My Preferred Game Options Settings

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There are plenty of annoyances to have in the Sims 4. My preferred settings allow me to avoid some of those annoyances (the mods are required to handle the rest), and have the best possible experience with the game.

Gameplay

One of the first annoyances? The sims are not very smart. Some players love the kind of chaos this game can bring, and while that's valid and fun, I am not one of those players. I prefer to take away my sim's free will and micromanage everything. It's just less stressful this way.

  • Autonomy = Off
  • Allow Romantic Invites and Requests = Unchecked
  • Allow Friendly Invites and Requests = Unchecked
  • Allow Automatic Breakups = Unchecked
  • Disable Autonomy for Selected Sim = Checked
  • Auto Age (Played Sims) = It depends. Most of the time I pick the "No" option. However, if I'm doing a rotational playthrough, I pick "Only Active Household"
  • Auto Age: (Unplayed Sims) = Unchecked
  • Sim Lifespan = Short (It's the closest option to the lifespan from the Sims 2, my favorite game from the series. It's also more fun and more engaging when everything is progressing faster. I always get bored when there's no quick progress.)
  • Hide Challenge UI = Unchecked
  • Allow Burglar Visits = Checked 
  • Maximum Sim Count = Unlimited
  • Animal Aging = It depends. Usually, I pick the "Unchecked" option. However, if I'm doing a rotational playthrough, I pick "Checked"
  • Traditional Social Menu = Checked
  • Show Whims and Fears = Unchecked
  • Build Mode Items Grant Gameplay Effects = Checked 
  • Lifestyles = Unchecked (Lifestyles are, in my opinion, one of the worst implemented features. They feel like they only exist to limit your playstyle. They're annoying to deal with, so I never play with them.)
  • Automatic Death Inventory Handling = Unchecked
  • Neighborhood Stories = Unchecked

Environment

Another annoyance? The sims dying off screen due to the bad weather. Well, no more! 

  • Lunar Cycle Length = 8 days
  • Set Permanent Phase = Disabled
  • Disable Lunar Effects = Unchecked
  • Rain Options = None
  • Snow Options = Snow
  • Enable Temperature Effects On Sims = Unchecked 
  • Season Length = 28 days
  • Enable Thunder-snowstorms = Unchecked
  • Enable Icy Conditions = Unchecked

Pack Settings

This is where most of the annoyances and chaos can be simply turned off. 

  • Sims Begin Opted Out Of Fame = Unchecked
  • Enable NPC Voting = Unchecked
  • Enable Eco Footprint Gameplay = Checked
  • Enable Dust System = Unchecked (Granted, I don't own the Bust The Dust Kit, but I imagine it would be annoying to deal with.)
  • Limit Werewolves to Moonwood Mill = Checked
  • Enable acne = Unchecked
  • Self Discovery = Checked
  • Career Layoffs = Unchecked
  • Rental Unit Events = Unchecked
  • Hide Unit by Default = Unchecked
  • Enable Gallery Sims in Cupid's Corner = Unchecked
  • Enable Only Favorited Gallery Sims in Cupid's Corner = Unchecked
  • Enable Occult Sims in Cupid's Corner = Checked
  • Enable Heirloom Creation = Unchecked 
     
  • Enable Small Business Dilemmas = Checked

  • Limit Fairies to Innisgreen = Checked
  • Enable Balance & Imbalance = Checked
  • Enable Luck = Checked 

Tutorials & Tips

The Sims 4 have so many different tutorial systems, there should be a tutorial teaching you how to keep up with them! You won't need this stuff. Just turn them all off - additional pop-outs aren't helpful, they're messy and distracting.

  • Enable Guidance System = Unchecked
  • Enable Help Center Icon = Unchecked
  • Enable Pack Guidance System = Unchecked
  • Enable Discovery Quests = Unchecked

 

Well, that's about it!

Remember that your preferences might be different from mine - maybe you can't stand the fame system, but you can't live without acne because it adds to the realism. That's very valid! Adjust your game according to your own preferences and have fun! 😊