Embark on a nostalgic journey through time with The Sims 4 Decades Challenge! This comprehensive guide details the rules and intricacies of this engaging community-created challenge, allowing your Sims to experience life across different eras.
Challenge Overview & Rules:
The Decades Challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 (or 2020, at your discretion), with each two in-game days representing a year. Automatic aging is disabled. Life expectancy is adjusted to reflect historical trends, dividing Sims into pre-1950 and post-1950 birth cohorts due to significant life expectancy shifts around that time. The initial life stages (baby, infant, toddler, child, teen) age up at consistent in-game intervals. Adult aging varies based on birth cohort.
- Pre-1950 Births: Young Adult (26 days/32 years), Adult (36 days/50 years), Elder (Death around 60 years).
- Post-1950 Births: Young Adult (32 days/35 years), Adult (60 days/65 years), Elder (Death around 90 years).
Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple. Multi-generational households are permitted, reflecting historical norms. Strive for period-appropriate attire and hairstyles. Housing options are restricted: Strangerville is off-limits, Del Sol Valley is unavailable before the 1950s, and Sulani is discouraged for realism. Apartments are acceptable for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house.
Technology usage is period-specific. Phones are allowed for essential gameplay functions but not for entertainment or communication until the appropriate decade. Computers are similarly restricted, only becoming available for work and online ordering in later decades. Job choices should align with the era.
Decade-Specific Rules & Difficulties:
For detailed rules, consult Cute Coffee Gal's complete 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 primarily homemakers (widows may freelance/garden); no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; cultivate 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 teen/young adult/adult males; Cow Plant cake consumption (dice roll determines further consumption or release); oldest female and her husband inherit if all males perish; high school mandatory (C average required); women may take manual labor jobs; university allowed 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 permitted; women may work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).
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1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (job loss at decade's start, new jobs after a week); one cooked meal daily, others scavenged/grown/caught; 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 high school punishment for bad grades; teens may 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 for women; WooHoo allowed.
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1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged but not required; 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 allowed; hospital births.
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1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV; no appliance/furniture restrictions; texting allowed; Y2K shelter (three-day stay).
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2000s: Unrestricted computers and phones (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 work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.
The Sims 4 Decades Challenge offers a unique blend of historical simulation and gameplay. While the Eco Lifestyle pack enhances the experience, it remains adaptable to various pack combinations. Enjoy your journey through time!
The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
