Buzz
Like countless others, I cherish the memories of my obsession with The Sims. My favorite was The Sims 2, though I also spent some time with The Sims 3. Surprisingly, I managed to break free from the addiction before The Sims 4 launched in 2014, and I haven’t revisited the series much since. However, EA might have reeled me back in, as The Sims 4 is now completely free to play.
EA revealed this update last month, declaring that the latest installment in their Sims series would be entirely free starting this past Tuesday. This isn’t a limited-time offer: You can download and enjoy the base game without any cost. It’s a welcome, though not entirely surprising, move; fans criticized the game before its release for lacking features present in earlier versions. While DLCs have introduced numerous features, both old and new, some argued that the base game never justified its original price. In many ways, The Sims 4 was designed to be a free-to-play experience, with expansions and packs available for purchase.
Naturally, some of us have already paid for The Sims 4, and EA hasn’t forgotten about you. If you’re an EA Play or EA Play Pro subscriber, you’ll receive exclusive upgrades for The Sims 4. The EA Play Edition includes the Get to Work Expansion Pack, while the EA Play Pro Edition offers both that and the Toddler Stuff Pack.
To clarify, this is the core version of The Sims 4. While it provides enough to get you started, it only scratches the surface of what EA has created. Staying true to The Sims tradition, EA has introduced expansion packs to enhance gameplay with extra furniture, clothing, pets, scenarios, storylines, weather, and more. These expansion packs include:
Cats & Dogs
City Living
Cottage Living
Discover University
Eco Lifestyle
Get Famous
Get Together
Get to Work
High School Years
Island Living
Seasons
Snowy Escape
Additionally, there are twelve game packs, which offer smaller yet impactful upgrades to your gameplay compared to expansion packs:
Dine Out
Dream Home Decorator
Jungle Adventure
My Wedding Stories
Outdoor Retreat
Parenthood
Realm of Magic
Spa Day
Star Wars: Journey to Batuu
StrangerVille
Vampires
Werewolves
By making The Sims 4 free for everyone, EA has created a vast pool of potential buyers for these expansion and game packs (and there’s the catch). You might not plan to spend any money on the game, but perhaps you’ll want to experience seasonal changes, add dining options, or send your Sim to high school. Before you know it, you’ve invested hundreds of dollars (and countless hours). Classic Sims indeed.
How to Get and Play The Sims 4 Without Paying
You likely already own a device capable of running The Sims 4. The game is accessible on PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
For PlayStation and Xbox users, downloading the game is straightforward. Simply visit the PlayStation Store or Xbox Store, where the game is listed as a free download. On desktop, the process is slightly different.
For Mac and PC players, go to EA’s official Sims 4 page here. Hover over the blue “Play for Free” button at the top right, then select either “EA app for Windows,” “Origin for Mac,” or “Steam.” If you choose the first two options, scroll down, click the relevant link for your system (EA app for Windows or Origin for Mac), and install the required program.
Currently, The Sims 4 on Steam is exclusive to Windows users. You can launch and play The Sims 4 directly through Steam without needing to download it separately.
