Despite being a life simulator, The Sims has always had elements of the supernatural. Occult Sims and occult gameplay have their own dedicated community among The Sims players, and the occults themselves are a great vehicle for storytelling. The Sims 4 has had fewer occults than previous games in The Sims franchise except the first The Sims games, leaving a gap for Project Rene to fill.
Some of the occults in The Sims are based on familiar storytelling monsters, such as werewolves and vampires, while others are original to The Sims, such as PlantSims and Servos. These occults are known in-game as life states, and come with different appearances, needs, wants, and special abilities that set them apart from baseline Sims.
One Niche Sims 4 Setting Could Be a Secret Weapon for Project Rene
Project Rene has the chance to really change the life simulator genre for the better, and one way it could do that is through one Sims 4 feature.
Sims 4 Occults That Need to Return in Project Rene
PlantSims
PlantSims were introduced in The Sims 2 as elf-like Sims connected to plants. In The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, they have green skin, and their needs are replaced with Water, Sunlight, and Love, though PlantSims in The Sims 3 still have the Energy need. PlantSims are fantastic gardeners; this means they automatically have Level Ten in gardening, can Talk to Plants, and can magically rescue ailing plants. PlantSims also reproduce either asexually, or by planting a Forbidden Fruit with a 50% chance of growing a PlantSim baby. The Sims 4 introduced PlantSims in a scenario and again in a patch, but it’s mostly a cosmetic appearance that turns the Sim green, with none of the actual characteristics that define PlantSims.
Mermaids
Mermaids are one of the most controversial life states in The Sims 4 because of how little content they have. Introduced in The Sims 3: Island Paradise, mermaids are popular for their aesthetic, mythical abilities, and storytelling potential. Like PlantSims, mermaids have altered Needs, and have the addition of the Hydration need. Mermaids need to be close to the ocean, as Hydration needs to be satisfied by saltwater specifically. If mermaids are included in Project Rene, they need to be given the same level of detail as other occults rather than feeling like an afterthought, as they do in The Sims 4.
Possible Occults in Project Rene That Don’t Appear in The Sims 4
Fairies
Fairies made their first appearance in The Sims 3: Supernatural, and don’t appear in The Sims 4 at all. This is especially odd, as fairies were a popular life state among players in The Sims 3, with customizable wings, a multitude of magical abilities, a connection with nature, and storytelling potential. Fairies have been teased to make a return in The Sims 4, but Project Rene would likely be a better place to bring them back.
Unicorns
Players expected unicorns to make their return in The Sims 4: Horse Ranch, and were disappointed when the only representation was a cosmetic change in the form of a sparkly horn. Unicorns were introduced in The Sims 3: Pets as otherworldly beings that appeared randomly in neighborhoods. They had supernatural abilities that allowed them to bless or curse Sims, rewarding the Sims who were patient enough to befriend them. With the amount of gameplay unicorns had in The Sims 3: Pets, players were expecting at least the same amount in The Sims 4, but Project Rene will need to do better to make up for the gap that The Sims 4 left.
Genies
Genies have always been a part of The Sims series, and The Sims 4 is the first game to feature their absence. The Sims 3: Showtime was the first time that genies were available as a playable life state and had a range of helpful magical abilities. Genies have more untapped potential that Project Rene could unravel, especially as it appears that The Sims 4 isn’t going to include genies in its iteration of the series.
The Sims 4
The Sims 4 is the latest offering from Maxis and The Sims Studio, serving as a sequel to The Sims 3. Although it was released back in 2014, the game is still going strong today thanks to an array of DLC add-on packs that give players access to more unlockable items and events.
- Released
- September 2, 2014
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- N/A
- X|S Enhanced
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 22 GB (November 2023)
- Metascore
- 70
