My version of realism I've realized is much more diverse in many ways even from the list provided and from other posts. I realize Sims is very fantasy and realistic in many ways even since the beginning. It is the representation of both not being in the game which has been the biggest hurdle of the Sims 4. If anything it represents a role playing, sitcom environment which I wouldn't even put in the same line as fantasy but more in the line of acting on a stage. True it does need more consequences which I highly agree with. I would like the Sims games to represent disabilities more. Repoman did return in Discover University and pretty cool how it works in a pretty realistic way with student loans which plagues a lot of young adults now. But yeah if anything even supernaturals are getting the short end of the stick with this iterations given how many supernaturals were available for the Sims 1, 2, and 3 at this time. I would like a toggle and thought it worked well in the Sims 3. I think Sims 4 colors are very inclusive and represent the environment of a mental hospital and prison with all the bland tones. If anything it annoys me how Grim uses a tablet with death. Makes me miss him partying with the hula dancers.
Sims 4 was never designed to be a life simulation game as you can see from the original heads of the game. Even talks about the game having soft fuzzy type drama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiYMtwINXI
