The *Sims 4* community thrives on creative challenges, and the Decades Challenge offers a unique way to experience the game through the lens of history. If you're ready to guide your Sims through the ages, this guide will walk you through the rules and mechanics.
The core concept is simple: every two in-game days represent a new year, starting in 1890. You can, however, adjust the starting and ending years to suit your preference. This means days one and two are 1890, days three and four are 1891, and so on, typically concluding in 2010 or 2020. With the Blast from the Past event underway, it's the perfect time to embark on this historical journey!
Remember to disable automatic aging and utilize the following life expectancy guidelines. Life expectancy significantly changed around 1950, so Sims are categorized into "born before 1950" and "born after 1950" to reflect this historical shift.
Life Stages (All Sims):
- Baby: Ages after 1 day (6 months old)
- Infant: Ages after 3 days (2 years old)
- Toddler: Ages after 8 days (6 years old)
- Child: Ages after 14 days (13 years old)
- Teen: Ages after 12 days (19 years old)
Adult Sims Born Before 1950:
- Young Adult: Ages after 26 days (32 years old)
- Adult: Ages after 36 days (50 years old)
- Elder: Dies after approximately 14 days (around 60 years old)
Adult Sims Born After 1950:
- Young Adult: Ages after 32 days (35 years old)
- Adult: Ages after 60 days (65 years old)
- Elder: Dies after approximately 56 days (around 90 years old)
You begin with a single young adult Sim (or a married couple), potentially including parents for a multi-generational household. Strive for historically accurate attire for each decade. Housing is 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 requires a house.
Technology usage is period-specific. Phones are permitted for gameplay necessities but not for entertainment or communication until the appropriate decade. The same applies to computers. Job choices should reflect the available professions of each era.
Related: Where To Find Platinum & Ironyum in The Sims 4 Blast From the Past Event
Each decade presents unique challenges. For detailed rules, refer to Cute Coffee Gal's comprehensive guide. Here's a summary:
Decade-Specific Rules:
1890s:
Male heirs only; daughters with the Creative trait move out upon marriage; WooHoo is prohibited (only trying for a baby allowed); home births; period-appropriate male jobs (e.g., woodworking); women manage the household (freelancing or gardening allowed if widowed); no electricity; elementary school mandatory, high school optional; university allowed with period-appropriate majors; begin growing a Cow Plant.1900s:
Lamps allowed; indoor plumbing (no showers); other 1890s rules apply; phonographs permitted.1910s:
Male teens, young adults, and adults drafted for WWI (Cow Plant cake consumption and dice roll for consequences); oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males perish; high school mandatory (C average or relocation); women can pursue manual labor jobs; male university attendance after war.1920s:
Female heirs allowed; daughters don't need the Creative trait; talk radio, movies, and all lighting options allowed; women can work under broader circumstances; no alcohol (Prohibition).1930s:
Kegs allowed at university; Great Depression (no business careers, initial job loss, one cooked meal daily, other meals scavenged/grown); Prohibition ends.1940s:
WWII draft (same rules as WWI); victory garden (four or more plants); thermostats, washers, and dryers allowed; radio mandatory (one hour daily listening); no high school expulsion for bad grades; teens can work part-time.1950s:
Korean War draft (oldest son); showers and cheap TVs allowed; radio listening not required; high school mandatory; phones allowed for calls.1960s:
Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); any college major allowed; maternity leave; WooHoo allowed.1970s:
Vietnam War draft (oldest two children); marriage encouraged but 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 or furniture restrictions; texting allowed; Y2K shelter construction (three-day stay mandatory).2000s:
Computer and phone restrictions lifted (except Trendi); home or hospital births; all music and TV allowed.2010s:
No journalism (print media demise); same-sex marriage allowed; all part-time work allowed; meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator available.The Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4* offers a richly detailed historical simulation. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack enhances the experience, the challenge can be adapted to any pack combination. *The Sims 4* is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
