The Sims 4: Growing Together reimagines infant to elder Sims

The Sims expansion pack tends to be on the one end of a spectrum. There are packs such as Vampires Get FamousThese packs can add huge, life-changing capabilities that would be impossible for the average person to imagine, such as becoming a welwolf or traveling to the Star Wars universe. On the other side are pack members who focus on real-life details like Parenthood Seasons.

Next expansion pack Growing TogetherIt launches March 16. The pack is centered on this last end. The pack offers substantial expansions to early life stages, including babies and toddlers, as well as the elder life stage, which is the last one in a Sim’s lifespan, and also one sorely neglected by previous packs. From a gameplay preview, it’s clear that this is a pack that drills down on the reality of the Sims, and the day-to-day interactions and minute details that are appealing for a specific subtype of players drawn to realism. (It’s me, hi, I’m the specific subtype of players).

Image by Maxis/Electronic Arts

So, Growing Together This seems to be an apparent rebuke of Parenthood pack. This was primarily focused on the parents, teens and their children. However, Growing TogetherThe expansion will include much-needed features, such as relationship compatibility and milestones. It also includes smaller details, like new aspirations, quirks, and interactions for older people, and new ideas for parents. The expansion pack is independent of the March 14 base update, which introduced the infant stage. However it expands on the life stages.

Some of the new quirks are silly and charming, adding detail to a young Sim’s growth across their early years: An infant Sim can be a Messy Eater, but toddler Sims get a little more sass with Picky Eater and Hates Bedtime. New aspirations have been set for children, such as Playtime Captain or Slumber Party Animal. This shows just how serious this group is about their leisure time. Elders finally get to have more specific interactions like choosing a grandchild or giving life lessons (which is totally trackable IRL).

Image by Maxis/Electronic Arts

One of the biggest additions in the new pack is the introduction of milestones, which mark important events throughout a Sim’s entire life and track a Sim’s growth. The milestones are triggered by gameplay. They can include big life events such as a promotion or a crisis in midlife, but also smaller things like Sims accidentally wetting themselves. This was something we were able to witness during Sims’ presentation. They are similar to the memories feature. The Sims 2 Sims 3, which automatically tracked big moments in Sims’ lives. You actually have IsMemory features are available in Sims 4 too, but it’s not prompted by the game; instead players have to manually go into the screenshot manager to create memories, so not many people know it exists.

Growing Together Also, the relationship compatibility functions have been upgraded. All relationships — not just familial ones — will get an update with the introduction of social compatibility. You will have the ability to choose which personality traits your Sims prefer or disapprove of. Based on interactions, you might be asked to choose whether a Sim prefers or disapproves of a trait found in another Sim. Compatibility features can spark complex relationships such as competitive siblings and close family members. Sims has always had some degree of social compatibility, as evidenced by the romantic Chemistry feature. The Sims 2, and many popular mods try to replicate it (like the infamous Wicked Whims), so it’s cool to see it added in the game, especially in a way that’s not JustRomantic in the natural world

Talking of romance, however, Sims gamers often wonder if there’s a place where their Sims could WooHoo. It is, and it is. Growing Together introduces a treehouse object, which not only allows Sims to build a treehouse and play with it, but to also get… very intimate. You can also ban adults from the playhouse if you want your Sim to not be disturbed by grownups.

Image by Maxis/Electronic Arts

A treehouse is just one example of the many new activities that young Sims can participate in. There are also bikes, slumber parties, and friendship bracelets, all of which will liven up your young Sim’s life in the sleepy suburbs of the new world of San Sequoia. And if those activities aren’t enough, Sims can enjoy the town’s amenities — like a kids’ library or a community center — spread across the Gilbert Gardens, Anchorpoint Wharf, and Hopewell Hills neighborhoods.

Growing Together looks like it’s going to be the kind of pack that appeals to a specific type of Sims player. The more intimate details and interactions are for those who want flashy features or supernatural hijinks. Growing TogetherA full expansion pack might be too expensive for your Sims. But if you want to flesh out your Sims’ inner lives — not just via familial relationships, but with markers for their own growth — then Growing Together seems like it’s going to do just that. It’s a more subdued expansion pack, but one that promises a lot of depth.

The Sims 4 – Growing TogetherOn March 16, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 will all be compatible with Macs, Windows PCs, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, as well the PlayStation 5.