Which do you prefer the most? I imagine most will say both, but pick the answer that best reflects you (how you play more, and what youd like the team to focus more on)By simulation I mean the game giving you more challenge, day to day tasks, having to work and earn, manage chores, upkeep relationships, you handle what the game gives you and so onBy sandbox I mean you control the environment and challenges, can maniuplate the world, play more often with cheats and customization , youd like most control over relationships, work, the game gives you the tools to design everything and so on.

Simulation for the most part. I play the game as it's presented. Completing goals and objectives such as aspirations, careers, skills, etc.

Sometimes it's a mix of both, but I tend to play sandbox style. No rules but my own.

I mean yeah its a mix i like having the simulation stuff too but reason i love sims is more the sandbox " do whatever you want" approach to itI don't enjoy game for a long time if I am just following someone elses ideas for what i am supposed to do with itthat said i do feel its lovely to have some challenge and preset things and quests and challenges and things that disturb my sims lives as well for the side entertainmentand lot of things i like do also tend to drop to the simulation side tbhidk... its just good balance of both really,with freedom to do whatever

I actually play both styles so it's hard to put a label on my play style. I "grew up" on RPG games on console, Zelda, etc, so I am definitely into goal oriented play styles. But, I love to re-construct many of EA's houses, re-construct EA's sims and play my style, also. That is why I can't get into legacy play, just can't seem to follow those rules. Prime example, favorite pack in Sims 3 was World Adventures. :)

Some amount of simulation is necessary or it couldn't rightfully be called "Sims 4," I guess. :lol: But I really do think of it as more of a virtual stage with props, costumes, and set dressing wherein I make up and have little sims perform in my little stories of no importance to anyone but me. I like it that way.

Is your playstyle more like sandbox or simulation?

moderateosprey
New Spectator
4 years ago
"CK213;c-17980869" wrote:
I think my perspective is slightly different.
I want a simulation to create a living world for all the NPCs.

I want a sandbox to to provide all the sandbox tools to make story scenarios for my sims that take advantage of situations created by the simulation. A sandbox without the simulation is just a doll house.

^ this :)
GalacticGal
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
I play more sandbox style, personally. And while I don't mind if the game throws a curve ball once in awhile, I don't like it targeting my favorite Sim for death, as it seemingly did at one time.
NightlyCoffee
4 years ago
I'd say I'm a bit of both. I'm a storyteller, and the most important thing for me is to have control over my story and characters. I love managing the day to day tasks of my sims and dealing with any challenge that arises, but in the end, I want to decide how my story goes.
EnkiSchmidt
Hero
4 years ago
Place yourself:

https://abload.de/img/unbenanntupjjx.png

I love challenges, but also play out scriped stories, so I'm probably closer to the middle than the far right of Dollhouse/Challenge axis. But definitely near the maximum of the Control Vs. Watch axis.
Myrthella
4 years ago
This was a really difficult decision! I feel like I enjoy both...

I don't use any gameplay cheats though so I picked simulation style. I like my sims to 'work' for their achievements, I always have a specific goal in mind that I try to work to. And I enjoy it if the game throws a curveball at me (although TS4 doesn't do that a lot).
But I also enjoy manipulating the world around me, creating NPC families and placing them in homes, cheating their stats and money to fit the backstory I had in mind. When playing with my family. I use the clubs to 'cheat' the surrounding sims to act a certain way. So I don't really know, it depends on which sim I'm playing with and I'm happy that this game gives us the option to do both!
VWoodsong
Seasoned Observer
4 years ago
"StrawberryYogurt;c-17981839" wrote:
81 answers and 41 for simulation and 40 for sandbox. I see this a pretty even split between the community. Do you (anyone reading) feel like Sims 4 provides an equal amount of playstyle and tools to play with both styles?

Interesting question. When I first found my preferred way of playing this game (late 2019 or early 2020) I'd have said that there was probably a roughly equal balance. But as more and more updates have come the pendulum has been slowly swinging (from my perspective) toward the appearance of catering more to those who prefer a "gamier game" than I personally want from this one. If it keeps going that way I'll likely end up giving up and moving on to other things along with my other current pastimes (some of which are some very "gamey games" that I already love).
mightyspritesims
Seasoned Hotshot
4 years ago
@StrawberryYogurt I always enjoy new difficulties, challenges, limitations and obstacles to overcome. I feel like in general it's good to be able to opt in or opt out of the more difficult/intrusive challenges in some way (or at least cheat out of them), so that they don't get in the way of sandbox-oriented players.

I like new traits that affect autonomy and interactions among sims, and new tweaks given to existing traits. Anything that makes different sims act differently and want different things, I love. I appreciate what's already in the game-- my sims do not all act the same as I use a wide variety of traits, for example I love my Loner and Outgoing sims who are married to one another, and I roll with the effects of negative sentiments instead of cheating them out or modding them out or quitting without saving.

I like lot challenges like simple living. Etc. The errands in Henford-on-Bagley are interesting and it would be cool to see more quest-type challenges like that.
ChaoticMoira
New Spectator
4 years ago
It is really hard to pick one. Because for me it is a dead split.
With my sims I want simulation and challenges. I like to have to manage them, but I want the game to deliver unexpected scenarios and difficulties too. Though I don't care for "mission based stories" (like the Strangerville thing etc.).
BUT
When it comes to the world my sims live in I want Sandbox ALL THE WAY! I want to control the whole world, how it looks, what buildings are in it, who lives in it, how it functions, EVERYTHING! lol
Onverser
4 years ago
Definitely simulation. I'm not a storyteller at all and get bored when I don't have enough direction from the game
GlacierSnowGhost
Seasoned Hotshot
4 years ago
I use mods to make it even more sandbox-like than it officially is.