After sharing my ranking of all the Sims 4 expansion packs, it’s time to dive into game packs! These medium-sized packs may not be as large as expansions, but they still add a lot of new features to your game, often adding new smaller worlds or entirely new occult types. In this post, I’ll rank all of the game packs in The Sims 4 from worst to best, based on my personal gameplay style as a player who loves family gameplay and prefers building over CAS. I hope this guide helps you make an informed decision when the next EA sale comes around (they happen pretty often!), so you can snag the perfect pack to enhance your gameplay. Let me know in the comments below what your favourite game packs are. Now, let’s jump right in!
12. Journey to Batuu
2020, 8th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Go on an adventure and meet Star Wars characters
- Can return home from the journey with new items and recipes
- New Collections: Lightsaber Parts and Batuu Records
- New Vacation World: Batuu
As you can tell, this game pack is quite niche. The items are tailored specifically for this setting and cheats are required to renovate the lots in the world. Additionally, the world is exclusively a vacation destination, not a new residential one. However, it allows you to live out your very own Star Wars adventure! If you’re wondering whether this pack is worth it for Star Wars fans, I’m afraid I can’t offer any insights, as it’s the only game pack I don’t own yet, and I’m not familiar with the franchise. For those of you eager to combine your love of Star Wars and The Sims 4 this might just be the adventure you’re looking for!
11. Outdoor Retreat
2015, 1st Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Cute camping activities and gear
- New Aspiration: Outdoor Enthusiast
- New Collections: Fish, Insects and Herbs
- New Event: Weenie Roast
- New Reward Traits: Great Storyteller, Incredibly Friendly, and Stoves & Grills Master
- New Skill: Herbalism
- New Vacation World: Granite Falls (and a secret world!)
I’ve had a lot of fun playing with this pack, but it’s ranked lower as it was the first game pack released for the Sims 4. The game features could have been slightly more exciting, and the world could have been bigger. That said, there are plenty of fun additions, like horseshoe throwing, roasting marshmallows and cloud gazing (I love clouds!). The herbalism skill is surprisingly useful and quite unique compared to other skills in the game. However, with more vacation options and the ability to rent in any world now, I rarely take my Sims to Granite Falls.
10. Vampires
2017, 4th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Vampires are added to the game, complete with coffins, blood sucking and so many gothic clothes
- Vampire ranks, powers and lore
- New Aspirations: Master Vampire and Good Vampire
- New Lot Traits: On a Dark Ley Line, Registered Vampire Lair and Vampire Nexus
- New Skill: Pipe Organ
- New World: Forgotten Hollow
I love the build mode in this pack, especially with the addition of new bathroom and kitchen sets! The vampire system is well thought out and marked the first introduction of detailed occult gameplay in the Sims 4. While vampires aren’t my favourite occult type (I’m definitely more Harry Potter than Twilight), I’ve found unexpected enjoyment in having a sim who frequently plays the pipe organ in my house. This pack exceeded my expectations, even though I’m not exactly its target audience.
9. Strangerville
2019, 7th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- A fully fleshed out mystery to solve by interacting with the townies
- New Aspiration: Strangerville Mystery
- New Careers: Military
- New World: Strangerville
This pack offers unique gameplay with a mystery that’s genuinely fun to uncover. I found it best to dedicate my entire household to solving it, but having just one sim focus on the task works too. While the mystery is a big part of the pack, the CAS and build mode items are surprisingly versatile, transferring nicely into regular gameplay and adding a fresh touch to everyday Sims life.
8. Dine Out
2016, 3rd Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Restaurants!!! You can own them or visit them with your sims.
- Customisable and unique gameplay where you can choose to run a dingy place with a low star-ranking or the fanciest five-star restaurant in town
- New Collection: Experimental Food Photos
- New Lot Type: Restaurant
For a few years after its release, Dine Out was my favourite game pack. I loved running restaurants and choosing everything from the menus to the employees’ uniforms. Unfortunately, this pack does have quite a few bugs which can be very frustrating when playing the game. As you might imagine this pack is quite niche as the build items are designed for restaurants and the CAS items are best used as uniforms.
7. Werewolves
2022, 12th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Your sims can become Werewolves, which are highly customisable like cats and dogs in design and will unlock new abilities based on their powers
- There’s a lot of new lore and two Werewolf packs that you can join, Moonwood Collective and the Wildfangs
- Build and buy mode are perfect for building old rundown buildings
- New Aspiration: Werewolf Initiate
- New Collection: Moonwood Relics
- New World: Moonwood Mill
Werewolves are highly customisable in CAS, and I really enjoy them as an occult type because they feel well-developed, with plenty of depth to their gameplay. The world is fantastic, offering unique features like tunnels and pack hangouts that add a lot of variety. However, I find it difficult to incorporate werewolves into my regular gameplay, so I tend to play with them more intentionally and, as a result, less frequently. Despite this, the pack offers a rich and immersive experience whenever I do use it.
6. My Wedding Stories
2022, 11th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Adds many new wedding related events and traditions
- More detailed wedding preparation, such as choosing your Sim of Honour and buying your wedding cake
- New Collection: Message in a Bottle
- New Lot Type: Wedding Venue
- New World: Tartosa
The world that comes with this pack is INCREDIBLE. I love everything about it! It’s a Mediterranean-inspired environment with beautiful build features. I like both visiting and living in Tartosa. Also, the addition of small stores, wedding cakes and bouquets is a charming touch (though I wish your Sims’ could bake their own wedding cakes and use them as birthday cakes too). After an update in July 2024, this pack no longer overrides the original wedding system, which is fantastic. Now, if you encounter any bugs in the new wedding system, you can always fall back on the more reliable base game version.
5. Jungle Adventure
2018, 6th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Take your sims on an adventurous holiday deep in the jungle of Selvadorada
- Latin pop and Traditional latin radio stations
- New Aspirations: Jungle Explorer and Archaeology Scholar
- New Collections: Ancient Omiscan Artefacts and Omiscan Treasures
- New Skills: Archeology and Selvadoradian Culture
- New Vacation World: Selvadorada
I love visiting the jungle with my Sims and pretending to be an archaeologist for the weekend! The Selvadoradian culture skill is a brilliant touch, adding an extra layer of realism to the vacation experience. I personally enjoy the gameplay much more than that of Outdoor Retreat or Batuu – the only other vacation worlds in the game. The only drawback for me is that Sims can’t live in Selvadorada permanently. I have to say the beauty of the world kind of makes up for that, so I had to rank Jungle Adventure in my top 5 game packs. The build and buy mode is stunning, offering colourful items and designs unlike any other pack, which makes it perfect for livening up your Sims’ homes. Also, I think Selvadorada doubles as an ideal honeymoon destination given the romantic villas available to rent. This pack is a fantastic mix of exploration and romance that makes for really fun gameplay.
4. Realm of Magic
2019, 9th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- New Occult Type: Spellcasters!!
- New Aspirations: Spellcraft & Sorcery and Purveyor of Potions
- New Collection: Magical Artefacts
- New Traits: Weak Bloodline, Strong Bloodline, Ancient Bloodline
- New World: Glimmerbrook and the Magic Realm
Spellcasters are hands down my favourite occult in the Sims 4, and I find myself coming back to them time and time again! The spellbook is really fun to fill up, with potions and spells adding a layer of enchanting gameplay that never gets old. The magic system is brilliantly designed, and there’s something so satisfying about perfecting my Sim’s mystical abilities. Plus, here’s a little tip: use the bb.enablefreebuild cheat to edit the Magic Realm lots and make them your own!
Do you want to know what other packs would pair well with each game pack based on your gameplay style in The Sims 4? Check out my ultimate pack recommendations which are based on players personalities!
3. Dream Home Decorator
2021, 10th Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Modular furniture!!
- With the new career there is a nice touch when you can reveal the newly renovated space to the residents after you’re done.
- New Career: Interior Decorator
- New Trait: Perfectionist
If you’re a fan of modern and contemporary furniture, then this pack is an absolute must-have! The interior decorator career it introduces is fun, though I don’t play with it too often, as it can be tricky to manage a large household when one sim has such an active career. However, for builders, this pack is a dream come true! The sleek, stylish items make creating beautiful homes a breeze. Plus, the CAS items are just as impressive, adding a chic, fashionable flair to your Sims’ wardrobe.
2. Spa Day
2015, 2nd Sims 4 Game Pack
Main Features:
- Relax, get a massage, mani/pedi and stretch out with yoga classes
- Saunas!! (new woohoo spot)
- New Aspirations: Inner Peace, Zen Guru and Self-Care Specialist
- New Death: Overheating in Sauna
- New Lot Type: Spas
- New Skill: Wellness
- New Trait: High Maintenance
A few years ago this pack received a revamp, making it even more worth it, in my opinion! Although Spa Day is one of the older game packs and is sometimes overlooked compared to newer, more detailed ones, I absolutely love it. I play with this pack regularly and find spas to be great community lots for family outings, friend hangouts, or dates. While the CAS items are good, they don’t stand out. However, the build mode is excellent, offering a new bathroom set, counters and plenty of spa-themed items. The new drinks tray item is perfect for your Sims’ house parties. Overall, I highly recommend this pack as a fun addition to your game. It’s quite specific, so I understand if it doesn’t fit your gameplay style but for those who love a touch of luxury and relaxation, it’s a must!
1. Parenthood
2017, 5th Sims 4 Expansion Pack
Main Features:
- Calling all family-life players! Parents can now discipline their children and better shape their children’s personalities (e.g. teaching them how to be empathetic… or not)
- School projects help children and teens gain skills
- Mood swings and character values are added in for teens
- New Aspiration: Super Parent
- New Skill: Parenting
Coming in at first place is Parenthood! I cannot imagine playing without the parenting skill since this pack came out. The new skill, disciplinary options, and child growth opportunities add so much depth and realism to the game, especially when it comes to raising teens. The only downside is that there’s no new world in this pack, but the build mode makes up for it with vibrant furniture and a great new kitchen set. I also love how school projects encourage skill growth, especially now that children can slowly develop some of the adult skills in the game. Overall, this pack brings a lot to family gameplay and makes it much more engaging.
Final Comments
I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful! I love hearing different players’ rankings of packs, so hopefully you did too.
Thanks for visiting my website 🙂
Keep Simming!
Most images shown in this post are owned by EA as official screenshots of the game. Additionally, I don’t earn anything from links in this post, they are added for your convenience if you would like to purchase any of the packs.
