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. Let's explore the rules and gameplay.
Challenge Overview and Rules:
The core concept involves progressing through decades, with every two in-game days representing a year, starting in 1890. You can customize the starting and ending years. Crucially, automatic aging must be disabled, and life expectancy is adjusted based on historical trends: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born afterward, reflecting the significant increase in life expectancy around that time.
Age Progression:
The initial life stages are consistent:
- Baby: Ages after 1 day (6 months)
- Toddler: Ages after 3 days (2 years)
- Child: Ages after 8 days (6 years)
- Teen: Ages after 14 days (13 years)
Adult Age Progression:
- Before 1950: Young Adult (26 days/32 years), Adult (36 days/50 years), Elder (Dies after ~14 days/around 60 years)
- After 1950: Young Adult (32 days/35 years), Adult (60 days/65 years), Elder (Dies after ~56 days/around 90 years)
Begin the challenge with a single young adult Sim or a married couple. Multi-generational households are permitted, reflecting common historical living arrangements. Strive for period-appropriate clothing and hairstyles.
Housing and Technology Restrictions:
- Strangerville is off-limits.
- Del Sol Valley is unavailable until the 1950s.
- Sulani is restricted for maximum realism.
- Apartments are allowed for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house move.
- Phones are permitted for essential gameplay functions but not for entertainment or communication until the relevant decade. The same applies to computers.
- Job choices should align with the era's available professions.
Decade-Specific Rules (Summary):
For detailed rules, refer to Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a brief overview of the challenges each decade presents:
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1890s: Male heirs only; daughters with the Creative trait must move out upon marriage; no WooHoo, only "trying for a baby"; home births; period-appropriate jobs; electricity prohibited; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with relevant majors; start a Cow Plant.
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1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing but no showers; other 1890s rules remain.
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1910s: WWI draft for male teens, young adults, and adults; Cow Plant cake consumption; dice roll to determine further cake consumption or return home; oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish; high school mandatory with a C average; women can have manual labor jobs.
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1920s: Women can be heirs; no Creative trait requirement for daughters; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; alcohol prohibited (Prohibition era).
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1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression simulation (job loss, limited meals).
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1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden required; thermostats, washers, and dryers allowed; radio mandatory.
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1950s: Korean War draft; showers and cheap TVs allowed; high school mandatory.
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1960s: Vietnam War draft; college major choice unrestricted; maternity leave allowed; WooHoo permitted.
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1970s: Vietnam War draft; marriage encouraged; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.
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1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim must pursue a business career; science babies allowed; hospital births.
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1990s: Laptops allowed; no TV restrictions; appliance and furniture restrictions lifted; texting allowed; Y2K shelter construction.
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2000s: Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; unrestricted music and TV.
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2010s: Journalism prohibited; same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed.
The Decades Challenge offers a unique and immersive Sims 4 experience. While the Eco Lifestyle pack enhances the challenge, it's adaptable to various pack combinations.
The Sims 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
