GamesSimulationThe SimsThe Sims 4The Sims 4 Life and Death is everything I’ve ever wanted from EA, and it’s so good I don’t even care there won’t be a Sims 5When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesSimulationThe SimsThe Sims 4The Sims 4 Life and Death is everything I’ve ever wanted from EA, and it’s so good I don’t even care there won’t be a Sims 5When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: EA)
Following a recent preview of EA’s upcoming expansion pack and an eye-opening exclusive interview with its developers, I’m thoroughly convinced thatLife and Deathmight just be the best thing to ever happen toThe Sims 4. Not only does it add a variety of fans' long-requested features to the game, but it also brings an entirely new layer of depth with a beautiful blend of both fantastical elements and nitty-gritty realism.
It also offers a throwback to the series' quirkier past - even the title itself is reminiscent of the iconic Tombstone of Life and Death from The Sims 2, a coincidence that production director Dave Miotke describes to me as a “happy accident.” There are plenty of intentionally placed references to look out for, too, and the overall vibe that the expansion carries is just generally akin to some of the past titles' own beloved, bizarre energies.
Whether you’re hoping for a more macabre Sims 4 experience or are simply searching for a pack with enough content to justify its $40 price tag, I’d argue that Life and Death is perfect for you - in fact, I’d say it’s the most worthy expansion to come from EA yet. I’m so content with the amount of features included in this DLC, that I genuinely don’t think I’ll be using many gameplay-relatedSims 4 modsfrom here on out.
Blast to the past
(Image credit: EA)
Leeb, Leefuh, Lurve(Image credit: EA)For the first time in 10 years, I’m enjoying The Sims 4 without any mods - and it’s all thanks to Lovestruck
Leeb, Leefuh, Lurve
(Image credit: EA)For the first time in 10 years, I’m enjoying The Sims 4 without any mods - and it’s all thanks to Lovestruck
(Image credit: EA)
For the first time in 10 years, I’m enjoying The Sims 4 without any mods - and it’s all thanks to Lovestruck
It’s true - Life and Death leaves little need for mods to spice things up, transporting me to my past when I’d obsessively play The Sims 2 and 3 without ever even considering any external downloads. The packs and base games were enough to keep me satisfied for hours on end, but The Sims 4 has been a different story. Up until now, anyway. I’ve always felt that the series lost some of its charm in 4, as it lacked the weird flair of its predecessors.
Life and Death is all about embracing that odd energy that for so long defined The Sims, and I’m so here for it. It doesn’t shy away from the taboo or the wild deaths synonymous with the series, bringing everything from bucket lists to murderous ravens. As Miotke tells me, fans can also expect “to find plenty of Sims 2 lore in this pack.” There’s a certain sprinkle of realism to the expansion, too – the very sprinkle seen in the series' past titles.
That’s what I’ve always loved about The Sims – its ability to strike a balance between the strange and the real, something Life and Death does well. Miotke describes it best:: “It’s not just about ghosts and death, but it’s also kind of dealing with death and some of those more realistic life elements.” For every spooky bit, there’s something serious like the new funeral, grief, or will systems.
There are even “rainbow bridge” references for dead pets – an inclusion that personally makes me tear up a bit. I recently lost my childhood dog of over 14 years, but I haven’t yet had the strength to let him properly age up and pass on in-game on my real-world-inspired save. Now, I just might. That crossover between reality and virtuality is what has always set The Sims apart from other games, and Life and Death reflects it more than any other pack to date.
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Grim’s grand glow-up
(Image credit: EA)
Grim can be a boss, a friend, a foe, and even a father – yes, a father.
Grim can be a boss, a friend, a foe, and even a father – yes, a father.
“Grim’s kind of a turtle,” the dev explains. “Maybe like Zeus in Greek mythology – he has a lot of kids.” There’s no telling whether Grim “has favorites” among his children, either, as he doesn’t spend much time with them. He’s busy running a soul-harvesting business with Sims helping him out in the pack’s new Reaper-themed career, after all, he’s still as elusive as ever. “Grim’s a mysterious character,” says Miotke. “It’s really hard to know what Grim’s thinking.”
That’s because, despite the extra depth he packs in Life and Death, Grim is still an unplayable character – but I can, er, live with that. As producer Morgan Henry tells me, he’s still a “unique character,” albeit one with “a lot of fun, new interactions.” You can challenge him to basketball matches, hopscotch competitions, and more to save a Sim’s life. Be wary of doing so, though, as Miotke jokes that Grim doesn’t always play fair.
A multioccultural experience
(Image credit: EA)
If you want a famous werewolf spellcaster ghost, you can have one.
If you want a famous werewolf spellcaster ghost, you can have one.
Enough about death, and more about ghosts. How do they work in Life and Death, and in what ways are they different than they used to be? They feel much more alive, despite being dead, and they can work to wrap up any unfinished business from their former lives. You can opt to have Sims reborn throughthe miracle of reincarnationafterward or keep them trucking on as ghosts through the game’s brand-new skill tree.
It’s much like that of the other occult Sims, with powers and branches that you unlock over time through good or bad deeds. How does it line up with the other occults – can mermaids, vampires, and werewolves become ghosts? Yes, Miotke confirms: “While ghosts have a full power tree, it does not stop or impede you from your other occult power trees as well, so you can have a vampire with full powers and also have corresponding ghost powers.”
Miotke alludes to all sorts of “fun combinations and stories that you can tell when you pair these [powers] up.” If you want a famous werewolf spellcaster ghost, you can have one. Life and Death coexists nicely with other packs this way, and it’s one of my favorite aspects of the new expansion. I prefer everything in-game to mesh together seamlessly and withEA’s new plan for The Sims 4to be its go-to “legacy” game, it’s all the more appreciated when it does.
All in all, I’m incredibly excited for everyone to get their hands on Life and Death. It marks the beginning of something new for The Sims 4 as the first of its expansion packs to come after the company’s announcement regarding no Sims 5 andpaid community-created mods, and it couldn’t be a better start than it already is. There’s plenty to make it stand out as an expansion pack, a plethora of long-awaited features, and one much-needed glow-up for Grim.
Need something to play while you wait for Life and Death? Here are10 games like The Sims 4to check out now. Or check out our list of thebest Sims 4 expansion packsto buy right now.
CATEGORIESPC GamingXbox Series XPS5PlatformsXboxPlayStation
CATEGORIES
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More about the sims
The Sims creator’s first game in over 10 years is an AI life sim that uses your real memories: “The more I can make a game about you, the more you’ll like it"MySims' Switch launch is cute and all, but it has nothing on the best old school Sims 2 games that really deserve a port
The Sims creator’s first game in over 10 years is an AI life sim that uses your real memories: “The more I can make a game about you, the more you’ll like it”
The Sims creator’s first game in over 10 years is an AI life sim that uses your real memories: “The more I can make a game about you, the more you’ll like it”
MySims' Switch launch is cute and all, but it has nothing on the best old school Sims 2 games that really deserve a port
MySims' Switch launch is cute and all, but it has nothing on the best old school Sims 2 games that really deserve a port
Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►
Latest
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”