10 Best Sims 4 DLCs, Ranked

The base game Sims 4 experience is notably lacking in things to do. The base game frequently goes on sale (it’s free on EA Play), so for big fans of the game, nearly all of their money will go toward purchasing DLC packs. EA put a huge focus on this — optimizing the base game to make it run as smoothly as possible, with add-on content in mind. And when it comes to putting out add-on content for the Sims 4, EA certainly doesn’t disappoint.

At the time of writing, EA has put out twelve expansion packs for the Sims 4, each retailing at a base price of $39.99. There have also been twelve game packs that retail for $19.99, seventeen stuff packs (each $9.99), and thirteen kits (each $4.99). That’s 54 total DLC offerings, costing more than $900 if all of them are purchased at full price. That’s obviously a staggering total. With that in mind, these are the 10 Sims 4 DLCs most worth their price.

10/10 City Living (Expansion Pack)

In City Living, Sims take to the streets, exploring the new city-themed world of San Myshuno and getting used to the apartment life. This expansion was a welcome addition in the early days of The Sims 4, when the only residential worlds available had a small-town feel. City Living also introduces fun things like festivals and new food types inspired by Asian, African, and Latin American cultures.

However, despite its welcome gameplay additions and charming aesthetics, City Living is ultimately underwhelming. Compare it to the Late Night expansion for The Sims 3, which added not only apartment life, but also playable bands, playable celebrities, and playable vampires. Rather than all being bundled into one package, in The Sims 4, these features are doled out one by one (except for bands, which aren’t present at all).

9/10 Dine Out (Game Pack)

The Dine Out game pack adds the opportunity for Sims to run their own restaurants. It’s a fun concept that’s decently executed, and Dine Out is notable for offering a substantial amount of content compared to other game packs. In addition to a host of new food items to play with, designing and running a restaurant is a satisfying experience (though it can be glitchy at times).

We should note that in The Sims 2, dining at restaurants was a feature included with the Nightlife DLC. The option to run your own restaurant came with the Open for Business Expansion. It would’ve been nice to see EA include the features of Dine Out with the Get To Work expansion pack. However, Dine Out arguably marks an improvement over the Sims 3, where dining at restaurants only happened off-screen.

8/10 Get Famous (Expansion Pack)

In the Get Famous expansion pack, Sims do just that: they build the new fame statistic to become internationally-recognized superstars. Get Famous adds in a decent amount of new content, especially for creative Sims, such as the Acting career, the music mixing station, and the video production station. There’s also the new world of Del Sol Valley, which despite looking absolutely gorgeous, can feel small. Most of the world is a backdrop that, sadly, can’t be interacted with.

Fans who enjoy the celebrity-focused gameplay of this pack will probably feel they got their money’s worth. Those who don’t want to play as a celebrity may not be interested, as the pack adds nothing else new.

7/10 Vampires (Game Pack)

As mentioned earlier, playable vampires were originally included in The Sims 3 as part of the Nightlife DLC. This feature was so popular that EA quickly brought it back to The Sims 4 with the Vampires pack. To help the pack stand alone as a fully-featured thing, they also added several new features to vampire gameplay, including a new (relatively small) gothic world to play in.

Those who enjoy playing as an undead lord or lady will get a lot out of this pack. Like other packs that add supernatural powers, it can make Sims feel like un-killable godlike figures after a certain point, but some will definitely like that aspect. We only wish there was a bit more content here for us to sink our fangs into.

6/10 Paranormal Stuff (Stuff Pack)

For a stuff pack, Paranormal Stuff introduces a surprising number of new gameplay elements to The Sims 4. Ghosts, which previously felt somewhat lifeless now have a concrete gameplay effect in the Scared emotional state. Entire houses can be overrun with the new Haunted lot challenge. Sims devoted to the paranormal can eventually become Paranormal Investigators. Not to mention, Paranormal Stuff marks the return of series favorite Bonehilda the Skeleton Maid.

It’s honestly refreshing to see a stuff pack for the Sims 4 that introduces so many new things to do. Becoming a paranormal investigator, while weird, is a unique and fun addition to the game that can provide hours of fun.

5/10 Seasons (Expansion Pack)

Seasons is arguably a vital addition to The Sims 4 base game. It adds not only new Seasons and appropriate outdoor activities but also a calendar and various holidays to the game. This lends the entire fictional world a new sense of reality and progression.

Celebrating non-denominational holidays, like Winterfest or Harvestfest, will grant your Sims a healthy number of satisfaction points. These events are a great excuse for your Sim families to get together and celebrate, or just catch up on their hobbies with a much needed day off. Players can also add in their own holidays, which is a genius idea. Things like Halloween and July 4th may be missing from the base expansion, but adding them in is both simple and fun!

4/10 Cats & Dogs (Expansion Pack)

Cats & Dogs is another popular expansion that adds in features most would welcome simply in the base game: pets. While it technically also adds raccoons and foxes, these are both just reskinned versions of cats and dogs respectively. It also adds a new coastal world: Brindleton Bay, which may be the best-looking area in The Sims 4.

Cats & Dogs introduces some excellent new features for pet lovers, such as training animals, putting them through agility courses, or just watching your Sims hang out with them! Sims can even open their own veterinary clinics, which works sort of like running a restaurant. Like Seasons, many players consider Cats & Dogs a vital addition to The Sims 4.

3/10 Cottage Living (Expansion Pack)

This cottagecore-themed expansion lets Sims start their own farms and ranches in the beautifully themed new world, Henford-on-Bagley. Cottage Living is unique in that it can feel like a total overhaul of the game, making it into something more like Stardew Valley. It adds a host of new animals to interact with, plus challenges where Sims live off-the-grid and grow their own food, which is highly enjoyable.

Cottage Living also adds in a number of smaller things to do, like canning, cross-stitching, picnics, and quest-giving NPC Sims. All in all, Cottage Living is one of the better Sims 4 expansion packs. Players who enjoy farming or just the cottage aesthetic will certainly have fun with it.

2/10 Get To Work (Expansion Pack)

Get To Work is the standard for what all Sims 4 expansions should have been. As one of the game’s first new packs, it added in the ability for Sims to participate in their work days. The new “active” jobs, Scientist, Doctor, and Investigator, are all fun and worthy additions to the game. Get to Work also goes above and beyond by adding a bunch of other new content. Sims can run their own retail businesses, selling just about anything they want, or get involved with photography, baking, and even aliens. The wealth of new features in this pack make it feel a bit like the older Sims expansions, like the previously mentioned Sims 3 Late Night.

1/10 High School Years (Expansion Pack)

High School Years is a recent addition, so it’s actually quite surprising that it’s one of the game’s best expansions. The pack is highly focused on teenage Sims and the high school experience (obviously), so the pack has a narrow focus. However, this is one area of gameplay that desperately needed attention. Before, teenage Sims were honestly boring to play. Now, they feel unique and fun.

Teenage Sims can visit the new high school lot every day, which is decently fun to play around with, but where the pack really shines is in its new additions to the social gameplay. Not just in high school, but in the entire rest of the game, NPCs can now approach player Sims and ask them to become friends or even lovers. High School Years also adds events like prom, a new world to play in, and plenty of other smaller features as well.