Learn how to customize your Sim's appearance, including body type, clothing, and accessories, and understand the impact of age and lifespan settings on gameplay in The Sims 4.
In The Sims 4, you can customize your Sim's gender, age, walk style, and voice pitch from the initial screen. Only the Sim's age significantly impacts gameplay. Lifespan settings in the options menu determine how long Sims live:
- Short Lifespan: Approximately 40 days.
- Normal Lifespan: Approximately 70 days (default).
- Long Lifespan: Approximately 250 days.
Within a normal lifespan, the approximate durations for each life stage are: Baby up to 3 days, Child up to 7 days, Teen about 7 days, Young Adult and Adult 10 days each. The Elderly stage duration depends on the Sim's health. These durations are halved for a short lifespan and multiplied by about four for a long lifespan. For example, if a normal lifespan Sim spends 23 days as a Young Adult and Adult, the same Sim on a long lifespan would have about 92 days for these stages.
Clicking on your Sim reveals extensive customization options, including skin tone, body type, clothing, and accessories. Experimenting with these features is encouraged to achieve your desired look. Additional options can be accessed by clicking the question marks below the customization box.
Two sliders on the left control muscle size and body width. The right side offers categories for customization:
- Body
- Styled Looks
- Tops
- Full Body
- Bottoms
- Accessories
- Shoes
The 'Body' tab allows adjustments to body proportions, skin tone, and the addition of tattoos. Clothing is categorized by environment: everyday, formal, sports, sleeping, party, and swimwear. Each category has subcategories with numerous color options.
'Styled Looks' are pre-made outfits. 'Tops' include shirts, sweatshirts, suits, bras, vests, and jackets. 'Full Body' options encompass jumpsuits, dresses, costumes, robes, lingerie, and swimsuits. 'Bottoms' feature pants, skirts, underwear, swimsuits, and shorts. 'Accessories' include wristbands, bracelets, gloves, rings, leggings, and socks. 'Shoes' range from sandals and flats to high heels and boots.
Use the arrow buttons near your Sim's feet to rotate the view, or click and drag elsewhere on the screen. Dragging on the Sim allows for detailed adjustments to specific body regions. A dice icon below the Sim randomizes their appearance, with an adjacent arrow to randomize specific parts via a checklist. Undo/redo functions and gallery-based randomization are also available. Remember to name your Sim by clicking the 'Hello, my name is...' button. After customizing appearance, you can then work on your Sim's personality.
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