All expansion packs are developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, for the Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms.
Get to Work also includes a secret lot called "Sixam" (which is "Maxis" spelled backwards), which can be found using the wormhole generator, available at level 10 of the new Scientist career.
[20] Customers will enter the lot and will walk to a random object or mannequin of their liking, with a bar above their head that showcases their interest to buy.
The pack also features a new world called San Myshuno where new venues (penthouses, art center, central park, karaoke bar and apartments) are located.
[29] Apartments offer new gameplay compared to normal residential lots, such as landlords, paying rent, various types of pests and close quarter neighbors.
[29] If the player chooses to work from home, the game will generate two randomized tasks for the Sim to complete, in order to gain boost to their job performance that is added to the payment received when the day is over.
Cats & Dogs includes Brindleton Bay, a brand new world that is based on typical New England seafront towns.
Create-a-Pet borrows the same click and drag mechanic from Create-a-Sim, making players able to sculpt and mold their pets to have more details and features.
[4] Hardcore Gamer's Spencer Rutledge called Cats & Dogs "an excellent — and much-needed" expansion for the game.
The four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter also shape the entire lives of Sims, allowing for new activities, festivities and more.
[40] All worlds have their own unique climates with different weather patterns, including rainy, cloudy, sunny and snowy.
[40] They are worldwide events that repeat each year, and each come with their own set of traditions which define the way the Sims celebrate the holiday.
"[41] Avendano also rated the pack saying it's "worthy of your time and attention", provided the player owned and enjoyed The Sims 4.
[45] If they have a bad, awful or an atrocious reputation, celebrities will receive boos and other negative attention from nearby Sims.
[45] When actors have an acting gig, they must attend to the studio lot and perform their daily tasks, consisting of getting their costume fitted, hair styled, practicing lines, talking with the director, etc.
Sims can enjoy themselves in relaxing beach activities, lounging in cool waters, or exploring the oceans by either snorkeling or canoeing, where they can meet mermaids and dolphins.
In exchange for this restriction, mermaids have the ability to influence the moods and actions of other Sims with various Siren Songs, most of which deplete Hydration.
[9] A review in the entertainment magazine GamesRadar+ gave the pack a 4.5/5 commenting "Eco Lifestyle can feel like an uphill battle, but that's one of the best aspects of The Sims 4's gameplay.
You have to earn your stripes, put in some serious work, and balance a lot of things at once in order to make a demonstrable change in this world.
[63] Entertainment website GodisaGeek stated "Eco Lifestyle is another game changer for The Sims 4, and a true home run for Maxis.
[68] The development of Snowy Escape began with the idea of introducing winter sports, while the location was created with inspiration of Japan, its ancient and modern traditions.
"[75] However, a more critical review in the entertainment website Screen Rant focused on flaws in the pack's functioning commenting that it 'features some interesting elements but too many hiccups or setbacks to let them shine through the whiteout conditions of its failings.
The pack focuses on country life, and includes various animals such as cows, chickens, llamas, wild birds, rabbits and foxes.
[11] Gaming website TechRaptor gave the expansion a 7/10 commenting that "Thanks to an excellent new location to explore and some solid build mode items, this pack successfully stands out from the crowd but the lacklustre new gameplay elements and low level but persistent technical problems mean that this pack falls a little short of greatness.
"[79] Dexerto gave the expansion a rating of 7.5 out of ten, arguing that "Cottage Living is a step in the right direction for The Sims team and shows that they're listening to what the community wants.
With a beautiful world, deep story, returning, and highly requested features, the overall experience of Cottage Living is incredibly positive.
Players can help their Sims as they mature by negotiating the difficulties of adolescence and early adulthood, such as choosing friendships, relationships, and careers.
[91] Digital Spy gave the expansion pack 4 out of five stars, complimenting the world, the horse customization, and gameplay features, but saying that the "biggest disappointment" was the equestrian center competitions, which is "nothing more than a rabbit hole" and pop-ups.
This pack allows players to build rental residential houses, with multiple families of Sims living in the same lot.
It is supported in Czech, Danish, German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Swedish, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Norwegian Bokmål and Dutch.