The Sims 4’s new Expansion Pack, Enchanted By Nature, is right around the corner. From the sounds of things, it’s going to bring a bunch of new content to the dollhouse Sim, including a super green new world, fairies, new traits, and a litany of ways to connect with nature.
The fae folk of Innisgreen have understandably been the focus of a lot of attention in the run-up to the DLC’s release. It’s no surprise really, as the new occult has been hotly anticipated for years. But, another couple of the pack’s features also have the possibility to totally mix up the classic rags-to-riches challenge.
Both the promotional website somethingisgrowing.com and the Enchanted By Nature trailer promise us a taste of Natural Living. Sims are shown napping in nature (without needing to rely on a bush or tent this time), foraging for food, and bathing in the crystal waters of Innisgreen’s ponds and creeks.
Enchanted By Nature might feel a little geared towards a particular playstyle – it is another occult-themed DLC, after all. But Natural Living could be a massive addition even for sceptics and the magic-averse. Doesn’t having the option of crashing anywhere sound like it could be useful when your Sims start with next to nothing?
Natural Living will rock the boat for gameplay challenges
Rags-to-riches challenges are a simple staple of the Sims community. And they have been for a long time, with different variations existing throughout the years under different names. The main version we know now is the one made by SimishGamer in 2015.
The core premise is straightforward. Start your Sim’s life by cheating their bank account empty, and work your way to the top using their surroundings. You’ll mostly manage this by gardening, fishing, and digging for treasure, as you aren’t allowed to take on a traditional career path. The specific rules get a bit more complicated, but that’s the gist. The challenge can be a little amorphous, with different Simmers playing the challenge with different rules. But, the idea stays the same.
One of the biggest challenges right at the start of a rags-to-riches is finding somewhere to sleep. Admittedly, if your Sim gets tired enough, they will just pass out on the floor. But, perhaps obviously, they’ll never get enough rest that way. So, taking a planned nap on the forest floor might be just the ticket.
The same can be said of most other parts of Natural Living, too. Finding somewhere to bathe in a rags-to-riches isn’t too bad if you don’t mind hitting up the local gym or pool, but it still takes time and effort to drag a stinky Sim off-lot. Being able to indulge in some wild swimming seems like it’ll be much easier, at least if you have a natural water source nearby. I guess most of Simsville doesn’t have too much pollution. And, of course, foraging for food negates the need to invest in a fridge or cooler.
New features could mix up old packs
Getting back to nature isn’t just useful for roughing it in Oasis Springs or Willow Creek, either. It could change up some of the previous packs’ offerings pretty substantially, too.
Although some aspects of Natural Living are definitely reminiscent of Game Packs like Jungle Adventure and Outdoor Retreat or the Snowy Escape expansion, these DLC could fit together seamlessly. I mean, napping in the great outdoors might not be the safest option. But it could be handy in a pinch if you’re caught without a tent on your Selvadoradan expedition! (I wouldn’t fancy my chances of sleeping rough on the side of Mount Komorebi, though.)
It might even open up your options a little more when it comes to picking a world to start your rags-to-riches in. A lot of Simmers start in Oasis Springs because it has a huge number of spawn points for collectables that can be sold for some quick Simoleons. However, if Natural Living has more to offer in other worlds, then starting off elsewhere could do the trick. It seems safe to presume that it’s going to fit right in with Innisgreen, at least.
Traits might be the key to living naturally
There are loads of different ways of approaching making your first Sim for your rags-to-riches challenge. Depending on which preferences and traits you pick, your challenge could be much easier or more difficult.
Traits are the building blocks of any Sim, with different behaviours and interactions locked behind different traits. You can only pick three at a time – although, with the Growing Together Expansion Pack, you can wind up with up to six traits – so you’re under pressure to pick the right ones. To be able to make the most of Natural Living, you might need to make that choice even more wisely.
Based on the UI shown in the trailer, it seems like Natural Living interactions might be locked behind a Trait. You can tell because of the icons next to each of the interactions. Plus, the teaser website for the pack, somethingisgrowing.com, confirmed that three new traits will be added. It doesn’t seem too far-fetched to think that they might play a fundamental role in introducing your Sim to a new lifestyle.
One alternative theory is that Natural Living might be associated with a specific career or skill instead. These special interactions can also be shown with their own icon, so it’s hard to say which one will be the case until the pack launches on July 10th.
