izigame.me

As a long-time fan of The Sims franchise, I have mixed feelings about The Sims 4. On its own, the game is undeniably fun, with improved graphics and smoother gameplay compared to its predecessors. It shines in areas like character customization and building mechanics, offering players endless possibilities to create and shape their Sims' world. If you're looking for a casual, life-simulation experience, Sims 4 delivers, but it comes with a serious caveat.
The real issue is the aggressive monetization strategy. The sheer amount of DLC content that feels like it should have been part of the base game is, quite frankly, ridiculous. Key features that many players loved in Sims 3, such as university life, pets, seasons, and even simple tasks like laundry, are all locked behind paywalls. To get the "complete" experience, you're looking at spending hundreds of dollars, which feels like a cash grab from the developers. It makes me long for the days of Sims 3 when the base game was robust, and DLCs felt more like fun add-ons rather than essential expansions.
For those who don't want to fork out the extra cash, mods are a great alternative. The Sims 4 modding community is incredibly talented and dedicated, often releasing content that rivals or even surpasses the official DLCs. With mods, you can enjoy much of what the DLC offers without breaking the bank, though it does require some trial and error to avoid game-breaking issues.
Overall, I do recommend Sims 4 because it's a solid life simulation game and has some genuinely enjoyable moments. But be warned—without DLC or mods, the experience can feel limited. The game desperately needs a competitor to shake up the market, because while Sims 4 can be fun, it also feels like it's gouging its players at every turn.
Verdict: 7/10—Great base, but you need mods or DLC to unlock its full potential.