How To Do The Sims 4 Decades Challenge %v

Embark on a historical journey with the Sims 4 Decades Challenge! This engaging community-created challenge lets your Sims experience life across different eras, from the 1890s to the 2010s. This guide provides an overview of the rules and gameplay adjustments needed to successfully navigate this time-traveling adventure.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge

Image via EA

Challenge Overview and Rules:

The core concept is a two-day-per-year system, beginning in 1890 and concluding in either 2010 or 2020, depending on your preference. Automatic aging is disabled, and life expectancy is adjusted based on historical data: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born after. The challenge starts with a single young adult Sim or a married young adult couple. Multi-generational households are permitted, reflecting common historical living arrangements. Costumes and décor should align with each decade's style. Certain locations (Strangerville, Del Sol Valley before the 1950s, and Sulani) are restricted to enhance realism. Technology use is limited to reflect its availability in each era; phones are allowed for essential gameplay functions but not for entertainment or communication until appropriate. Job choices should also be historically relevant.

Decade-Specific Rules and Difficulties:

For detailed rules, consult Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary of the key differences in each decade:

1890s: Male heirs only; daughters with the Creative trait must move out upon marriage; no WooHoo, only "try for baby"; home births; period-appropriate male jobs (e.g., woodworking); women primarily homemakers, with limited freelancing or gardening options if widowed; no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; Cow Plant cultivation begins.
1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules remain; phonographs allowed for music.
1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults drafted for WWI; Cow Plant cake consumption; dice roll determines further cake consumption or return home; oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish; high school mandatory (C average required); women can take manual labor jobs; university for men post-war.
1920s: Women can be heirs; daughters don't need the Creative trait; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).
1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression simulation (job loss at the start, new jobs after one week); no business careers; one cooked meal daily, others scavenged/grown/caught; Prohibition ends.
1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden (four or more plants); thermostats, washers, and dryers allowed; radio required (one Sim listens for an hour daily); no punishment for bad high school grades; teens can have part-time jobs.
1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not required; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.
1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); any college major allowed; maternity leave for women; WooHoo allowed.
1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged but not mandatory; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.
1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim must pursue a business career; science babies allowed; hospital births preferred.
1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV viewing; appliance and furniture restrictions lifted; texting allowed; Y2K shelter construction and three-day confinement required.
2000s: Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV allowed.
2010s: No journalism (print media decline); same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.

The Decades Challenge offers a unique and immersive Sims 4 experience. While the Eco Lifestyle pack is helpful, the challenge can be adapted to suit your existing game content. Get ready to experience history, one Sim day at a time!

The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.