Sims 4 on a new Generation Console

I played The Sims 4 on a PS4 and really enjoyed it. I took a bit of a gamble because I wasn’t sure the game would run smoothly on a next‑gen console like the PS5 or Xbox series X. Then I got some cash over the holidays and splurged on an Xbox Series X. The game ran wonderfully—load times were practically gone on the newer hardware, which made it feel a lot more fun.

My main draw to Sims 4 was the Pets expansion. I’ve always wanted a dog, and having a virtual pet in the game was a blast. I loved the whole process of getting a dog or cat, naming it, taking it for walks, and buying toys and food for my Sims‑pet. Building houses was also a highlight. Most of the time I’d start with a stock house, and my favorite spot turned out to be the desert suburb. The urban area was fun at first, but I spent the bulk of my time in the desert neighborhood.

Expansion packs are pricey, in my opinion. Even though there are sales, I ended up buying several, only to find that I mainly used the Pets pack. The décor options for houses were solid—pretty much what you’d expect from Sims 4. Socializing wasn’t really my thing; I didn’t care for clubs, gyms, or bars. My Sim preferred staying home, walking the dog, and decorating. Cooking was fine, and I focused mostly on male Sims. Female Sims were interesting in passing, and the shared house my Sim lived in had a few women, but I never got into the “woo‑hoo” romance stuff. I liked being able to set my Sim’s romantic inclination to none—no kids, no dating drama.

Overall, it was worth it for about a month of on‑and‑off gaming sessions.