The Sims 4: City Living expansion pack includes the large city of San Myshuno with bustling streets, apartment buildings, penthouses, and four unique neighborhoods. Figuring out the best way to start the game depends on how you're trying to play. Do you want to bulldoze a penthouse lot and build your own? Or would you rather work your way up the new political career and forgo a nice modern apartment building for a room in run-down rowhome? There are a lot of options in City Living and we had a chance to talk with Sims Producer Grant Rodiek, who gave us a few tips on how to navigate the new world.
“One way the game is quickly constrained is if you're moving with a fresh character that doesn’t have any money, which is how I recommend it,” Rodiek said. “It helps you create that true city story. When you first move in, there’s only so many places you can afford. So the map is constrained quite quickly.”
If you choose to take Rodiek’s recommended route, the cheapest apartments are 21 Chic St, Jasmine Suites and Culpepper. They have grimy walls, used double futon beds, leaking pipes and rats. Dealing with the stress it causes your Sim will be a challenge. On the upside, Jasmine Suites and Culpepper Apartments are right in the Spice Market with basketball courts and food trucks right out the front door.
The 26 new lot traits added to the game give each apartment its own vibe, which affects the way Sims feel when they are there. For example, the Culpeper apartments ‘need TLC.’ Add ‘fast internet’ or ‘home studio’ to help Sims increase computer or art skills quicker.
“I can recommend to everyone the Culpepper apartments in the Spice District,” Rodiek said. “It‘s a little more affordable, dirty around the edges, but it's full of culture, cool people and great food. The apartments are hilariously bad in some cases.”
City Living also includes a brand new aspiration to help guide you through the content. The City Native Aspiration takes you through some of the elements of the city and like all aspirations, gives bonuses as you discover more things.
“I recommend picking a neighborhood, picking cheaper apartment and using that aspiration. It will guide you through and hold your hand in a way that it gives you the freedom of a Sims experience where you can make your own choices, but it's not so overwhelming like, ‘Oh my god there’s too much to do.’”
If you plan on using a cheat to renovate The Old Salthouse or move into Torendi Tower Penthouse, there’s still a lot of new gameplay to explore. You can choose one of the new social media, political, or critic careers. There’s the option to work from home and have control over a Sim’s work day. Unlike the active careers in Get To Work, the Sim will be assigned special tasks at the start of the day that may take you out into San Myshuno.
One of five new festivals will appear in different neighborhoods of San Myshuno 2-3 times a week. Check the bulletin board in the apartment entrance area to find out when the next festival is happening. If your Sim is in a science or tech field, Geek Con is a great way to build skills faster. For foodie Sims, try new dishes at the Spice Festival so you can cook them at home and in restaurants. If you like to build, The Penthouses aren’t limited to just residential lots. Build a nightclub, bar or restaurant on top.
The Sims 4: City Living is now available in North America and Asia.
