Well, it’s official, Adventure Awaits in The Sims 4! And while it doesn’t seem to be taking us outside of the Americas as some had hoped, it nonetheless promises some truly unique neighborhoods to explore. That’s on top of a few new mechanics only teased at in the store page and announcement trailer.
With that in mind then, here’s our top four predictions for how the new features will shape up in Adventure Awaits…
Outdoor Pursuits
One of the many comments I saw in the build-up to Adventure Awaits was someone lamenting how it seemed as if the expansion pack would merely add stuff that should’ve been in previous offerings. However, it seems that rather than merely tacking on some extras we’re getting a full-fledged overhaul of outdoor activities; admittedly that patio furniture doesn’t scream ‘adventure camp’ to me.
Aside from the obvious regarding Getaways (more about that in a sec) we also see plenty in the way of outdoor furniture such as pool slides, playground equipment and other outdoor activities. The new jobs such as Park Ranger and Camp Counselor indicate that my speculation is likely: we may have roles that let your Sims stay permanently in getaway locations.
Elimination chamber
One of the more interesting additions is that of the new elimination rules. We see this being shown off in the trailer, and it’s mentioned in the store page too. It seems as if you’ll be able to have your own Love Island-esque competitions (albeit more friendly) between Sims as they try to outlast one another in a series of challenges
It’s a promising start towards providing more opportunities for interpersonal drama and kicking off new relationships. I also reckon this could be a pointer towards future expansions and kits, as it sounds to me like these are great ways of making sure even the most stuffy group of Sims can get excited.
Getaway from it all
Perhaps the most fundamental change here is to how vacationing will be handled. I’d bet that we’ll see roles such as Park Ranger and Camp Director mirrored in worlds such as Granite Falls and Selvadorada, perhaps allowing Sims to build their homes there.
Or, could wesee seasonal work become a thing? Where Sims actively inhabit these worlds only at certain times before returning home when tourists aren’t present? It’d present a similar mechanic to Getaways but far longer term, and perhaps include Sims making friendships that can potentially carry over to their ‘main’ world.
Back to the fundamentals
Overall, I think we can look forward to a massive tie-in to recent expansions such as Businesses & Hobbies. Not in any huge way, but certainly it seems to me like the recent crop of expansions for The Sims 4 (Enchanted by Nature possibly excluded) have focused more on rebuilding the fundamentals of the game itself.
I wouldn’t be surprised if building your own park business became a potential option (would make sense for building your own resort) or perhaps starting your own getaway agency? Of course, these haven’t been advertised so they may be in the near future or potential upcoming updates. But the door is wide open for them.
Either way, I think Adventure Awaits is shaping up to be very exciting for those who didn’t trust the fair folk. Or the gnomes…
