The Sims 4

Computer Bild Spiele (1.5 out of 6)

Ja, die Sims polarisieren – der eine mag sie, der andere findet sie doof. Sims-Fans werden diese Fortsetzung allerdings lieben. Das Spiel hat genau die richtige Mischung zwischen neuen Features und Altbekanntem. „Die Sims 4“ fühlen sich noch an wie die Sims – nur deutlich besser. Die virtuellen Menschen sind klüger, emotionaler und ein klein bisschen echter. Jetzt noch etwas Wetter und ein paar Haustiere, und die „Sims 3“-Sammlung kann im Regal stehen bleiben.

Vandal Online (9 out of 10)

Cuatro juegos en 14 años no es demasiado, aunque el lanzamiento de expansión tras expansión hace que nos seamos tan conscientes del tiempo que transcurre entre cada uno de los juegos principales. Eso dice mucho a favor de la jugabilidad. Este Los Sims 4 parece que continuará la senda exitosa de sus antecesores. Ojalá que las, sin duda numerosas, expansiones que vendrán consigan que el tiempo hasta el siguiente juego se nos haga tan corto como estos cinco años que han transcurrido desde Los Sims 3.

Gaming Nexus (8.8 out of 10)

The Sims 4 is undoubtedly a major step forward for the series that improves on many aspects that plagued past titles. However, with the improvements also comes an unusual disappearance of features from past games which result in less control and customization. Even with the missing content, The Sims 4 delivers a gameplay experience that is highly-entertaining and addictive for both series veterans and newcomers.

IGN Latinoamérica (8.5 out of 10)

​Al fin llega la cuarta entrega de The Sims, poniendo 14 años de experiencia en un título que llamará la atención de los fans y que dará a los curiosos un juego más sencillo. The Sims 4 trae algunos cambios que lo hacen sentir fresco. La diversión de crear y simular la vida se mantiene intacta, como ha sido desde su primera versión, pero con elementos que agregan una nueva dimensión a nuestros pequeños Sims.

Power Unlimited (85 out of 100)

Afgezien van de enorm verbeterde Build Mode en Create-A-Sim en het feit dat de game heerlijk snel en soepel laadt, is dit de minst sterke basisgame uit de Sims-serie. Maar gelukkig niet met grote afstand! Graaf je namelijk even wat dieper dan de eerste, ietwat teleurstellende uren, dan worden veel van de verdwenen features gecompenseerd met ontzettend veel animaties, collectibles, objecten en andere grappige dingetjes die alleen Sims-liefhebbers op hun waarde kunnen schatten.

Multiplayer.it (8.5 out of 10)

The Sims 4 si allontana molto dai suoi predecessori dimostrando che un gioco come questo non deve necessariamente essere complesso per risultare piacevole. Fresco, snello e intuitivo, quest'ultimo capitolo della serie si conferma come il titolo con la giocabilità più alta, anche se l'eccessivo focus su alcuni particolari e determinate mancanze gli fanno perdere quella manciata di punti che lo porterebbero all'eccellenza. Questo capitololo più di tutti dimostra agli scettici che accusano la saga di essere "statica" e "sempre uguale", che anche un gioco come The Sims è in grado di sperimentare, evolversi e cambiare, talvolta sbagliando, ma comunque sempre provandoci con l'obiettivo di non deludere e senza snaturare l'essenza del brand.

Softpedia ( )

The Sims 4 is a fun experience that certainly takes great steps in improving the core mechanics of the series. The Create-A-Sim and Build Mode systems are much more accessible yet offer a lot of depth for those that desire it. Sims are smart, can multitask, and interact in lots of nifty ways. However, there are still plenty of missing core items while the existing set of options are limited, to say the least, no doubt to ensure that the upcoming expansions bring lots of highly desirable things.

Merlin'in Kazanı (80 out of 100)

Rekabetsizliğin, alanında en iyi ve tek olmanın aslında kötü bir şey olduğunu The Sims 4 ile bir kez daha görüyoruz. The Sims 4 çok iyi bir oyun ama serinin en zayıf halkası olarak raflarda yerini alıyor.

videogamer.com (8 out of 10)

The feature list is bare, but the Sims themselves are incredible.

GameStar (Germany) (80 out of 100)

(Third review)
(...) So einiges hat sich über die Jahre zum Positiven geändert, inzwischen ist das Grundspiel auf einem guten Niveau mit vielen Möglichkeiten angekommen. Die allermeisten, von Fans bemängelten Leerstellen wurden gefüllt, auch zusätzliche Inhalte gab es obendrauf. Wären da nur die Bugs nicht, die sich inzwischen in nervtötender Regelmäßigkeit immer wieder ins Spiel schleichen. Jedes neue Update, jedes neue Pack lässt teils altbekannte Bugs wiederkehren, teils kommen ganz neue Probleme hinzu, die ganze Spielstände korrumpieren. Gepaart mit den Ladezeiten drückt das ordentlich auf den Spielspaß und macht Sims 4 zu einer Erfahrung, die euch viel Abwechslung bringen kann, aber auch einiges an Geduld erfordert.

Ragequit.gr (80 out of 100)

Σε γενικές γραμμές πάντως το παιχνίδι φαντάζει κάπως ακριβό, ειδικά η digital deluxe έκδοση που δεν δίνει και τίποτα φοβερό για να δικαιολογήσει την τιμή της. Φαίνεται ότι η ΕΑ την αρμέγει την αγελάδα του The Sims απόλυτα, αφού ξέρει ότι η σειρά έχει φανατικό κοινό που θα τρέξει να αγοράσει τα πάντα.

Eurogamer.es (8 out of 10)

Se puede discutir, también, si el modelo de negocio de vender un juego base e ir hinchándolo a base de expansiones es el más apropiado; se puede reflexionar sobre si es bueno, viendo cómo, claro, a cualquier fan le va a resultar difícil dejar de lado ciertas cosas que sí tenía disponibles en una versión ampliadísima de la anterior entrega, tanto las menos importantes como mejoras de diseño o conceptuales que se fueron agregando con el paso de los años. Se puede discutir todo eso, también; si funciona será por algo, y yo, personalmente, ya tengo ganas de ver de qué maneras de expande, pero colosos más grandes han caído: puede que las cosas en 2014 sean lo bastante distintas para que un modelo de negocio tan excluyente para cierto sector de jugadores que podría interesarse y disfrutar del juego si las condiciones fueran diferentes lo vea con malos ojos. Todo se puede discutir, claro.

LevelUp (8 out of 10)

The Sims 4 es una mezcla agridulce de innovaciones y limitaciones donde la balanza se inclina a favor debido a las adiciones al sistema de juego que brindan nuevas posibilidades y diversión, no importa si lo tuyo es ser astronauta o formar una bonita familia con Megan Fox.

Meristation (8 out of 10)

Los Sims 4 son un título único en su género, y esta nueva entrega es perfecta tanto para aficionados a la saga como para los que vayan a internarse en ella por vez primera. Cuenta con nuevos y apasionantes sistemas y mecánicas de juego, como las emociones. Y aunque desaparecen algunas de las opciones que más nos gustaban, el balance termina siendo positivo. Un juego de calidad más que notable, con uno de los saltos técnicos y jugables más evidentes desde la llegada de la segunda entrega... Al que solamente se puede achacar una exagerada falta de contenidos en su versión inicial.

3D Juegos (8 out of 10)

Los Sims 4 es un avance en muchos aspectos para la saga pero también un juego que parece algo limitado de base con, a buen seguro, la intención de crecer con futuras expansiones. Si bien, de momento, anda un poco justo en cuanto a posibilidades, objetos o actividades; lo cierto es que sus mejoras en elementos como el interfaz, la comodidad que permite y la optimización brindan motivos más que suficientes para disfrutarlo y perderse en su mundo.

Eurogamer.it (8 out of 10)

La vera incognita è legata alla scelta di frammentare The Sims 4 in aree indipendenti che richiedono un caricamento specifico, elemento di design piuttosto reazionario, oltre che davvero scomodo. Il gioco rimane comunque una sorta di droga legalizzata ed è vero che potrebbe sembrare una telenovela in una lingua incomprensibile, come osservato da qualcuno di voi nei commenti, ma non bisogna mai sottovalutare la capacità attrattiva e magnetica di questo genere di prodotti.

Financial Post (8 out of 10)

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that perhaps we should play nice with our Sims. No, they’re probably not alive today, but with new revolutions in thought, our ability to mimic and ultimately create something that identifies with its own subjective experience will eventually come to be. Maybe one day a game like The Sims will be something of a great responsibility; perhaps this speaks to our present condition in what we know as reality. Though I don’t feel that day is today, nor do I ascribe the beliefs of active omniscient gods, neither did my Sim Copernicus, and before I closed the application, he looked like he had it all figured out.

Critical Hit (7.9 out of 10)

Ignore the starter pack effect, jump into the expanded social circles of The Sims 4, share your worlds and you’ll discover for the most part that this game is a true sequel through and through.

GameStar (Germany) (79 out of 100)

(Re-review)
Die gute Nachricht: Maxis schrauben kontinuierlich weiter an ihrem Spiel. Geister und Pools kamen recht schnell, gefolgt vom neuen Wohnort, Kellerbau und Spülmaschine. Die schlechte Nachricht: Die großen Ärgernisse wie weggefallene starke Features (Create a Style, hügeliges Gelände, Vorschulkinder) und das lange Nachladen bei jedem Ortswechsel werden wohl nicht mehr behoben. Stattdessen vermelden die Patchnotes stolz »Der Ladebildschirm ist nun heller und lebendiger«. Hurra. Natürlich ist Sims 4 trotzdem ein spaßiges und motivierendes Spiel, das zum Experimentieren einlädt wie kaum ein anderes. Hier kann ich alles ausprobieren, vom biederen, treudoofen Familienvater im Karoanzug bis hin zum Lebemann-Junggesellen, der die halbe Nachbarschaft schwängert. Aber eben immer mit dem blöden Beigeschmack, dass »früher vieles besser war«. Hardwarehungriger, ja, aber eben auch besser.

PC Gamer (79 out of 100)

Once more with feeling: this is a fine if familiar base game with great creative tools.

Everyeye.it (7.8 out of 10)

Anche al netto di uno look troppo “morbido” e non particolarmente indovinato, i miglioramenti all'interfaccia, l'ottimizzazione del motore e soprattutto un forte rispetto per la creatività dei giocatori (che adesso può “sfogarsi” grazie ad un bel numero di strumenti), bastano a sostenere un prodotto solido. Ai più scettici consigliamo vivamente di ammorbidirsi nei confronti di questo sequel tanto atteso: The Sims 4 non vuole sottolineare tanto la continuità coi suoi predecessori, ma delinearsi come una ripartenza: ed in quest'ottica ha gli strumenti per appassionare come ha sempre fatto. Trascorrere qualche ora di gameplay in compagnia dei sim, se si ha la voglia di esplorare a fondo le possibilità legate all'interazione fra personaggi e saggiare le reazioni dell'intelligenza artificiale, può come sempre regalarci tante risate, mettendoci di fronte a situazioni impensabili e stravaganti. E, dopotutto, l’importante è sempre divertirsi.

GameStar (Germany) (77 out of 100)

Ja, für sich gesehen ist Die Sims 4 ein spaßiges Spiel, aber es muss auch dem Vergleich mit seinen Vorgängern standhalten. Und das tut's nicht, verglichen mit Die Sims 3 ist es ein Rückschritt, weniger vielfältig, weniger originell, kurzum: das schlechtere Spiel. Wie also bewertet man ein solches Spiel? Wer noch kein Sims gespielt hat, der kann mit Die Sims 4 allen Schwächen zum Trotz seinen Spaß haben. Es versagt ja nicht als Spiel, nur als Teil einer Serie. Allerdings, und das ist für mich der ausschlaggebende Punkt, nicht irgendeiner Serie.Wir reden verdammt noch mal von Die Sims, einer der erfolgreichsten PC-Spielereihen aller Zeiten mit über 175 Millionen verkauften Spielen und Addons!

PC Games (Germany) (76 out of 100)

Ich bin überrascht, dass Maxis und EA nicht auch noch den Spaß aus Die Sims 4 rausgekürzt haben. Aber nein, das Hegen und Pflegen der eigenen virtuellen Familie, das Zuschauen und Bauen, das Verbessern und Gestalten macht immer noch einen Heidenspaß und hat mich auch bei Teil 4 an mehreren Tagen um den Schlaf gebracht. Die Erfolgsformel der Serie ist glücklicherweise so robust, dass sie auch in der Basisversion funktioniert, ohne Pools, Geschirrspüler und die schmerzlich vermisste offene Welt. Die kahlen Stellen im Spiel, die fehlenden Elemente, die zur Sims-DNS gehören wie die Kutte zu Assassin's Creed, machen sich dennoch negativ bemerkbar. Wer die Vorgänger kennt und liebt, sollte sich sehr genau überlegen, ob ihm das, was hier geboten wird, ganze 60 Euro wert ist.

New Game Network (76 out of 100)

The Sims 4 brings enticing new gameplay elements to the long running franchise, but removal of a few fan favorites and a general lack of content means it's not as easily recommended as its predecessors.

IGN Italia (7.5 out of 10)

The Sims non è, per tradizione, un gioco profondo, complicato, impegnativo. Con The Sims ci si diverte a scoprire che la nostra fidanzatina del liceo è un lupo mannaro, a costruire cantine zeppe di cabinati arcade e luci stroboscopiche, ad annaffiare piante carnivore vestiti da pirati. L'ammiraglia di Maxis è l'equivalente videoludico del realismo magico, solo più mattacchione. Quella che, in altri titoli, potrebbe essere considerata fuffa di contorno, in The Sims è fondamentale nel definire il valore dell'esperienza. Ed è per questo che la scarsità di contenuti del quarto capitolo mi lascia particolarmente deluso. Ancor più se penso che la nuova struttura, tutto sommato, mi piace persino nei suoi esiti più controversi. Anche così, The Sims 4 non è per niente un brutto gioco, anzi, può essere parecchio divertente. Ma sarebbe bastata un po' di generosità per renderlo un capolavoro già al day one.

VentureBeat / Gamesbeat (75 out of 100)

There’s less to do in TS4, and that makes it less exciting to play. Perhaps that’s not a fair comparison: this $60 title versus the hundreds that gamers spent on TS3 and its expansions. But that’s what EA is hoping longtime gamers will replace with TS4, without the extra content. If you’re looking for a comparison of TS4 versus TS3 with all its expansion packs, take at least five points off the score at the end of this review. For me, the experience was like taking your car to the shop. When you get it back, it’s shining, detailed, and purring: They’ve traded your Ford Focus for a Ford GT. Hooray! But then you get in and notice it’s a stick shift, with manual brakes and steering, no stereo, no A/C, and wait, where are the doors? I know some of those sexy parts and options will reappear in future expansion packs, and we will be able to buy other bells and whistles. But for $60, the core experience feels less customizable and hollow in comparison to the fully expanded TS3.

GamingTrend (75 out of 100)

The Sims 4 is a fantastic game at its core, but with its tiny neighborhoods and many features simply missing, it holds itself back from Sims greatness.

Worth Playing (7.5 out of 10)

Sims 4 would've been a really good game if it'd had another six months of production time, and I thinkit has the potential to be great after a few expansions fill in the holes. If you're on the fence about buying the game, I'd recommend waiting to see where EA Maxis plans to go from here. Keep playing Sims 3 for now, and come back in a few months. I'll keep you updated until then.

IGN (7.5 out of 10)

Transitioning from The Sims 3 to The Sims 4 is a little rough. The Sims 4 seems barren of content and features by comparison, especially with regard to the severely limited scope of the world and frequent (but much shorter) loading screens and noticeable absence of toddlers, pools, and cars. It’s not so much that Maxis didn’t recreate all the same features, but rather that there aren’t enough cool new things to replace what’s missing. Yet The Sims 4 does succeed in being a deep and complex game when it comes to Sim interactions, with lots of entertaining emotional potential. The emotions system and its contextual actions are really strong and added to my investment in my Sims as well as my enjoyment from watching ridiculousness unfold. Plus, excellent building tools make architecture more fun than ever. Overall, it’s a good start to what may eventually be expanded into a great Sims game, but it’s not there yet.

Gry OnLine (7.5 out of 10)

Na pochwałę zasługuje oprawa wizualna gry – nieco przerysowana oraz cukierkowa. Z ekranu wręcz bije komiksowa stylistyka, a postaci ociekają słodkością. Pójście w stronę żywych i wyrazistych kolorów było strzałem w dziesiątkę. Niektórzy pewnie uznają grafikę za słabszą, niż tą znaną z The Sims 3, jednakże mi osobiście taka konwencja znakomicie pasuje do całego klimatu serii. Duży plus należy się za animacje postaci. Widać, że twórcy poświęcili sporo czasu temu elementowi gry – Simy poruszają się na kilka różnych sposobów, a podczas wykonywania czynności oraz rozmowy żywo gestykulują. Miło też popatrzeć na wyraz ich twarzy, który zmienia się zależnie od nastroju. Obserwowanie wirtualnych ludzików to wciągające i niejednokrotnie zabawne zajęcie.

4Players.de (74 out of 100)

Maxis stand vor der Aufgabe, mit den neuen Sims quasi fünf Jahre und über 20 Erweiterungen zu Sims 3 zu übertrumpfen. Doch selbst wenn man "nur" die gepatchte, seinerzeit am Platin-Award kratzende Ur-Version (ohne jegliche Add-Ons) des Vorgängers mit Die Sims 4 vergleicht, kann der Abstecher in das virtuelle Alltagsleben nicht so stark mitreißen wie noch vor fünf Jahren. Dazu sind die mechanischen Unterschiede an der Oberfläche zu gering, die Überraschungsmomente zu selten. Maxis bleibt auf der sicheren, risikofreien Seite - auch wenn vor allem der Gebäude-Editor mächtiger ist als je zuvor und die Erstellung der Sims bis auf mehr Farbvariationen kaum Wünsche offen lässt. Zudem sorgt der Ärger über weg gelassene Features (Kleinkinder, Pools, offene Welt) dafür, dass die inhaltlichen Fortschritte oder Eigenschaften, in denen Die Sims 4 seinem Vorgänger voraus ist, beinahe in Vergessenheit geraten.

InsideGamer (7.3 out of 10)

De Sims 4 doet een aantal interessante stappen voorwaarts. De Create-A-Sim-tool, het leuke cartooneske stijltje, het modulaire bouwsysteem en de typerende gameplay binnen de grenzen van je woning, zullen door menigeen worden verwelkomd met een flinke dosis waardering. Dat De Sims 4 vervolgens direct een aantal stappen terug doet, bijvoorbeeld door onnodige laadschermen en een verschraald contentaanbod, draagt helaas bij aan een afzwakking van die eerder ervaren waardering. De Sims 4 is alsnog een prima game, maar is jammer genoeg geen overtuigende game geworden.

Game Revolution (3.5 out of 5)

The Sims 4 could easily have been a nominee for one of our editor's choice awards, but it's woefully incomplete, despite being unexpectedly solid and entertaining in its current state. While many would argue that Electronic Arts is merely omitting content for the sake of DLC, The Sims is known for extensive expansion packs and content patches, and from what can be gathered, the initial production of The Sims 4 was reassessed when SimCity launched. That isn't an excuse, though, and EA Maxis has a plethora of user complaints as well as plenty of time to transform The Sims 4 into the fuller game it's meant to be.

Girl Gamers UK ( )

The Sims 4 is a core game, devoid of any expansions or additional content. But it won’t stay that way for long and within a year I would imagine that The Sims 4 will look very different. It looks nicer than The Sims 3, and is much more involved, within its limitations. If you are a Sims fan, ask yourself how you would feel playing The Sims 3 without any additional content. If you can live with that, then you will undoubtedly enjoy The Sims 4 right now. If it would feel too limited, it may be best to wait a while. The Sims 4 is not the complete disappointment that many non-players would have you think, but it does feel like going back to the beginning. Sometimes starting again is no bad thing, and it will only get better.

The Digital Fix (7 out of 10)

Every game in The Sims series has been followed by a spate of expansion packs which add items and features, but The Sims 4 seems to have been designed solely for the sake of its expansions. It begs to have things added to it, and many people will be left feeling rightfully aggrieved to have paid full asking price for it. The gameplay is as fun and addictive as ever, but while added features breathe plenty of new life into the old formula, they aren't enough to keep The Sims 4 from feeling like half a game. It isn't a complete misstep, but it's certainly a long way from the heights intended for it.

Gamer.nl (7 out of 10)

De Sims 4 heeft in een zoektocht naar een meer gestroomlijnde ervaring de zaken rigoureus aangepakt. Dat pakt in sommige gevallen heel goed en in sommige gevallen dramatisch uit. De fantastische Bouw- en Cre- een Sim-modus wordt daardoor overschaduwd door gameplay die op te veel vlakken niet het niveau van zijn voorganger haalt.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (7 out of 10)

The Sims 4 is both fresh and yet also predictable, pleasant, comfortable and rarely overstimulating. It's wobbly, and you can still see some of its joins, or hear the creaks as new parts settle into place. It's not likely to win over any new players, but it will satisfy a lot of its old ones. For many of its fans, it will feel like moving into a new home. They'll settle.

JeuxActu (14 out of 20)

Malgré ses quelques nouveautés intéressantes, au premier rang desquelles figure le système d'émotions, la Galerie communautaire et les animations de marche des Sims, Les Sims 4 ne peut que décevoir les fans de la série. En effet, Electronic Arts a volontairement supprimé un nombre important de fonctionnalités, dont certaines étaient pourtant réellement importantes ou emblématiques de la saga. Et, hélas, on sait d'ores et déjà que c'est pour mieux nous les revendre au prix fort dans quelques mois à travers différentes extensions. Difficile donc de ne pas se sentir floués. En revanche, les joueurs touchant un Sims pour la première fois ne se rendront pas forcément compte des manques, et pourront donc apprécier sereinement un jeu qui, dans l'absolu, reste intéressant et bien fichu.

Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) (7 out of 10)

Sims fans have been worried about all the cuts of longtime features in The Sims 4, and while some critical elements are indeed missing, the core addiction remains. Plus, with the addition of the online Gallery and the ability to share and download creations, it's easier than ever to liven up your little virtual world.

Metro.co.uk (7 out of 10)

Almost a great sequel, but the improvements to the sims are overshadowed by the shopping list of peculiarly random missing features.

Impulse Gamer ( )

Not quite as original or inspired as previous games, but a solid life simulator nevertheless.

Eurogamer.pt (7 out of 10)

Recomendar The Sims 4 não é muito fácil, principalmente para os veteranos nestas andanças. Se é a primeira vez que colocam as mãos na série, vão ficar de certeza encantados, onde tudo é novidade e as surpresas estão em toda a parte. Mas como é referido, há lacunas em conteúdos que têm que ser preenchidas, a sensação de vazio está permanentemente presente.

PCGamesN (7 out of 10)

It’s better to focus on what The Sims 4 is rather than what it isn’t. The Sims 4 is good, if a bit plain when compared with the exploding circus of colourful content that festoons previous games in the series, expansion packs littered with dogs and ghosts and hobbies and holidays that are now nowhere to be found. We’re back to a clean sheet, and it’s arguably the cleanest, most stable and most ready-to-be-built upon sheet Maxis have yet laid down.

Eurogamer.de (7 out of 10)

Wie sagt man so schön? "Zu viel Vertrautheit schadet nur"? Im Fall von Die Sims 4 stimmt das zweifellos für außergewöhnlich viele Leute. Der Rest begreift Vertrautheit weiterhin als mögliche Vorstufe zu echter und ehrlicher Liebe. In welchem Lager sitzt ihr?

Shacknews (7 out of 10)

The smarter sims, sleek customization system, and emotions truly brings The Sims 4 to life. However, even with those impressive features, the game ultimately feels like a incremental step up from The Sims 3. Fortunately, The Sims 3 is a very good game, and these upgrades are exactly what's needed to make it even better. As with the games before it, it's very easy to become engrossed with the lives of your sims and completely lose track of time for hours on end.

USgamer (3.5 out of 5)

The new generation of Sims begins with what feels like a bare-bones starter kit. It packs top-of-the-line Sims creation and house building tools, but styling options and activities are distinctly lacking. Add the contents of its first expansion, and Sims 4 will probably feel like the game it should be right now.

Retro Gamer (70 out of 100)

The Sims 4 is not a bad game, far from it - it's just that we've seen it all before. It's also frustrating to have excellent components from past expansions ripped out so the cycle can begin again. The Sims 4 remains a good time-waster, but it does suffer from over-familiarity.

Games TM (7 out of 10)

In many ways The Sims 4 is a beginning, its core foundation of functions playing their parts beautifully. But in others it feels like a step back, like a set of systems designed around future expansion in mind and not providing the necessary wealth of options from the start. Though The Sims 4 does so much to widen its berth, diehard fans will likely be looking to moor up somewhere else entirely.

Game Informer Magazine (6.75 out of 10)

I have no doubt that, like every other Sims title, this one will continue to grow with future expansions, but that doesn't do players any good right now. The Sims 4 needs to stand on its own. With all of the steps back from the baseline established by The Sims 3, it doesn't. I feel like I'm playing a game that's half-baked. The core formula is still fun, but The Sims 4 isn't an improvement.

AusGamers (6.7 out of 10)

Once you have enough Sims in the one household, keeping all the plates spinning becomes a fascinating (and occasionally stressful) challenge, which is exactly what people have enjoyed about the series from its genesis, and so to a degree what makes The Sims 4 a "Sims" game is absolutely on display. With an accomplished Build mode, a decent (if a little stunted) Create-a-Sim maker and enough time investment into making sure everyone in your neighbourhood has at least a basic life created, The Sims 4 is almost a good game. Like every The Sims game before it, The Sims 4's success will hinge on the DLC that accompanies it -- what you have here is simply a solid foundation. The Sims team needs to do some heavy duty work on the automation side of things, but otherwise they've created a good place to build from.

Cheat Code Central (3.3 out of 5)

At the end of the day, The Sims 4 is a core game, pure and simple. It is made specifically so that more content can be pumped into it via DLC. The overall functionality of the game is fine, with no real breakthroughs, just a little simplification and minor tweaks. Nothing groundbreaking here. It wasn’t entirely unenjoyable, even for someone like me who doesn’t really play The Sims normally. But it didn’t convert me either. The Sims 4 is certainly not deserving of the fan backlash it’s currently receiving on the internet, but it’s not the revolutionary leap forward you would expect from a game that has had years to develop. You can’t win ‘em all I guess.

Nivelul2 (6.5 out of 10)

The Sims 4 are un target clar, cu interese ludice clare. Probabil nu mă încadrez în grupul respectiv, ori gusturile mele în materie de jocuri s-au schimbat radical. Ce-i drept, realizarea tehnică este ireproşabilă, începând cu grafica şi terminând cu optimizarea eficientă. Apreciez acest lucru cu intensitatea nemulţumirii exprimată faţă de omiterea unor elemente fundamentale sub scuza “nu putem introduce totul de la bun început”. De ce, EA Maxis/The Sims Studio, de ce ar fi atât de greu? Mai ridicam şi noi puţin din nota finală…

Polygon (6.5 out of 10)

It's not that The Sims 4 doesn't give you enough to do — it's that it gives you just enough to do, and not a single ounce more. In one in-game lifetime, I felt like I'd seen everything there was to offer, killing any desire I had to start over. Even in virtual worlds, variety is the spice of life. The Sims 4, for all its polish and cleverness, simply isn't very spicy.

Digital Spy ( )

The Sims 4 takes a step forward in some ways, while taking two steps back in others. Like its predecessors, the game is sure to be improved by countless expansion packs going forward, but the promise of future updates may not be enough to console the disappointed Sims 3 fans who have made the jump to the latest instalment.

CGMagazine / Comics and Gaming Magazine (6 out of 10)

The easiest way to describe The Sims 4 is that it’s laid a great foundation for the expansions to follow. The base technology and interface are fantastic, but the limitations in content are severe. People who have gotten used to the massive array of activities, furnishing and clothing available for The Sims 3 are strongly advised to wait at least one or two expansions before diving into The Sims 4. The amount of content and gameplay you’ll feel has been “stripped away” will be shocking. When pets come, more locations, better career mechanics and a bunch of decent clothing and furniture inevitably arrive in two or three forthcoming expansions at $20 each, The Sims 4 will be worth it. Right now, it’s too hamstrung by EA’s need to make those expansions worthwhile to be a solid standalone title. If this is the first time you’ve ever played The Sims, it’s easier than ever to use, there’s just far less to do.

Games.cz (6 out of 10)

The Sims 4 přichází jen s nepatrným množstvím změn, které by s trochou snahy mohly být součástí jednoho z mnoha datadisků třetího dílu. Vedle toho hráčům bere spoustu věcí, které pro předchozí díl a jeho datadisky byly samozřejmé. Pořád jde o zábavnou hru, jenže těch „ale“ je zkrátka příliš mnoho.

Riot Pixels (60 out of 100)

Это, похоже, и сыграло судьбоносную роль. От нас не требуют постоянного подключения к интернету, однако спешная переделка далась дорогой ценой. Для тех, кто каким-то чудом пропустил последние полтора десятилетия и не слыхал о The Sims, «четвёрка» будет открытием, ведь с основами игровой механики тут всё в порядке. Давние же поклонники быстро заскучают без любимых предметов, возможностей и ситуаций. Они желали увидеть развитие идей The Sims 3, а получили платформу для будущих DLC и микротранзакций.

Gameplanet (6 out of 10)

The Sims 4 is a visual and mechanical upgrade, but it's missing many of the things Sims fans are used to.

XGN (6 out of 10)

Voordat De Sims 4 daadwerkelijk aan haar voorganger kan tippen, zijn er nog een hoop uitbreidingspakketten nodig. Die uitbreidingspaketten gaan allemaal weer geld kosten, waardoor je toch flink in de buidel zal moeten tasten om een volwaardig vervolg op De Sims 3 te krijgen. En dan is het nog maar de vraag of het spel ooit aan al onze verlangens zal gaan voldoen.

GamesRadar ( )

Your enjoyment of The Sims 4 will come down to a matter of style and patience. If you truly enjoy starting from nothing and building your Sims up through a series of mood swings and small, addictive accomplishments, you'll enjoy this game out of the box. If you want to be in on the ground floor of the modding community, getting your creations seen from week one, you'll want to jump on this right away too. But fans who like their Sim games bursting with silliness and whimsy will probably only enjoy The Sims 4 for a few hours before it gets dull, and you turn it off until the first expansion crops up. In that case, you should probably take the safe bet, and hold onto their simoleons for a few more months.

Destructoid (6 out of 10)

The Sims 4 has room to grow, but right now you're better off continuing to play its predecessor. While certain features were axed in the name of progress, those features were a large reason why many have come to love the series in the first place.

Digitally Downloaded ( )

There is still something decidedly relaxing if not therapeutic about creating Sims characters and letting them live out their fanciful little lives in this virtual environment. And so there is still fun to be had here, but I suspect newcomers will be more accepting of what The Sims 4 has to offer than fans of the earlier iterations. Currently The Sims 4 feels more like groundwork that has been put down for future DLC packages. There is nothing wrong with that. Fans of the series have come to expect and even look forward to those releases because of the enormous amount of options and personality that they inject into the core game. However, The Sims 4 leaves me feeling like the potential for greatness is there, but at this point we will have to wait and see if it ever gets realised.

GameSpot (6 out of 10)

In short, The Sims 4's biggest problem is that The Sims 3 exists, and describing where it stumbles by necessity means looking at where the series has been. This is a lovely and lively game that elicits constant smirks, but The Sims 4's moments never feel like part of a bigger picture. Spontaneity is limited in turn, which brings me back to that gargantuan telescope now sitting in front of the library. Gazing at the stars means enduring a loading screen, and while I appreciate the top-level commands that I can issue to family members playing in other lots, simultaneously spending time with other sims means enduring even more loading screens, or forcing my family to travel together. I love looking at and listening to The Sims 4, but those little digital people aren't so enchanting as to keep me hooked--not when a decked-out version of The Sims 3 is far more inviting.

GameOver (Greece) (5 out of 10)

Γενικότερα, το Sims 4, όντας πιο εύκολο και απλοϊκό στην κατανόηση και το χειρισμό, δείχνει να απευθύνεται περισσότερο σε κάποιον που δεν έχει επαφή με τα προηγούμενα -και επομένως μέτρο σύγκρισης- κάνοντας εκπτώσεις σε βασικά πράγματα που το απομακρύνουν από τη fanbase. Αν αναρωτιόσασταν ποτέ αν ένα παιχνίδι Sims μπορεί να γίνει πιο casual, το Sims 4 έχει την απάντηση που ψάχνετε.

Gamer.no (5 out of 10)

Det er ingen tvil om at The Sims 4 vil utvikle seg betraktelig i årene som kommer, og at mye av det som mangler nå vil komme tilbake senere. Men jeg er likevel litt usikker på om potensialet for The Sims 4 er like høyt som potensialet for The Sims 3 var. Begrensninger som paddeflate tomter og små nabolag med lasteskjermer mellom hvert hus virker permanente, og derfor tror jeg brukermiljøet kommer til å drømme om The Sims 5 lenge før Electronic Arts og Maxis er ferdige med å gi oss alle ekspansjonene de utvilsomt har planlagt for The Sims 4.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine (2.5 out of 5)

It’s prettier, rife with the possibilities only the fourth entry in a longstanding simulation series can provide. Upon closer inspection, however, the myriad of flaws become strikingly apparent, and hints of greatness are few and far in between the layers of mediocrity coating much of its repertoire. The lack of core-features, underutilization of the impressive emotions system, flawed customization and faulty… practically everything else, only emphasizes EA’s struggle to keep its promises. Sure, your Sims can look just like you and your friends with enough patient manipulation, but how many times can you visit the same assortment of empty lots, sift through the same catalogs of home-goods and watch as your Sims perform the same actions before boredom sets in? My suggestion: wait for the inevitable bombardment of expansions before diving in; at least then you’ll have something to do once the novelty of group interactions wears off.

Gameblog.fr (4 out of 10)

Plus intuitif et ergonomique que jamais dans sa proposition de création de personnages et d'habitats, Les Sims 4 connaît dans un même temps une telle régression dans son contenu et dans certains domaines d'interactions que la pilule est un peu dur à avaler pour les fans. Certes, cette simulation conserve le charme hypnotique propre au déroulement d'une vie virtuelle sur son écran, avec des personnages à notre image ou aux antipodes. De plus, le jeu est joli et peu gourmand pour les configurations les plus modestes. Mais cette volonté d'EA de repartir de zéro, sur trop de points, pour maximiser dans les mois à venir les profits sur les kits d'objets et les extensions, est juste insupportable, et nuit à l'expérience générale comparée aux trois derniers titres qui ont toujours constitué une évolution.

GameAwards.ru N/A

Не смотря на свою репутацию, игра The Sims привлекла даже серьёзных игроков. Ведь не каждый день даётся возможность прожить жизнь став какой-нибудь знаменитостью или же великим писателем. К большому сожалению, новая The Sims 4 данной черты теперь лишена и превратилась она в жизнь "Барби и Кена", которых как и других кукол кинули в новый домик семилетней девочки.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun N/A

While it will absolutely improve and get more content, especially now that it's shot straight into the charts, it's just not enough so far. It badly needs more content, clothes, items and space. It has to provide a convincing reason that smaller is better - which it as yet it simply fails to do - and it needs more new ideas like the Emotions that radically shake things up. In time, it may prove the definitive Sims, the last gasp for the series or anything in between. For now though, while its primary changes are good, the trade-off is hard to recommend. Ready or not for a sequel, it feels more an expensive preview than a game; like waking up on Christmas morning to find that Santa has stolen your piggy bank, and left you little but last year's Toys R Us catalogue to fill your dreams.