The Sims 4 has been around for over a decade. That’s a long time to keep a digital dollhouse interesting, and honestly, for a while there, the "death" part of the game felt like a chore. You’d get a notification, a generic tombstone would appear, and maybe you’d see a ghost floating around your kitchen breaking the sink every Tuesday. It was predictable. Boring, even. But the Sims 4 Life and Death expansion pack flipped the script by making the end of a Sim’s life just as mechanical and deep as the beginning. It’s not just about dying anymore; it’s about what you leave behind and what you do when you’re literally haunting your neighbors.
Ravenwood is the star here. It’s a world that feels heavy. Most Sims worlds are sunny, bright, and a bit too perfect, but Ravenwood has this haunting, misty vibe that actually makes you want to explore the graveyards. There are three distinct neighborhoods, and each one handles the concept of mortality differently. You have places like Mourningvale where the veil is thin, and honestly, if you aren't seeing a ghost while you're grabbing coffee, you're doing it wrong.
How the Sims 4 Life and Death Changes the Cycle
The biggest shift is the Soul's Journey system. Before this pack, once your Sim died, that was basically the end of their progression unless you cheated them back to life. Now, your Sim has goals that extend beyond the grave. It’s kinda like a bucket list that stays active even when you’re translucent and floating. If you complete these milestones, you get rewards that make your afterlife more powerful.
You can actually choose to stay as a playable ghost. This isn't the old "add to household" trick we used to do. It’s a full-fledged life state with its own skill tree. You can choose to be a benevolent spirit who helps out around the house or a total nightmare who terrifies everyone at the local pub. The "Ghost Powers" are surprisingly deep. You can gain the ability to possess objects, which is classic, but also influence the emotions of living Sims. It’s a weirdly satisfying power trip.
The Career of a Reaper
Have you ever wanted to work for Grim? Most people just try to romance him (we've all been there), but now you can actually join the Reaper Profession. It’s an active career, similar to the ones in Get to Work. You head over to the Netherworld Department of Death (NWDD) and start your day by checking the casualty lists.
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It’s not just clicking on a body. You have to determine the cause of death, harvest the soul, and sometimes even determine if a Sim deserves a second chance. It’s dark, but it’s handled with that specific Sims humor that keeps it from feeling too grim. You’ll find yourself filing paperwork for souls while a ghost coworker complains about the coffee machine. It’s the bureaucracy of the afterlife, and it works.
Funerals Aren't Just Sad Parties Anymore
We need to talk about the funeral system. In the past, if you wanted a funeral, you basically just threw a "house party" and told everyone to wear black. It was immersion-breaking. Sims 4 Life and Death introduces a formal event system for funerals where you can set specific activities.
- You can choose the pallbearers.
- Pick a Sim to give a eulogy (which can go very wrong if they have low charisma).
- Decide on the "vibe" of the service, from a somber wake to a celebration of life.
- Manage the guest list and ensure the deceased's favorite food is served.
There’s also the inclusion of Wills. This is a game-changer for legacy players. You can sit your Sim down at a computer or desk and actually dictate who gets the family heirlooms, the Simoleons, and the house. No more losing that precious "Father Winter's Baby" trait because the wrong kid inherited the lot. You can even leave notes for your family members, which adds a layer of storytelling that the community has been asking for since The Sims 2.
Inheritances and Heirlooms
The "Bucket List" isn't just for ghosts. Living Sims can create them too. When a Sim completes their bucket list before they pass, they experience "Unfinished Business" less frequently. If they don't? Well, they might come back as a ghost with a specific set of tasks they need the living to help them finish. This creates a bridge between generations that feels earned.
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I've seen players get really creative with the heirlooms. You can designate specific objects—a piano, a painting, a rare collectible—as a family treasure. These items gain "Resonance" over time. They aren't just objects; they carry the history of the Sims who owned them. If a Sim interacts with an heirloom that belonged to a beloved grandparent, they might get a unique moodlet or even a vision of that ancestor.
The Technical Side of Passing On
One thing that often gets overlooked is the "Casket" and "Urn" customization. You aren't stuck with the same three boring designs anymore. You can customize the final resting place of your Sims to match their personality. Want a neon-pink casket for your trendsetter Sim? You can do that. Want a dignified stone crypt in the backyard? Go for it.
The pack also introduces "Macabre" and "Chased by Death" traits. A Sim with the Macabre trait actually enjoys being around cemeteries and finds ghosts fascinating rather than terrifying. On the flip side, someone "Chased by Death" might have frequent close calls with the Reaper, which is both stressful and hilarious to manage.
Beyond the Veil: Practical Next Steps for Your Save File
If you’re looking to jump into the Sims 4 Life and Death content, don't just wait for a Sim to die naturally. That takes way too long, and honestly, we’re all a bit impatient.
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First, head straight to Ravenwood and find the "Thin Veil" lot trait. Place this on your Sim's home. You’ll start seeing ghostly activity almost immediately, which helps you build the "Thanatology" skill. This skill is crucial because it unlocks the ability to communicate better with the Reaper and understand the mechanics of the afterlife.
Second, get your elder Sims to write their Wills immediately. You can find the option under the "Activities" menu on any computer. Make sure you have designated heirs, or the game will default to a standard split of funds, which usually leaves your favorite Sim broke.
Third, explore the "Crypts." These are rabbit holes, sure, but the text adventures inside are actually worth reading. You can find unique collectibles and even "Mementos" that help complete a Sim's Soul's Journey milestones.
Finally, try the "Rebirth" feature. This is the ultimate end-game goal. If a Sim completes their Soul's Journey entirely, they can choose to be reborn. They’ll come back as a brand new Sim but with "Burning Soul" traits and memories of their past life. It’s the closest thing to a "New Game Plus" mode that The Sims 4 has ever had, and it makes the hundreds of hours you spend on a single family feel like they actually matter in the long run.
Don't just treat this as another expansion pack. Treat it as a tool to fix the legacy issues the game has had for years. Use the Wills to manage your wealth, use the funerals to tell better stories, and for the love of Grim, stop making everyone die in the sauna. Give them a proper send-off in Ravenwood.