"Mastering The Sims 4 Decades Challenge: A Step-by-Step Guide"

The vibrant *The Sims 4* community continually enriches the game with creative challenges, one of which is the Decades Challenge, designed to immerse your Sims in the evolution of history from the 1890s to the 2010s. If you're eager to experience the passage of time through the eyes of your Sims, understanding the Decades Challenge is essential.

Rules of the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4

To embark on this journey, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the challenge's rules. The concept revolves around the idea that every two in-game days represents a new year, starting from 1890. Feel free to customize the years to fit your playstyle, but traditionally, the challenge spans from 1890 to 2020. With the ongoing Blast from the Past event, now is a perfect time to dive into this historical adventure.

Begin by disabling automatic aging to manually control your Sims' lifespans, reflecting historical changes in life expectancy. Sims are categorized into two groups based on their birth year—before and after 1950—due to the significant increase in life expectancy around that time. The aging guidelines are as follows:

• Baby: Age after 1 day (6 months old)
• Infant: Age after 3 days (2 years old)
• Toddler: Age after 8 days (6 years old)
• Child: Age after 14 days (13 years old)
• Teen: Age after 12 days (19 years old)

For Sims born before 1950:

• Young Adult: Age after 26 days (32 years old)
• Adult: Age after 36 days (50 years old)
• Elder: Dies after about 14 days (around 60 years old)

For Sims born after 1950:

• Young Adult: Age after 32 days (35 years old)
• Adult: Age after 60 days (65 years old)
• Elder: Dies after about 56 days (around 90 years old)

To start the challenge, you can either begin with a single young adult Sim or a married young adult couple. Including the parents of one Sim is allowed, reflecting the commonality of multi-generational households. Ensure your Sims' attire reflects the appropriate time period for added realism.

Housing restrictions add another layer of authenticity. You cannot use Strangerville at all, and Del Sol Valley becomes available only in the 1950s. For ultimate realism, avoid Sulani as well. Single Sims can live in apartments, but upon marriage, they must move into a house.

Regarding technology, use phones only for gameplay necessities until the appropriate decade allows their use for entertainment and communication. The same rule applies to computers, which are necessary for certain jobs and ordering items like books and seeds. Choose jobs that would have been available during the time period you're simulating.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge Difficulties

Each decade presents unique rules to enhance the challenge's realism and difficulty. Here’s a brief overview of the rules for each decade, but for more detailed information, consult Cute Coffee Gal’s full challenge rules.

1890s

Only male heirs are permitted. Daughters must possess the Creative trait and move out upon marriage. WooHooing is forbidden, with trying for a baby being the sole purpose for sleeping together. Home births are mandatory. Men work in period-appropriate jobs like woodworking, while women manage the household, with options for freelancing or gardening if widowed. Electricity is prohibited, and while elementary school is required, high school is not. University is allowed with period-appropriate majors, and this is when you start cultivating a Cow Plant.

1900s

Lamps and indoor plumbing are now permissible, but no showers yet. Jobs and education rules remain unchanged from the 1890s, and phonographs are acceptable for music.

1910s

Males from teen to adult age are drafted for World War I, consuming Cow Plant cake. A dice roll determines their fate: odd numbers eat the cake again, even numbers return home. If all males perish, the oldest female and her husband become the heir. High school becomes mandatory with a required C average, and university is permitted post-war. Women can take manual labor jobs.

1920s

Women can now be heirs and aren't required to move out upon marriage. The Creative trait is optional for daughters. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work if their husbands' income is insufficient. Alcohol is banned due to Prohibition.

1930s

Kegs are permitted at university, but the Great Depression impacts job availability. Sims cannot start in business careers and lose their jobs at the decade's start, regaining them after a week. Prohibition ends, and Sims are limited to one cooked meal daily, with other meals sourced through scavenging, fishing, or gardening.

1940s

World War II follows the same draft rules as World War I. Households must maintain a victory garden with at least four plants. Thermostats, washers, and dryers are allowed, and every household needs a radio, with at least one Sim listening for an hour each day. High schoolers aren't penalized for bad grades, and teens can work part-time.

1950s

The oldest son participates in the Korean War under previous war rules. Showers and budget TVs are introduced, and listening to the radio is no longer mandatory. High school remains compulsory, and phones can be used for calls.

1960s

The oldest two children of any gender participate in the Vietnam War. College majors are unrestricted, and women can take maternity leave. WooHooing is now allowed without restrictions.

1970s

The Vietnam War continues to affect the oldest two children. Marriage is encouraged but not mandatory. Microwaves, dishwashers, lottery tickets, and food delivery services become available.

1980s

Gaming is permissible, and at least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies and hospital births are introduced.

1990s

Laptops and unrestricted TV viewing are allowed. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted, and texting becomes available. Families must build a Y2K shelter and stay in it for three days.

2000s

Computer and phone restrictions (except for Trendi) are removed. Babies can be born at home or in the hospital, and all types of music and TV channels are permitted.

2010s

Journalism is restricted due to the decline of print media. Same-sex marriages are permitted, and all part-time work, along with the meat wall, Trendi, and weather generator, are allowed.

This comprehensive guide covers the essentials of the Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4*. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack enhances the experience, you can adapt the challenge to suit any additional packs you own or don't own.

*The Sims 4* is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.