Alongside the release ofThe Sims 4expansion packGrowing Together, infants have been added to the base game, bridging the gap between baby and toddler. There’s also a new feature which goes alongside this that is exclusive to the Growing Together pack: family dynamics.
Family dynamics can be added in Create-A-Sim (CAS) and aim to change the way Sims that are in the same household interact with one another. The dynamics are shared between only two Sims, meaning if you have a household of four, for example, one Sim can have completely different dynamics with each of the other three members of your household. There are seven dynamics to choose from, and explanations of each and how they affect gameplay are featured below.
7Close
Two Sims that have the Close family dynamic will always want to spend time together. Close Sims will have stronger relationships, having a higher chance of interactions succeeding, and frequentlydeveloping positive sentiments. When in conversation, close Sims will be inclined to have deep conversations with one another. This family dynamic is available for siblings, romantic relationships, and caregiver and child.
These Sims won’t have very many difficult times with each other, but on the off chance that one does something that hurts the other (for example, if two Sims with a close dynamic are married and one cheats) then it will hurt a lot more due to how close they are.
6Difficult
Relationships aren’t always easy, and that’s shown in Sims with the Difficult family dynamic. These Sims tend to argue over everything, never seeming to agree. When they interact, they’ll either complain, be mean, or be too annoyed to even speak to one another. It’s hard finding ways for these Sims to get along, so trying to build a positive relationship with this dynamic is a challenge. This family dynamic is available for siblings, romantic relationships, and caregiver and child.
Siblings will fight, partners will want to break up, and a child will want to leave home and never call again. Difficult dynamics will add some drama to your family gameplay, but if you ever want your Sims to mend their relationship, you may make it easier by removing the dynamic either using aspiration points to buy the Dynamics Remover Potion in the rewards store, or by using cheats to remove it in CAS.
5Distant
Sims that have the Distant family dynamic will have a lower relationship, and have the chance of developing negative sentiments towards one another. This family dynamic is available for siblings, romantic relationships, and caregiver and child.
Social interactions such as deep conversation won’t go as well as they do for close Sims, and will likely result in negative relationship points. Distant Sims don’t often speak in the household or attempt to spend time with each other, and if they move to separate households there is only a small chance they will ever interact. On the off chance that these Sims do talk, they will have short interactions that have minor relationship effects.
4Jokesters
These Sims always find a way to have a good time. Sims with the Jokesters family dynamic will often team up to participate in pranks against other Sims in the household. Their social interactions with one another will almost always be jokes, and when the jokes land they can easily gain positive relationship points. But, sometimes, their jokes aren’t always funny, and they can negatively affect the relationship and even have the Sims develop negative sentiments.
This family dynamic is available for siblings, romantic relationships, and caregiver and child. These Sims will easily slip into a playful mood when they’re with each other. But, you should keep an eye on them, because if they joke around too much and become hysterical,they can die from laughter.
3Permissive
It seems like some young Sims can get away with anything, and it’s likely because they have a Permissive family dynamic with their caregiver. Available only for caregiver and child relationships, this dynamic causes caregivers to be more forgiving with their young Sims, and those young Sims tend to ask for a lot more because of it.
It’s unlikely that a permissive caregiver will get upset with their young Sim, even more unlikely that they’ll punish them for sneaking out or pulling a mean prank. These Sims will have a positive relationship with each other, with the caregiver providing the young Sim with a lot of extra positive attention.
2Strict
This dynamic is only available for caregiver and child relationships, but as opposed to the easy-breezy permissive dynamic, Sims with the Strict family dynamic have a lot more rules. The caregiver Sim will have quite high expectations for how their young Sim should act, and the young Sim will have to put in a lot of work to meet or even surpass those expectations. But, the pressure is often too much, and the child Sim will feel tense when they’re around their strict caregiver.
While this dynamic may cause your child Sim to get good grades, it will cause a lot of strain on their relationship. When these Sims socialize, the child Sim will only feel comfortable having short, small-talk conversations with their caregiver, so they will have a pretty low relationship.
1Supportive
Like the strict dynamic, these caregiver Sims want to verify their child Sim succeeds, but they take a much gentler approach to it. Only available for caregiver and child Sims, when two Sims have the Supportive dynamic they’ll make sure to give each other frequent affection and compliments.
Supportive caregiver Sims will always try to aid the child Sim by helping them with homework and school projects, giving them emotional advice, and making sure their needs are met. These Sims will have an extremely positive relationship, as the child Sim will always feel comfortable coming to their supportive caregiver to ask for advice or have an emotional chat.
