The Sims 4 Mods I Can’t Play Without in 2024

I’ve been playing The Sims 4 since its release, and while the actual game has only improved slightly since then, mods keep getting better and better. They are truly the only reason why I’m still playing.

I’ve put together a complete list of all the mods in my sims 4 mods folder, so you don’t have to go searching all over the internet for what mods you need. I don’t like a messy mods folder (unlike my cc folder🤭) I only keep the must-haves. So, you know they’re the best of the best.

Here are links to all of the best mods for the sims 4:

If you want to save this post for later, you can use this link to pin it to Pinterest or click the pin button on any of the images📌

*okay it might not be totally complete when you’re seeing this, but I am adding to it as often as possible based on category.

Essential Sims 4 Mods

a.k.a these mods are why I can’t play on console because they are absolutely necessary, and I refuse to play without them!🙃

I had a little help writing the descriptions of these mods so that I could get it out as quickly as possible for you guys, so if anything sounds weird, it wasn’t me…it was her —> 🤖

1. Talents & Weaknesses

The Talents & Weaknesses mod by Lumpinou for The Sims 4 allows Sims to excel or struggle in specific skills, creating more realistic learning experiences. Sims are optionally assigned talents and weaknesses, influencing how quickly they develop certain skills. You can manually adjust or disable skill gain for specific Sims, and some interactions can even be restricted based on their weaknesses.

So, basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Assigns talents and weaknesses to skills.
• Allows manual customization.

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Adds complexity to skill development.
• Makes Sims’ strengths and weaknesses more realistic.

2. Home Regions

The Home Regions mod by Kuttoe for The Sims 4 restricts Sims to their home region, preventing random townies from spawning in areas they don’t belong. It ensures Sims stay in appropriate neighborhoods based on their residence, promoting a more immersive experience by reducing out-of-place Sims in worlds.

So, basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Restricts Sims to their home region.
• Prevents random townies from spawning in other areas.

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Enhances immersion by keeping Sims in appropriate neighborhoods.
• Reduces unrealistic NPC appearances.

3. UI Cheats

The UI Cheats Extension mod for The Sims 4 enhances the game by allowing you to adjust needs, skills, money, and more directly through the user interface with just a click. It offers a range of cheats like setting career levels, removing moodlets, or advancing aspirations without needing to open the cheat console.

So, basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Adjusts needs, skills, and money via the UI.
• Offers career, aspiration, and moodlet control.
• Easy access without the cheat console.

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Simplifies gameplay management.
• Saves time by bypassing console commands.
• Gives you more control over Sim progress.

4. Hopes & Fears Mod

YOU NEED THIS MOD! I’m sorry to scream at you, but I love this mod so much. It’s an overhaul of the whims in-game. I love playing wants-based, and The Sims team dropped the ball when it comes to whims/wants, so this mod fixes all of that.

Here’s what the mod does (this information comes directly from the website):

• The Hopes & Fears Mod overhauls whimsets for Traits, Aspirations, Careers, Skills and more by adding new Wants to these sets, specifically custom ones.
•  It adds whimsets for the Traits, Aspirations, Careers, Skills, Lifestyles and more from later packs that didn’t have them as well as Base Game ones, such as Child Aspirations.
• It also adds whimsets for certain situations, such as Having a Bad Day at Work and Having a Cheating Partner. Now your Sims will put it appropriate Wants for these situations, including going on a Date.
• It overhauls the whimsets for venues, so you’ll get some appropriate Reactionary Wants when visiting some venues (to be developed further).
• Finally, it upgrades the Whims Maxis Left Behind into Wants and re-adds them to whimsets. It also contains whimsets for the Child, Toddler and Elder life stages.

5. Gradual Aging

The Gradual Aging Mod for The Sims 4 enhances the realism of aging by allowing your Sims to gradually show signs of aging as they progress through life stages, particularly from Young Adult to Elder. Instead of sudden changes, this mod introduces gradual overlays for wrinkles and other age-related features that become more pronounced over time. Additionally, Sims can experience buffs related to their aging process, reflecting their feelings about growing older.

So, basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Applies gradual wrinkles and age overlays as Sims transition from Young Adult to Elder.
• Introduces a purchasable “Ageless” trait to prevent aging effects.
• Optional features include gradual greying of hair and skincare treatments that can have unpredictable results.

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Provides a more realistic aging experience, making transitions smoother and less jarring.
• Allows you to gauge your Sims’ ages more easily by observing visible changes.
• Offers fun interactions with optional treatments and the possibility of mishaps during hair dyeing or skincare.

6. MC Command Center

The MC Command Center (MCCC) mod for The Sims 4 gives you TONS of control over Sims’ lives and the game environment. It’s so in-depth that I recommend searching on Youtube for overviews/tutorials so you can get the most out of it!

Here’s what the mod does:

• Automates story progression for NPCs and households.
• Manages relationships, careers, and pregnancies.
• Simplifies cheat commands for easier gameplay.
• And a lot more!!

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Enhances realism with dynamic story progression.
• Provides customizable settings for a tailored experience.
• Increases overall game depth and player agency.

7. Spawn Refresh

The Spawn Refresh mod by Zerbu overhauls venue spawning, making sure that all lots are fully staffed and multi-purpose.

So basically…

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• You no longer have to pay for vendors at community lots. A working sim will automatically be placed there.
• Lots will attract sims based on the type of objects that are there. Example: gym equipment will attract sims who likes to workout, bookshelves will attract readers, etc.
• Sims will spawn for all object on a lot so it can actually function as a multipurpose lot.

8. All Cheats

The AllCheats Mod by TwistedMexi doesn’t need a long explanation at all. It’s super simple. Certain cheats were “broken” in an update and this mod allows you to use them.

So, if you want to be able to use any cheat that has ever existed for The Sims 4, then download this mod. Also if you’ve ever noticed that a cheat code doesn’t work for you even when other players are saying it does, you may need this mod.

9. Faster College Homework

I’ve been informed by Reddit that you can actually do this Mc Command Center, but as I mentioned, it’s so complex that I wouldn’t even know where to start sooo… I just use this little mod called Homework Tweaks by LittleMsSam.

Technically, its not specific to university homework, but that’s what I use it for, because it seems abnormally drawn out and if I didn’t have this mod, I would never send a sim to college. They would never have time to do anything fun.

So basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• University students will complete their homework in about 10, 25, or 50 minutes depending on which one you choose. Default is about 150 minutes.
• Teens/Children will complete their homework in about 10, 25, or 50 minutes depending on which one you choose. Default is about 100 minutes.
• They’ll be able to complete their homework even while Tense or Uncomfortable.

10. Gshade & Reshade

You know that I’m all about the aesthetic, and I could NOT play this game without a gshade because the original game looks crusty.

If you don’t already know, gshade/reshade adds an overlay to your game that changes the colors, shadows, etc. Basically, It makes your game look gorgeous.

I’ve already written a list of my favorite sims 4 gshades right here.🦋

11. Better Build Buy

The Better Build Buy Mod for The Sims 4 significantly enhances your building and buying experience, providing a range of improvements to the game’s Build/Buy mode. It’s a must-have for players who enjoy home design, as it streamlines inventory management and adds valuable features that improve accessibility and efficiency.

So basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Organizes build/buy items: Enhances the item filtering system, allowing you to search for items more easily.
• Improves UI functionality: Provides additional options like item sorting, favorites, and categories for better navigation.
• Enables full use of custom content: Ensures that all your custom items are seamlessly integrated into the build/buy interface.

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Saves time during building: Quickly find and place items without having to scroll through long lists.
• Enhances creativity: Frees up your design process by providing more organization, allowing you to focus on creating.
• Supports custom content: Makes it easier to incorporate and manage custom items.

12. More CAS Columns

The More CAS Columns mod for The Sims 4 enhances your Create-A-Sim experience by allowing you to expand the number of columns displayed in the CAS interface from the default two to either three, four, or five columns. This feature significantly streamlines the character creation process, giving you more visibility into your clothing and accessory options without excessive scrolling.

So basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Increases column options: Choose between 3, 4, or 5 columns to view more items at once. (I always choose 4!)

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Speeds up character creation: Quickly find outfits and accessories without having to scroll through endless lists.
• Enhances customization: Gives you more options to visualize your Sims’ styles at a glance.
• Adapts to different setups: Flexible column settings cater to various screen sizes, improving accessibility for all players.

13. Smart Sim Randomizer

The Smart Sim Randomizer mod for The Sims 4 intelligently assigns likes, dislikes, and hidden traits to all Sims (including NPCs) based on their personality traits, ensuring coherence in preferences (e.g., creative Sims liking art). It randomizes various aspects like activities, colors, music, and even hidden preferences such as weather. You can disable randomization for select Sims and re-randomize traits via the menu. The mod also supports custom content and offers smart assignment for university degrees and werewolf temperament.

So, basically…

Here’s what the mod does:

• Assigns likes/dislikes based on Sim traits.
• Randomizes activities, colors, music, and hidden preferences (e.g., weather).
• Supports custom content and unique traits like university degrees or werewolf temperament.
• Can exclude select Sims from randomization.

Here’s how the mod impacts your gameplay:

• Adds depth to Sims’ personalities by aligning preferences with traits.
• Automatic generation of character values for younger Sims.
• Improves NPC realism with smart preferences.

Stay tuned for more!

If you love downloading cc, then I highly recommend you check out all of my cc lookbooks.

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