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 difficulties of each decade.
Challenge Overview & Rules:
The challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 (or 2020, depending on your preference), with each two in-game days representing a year. Automatic aging is disabled. Life expectancy varies based on birth year (pre-1950 and post-1950), reflecting historical changes. Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple, optionally including parents for a multi-generational experience. Costumes should reflect the era. Certain worlds (Strangerville, Del Sol Valley before the 1950s, and Sulani for realism) are restricted. Apartments are allowed for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house. Technology use is limited to gameplay necessities until the relevant decade. Job choices should align with the time period.
Decade-Specific Rules & Difficulties:
For detailed rules, consult Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary of each decade's unique challenges:
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1890s: Male heirs only; creative daughters move out upon marriage; no WooHoo, only "try for baby"; home births; period-appropriate male jobs (e.g., woodworking); women manage the household (freelancing or gardening allowed if widowed); no electricity; elementary school mandatory; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; start a Cow Plant.
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1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules apply; phonographs permitted.
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1910s: WWI draft for male teens, young adults, and adults; Cow Plant cake consumption (dice roll determines additional 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.
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1920s: Female heirs allowed; daughters don't need the Creative trait; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).
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1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (no business careers, initial job loss, one cooked meal daily, others scavenged/grown); Prohibition ends.
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1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden (four+ plants); thermostats, washers, dryers allowed; radio mandatory (one Sim listens for an hour daily); no punishment for bad high school grades; teens can have part-time jobs.
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1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not mandatory; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.
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1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); any college major; maternity leave; WooHoo allowed.
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1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.
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1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim in a business career; science babies; hospital births.
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1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV; texting allowed; Y2K shelter (three-day stay).
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2000s: No computer or phone restrictions (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV allowed.
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2010s: No journalism (print media decline); same-sex marriage; all part-time jobs allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.
The Decades Challenge offers a unique and engaging Sims 4 experience. While the Eco Lifestyle pack enhances the challenge, it can be adapted to suit your existing game content. Enjoy your historical Sims journey!
The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
