The Sims 4
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more.
- Released
- 2014
- Developer
- Maxis
- Platforms
- 4 systems
- Critics
- Not scored
- Steam Deck
- playable
- Download
- 26 GB
What is The Sims 4?
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more.
Description as published by the developer on its own store page, read 30 August 2026. It is marketing copy, not our assessment.
The record
| First released | 2 September 2014 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Maxis, The Sims Studio |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam Deck |
| Genres | Simulation |
| Languages | 18 supported |
Source. Catalogue facts from Wikidata Q12579896, seeded 30 August 2026. Store data from Steam, read 30 August 2026.
How was The Sims 4 received?
Method. Player figures are Steam's own totals for the PC version, read 30 August 2026. The Metacritic score is the one Steam publishes on its store page and can lag the site itself. Neither is our opinion. We have not published a review of this game.
Accessibility
Seeing
None declared
Hearing
- Stereo Sound
- Surround Sound
Input
- Mouse Only Option
- Playable without Timed Input
Difficulty
- Save Anytime
Method. Features the publisher declared on its own store page. A declaration is a floor, not a review.
What does it support?
| Capability | Support |
|---|---|
| Controller | Not stated |
| Cloud saves | No |
| Cross-platform play | No |
| Mod support | No official workshop |
| Online play | Single-player only |
| In-game purchases | Yes |
| Steam Deck | playable |
| Download size | 26 GB |
| Add-on content | 114 DLC listed |
| Age gate | None |
Method. Read from the publisher's Steam listing on 30 August 2026. Describes the PC version. Console versions differ.
What does it cost?
Steam price in US dollars, read 30 August 2026. Prices move hourly and vary by region. Check the current price.
Problems players report
We read the 300 most recent negative Steam reviews of The Sims 4 on 30 August 2026 and counted what they mention. These are complaints, not confirmed defects: we have not reproduced any of them, and a review describes one person's machine. What the counts tell you is which problems more than one person ran into.
- Monetisation inside the game9 of 300 (3%)
Electronic Arts has locked basic features as simple as weather behind a paywall of dozens of expansion, game, and stuff packs.
Steam review, 8 August 2026 · 694 hours played · 3 readers marked it helpfulIf you enjoy games that are a money grab, owned by a company that doesn't care about its player base, and is now filled to the brim with microtransactions then,,, The Sims franchise is just for you!
Steam review, 18 July 2026 · 686 hours played · 3 readers marked it helpful
A further 15 reviews call the game buggy or broken without saying how, which is why they are counted separately rather than assigned to a theme. Counted by keyword across review text, so a review discussing two problems is counted under both. Read the reviews yourself.
Games like The Sims 4
24 games overlap with The Sims 4 on the tags Steam players applied to it, on genre, and on theme. The closest are InZOI, The Sims 3 and SuchArt: Creative Space.
Common questions about The Sims 4
What platforms is The Sims 4 on?
The Sims 4 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam Deck. It first released in 2014.
Is The Sims 4 free?
Yes. The Sims 4 is free to download on Steam. It carries in-game purchases.
Do players recommend The Sims 4?
86% of 199,663 Steam reviews are positive, which Steam rates Very Positive. That is players rating it, not our review. We have not published a review of this game.
Does The Sims 4 work on Steam Deck?
Valve rates The Sims 4 as playable on the Steam Deck, from its own testing.
How big is the The Sims 4 download?
26 GB on PC, from the storage requirement on its Steam listing. Console versions differ.
Who made The Sims 4?
The Sims 4 was developed by Maxis, The Sims Studio and published by Electronic Arts.