As the spooky season approaches, The Sims 4 is gearing up for its next highly anticipated expansion, Life and Death, set to release on October 31st. Priced at $39.99, this expansion introduces players to a whole new realm of gameplay, where the mysteries of death are fully explored—allowing Sims to become Grim Reapers, plan funerals, explore the afterlife, and even be reincarnated. Here’s everything you need to know about this hauntingly exciting release.
Welcome to Ravenwood
In Life and Death, players can immerse themselves in Ravenwood, a new world that features three unique neighborhoods: Crow’s Crossing, Whispering Glen, and Mourningvale. Ravenwood, known for its thin veil between life and death, is a perfect backdrop for Sims to explore ghostly powers, live among spirits, and even dabble in the macabre.
Crow’s Crossing: An eerie village frequented by ghosts and strange occurrences. Here, Sims can attend festivals, visit graveyards, or browse odd trinkets from the Mysterious Merchant.
Whispering Glen: A serene countryside filled with ruins, ideal for collectors and history buffs. Explore crypts and tarot shrines.
Mourningvale: Perhaps the most eerie of all, this location is home to ghost Sims and the occasional visit from the Grim Reaper himself. Sims can also experience an out-of-body experience in the local Baleful Bog.
Embrace the Afterlife
The expansion delves into one of the most intriguing concepts in the game—the afterlife. Sims now have the opportunity to complete their Soul’s Journey, an encompassing reward system that merges their Aspirations and Wants. The ultimate goal? Achieving the chance to be reincarnated with the special “Burning Soul” trait. If a Sim completes their Soul’s Journey, they can return with unlocked skills, traits, or even find links to their former life.
Sims can also create and complete Bucket Lists during their lives, unlocking powerful rewards, including the possibility of rebirth. For ghosts, completing their Unfinished Business will result in a more potent reincarnation experience.
The Reaper Profession
Players can now walk alongside The Sims franchise’s most iconic figure—Grim—through the new Reaper Profession. Starting as a “Grimtern,” Sims can work their way up the ranks by reaping souls, practicing scythe maintenance, and even determining whether certain souls should be reaped or returned to life.
As Grim’s right-hand, your Sims will work at the Netherworld Department of Death (N.W.D.D.), handling all matters related to the deceased. High-ranking Grimterns even get to make decisions about the fates of the souls they reap. Want to become Employee of the Month? Complete your soul quota to earn that coveted recognition.
Ghostly Careers and Funerals
If the Reaper Profession doesn’t quite fit your Sim’s vibe, there’s also the Undertaker Career, where Sims can work as morticians or funeral directors. Whether it’s digging graves, embalming bodies, or comforting grieving Sims, the Undertaker Career offers an entirely new set of interactions. From discussing End of Life services to arranging meaningful funerals, it’s a career filled with emotion.
Speaking of funerals, the expansion introduces a more personalized approach to saying goodbye to Sims. Players can plan unique funeral events, choosing the guest list, dress codes, and activities like giving eulogies or lighting candles. Plus, the dearly departed might even show up to their own funeral as a ghost!
Grief and Mourning
The expansion also touches on the emotional toll of death with new Grief Types—Denial, Holding It Together, Anger, and Blues. Grief will affect how Sims interact with their surroundings, leading to new behaviors, and can even be triggered by other events like divorce or the loss of a pet.
Sims can manage their grief through counseling, creative outlets, or even by attending funerals to help process their emotions. With the new traits like Macabre, Chased by Death, and Skeptic, players can craft more complex narratives around how their Sims cope with loss.
More to Explore
For players looking to dive even deeper into the themes of life and death, the expansion offers new aspirations like Ghost Historian and skills like Thanatology—the study of death. There’s also a new death type, Death by Murder of Crows, for those seeking a dark twist in their gameplay. Whether it’s through unlocking ghostly powers, customizing ghost Sims in CAS, or pairing up for spectral Woohoo, Life and Death ensures there’s still plenty of life left in the afterlife!
For more updates on EA News, check out Project Rene: A New Era or A Missed Opportunity for The Sims?
