"Mastering The Sims 4 Decades Challenge: A Guide"

If you're a fan of *The Sims 4* and crave a more immersive and challenging experience, the Decades Challenge is your ticket to experiencing life through different time periods. This unique challenge adds a historical twist to your Sims' lives, making every playthrough a journey through time.

Rules of the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4

Image via EA

To embark on the Decades Challenge, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the rules and how it works. The premise is simple: every two days in-game represents a new year, starting from 1890. Feel free to adjust the years to personalize your challenge. For example, days one and two are 1890, days three and four are 1891, and so on, until you reach the end of your journey in either 2010 or 2020. With the ongoing Blast from the Past event, it's the perfect time to dive into this historical adventure.

To maintain accuracy, ensure automatic aging is disabled, and use the following life expectancy guidelines. Life expectancy changes over time, so categorize your Sims into those born before 1950 and those born after. The first life stages remain consistent across both categories:

• Baby: Age after 1 day (6 months old)
• Infant: Age after 3 days (2 years old)
• Toddler: Age after 8 days (6 years old)
• Child: Age after 14 days (13 years old)
• Teen: Age after 12 days (19 years old)

For Sims born before 1950:

• Young Adult: Age after 26 days (32 years old)
• Adult: Age after 36 days (50 years old)
• Elder: Dies after about 14 days (around 60 years old)

For Sims born after 1950:

• Young Adult: Age after 32 days (35 years old)
• Adult: Age after 60 days (65 years old)
• Elder: Dies after about 56 days (around 90 years old)

To get started, you can begin with a single young adult or a married young adult couple. You can also include one Sim's parents in the household to reflect the common multi-generational living of the time. Dress your Sims in period-appropriate outfits to enhance the experience.

Housing rules include restrictions on certain neighborhoods. You can't use Strangerville at all, and Del Sol Valley isn't available until the 1950s. For maximum realism, avoid Sulani as well. Single Sims can live in apartments, but once married, they must move into a house.

Technology use is also regulated. Phones can be used for gameplay elements but not for entertainment or communication until the appropriate decade. The same applies to computers, which are necessary for certain jobs and ordering items like books and seeds. Choose jobs based on what would have been available during the time period you're simulating.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge Difficulties

Image via EA

Each decade in the Decades Challenge comes with its own set of rules, adding unique challenges and historical accuracy to your gameplay. For a detailed breakdown, check out Cute Coffee Gal's full challenge rules. Here's a brief overview of each decade:

1890s

In the 1890s, only male heirs are allowed. Daughters must have the Creative trait and move out upon marriage. WooHooing is prohibited, and Sims can only sleep together to try for a baby. Babies are born at home. Men work period-appropriate jobs like woodworking, while women manage the household but can freelance or garden if widowed. Electricity is not allowed, and kids must attend elementary school, but high school is optional. University is available for both genders with period-appropriate majors. Start creating a Cow Plant during this decade.

1900s

Lamps are now permitted, and indoor plumbing is introduced, though showers are still not allowed. Jobs and education rules remain the same as the 1890s. Phonographs for music are acceptable, but other rules from the previous decade still apply.

1910s

Teen, Young Adult, and Adult males are drafted for World War I and must eat Cow Plant cake. Roll a dice for each drafted male; odd numbers eat the cake again, while even numbers return home. If all males die, the oldest female and her husband become the heirs. High school becomes mandatory with a C average requirement; otherwise, the Sim must move out. Male Sims can attend university post-war, and women can take manual labor jobs.

1920s

Women can now be heirs and don't need to move out upon marriage. The Creative trait is no longer mandatory for daughters. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work under more circumstances, especially if their husbands don't earn enough. Alcohol is prohibited due to Prohibition.

1930s

Kegs are allowed at university, but the Great Depression affects job availability. Sims can't join business careers and lose their jobs at the start of the decade, regaining them after a week. Prohibition ends, and Sims are limited to one cooked meal a day, with other meals scavenged, caught, or grown.

1940s

Follow World War I rules for World War II. Each household must have a victory garden with at least four plants. Thermostats, washers, and dryers are allowed, and every household needs a radio, with at least one Sim listening for an hour daily. High schoolers aren't sent away for bad grades, and teens can have part-time jobs.

1950s

The oldest son goes to war in the Korean War, following previous war rules. Showers and cheap TVs are permitted, and radio listening is no longer required. High school remains mandatory, and phones can be used for calls.

1960s

The oldest two children of any gender go to war in the Vietnam War, following the same rules. Sims can choose any college major, and women are allowed maternity leave. WooHooing is now permitted without restrictions.

1970s

The oldest two children of any gender go to war in the Vietnam War again. Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves and dishwashers are allowed, and lottery tickets and food delivery become available.

1980s

Gaming is now allowed, and at least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies are permitted, and babies should be born at the hospital.

1990s

Laptops and unrestricted TV watching are allowed. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted, and texting is permitted. All families must build a Y2K shelter and stay in it for three days.

2000s

Computer and phone restrictions are lifted, except for Trendi. Babies can be born at home or in the hospital, and all music types and TV channels are allowed.

2010s

Journalism is no longer allowed due to the decline of print media. Same-sex marriages are permitted, and all part-time work, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator, are allowed.

That's everything you need to know about the Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4*. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack is highly beneficial, you can adapt the challenge to fit any packs you own or don't own.

*The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*