Copperdale isn't just another world map. When Electronic Arts dropped the Sims 4 High School Years expansion pack, they weren't just giving us lockers and prom royalty. They were attempting to fix a decade-long complaint: that teenagers in The Sims were basically just shorter adults with homework. Honestly? It mostly worked. But if you’ve spent any real time in the halls of Copperdale High, you know it’s a chaotic, glitchy, and strangely charming mess.
Let’s be real. Before this pack, teen Sims were boring. You sent them to school, they vanished into a rabbit hole, and they came back with a moodlet about a pop quiz. High School Years changed the fundamental loop. Now, you’re actually there. You’re navigating the awkwardness of the cafeteria, trying to figure out if your crush is going to reject your "Promposal," and dealing with the absolute nightmare that is the Social Bunny app. It’s a lot.
What High School Years Actually Does for Your Gameplay
The big draw is the active high school. You follow your Sim to Copperdale High, and suddenly you're managing a schedule. It feels frantic. Between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, you’re hitting lockers, attending two classes, and trying to squeeze in enough socializing so your Sim doesn't become a total hermit. The classes themselves are... well, they’re fine. You sit at a desk, you take notes, and you hope the teacher doesn't glitch out and stand on their chair for three hours.
But the pack’s soul is outside the classroom. It’s in the "Trendi" app and the Thriftea shop. This is where the expansion captures the 2020s vibe perfectly. You can go to the thrift store, curate an outfit, and flip it for a profit on the in-game app. It’s basically Depop for Sims. If you’re lucky, your Sim becomes a "Simfluencer," and suddenly your daily outfit choice matters more than your GPA. It’s a cynical, accurate reflection of modern teen life, and it’s surprisingly addictive.
The Social Bunny Dilemma
We have to talk about Social Bunny. It’s the in-universe social media platform. On one hand, it’s an easy way to build relationships. You post about your lunch, someone likes it, and boom—friends for life. On the other hand, the logic is broken. Your Sim will post about how sad they are because of a breakup, and their own mother will "heart" the post while standing right next to them. It’s weird. It’s very Sims.
The "T-S-O-T" (Teenage Sims of Today) energy is high here. You’ll find yourself constantly checking your phone, just like in real life. The pack introduces "Lifestyles" and "Wants and Fears" (though these were added to the base game via a patch around the same time), which makes the teen experience feel more reactive. If your Sim gets rejected for a dance, they might develop a fear of rejection that follows them into adulthood. That’s a deep level of consequence we haven't seen in the series for a while.
Prom, Pranks, and the Pier
The weekly cycle in High School Years is anchored by events. You’ve got the Football Team practice, the Cheerleading Team, and the Science Fair. But everything leads to Prom. Prom is the "boss fight" of the teenage years. You have to secure a date, pick the outfit, and then actually show up at the auditorium.
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There’s a lot that can go wrong. I’ve seen Sims get crowned Prom Royalty only to have their crush walk out because of a "bad interaction" five minutes prior. It's brutal. It’s also where the pack shows its age. The auditorium is a "buildable" lot, which sounds cool until you realize the AI struggles to navigate the decorations you’ve spent three hours placing.
The Plumbite Pier is the other major hangout. It’s got a Ferris wheel, a haunted house, and a tunnel of love. It’s the classic "dating" spot. It provides those cinematic moments that make for great screenshots, but the gameplay is a bit shallow. You click the ride, your Sim disappears into the animation, and they come out with a moodlet. It would have been great to see more "active" participation here, but as a backdrop for a teen drama, it’s hard to beat.
The Technical Reality: Bugs and Pathfinding
We can’t discuss Sims 4 High School Years without addressing the elephant in the room. The bugs. Since launch, this pack has been notorious for pathfinding issues. At Copperdale High, Sims will often stand around for forty minutes of "Sim time" just trying to decide which door to walk through. By the time they get to class, the period is half over.
Then there’s the "aging" glitch that famously broke the game upon the pack’s release. While EA has patched the major game-breaking stuff, you’ll still encounter weirdness. Sims will prank their own lockers and then get mad when they get caught by themselves. Teachers will occasionally forget how to teach. If you’re a modder, you likely already have "MCCC" or "LittleMsSam’s" fixes installed to smooth over these edges. If you’re on console? You just have to learn to embrace the chaos.
Why the Build/Buy Mode is Secretly the Best Part
If you aren't into the "active" school day, you’re probably here for the furniture. This pack has some of the best Build/Buy items in the entire franchise. It’s a mix of "Gen Z maximalism," "dark academia," and "shabby chic." The beds, the clutter, the wall art—it all feels lived-in.
- The Desks: Finally, desks that don't look like they belong in a corporate office from 1994.
- The Posters: Overlapping, messy, and actually cool designs.
- The Windows: Large, industrial-style windows that work in almost any build.
The CAS (Create-A-Sim) items are equally strong. We’re talking about "e-boy" and "e-girl" aesthetics, thrifted sweaters, and actual trendy hairstyles. It was a massive departure from the generic "teen" clothing of the early 2010s.
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Navigating the "Growing Together" Synergy
If you have the "Growing Together" expansion pack as well, the teen years become even more complex. The "Social Compatibility" system interacts with the high school cliques. You might find that your Sim is naturally compatible with the "Jocks" but has "Bad Compatibility" with the "Computer Lab" kids. This adds a layer of social strategy that didn't exist when the pack first launched.
It makes the high school experience feel less like a checklist and more like a social minefield. You have to choose your friends carefully. If you spend too much time with the wrong crowd, your Sim might pick up traits that make them "uncomfortable" around their own family. It’s these small, emergent moments that make High School Years worth the price of admission, despite the technical hiccups.
Making the Most of Copperdale
If you're jumping in now, don't play it the "right" way. The "right" way is boring.
- Be a Menace: Use the "prank" system. Clog the sinks. Put stink bombs in lockers. See how long it takes to get expelled.
- The Trendi Hustle: Don't just buy clothes. Look for the "rare" items at Thriftea. You can genuinely make your Sim a millionaire just by flipping outfits without ever having a real job.
- The Side Hustles: Focus on the new aspirations. The "Live Fast" aspiration encourages your Sim to go to parties and get into trouble. It's way more fun than the "Academic" one.
- Customize the School: The default Copperdale High is... a bit empty. Go to the Gallery and download a renovation. A well-designed school makes the active gameplay feel 100% better.
Is It Still Worth It?
Honestly? Yes. Even with the glitches and the occasionally brain-dead AI, High School Years fills a massive hole in the Sims life cycle. It bridges the gap between childhood and adulthood in a way that feels substantial. You aren't just waiting for them to grow up anymore. You're living those years.
The pack succeeds because it leans into the drama. The Sims is at its best when things are messy—when a Sim gets their heart broken at the pier, fails an exam because they were busy posting on Social Bunny, and then goes home to a messy room filled with thrifted junk. It’s a specific kind of digital storytelling that no other game really nails.
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Actionable Next Steps for Your Game
- Download a High School Overhaul: Search the Gallery for "Copperdale High Fix" or "Renovated School." A better layout fixes 50% of the pathfinding bugs.
- Check the Thrift Store Daily: The inventory at Thriftea rotates. If you see a "rare" tag on an item, buy it immediately.
- Manage Your Social Bunny: If the notifications get annoying, you can deactivate the account in the phone menu. It saves your sanity.
- Focus on One Extracurricular: Don't try to do Cheerleading, Football, and the Chess club all at once. Your Sim will literally never sleep. Pick one and get to the top of the ranks to unlock unique rewards.
High school is a nightmare. This pack makes it a fun one. Just watch out for the stink bombs.