**Recommended? Yes... but with a huge asterisk.**
I've played The Sims since the original game back in 2000, and after over 900 hours in The Sims 4, it's safe to say I genuinely love this franchise. I play heavily modded, own a large portion of the DLC, and when everything is working, there really is no other life simulation game that scratches the same itch.
The build mode is fantastic, Create-a-Sim is the best it's ever been, and the amount of creativity the game allows is incredible. I've spent countless hours building homes, creating generations of families, and telling stories that no other game lets me tell in quite the same way.
That said, loving The Sims 4 sometimes feels like being in a toxic relationship.
EA's DLC model is honestly ridiculous. Expansion packs routinely launch at around £40, yet many arrive with bugs, missing features, or gameplay systems that feel unfinished. The amount of money required to experience what many players would consider the "full game" is staggering. At this point, the combined DLC cost is enough to buy several AAA games.
Even more frustrating is that some features locked behind paid packs feel like things that should have been included in the base game years ago. Instead of meaningful expansions, there are times when content feels sliced up and sold separately.
The game is also plagued by bugs. Sims ignore commands, pathfinding breaks, packs interfere with each other, and new updates often seem to introduce as many problems as they fix. Long-time players have learned to expect bugs rather than be surprised by them.
Then there's the wider issue of EA's business practices. The franchise has increasingly felt focused on monetisation first and player experience second. The aggressive pack strategy, the endless stream of kits, and the perception that content is being drip-fed have left a sour taste for many veteran players.
And yet...
I've still played for over 900 hours.
Because underneath all the corporate nonsense, overpriced DLC, questionable decisions, and constant bugs is a game that remains incredibly fun. When it works, it's brilliant. When it doesn't, it's infuriating.
Would I recommend The Sims 4?
Yes—but only if you're prepared for the reality that the base game alone feels incomplete, the DLC pricing is hard to justify, and you'll probably spend as much time working around bugs as you do playing.
900+ hours later, I'm still playing.
I just wish EA made it easier to love.
