Embark on a nostalgic journey through time with The Sims 4 Decades Challenge! This comprehensive guide outlines the rules and intricacies of this engaging community-created challenge, transforming your Sims' lives across various 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, and lifespan is adjusted based on historical life expectancy: Sims born before 1950 have shorter lifespans than those born afterward. Begin with a single young adult Sim or a married couple, optionally including their parents. Costumes should reflect the era's fashion. Specific location restrictions apply (no Strangerville, Del Sol Valley before the 1950s, or Sulani for maximum realism). Apartments are permitted for single Sims, but marriage necessitates a house. Technology use is limited to gameplay necessities; phones, computers, etc., are only available when historically accurate. Job choices should align with the era.
Challenge Difficulties by Decade:
Detailed rules are available via Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide, but here's a summary of each decade's unique challenges:
-
1890s: Male heirs only; daughters (Creative trait) move out upon marriage; no WooHoo (only "try for baby"); home births; period-appropriate jobs (men); women manage the household (with limited job options if widowed); no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed (period-appropriate majors); cultivate a Cow Plant.
-
1900s: Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules apply; phonographs permitted.
-
1910s: WWI draft for male teens, young adults, and adults (Cow Plant cake consumption & dice roll for consequences); oldest female & husband become heirs if all males perish; high school mandatory (C average or relocation); women can pursue manual labor jobs; male university attendance post-war.
-
1920s: Female heirs allowed; daughters needn't move out; no Creative trait requirement; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).
-
1930s: Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (job loss initially, then job search after one week); one cooked meal daily, others scavenged/grown/caught; Prohibition ends.
-
1940s: WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden (four+ plants); thermostats, washers, dryers allowed; radio mandatory (one Sim for one hour daily); no high school expulsion for bad grades; teens can work part-time.
-
1950s: Korean War draft (oldest son, same rules); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not mandatory; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.
-
1960s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children, any gender, same rules); any college major; maternity leave allowed; WooHoo allowed.
-
1970s: Vietnam War draft (oldest two children, any gender, same rules); marriage encouraged, not mandatory; microwaves and dishwashers allowed; lottery tickets and food delivery available.
-
1980s: Gaming allowed; at least one Sim must pursue a business career; science babies allowed; hospital births preferred.
-
1990s: Laptops allowed; unrestricted TV watching; no appliance/furniture restrictions; texting allowed; Y2K shelter construction (three-day confinement).
-
2000s: Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV channels allowed.
-
2010s: No journalism (print media decline); same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.
The Decades Challenge offers a unique and engaging way to experience The Sims 4, blending historical context with gameplay. While the Eco Lifestyle pack enhances the experience, adaptation for other packs is possible. The Sims 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
