The Sims 4: where to start and what to buy

I still remember the day I innocently thought: I had not played The Sims in ages, so why not buy The Sims 4 with everything that has come out over the years? How wrong I was. That odyssey is for very few wallets: for what the 4 costs with the full catalog you could buy a PS5, an OLED TV, and maybe even a couch. We are talking about roughly $2,000 total, as this Reddit thread lays out.

We are looking at 100+ items across expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, and kits (clothes and furniture, no new mechanics). Do not worry: this guide is about how to spend well and get the most (and best) for the least. Heads-up: on sale, about $80 can get you the essentials and hundreds of hours before you think about spending another dollar (if you have not burned out by then).

What The Sims 4 is about

Maybe you are not sure what The Sims is: a life-sim series. You create characters, give them homes and jobs… and bit by bit they build their story in the world. It rewards time played: things evolve, generations hand off to the next, and as you can guess, there is no ending.

Look: strip out the supernatural vampires and witches (among other things) and the game is basically work and daily life. Why repeat that on screen when you already do it every day? Well, in real life you would not trap a bunch of people in a walled pool and remove the ladder… right?

The Sims 4 in 2026

The base game is free, and the rest is sold in layers. As of September 2026, community counts land around ~108 DLC products, including:

Each expansion pack usually adds a playable world and big systems (seasons, pets, university life, etc.). Game packs and stuff packs are smaller; kits are mostly objects and clothes. That hierarchy matters when money is tight.

Personally, I am not a super «hardcore» Sims 4 player: game packs, stuff packs, and kits are more than I need. I stick to expansion packs, which change the game the most.

Sales

By the time you read this, the Stack & Save offer (EA app only) through September 28, 2026 will probably be over. Do not panic: EA repeats sales on key dates; the full catalog is expensive, but DLC goes on offer several times a year.

If Stack & Save returns, you add DLC from a large (but curated) list to your cart and the discount can stack up to ~70%. Handy for grabbing several expansions at once on PC. That is how you can land around five expansions for about $80, give or take.

Either way, the usual sale pattern often looks like this:

Kits usually stay out of promos.

Best platform for The Sims 4

You might wonder which platform to buy on. There is a clear winner: EA app. That comes from someone who prefers everything on Steam, but the game is EA’s and the most aggressive deals (especially Stack & Save) tend to stay on its store. Steam, Epic, and console also discount, but not always at the same pace.

Remember: DLC is not cross-buy. PlayStation purchases do not show up on Steam; EA app purchases do not jump to Epic. Pick a platform before you invest. If you care about mods, the gallery, or several packs with extra stacking, PC on EA app.

What about EA Play?

On PC, EA Play includes the Get to Work expansion pack among other EA titles. It does not replace the whole Sims 4 catalog, but it can justify the fee if you also play FC or Battlefield. Plan details in our EA Play: Standard and Pro guide.

Expansion packs that are worth it

There is no required order: pick a fantasy (city, countryside, family, occult). These eight change day-to-day play more than the rest; on sale, many land around $19.99.

Other strong expansions by taste: Get Famous (fame and acting), Island Living (beach and island spirit), Lovestruck (dating and romantic city), Businesses & Hobbies (businesses and hobbies). Royalty & Legacy is the 2026 headline add-on, but it usually discounts less (in the latest promo, 20%): buy if you love the royal fantasy; if you hesitate, packs above usually give more play per dollar.

What to buy for your situation

The future of The Sims

I should also mention the next entry in the series is in development. It is called Project Rene, but we do not know much yet; only this:

• It will not be called Sims 5.
• It will focus on social multiplayer.
• It is being built with mobile devices in mind too.
• Customization options are meant to go beyond what we have seen so far.

EA announced it in 2024 and, so far, there has not been much public progress. So today I would not put The Sims 4 on hold for a game with no release date yet.

FAQ

In short

The Sims 4 in 2026 is free at base, deep if you add packs, and overwhelming if you stare at 100+ DLC without a filter. On sale, prioritize specific expansions, do not hoard kits. PC (EA app) usually wins for mods and multi-pack deals; console wins for the couch.

Start with one fantasy (seasons, countryside, city, or family) and expand when your save asks for it, not when the store blinks.

The Sims 4 on EA · Pack store