How To Do The Sims 4 Decades Challenge

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 outlines the rules and provides a comprehensive overview.

Challenge Overview and Setup:

The challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 (or 2020, depending on your preference), with each two in-game days representing a year. Automatic aging must be disabled. Life expectancy is adjusted based on historical data: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born after. Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple, optionally including parents for added realism. Costumes should reflect the era. Certain worlds (Strangerville, Del Sol Valley before the 1950s, and Sulani) are restricted for enhanced historical accuracy. Apartments are permitted for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house move. Technology use is limited to gameplay necessities, with phones, computers, and other devices introduced only when historically appropriate. Job choices should align with the era.

Challenge Difficulties: A Decade-by-Decade Breakdown:

Each decade presents unique challenges. For detailed rules, refer to Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary:

• 1890s: Male heirs only. Daughters with the Creative trait move out upon marriage. WooHoo is prohibited; only "try for baby" is allowed. Home births. Men work period-appropriate jobs (e.g., woodworking). Women manage the household, with limited job options if widowed. No electricity. Elementary school is mandatory; high school is optional. University is allowed with relevant majors. Begin growing a Cow Plant.

• 1900s: Lamps are allowed. Indoor plumbing (no showers). Jobs and education remain similar to the 1890s. Phonographs are permitted. Other 1890s rules apply.

• 1910s: Male teens, young adults, and adults are drafted for WWI, requiring Cow Plant cake consumption (dice roll determines additional cake consumption or return home). The oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish. High school is mandatory (C average or higher). Men can attend university post-war; women can pursue manual labor jobs.

• 1920s: Women can be heirs and don't need to move out after marriage. Daughters don't need the Creative trait. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work under broader circumstances. Alcohol is prohibited (Prohibition era).

• 1930s: Kegs are allowed at university. The Great Depression impacts job availability (all Sims lose their jobs initially, then find new ones after a week). Prohibition ends. One cooked meal per day; others must be scavenged, caught, or grown.

• 1940s: WWI draft rules apply (WWII). Victory gardens (four or more plants) are required. Thermostats, washers, and dryers are allowed. A radio is mandatory (at least one Sim listens for an hour daily). High schoolers aren't expelled for bad grades. Teens can hold part-time jobs.

• 1950s: The oldest son is drafted for the Korean War (following previous war rules). Showers and cheap TVs are allowed. Radio listening is not mandatory. High school is mandatory. Phones are allowed for calls.

• 1960s: The oldest two children (any gender) are drafted for the Vietnam War. Any college major is acceptable. Maternity leave is allowed. WooHoo is unrestricted.

• 1970s: Vietnam War draft rules apply (oldest two children). Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves and dishwashers are allowed. Lottery tickets and food delivery are available.

• 1980s: Gaming is allowed. At least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies are allowed; hospital births are preferred.

• 1990s: Laptops are allowed; TV watching is unrestricted. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted. Texting is allowed. Families must build a Y2K shelter and remain there for three days.

• 2000s: Computer and phone restrictions (except Trendi) are lifted. Home or hospital births are acceptable. All music and TV channels are allowed.

• 2010s: Journalism (print media) is prohibited. Same-sex marriage is allowed. All part-time work is allowed, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator.

The Decades Challenge offers a unique and engaging Sims 4 experience, adaptable to your owned game packs. Enjoy your historical adventure!

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