and even Stylist professions, but the one most applicable to the upcoming Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff DLC is the Ghost Hunter profession.
Sims who wanted to become Paranormal Experts (the highest rank of the Ghost Hunter profession) needed to hone their Investigation, Spirits, and Logic skills, along with working during the hours 5 PM to 3 AM. There were a few levels of spectral activity, ranging from spirits (whose colors corresponded to their “type,” so a white spirit was friendly, teal was kind, etc.) to poltergeists to ghosts.
There were also 5 different types of investigations: spirit invasions, paranormal investigations, poltergeist hauntings, ghostly presences, and angry ghost invasions. Ghost Hunting Sims could decide to attempt to capture Ghosts, which didn’t always work, or choose to befriend them and convince them to move on. Though it’s not a requirement, having a Sim with the Night Owl trait would definitely work to their advantage in this profession.
Paranormal Investigating in The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff
Quite different from the Ambitions expansion, the upcoming Paranormal Stuff pack will be a smaller DLC, comparatively speaking. Rather than being titled Ghost Hunter, Sims will now be known as Paranormal Investigators and develop the Medium skill. Unlike The Sims 3, or even other careers in The Sims 4, Sims must max out the Medium skill and become certified before being able to become Paranormal Investigators.
The hours Sims must work are different as well, so Paranormal Investigators won’t begin their work until 9:30 PM, as opposed to 5 PM. Instead of categorizing jobs like in The Sims 3: Ambitions, The Sims 4 will present players with the choice of an Easy, Medium, or Hard investigation, and it seems what will need to be done to remove the spooky apparitions will be a surprise each time. However, in a similar fashion to The Sims 3, players’ Sims will be taken all over the neighborhood to both pre-made and player-made houses to stomp out the specters.
Though it’s too soon to pass any real judgement about the Paranormal Investigator career of The Sims 4, the similarities to the Ghost Hunter profession of The Sims 3 are undeniable. Players may want to play around with Ambitions for a bit, at least until the new Paranormal Stuff pack drops.
The Sims 4: Paranormal will release on January 26 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.