Happy 1st of October, or in other words, the first day of the spooky season! To get started, we’re looking back at the character we all know and love, Grim Reaper. In the whimsical world of The Sims, death is never quite as final—or as serious—as it seems. Over the years, one of the most iconic and entertaining characters in the franchise is the Grim Reaper himself. But while he’s usually responsible for ferrying your Sims to the afterlife, this dark figure is full of surprises!
The Sims 1
Doorbell Ditching with Death
Who knew the Grim Reaper was such a Halloween enthusiast? In The Sims: Livin’ Large, if you decorate your lot with more than five Jack-O-Lanterns, expect a surprise visit! He’ll ring your doorbell like he’s trick-or-treating.
Rock, Paper, Scissors…
When your Sim kicks the bucket, don’t just accept their fate! You can plead with the Grim Reaper for a second chance. If he’s in a good mood (lucky you!), he might challenge you to a game of rock, paper, scissors. Win, and your Sim returns to life; lose, and—surprise!—you get a zombie instead.
The Sims 2
Overstaying His Welcome
In The Sims 2, the Grim Reaper isn’t all doom and gloom. He might pop by for a quick bite before claiming your Sim’s soul! Yep, he can be seen enjoying a blended drink from the minibar or even lounging on the couch like he’s at a casual get-together. Just hope he doesn’t decide to stay for dinner… he might get a little too attached to your household!
Relationship Matters
In The Sims 2, the success of pleading with the Grim Reaper hinges on the relationship between the pleading Sim and the deceased. If their relationship score is low, the plea is almost guaranteed to fail. If it’s above a certain threshold, the chance of success increases, capping at 90%. So, it pays to be friendly!
Aloha
When your Sim’s time is up and they’re on the verge of eternal slumber, the Grim Reaper brings some tropical flair if they’ve lived the good life. Arriving in a pink Hawaiian lei, he’ll call in the Hula Zombies and plays some tunes while packing your Sim’s bags for the afterlife. It’s like a beach vacation—except you’re not coming back…
Ghostly Duels
In the console version of The Sims 2, the Grim Reaper takes on a different role. Instead of just collecting souls, he lets deceased Sims challenge him to a violin duel! If your Sim has enough creativity and confidence, they might just win and return to the living.
The Sims 3
A Soft Spot for Pets
In The Sims 3, the Grim Reaper might seem a bit cold-hearted, but he’s got a soft spot for furry friends! While he can be a bit cruel to recently deceased Sims, he treats pets with kindness. He’ll toss toys and sticks to help them transition to the Netherworld, proving that even Death has a heart.
Moving In
Players can move the Grim Reaper into their active household without cheats by building a high enough relationship with him when he visits the lot. The Legendary Host lifetime reward and having the charismatic trait can help facilitate this process, as the Grim Reaper will disappear from the relationship panel once he leaves.
Traits
A new Grim Reaper is created at the beginning of each save file, leading to variations in traits and favorites among different Grim Reapers. But he will always possess at least one trait that promotes mean behavior, such as evil, mean-spirited, or inappropriate.
The Sims 4
A Modern Twist
The Grim Reaper’s look in The Sims 4 is more modern compared to earlier games. He ditches the tattered cloak for a sleek black one and uses a tablet to manage his death list instead of a scroll. Even the Grim Reaper keeps up with technology!
Gifts
Giving a knitted Grim Reaper plush to the Grim Reaper will reset your Sim’s aging bar, but this can only be done once. Subsequent gifts will lead the Grim Reaper to question your Sim’s hobby, although the relationship will still improve.
Want to hear more about death? Keep an eye out for the reveal of the expansion pack, The Sims 4 Life & Death, from EA on 3rd October 2024!
