The Sims 4 Occult Species, Ranked

Highlights

• Occult species in The Sims 4 add special powers and unique gameplay mechanics to the game, making it more interesting and exciting.
• Not all occult species are created equal, with some feeling more fleshed out and impactful than others. Some species, like vampires and werewolves, have a deep lore and rich set of abilities, while others, like ghosts and plant sims, have less impact on gameplay.
• Players can have fun exploring the lives of supernatural creatures, such as aliens, mermaids, and spellcasters, each with their own special powers and abilities. These occult species can surprise and entertain players if they take the time to fully explore their abilities.

It’s fun to play around with occult species in The Sims 4. If players are bored with the regular game, they can spice things up by introducing occult species to the mix. Occult species tend to have special powers, making them useful additions to the household. They may also bring some problems if they are ‘outed’ to other Sims.

Not all occult species in The Sims 4 are made equal, with some species feeling more ‘fleshed out’ than others. While some occult Sims are fun to try out, the entertainment factor may not last long. Others have a deeper impact and add interesting gameplay mechanics that make the base game feel more interesting.

Updated December 10, 2023, by Kath Leroy: A part of The Sims 4‘s charm lies in the variety of the occult creatures it offers. Players can have a lot of fun exploring the lives of supernatural creatures with different skills and powers. In each case, it makes the gameplay different from playing with regular, human Sims. That much is obvious. What’s less clear is the biggest strengths each occult species in the game has, which make playing them so much more rewarding. From aliens to vampires, The Sims 4 occult species often have the power to surprise the players if they take the time to explore.

8 Ghosts

Create a spooky atmosphere and flesh out the Paranormal Investigator career.

• Creation: It’s possible to turn Sims into ghosts after they die, or use the séance table to turn into one temporarily.

Want to creep out some Sims? Introduce a ghost to the family! Ghosts are introduced to the game when a Sim dies. They’re not accessible in Create-A-Sim, so players will need to make a new Sim and then kill them off to turn them into a ghost. There are many ways to kill a Sim, so players can get creative with this. Top tip: drowning and fire are among the easiest ways to do it; harsh but effective.

Ghosts can scare other Sims, talk about death, and possess items. Players can’t control them, but they may be a nice (and spooky) addition to a household. If players have the Paranormal Stuff pack and are following the Paranormal Investigator career, they can use the séance table to make a Sim transform temporarily into a ghost. Still, they’re last on this list because, although they add a slightly spooky atmosphere to a household, they don’t do much.

7 Servo

Help Sims improve their skills.

• Creation: Build a Servo using the Robotics skill.

A Servo is a robot Sim, a fully playable character like other occult species. They’re introduced to the game in the Discover University expansion pack. Sims can build a servo but only if they have a very high robotics skill. They have human names and traits and can express themselves via a screen on their face. They can have relationships with other Sims (including romantic relationships), and they’re handy to have around.

Servos are, essentially, regular Sims in a robot’s body. They don’t have many special powers (although they can zap people if they feel like it). They can’t have children or go anywhere near water. Still, they’re a fun addition to the game, and they’re a good project for Sims to get into.

6 Aliens

Gain access to special powers and an alien planet.

• Creation: Aliens can be created in CAS, or an alien baby can be born to regular Sims after an abduction.

Players can access aliens if they have the Get To Work expansion pack. While the pack itself is a mixed bag (it can be buggy, and some players find the actual working aspect frustrating), the aliens are quite fun. They come from the planet Sixam, a secret lot that players can unlock by completing the Rocket Science skill or the Scientist career.

Aliens add a random element to the game that can make it more exciting. An alien-obsessed Sim can be abducted at any time, and male Sims may return pregnant. Aliens are pretty similar to regular Sims, but they may be able to read minds and have empathy powers when interacting with other Sims. They blend into the neighborhood as regular Sims, but even if they do get ‘outed’ as an alien, other Sims seem to get over it pretty quickly.

5 Plant Sims

Communicate with plants through a temporary transformation.

• Creation: Become a Plant Sim by eating the forbidden fruit. Requires level 10 in gardening.

Plant Sims are available in the base game. If a regular Sim eats a forbidden fruit, their skin and hair will turn green. This changes a Sim’s genetic makeup: they need to absorb energy from the sun, and no longer need to eat food. They also need access to water regularly (similar to the mermaid Sims) by taking showers or standing outside in the rain.

Plant Sims are interesting, but temporary. They’ll eventually transform back into regular Sims. This makes them a unique occult species, but they don’t have much of an impact on the wider game. Their lack of longevity ranks them lower than other occult species, even though they have some cool skills.

4 Spellcasters

Use powers that make gameplay easier, and explore a hidden world.

• Creation: Create spellcasters in CAS. Regular Sims can be initiated by one of the three sages.

Spellcasters are introduced in the Realm of Magic pack. They’re wizards, who can use magic to solve problems, fight other spellcasters, and even prank other Sims. They introduce an interesting mechanic in the form of their spell book, which contains a skill tree. The further a Sim progresses in certain forms of magic, the more powerful they will become.

Spellcasters have some cool abilities: they can steal objects that don’t belong to them, cause other Sims to feel intense sadness, multiply objects, turn one small object into many objects, and more. They’re handy to have around in terms of making the game easier. Ultimately, though, they’re just regular Sims with some extra powers, and they lack the cool features that other occult species have.

3 Mermaids

Change the weather, befriend water creatures, and influence other Sims.

• Creation: Create a Mermaid in CAS, or eat the Mermadic Kelp.

Mermaids are introduced to the game in the Island Living pack. Like other occult species, mermaids can hide their powers from other Sims. They need to keep their Hydration levels up, however, as their skin starts to dry out if they stay out of the water for too long. This makes the island paradise Sulani perfect for mermaid Sims, as they can go for a swim whenever they need to.

They have some cool powers, including the ability to summon an Ocean Threat, which can potentially drown another Sim. They can also befriend dolphins and sing melodies to influence the mood of a nearby Sim. While they have some interesting powers, the mermaids feel a little underdeveloped in terms of gameplay. They’re fun to play around with for a while, but nothing much happens if they’re ‘outed’ as a mermaid.

2 Vampires

Explore a tree of skills and weaknesses, and become practically immortal.

• Creation: Can be made in CAS, or Sims can be turned if bitten by an experienced vampire.

If players have the Vampires pack, they can enjoy one of the most interesting occult species in the game. Vampires have powers (casting hallucinations, turning into a bat form, and persuading other Sims to become attracted to them), but these powers come with a cost. Vampire Sims have to put up with a lot. Walking in the daylight burns their skin, they can’t enjoy regular food, and they sometimes hiss at passing Sims.

Vampires are one of the best occult species in the game. They feel balanced: their powers are useful, but they have weaknesses, too. Plus, the pack introduces some incredible Create-A-Sim and Build and Buy items, allowing players to build the Gothic mansion of their dreams.

1 Werewolves

Gain access to a rich set of developing powers.

• Creation: Made in CAS, or turned by being scratched, bitten, or attacked by a werewolf.

The newest occult species in the game, werewolves, are a great addition. They can pick up dormant abilities by doing certain tasks, and these allow Sims to do some useful things, like sleeping anywhere on the ground or even becoming immortal eventually. Starting as Pups, Sims will grow, developing their strength and power, and learning more about their ancestors.

That’s the great thing about werewolves: there’s rich lore to be discovered, and being a werewolf feels like a core part of their personality. Other occult species (perhaps excluding vampires) feel a bit lackluster, and their paranormal abilities don’t seem to have much of an impact on the world around them. Werewolves feel different to play, and everything from their lifestyle choices to their relationship with other Sims is impacted by their wolfishness.

The Sims 4 is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.