The Sims 4 community thrives on creating engaging challenges, and the Decades Challenge offers a unique way to experience your Sims' lives across different eras. This guide will walk you through the rules and intricacies of this historical journey.
The core concept involves simulating a new year every two in-game days, starting in 1890. You can adjust the starting and ending years to personalize the challenge. This means days one and two represent 1890, days three and four are 1891, and so on, continuing until 2010 or 2020, depending on your preference. With the Blast from the Past event underway, it's the perfect time to embark on this historical adventure.
Remember to disable automatic aging and utilize the following life expectancy guidelines. Life expectancy significantly changed around 1950, leading to two categories: Sims born before and after this year. The early life stages are consistent for both categories:
Sims born before 1950:
Sims born after 1950:
Begin the challenge with a single young adult Sim, either single or married. Multi-generational households are permitted, reflecting common practices of the time. Strive for historically accurate attire. Housing limitations exist: Strangerville is prohibited, Del Sol Valley is unavailable before the 1950s, and for maximum realism, Sulani is also excluded. 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 historical period.
Related: Where To Find Platinum & Ironyum in The Sims 4 Blast From the Past Event
Each decade presents unique challenges. For detailed rules, refer to Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary:
Male heirs only. Daughters with the Creative trait must move out upon marriage. WooHoo is forbidden; only attempting to have a baby is permitted. Home births. Men work period-appropriate jobs (e.g., woodworking). Women manage the household, with freelancing or gardening allowed if widowed. No electricity. Elementary school is mandatory; high school is optional. University is allowed for both genders with period-appropriate majors. Begin cultivating a Cow Plant.
Lamps are now allowed. Indoor plumbing (no showers). Jobs and education remain consistent with the 1890s. Phonographs are permitted for music. Other 1890s rules apply.
Teen, Young Adult, and Adult males are drafted for World War I. They must eat Cow Plant cake; roll a die for each drafted male Sim – odd numbers eat again, even numbers return home. If all males perish, the oldest female and her husband become the heirs. High school is mandatory (C average or higher). Men can attend university post-war; women can take manual labor jobs.
Female heirs are allowed; daughters don't need the Creative trait. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are permitted. Women can work under broader circumstances. Alcohol is prohibited.
Kegs are allowed at university. The Great Depression is in effect: Sims cannot pursue business careers, and all lose their jobs at the decade's start, finding new ones after one week. One cooked meal per day; others must be scavenged, caught, or grown. Prohibition ends.
World War II draft rules (as in the 1910s). Victory gardens (four or more plants). Thermostats, washers, and dryers are allowed. A radio is required, with at least one Sim listening for an hour daily. High schoolers aren't expelled for poor grades; teens can hold part-time jobs.
Korean War draft (oldest son; same rules as before). Showers and cheap TVs are allowed. Radio listening is not mandatory. High school is mandatory. Phones are allowed for calls.
Vietnam War draft (oldest two children, any gender). Any college major is permitted. Maternity leave for women. WooHoo is allowed.
Vietnam War draft (oldest two children, any gender). Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves and dishwashers are allowed. Lottery tickets and food delivery are available.
Gaming is allowed. At least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies are allowed; hospital births are preferred.
Laptops are allowed; TV watching is unrestricted. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted. Texting is allowed. All families must build a Y2K shelter and remain there for three days.
Computer and phone restrictions are lifted (except Trendi). Babies can be born at home or in the hospital. All music and TV channels are allowed.
Journalism (print media) is prohibited. Same-sex marriage is allowed. All part-time work is permitted, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator.
This comprehensive guide covers the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4. While the Eco Lifestyle pack is beneficial, the challenge can be adapted to suit your existing packs. The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.