Sims 4 Decades Challenge: A Step-by-Step Guide

The *The Sims 4* community thrives on creativity and challenge, and one of the most engaging ways to experience the game is through the Decades Challenge. This challenge allows your Sims to live through different historical periods, starting from 1890 and progressing to 2010 or 2020, depending on your preference. With the ongoing Blast from the Past event, it's the perfect time to dive into this historical journey.

Rules of the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4

First, let's delve into the rules and mechanics of the Decades Challenge. The challenge operates on a unique time system where every two days represent a new year, starting from 1890. You can customize the years to suit your preferences, but the standard progression is as follows: days one and two are 1890, days three and four are 1891, and so on until the end of the challenge. To ensure historical accuracy, you must turn off automatic aging and follow specific life expectancy guidelines, which vary depending on whether your Sims were born before or after 1950.

For Sims born before 1950, the aging milestones are:

• 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)
• 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, the aging milestones are:

• 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)
• 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 begin with a single young adult or a married couple of young adults. You may also include one Sim's parents in the household to reflect multi-generational living. Dress your Sims in period-appropriate outfits to enhance the historical immersion.

Housing rules are also crucial. You cannot use Strangerville at all, and Del Sol Valley is off-limits until the 1950s. For maximum realism, avoid using Sulani as well. Single Sims can live in apartments, but they must move to a house upon marriage.

Technology usage is restricted to maintain historical accuracy. Phones and computers can be used for gameplay elements but not for entertainment or communication until the appropriate decade. When choosing jobs, consider what would have been available during the time period your Sims are living in.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge Difficulties

Each decade in the Decades Challenge comes with its own set of rules, adding unique challenges and historical context. For a detailed breakdown, you can refer to Cute Coffee Gal's full challenge rules, but here's a brief overview:

1890s

In the 1890s, only male heirs are allowed. Daughters must have the Creative trait and move out upon marriage. WooHooing is prohibited, and trying for a baby is the only reason Sims can sleep together. Babies are born at home. Men work period-appropriate jobs like woodworking, while women manage the household but can take up freelancing or gardening if widowed. Electricity is not allowed, and children must attend elementary school, but high school is optional. University is permitted for both genders with period-appropriate majors. Start creating a Cow Plant during this decade.

1900s

Lamps are now allowed, and indoor plumbing is introduced, but showers are still off-limits. Jobs and education rules remain the same as the 1890s. Phonographs for music are acceptable, but other rules from the previous decade still apply.

1910s

Teen, Young Adult, and Adult males are drafted for World War I and must eat Cow Plant cake. Roll a dice for each drafted male; odd numbers eat the cake again, while even numbers return home. If all males die, the oldest female and her husband become the heirs. High school becomes mandatory with a C average requirement; otherwise, the Sim must move out. Male Sims can attend university after the war, and women can take manual labor jobs.

1920s

Women can now be heirs and don't need to move out upon marriage. The Creative trait is no longer mandatory for daughters. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work under more circumstances, especially if their husbands don't earn enough. Alcohol is prohibited due to Prohibition.

1930s

Kegs are allowed at university, but the Great Depression affects job availability. Sims cannot join business careers and lose their jobs at the start of the decade, regaining them after one week. Prohibition ends, and Sims are limited to one cooked meal a day, with other meals scavenged, caught, or grown.

1940s

World War II rules mirror those of World War I. Each household must have 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 daily. High schoolers are not sent away for poor grades, and teens can hold part-time jobs.

1950s

The oldest son goes to war in the Korean War, following previous war rules. Showers and cheap TVs are now allowed, and listening to the radio is no longer required. High school remains mandatory, and phones can be used for calls.

1960s

The oldest two children of any gender go to war in the Vietnam War, following the same rules. Sims can choose any major in college, and women are allowed maternity leave. WooHooing is no longer restricted to trying for a baby.

1970s

The oldest two children of any gender go to war in the Vietnam War again. Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves and dishwashers are allowed, and lottery tickets and food delivery become available.

1980s

Gaming is permitted, and at least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies are allowed, and babies should be born at the hospital.

1990s

Laptops and unrestricted TV watching are allowed. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted, and texting is permitted. All families must build a Y2K shelter and stay in it for three days.

2000s

Computer and phone restrictions are lifted, except for Trendi. Babies can be born at home or in the hospital, and all music types and TV channels are allowed.

2010s

Journalism is not allowed 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.

That's everything you need to know about the Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4*. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack is highly beneficial, you can adapt the challenge to fit any other packs you own or don't own.

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