You’ve been there. You start a new save in The Sims 4, spend three hours in Create-A-Sim making the "perfect" family, build a house that drains your entire soul, and then? You play for twenty minutes and get bored. It’s the Sims curse. Everything feels too easy, too happy, and way too repetitive. That is exactly why Lilsimsie and AlwaysSimming created the Not So Berry Legacy Challenge. They didn't just make a list of rules; they basically gave us a reason to actually play the game instead of just building boxes.
Most legacy challenges are a slog. They want you to follow strict rules about inheritance or living off the land, which is fine if you’re into that, but Not So Berry is different. It’s colorful. It’s chaotic. It forces you to use parts of the game you probably ignored for five years. Ever actually reached the top of the Scientist career? No? Well, Mint generation says you have to. It’s brilliant because it gamifies the mechanics rather than just the storytelling.
Why Not So Berry Legacy Challenge Still Dominates My Save Files
The brilliance of this challenge lies in the "Berry" aspect, but not in the way you might think. We aren't talking about "Berry Sims" in the traditional sense—where the skin is pink or blue—though you can totally do that if you want. It’s about the aesthetics and the personality traits. Each generation is assigned a specific color and a specific set of goals that feel, honestly, a little unhinged when you put them together.
Take the first generation: Mint. You have to be a vegetarian who loves the cold and works as a scientist. Why? Because it’s a weird combination that forces you out of your comfort zone. You’re mischievous but successful. It sets a tone. If you’ve spent the last decade making "Nice" sims who are "Creative" and "Family-Oriented," this challenge is going to feel like a slap in the face. A good one, though.
The Breakdown of the First Few Generations
Let's look at how this actually plays out in a real save.
Generation One: Mint. You’re a Scientist. You’re bright, you’re ambitious, and you’re kind of a jerk. You need to max the Logic skill and the Mischief skill. Think about that for a second. You are literally a genius who spends their free time pulling pranks. Your color is Mint, and your goal is to complete the Chief of Mischief aspiration. It’s a wild way to start a legacy because it establishes that this isn't going to be a "perfect family" story.
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Generation Two: Rose. This is where the drama kicks in. After being raised by a chaotic Mint scientist, Rose is all about romance—but they’re bad at it. You’re a politician. You have a "Serial Romantic" aspiration, but you can only have one child. It’s a lonely, high-powered life. You wear all red, you’re a Snob, and you’re probably miserable. The contrast between the generations is what keeps you clicking "Play" at 2 AM.
Generation Three: Yellow. By the time you hit Yellow, things get sci-fi. Your Sim is obsessed with space because their grandparent was a scientist, but they never really felt at home on Earth. They’re a loner. They spend their time in a rocket ship. The narrative through-line here is stronger than anything EA has ever actually put into a Premade household. You’re following a family lineage that actually feels like it has history.
The Rules You’ll Probably Break (And That’s Okay)
The official rules for the Not So Berry Legacy Challenge are surprisingly flexible, which is why it has survived so many game updates. You don't have to marry a specific person. You don't have to live in a specific world. The core requirements are just traits, careers, and aspirations.
However, people get really hung up on the "Berry" part. Do you need to make their skin green? No. Lilsimsie herself has said the challenge is meant to be played with normal-skinned Sims who just wear a lot of that color. But the community has taken it further. You go on the Gallery, and you’ll find thousands of "Not So Berry" starters with neon hair and matching furniture.
- Trait Requirements: These are non-negotiable if you want the "true" experience.
- Career Goals: You must reach level 10. No cheating. Honestly, using a career cheat ruins the whole point.
- Collection Goals: Some generations require you to finish a collection (like elements or crystals). This is the hardest part.
The difficulty curve is real. Grey generation (Generation Six) is notorious. You’re an athlete who failed at their first dream and now has to balance a chaotic household. It’s a massive tonal shift from the previous generations. If you aren't prepared for the grind of the "Bodybuilder" aspiration, you’re going to struggle.
Beyond the Original Ten Generations
Because the Sims community can’t leave well enough alone, there are now dozens of "Extending the Berry" versions. People have created Orange, Gold, and even "Pastel" versions of the challenge. This is where the Not So Berry Legacy Challenge transcends being just a list of tasks and becomes a template for how to play The Sims 4 indefinitely.
You see, the game is a sandbox, but sandboxes get boring if you don't have a shovel. These rules are the shovel. They give you a reason to visit the hospital in the Get to Work expansion or to actually use the telescope without getting hit by a meteor (well, hopefully).
The challenge also forces you to deal with the game's imperfections. Since you can’t pick "perfect" traits, you end up with Sims who are Hot-Headed or Clumsy or Mean. It adds flavor. It makes the autonomous interactions more interesting. When your Rose generation Sim gets into a fight with their boss because they’re a Snob, that’s a story beat you didn't have to manufacture; the challenge did it for you.
Addressing the Misconceptions
One big myth is that you need every single expansion pack to play. You don't. While the original rules were written with Get to Work, City Living, and Outdoor Retreat in mind, you can easily swap out a career. If you don't have the Scientist career, make them an Astronaut. The "Not So Berry" police aren't going to break down your door. The spirit of the challenge is variety.
Another misconception? That it's too easy. Try completing the "Elements" collection while working a full-time job and raising three kids in a tiny house in Oasis Springs. It’s a nightmare. A fun, colorful nightmare.
Practical Steps to Starting Your First Berry Save
If you’re ready to dive in, don’t overthink the setup.
First, grab the base rules. You can find them on the original Tumblr posts by Lilsimsie or AlwaysSimming. Don't spend five hours building the house. Just move your Mint Sim into a cheap lot and start. The house should evolve with the family.
Second, embrace the "failures." If your Sim doesn't reach the top of their career before they become an Elder, keep going. The challenge is meant to be a legacy, not a speedrun. The most interesting stories usually happen when things go wrong—like when your Yellow Sim gets abducted by aliens and messes up your carefully planned family tree.
Third, document it. Part of why this challenge stays popular is the community. Use a hashtag on social media or just take screenshots for yourself. Seeing a lineage of ten Sims, each a different color of the rainbow, is incredibly satisfying. It’s a visual representation of the hours you’ve put into the game.
To really succeed, you need to manage your Sim's time better than you manage your own. Prioritize the skills that matter for the aspiration first. For Mint, that means getting a chemistry lab on day one. For Plum (Generation Four), you better start practicing that dance skill immediately.
Next Steps for Success:
- Check your DLC: Make sure you know which careers you have access to and swap the ones you don't.
- Focus on the Aspiration: The aspiration points will help you buy "Needs Noop" or "Savant" rewards, which are lifesavers in later generations.
- Don't ignore the colors: Even if you don't use CC, try to find one signature item of clothing for each generation that stays with them. It builds a sense of identity.
- Set the Lifespan to Normal: Playing on Long Lifespan makes this challenge take actual years. Normal is the sweet spot for keeping the momentum.