"Mastering The Sims 4 Decades Challenge: A Guide"

If you're a fan of *The Sims 4* and crave a more immersive experience by navigating through different historical eras, the Decades Challenge is your perfect gameplay twist. This challenge lets your Sims live through the evolution of time, from the 1890s to the 2010s, with every two in-game days representing a new year. Whether you choose to end your journey in 2010 or extend it to 2020, the flexibility is there to customize your historical journey. With the ongoing Blast from the Past event, diving into this challenge is more relevant than ever.

Rules of the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4

Image via EA

Before embarking on this journey, familiarize yourself with the challenge's rules. Begin your adventure in 1890 and progress two days per year. Remember, you can adjust these years to suit your preferences. To authentically reflect historical life expectancy, you'll need to turn off automatic aging and categorize your Sims into those born before and after 1950, due to significant life expectancy shifts around that time.

For the challenge, here's how the aging process works:

• 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)

Start your challenge with a single young adult or a young adult couple. Multi-generational living is allowed, so you can include one Sim's parents in the household. Dress your Sims in period-appropriate outfits to add to the authenticity.

Housing rules are also crucial. You cannot use Strangerville at any point, and Del Sol Valley becomes available in the 1950s. For maximum realism, avoid using Sulani. Single Sims can live in apartments, but must move to a house upon marriage.

Technology usage is limited to ensure historical accuracy. Phones are allowed for gameplay elements but not for entertainment or communication until the appropriate decade. The same goes for computers, which are essential for certain jobs and ordering items like books and seeds. Choose jobs based on the time period to maintain the challenge's integrity.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge Difficulties

Image via EA

Each decade brings its own set of rules to keep the challenge engaging and historically accurate. Here's a brief overview:

1890s

Only male heirs are allowed. Daughters must have the Creative trait and move out upon marriage. WooHooing is prohibited, and trying for a baby is the only acceptable reason for Sims to sleep together. Babies are born at home. Men work in period-appropriate jobs like woodworking, while women manage the household or take up freelancing or gardening if widowed. No electricity is allowed. Kids must attend elementary school, but high school isn't mandatory. University is allowed for period-appropriate majors. Start cultivating a Cow Plant this decade.

1900s

Lamps and indoor plumbing are now permitted, but no showers. Jobs and education remain consistent with the 1890s. Phonographs for music are acceptable.

1910s

Male Sims are drafted for World War I and must eat Cow Plant cake, with their survival determined by dice rolls. If all males perish, the oldest female and her husband become heirs. High school is mandatory with a C average requirement. Male Sims can attend university post-war, and women can take up manual labor jobs.

1920s

Women can be heirs and don't need to move out upon marriage. The Creative trait isn't mandatory for daughters. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work under more circumstances. Alcohol is prohibited due to Prohibition.

1930s

Kegs are allowed at university, but the Great Depression affects job availability. Sims lose their jobs at the decade's start and can get new ones after a week. Prohibition ends, but meals are limited to one cooked meal a day, with others sourced from scavenging, catching, or growing.

1940s

World War II rules apply. Each household must have a victory garden with four or more plants. Thermostats, washers, dryers, and radios are allowed, with at least one Sim listening to the radio daily. High schoolers are no longer sent away for bad grades, and teens can have part-time jobs.

1950s

The oldest son participates in the Korean War. Showers and cheap TVs are allowed, and listening to the radio isn't required. High school is mandatory, and phones are allowed for calls.

1960s

The oldest two children participate in the Vietnam War. Any college major is allowed, and women get maternity leave. WooHooing is now permitted beyond trying for a baby.

1970s

The oldest two children participate in the Vietnam War again. Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves, dishwashers, lottery tickets, and food delivery become available.

1980s

Gaming is allowed, and at least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies and hospital births are allowed.

1990s

Laptops and unrestricted TV watching are permitted. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted. Texting is allowed, and 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 careers are not allowed due to declining print media. Same-sex marriages are permitted, and all part-time work, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator, are available.

That's a comprehensive guide to the Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4*. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack enhances the experience, feel free to adapt the challenge based on the packs you own.

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