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The Sims 4 Expansion Packs guide

11 Expansion Packs, each adding content to The Sims 4

By Julia Lee

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The Sims 4 EA Maxis/Electronic Arts
Julia Lee (she/her) is a guides producer, writing guides for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Genshin Impact. She helped launch the Rift Herald in 2016.
Part of The Sims 4 guides

The Sims 4 has a lot of extra downloadable content, so it can be hard to pick between them. Expansion Packs are the biggest DLC offerings, with the most content, but they also cost the most. Our The Sims 4 Expansion Packs guide will help you sort through and understand what’s in each and show you your buying options.

The Sims 4 Expansion Packs each cost $39.99, though they frequently go on sale. These are different than Game Packs and Stuff Packs, which have new content, but not as much as Expansion Packs have. Expansion Packs usually introduce additional systems to the game, like seasons, the ability to follow your Sim to work, or pets.

We’ve listed out the available Expansion Packs below in order of release, with notable content they add to your game.

Table of contents

The Sims 4: Get to Work Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Get to Work notably adds three new careers: Doctor, Detective, and Scientist. It also allows you to follow your Sims to work and for you to control them throughout the workday, if you pick these careers. This expansion also includes the ability to own a retail business, like bakeries, bookstores, and boutiques, and it adds the Baking skill.

The Sims 4: Get Together Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Get Together includes the ability to make clubs, which are themed groups where your Sims can hang out with like-minded Sims. It also adds DJ Mixing and Dancing skills, alongside game objects to place in the world, like foosball and darts.

The Sims 4: City Living Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: City Living is one of the biggest expansions, including the city of San Myshuno, which allows your Sims to live in apartment buildings. It features cultural festivals that randomly take place as well as new careers: Critic, Politics, or Social Media. Your Sim can also belt it out at karaoke bars with a new Singing skill.

The Sims 4: Cats and Dogs Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Cats and Dogs, as the title suggests, allows your Sims to take care of cats and dogs. You can create your own pet from set breeds or mix and match your own special creature. You can also run a veterinary clinic using new Pet Training and Veterinarian skills.

The Sims 4: Seasons Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Seasons adds seasons to experience as well as holidays during the different seasons. Your Sim must dress for the weather, use a thermostat, and watch the seasons change around them. You can also take on a new Gardener career.

The Sims 4: Get Famous Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Get Famous adds the reputation system, allowing your Sim to become a celebrity, complete with paparazzi and fans. The more famous you get, the more people will follow your Sim. This expansion adds the Acting and Media Production skills, as well as the Actor career.

The Sims 4: Island Living Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Island Living adds the island area of Sulani, which includes an islander lifestyle. Notably, it brings beaches, the Conservationist career, and part-time jobs, like being a Diver, Fisherman, or Lifeguard.

The Sims 4: Discover University Expansion Pack

In The Sims 4: Discover University, you can send your Sims to one of two colleges, including dorm living and school spirit events. It adds the Research & Debate and Robotics skills, as well as the Education, Engineer, and Law careers.

The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle adds the choice to go eco-friendly or not. Your decisions will help clean up the neighborhood — or add to the pollution. It adds the Civil Designer career, as well as the Fabrication and Juice Fizzing skills. It also allows you to WooHoo in a dumpster, if you’re into that.

The Sims 4: Snowy Escape Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Snowy Escape is all about a weekend vacation to an Asian-inspired mountain. Your Sims can participate in winter sports or take a relaxing dip in hot springs. This expansion also adds Lifestyles and Sentiments, traits that show up as your Sim does various actions, changing their behaviors and relationships. It adds the Salaryperson career and three new skills: Rock Climbing, Skiing, and Snowboarding.

The Sims 4: Cottage Living Expansion Pack

The Sims 4: Cottage Living adds farm life to The Sims, allowing your Sim to raise animals and be self-sustaining. You can farm chickens, cows, llamas, and rabbits — though you’ll need to be wary of foxes on the hunt for your animals. It also adds the Cross-stitch skill, for those looking to decorate their home in a comfy way.