If you're a fan of *The Sims 4* and crave a unique gameplay experience, the Decades Challenge might be just what you need. This challenge lets your Sims journey through different historical eras, each with its own set of rules and restrictions, adding a layer of difficulty and historical immersion to your game. Let's dive into the rules and how to navigate this fascinating challenge.

Rules of the Decades Challenge in The Sims 4

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The Decades Challenge spans from 1890 to 2010 or 2020, depending on your preference. Every two days in the game represents a new year. You can adjust these years to personalize your challenge. For instance, days one and two are 1890, days three and four are 1891, and so on. This is a perfect way to relive history, especially during the ongoing Blast from the Past event.

To ensure historical accuracy, turn off automatic aging and use specific life expectancy guidelines. These vary based on whether your Sims were born before or after 1950, reflecting real-world changes in life expectancy:

• Baby: Age after 1 day (6 months old)
• Infant: Age after 3 days (2 years old)
• Toddler: Age after 8 days (6 years old)
• Child: Age after 14 days (13 years old)
• Teen: Age after 12 days (19 years old)

For Sims born before 1950:

• Young Adult: Age after 26 days (32 years old)
• Adult: Age after 36 days (50 years old)
• Elder: Dies after about 14 days (around 60 years old)

For Sims born after 1950:

• Young Adult: Age after 32 days (35 years old)
• Adult: Age after 60 days (65 years old)
• Elder: Dies after about 56 days (around 90 years old)

Start the challenge with a single young adult or a married couple of young adults. Multi-generational living was common in earlier times, so one Sim can have their parents in the household. Dress your Sims in period-appropriate outfits to enhance the historical feel.

Housing rules include restrictions on certain worlds. You can't use Strangerville at all, and Del Sol Valley becomes available only in the 1950s. For realism, avoid using Sulani as well. Single Sims can live in apartments, but they must move to a house upon marriage.

Technology use is also regulated. Phones can be used for gameplay elements but not for entertainment or communication until the appropriate decade. The same applies to computers, which are necessary for certain jobs and ordering items like books and seeds. Choose jobs that fit the time period you're simulating.

The Sims 4 Decades Challenge Difficulties

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Each decade in the Decades Challenge brings its own set of rules, which you can explore in detail at Cute Coffee Gal's full challenge guidelines. Here's a brief overview:

1890s

Only male heirs are allowed. Daughters must have the Creative trait and move out upon marriage. WooHooing is prohibited; Sims can only sleep together to try for a baby. Babies are born at home. Men work period-appropriate jobs like woodworking, while women manage the household or freelance if widowed. No electricity; kids attend elementary school, but high school is optional. University is allowed with period-appropriate majors. Start creating a Cow Plant.

1900s

Lamps and indoor plumbing are now allowed, but no showers. Jobs and education rules remain the same as the 1890s, with phonographs acceptable for music.

1910s

Teen, Young Adult, and Adult males are drafted for World War I, eating Cow Plant cake and rolling a dice to determine survival. The oldest female and her husband become heirs if all males die. High school is now mandatory with a C average; otherwise, Sims move out. Males can attend university after the war, and women can take manual labor jobs.

1920s

Women can be heirs and don't need to move out upon marriage. The Creative trait for daughters is optional. Talk radio, movies, and all lighting options are allowed. Women can work if their husbands don't earn enough. Alcohol is prohibited due to Prohibition.

1930s

Kegs are allowed at university. The Great Depression affects job availability; Sims lose their jobs at the start of the decade and can find new ones after a week. Prohibition ends, but meals are limited to one cooked meal a day, with others scavenged or grown.

1940s

Follow World War I rules for World War II. Households need a victory garden with at least four plants. Thermostats, washers, and dryers are allowed, as is a daily hour of radio listening. High schoolers aren't sent away for bad grades, and teens can have part-time jobs.

1950s

The oldest son goes to war in the Korean War. Showers and cheap TVs are allowed, and radio listening isn't required. High school is mandatory, and phones can be used for calls.

1960s

The oldest two children go to war in the Vietnam War. Any college major is allowed, and women can take maternity leave. Sims can now WooHoo without restrictions.

1970s

The oldest two children go to war in the Vietnam War again. Marriage is encouraged but not required. Microwaves, dishwashers, lottery tickets, and food delivery are now available.

1980s

Gaming is allowed, and at least one Sim must pursue a business career. Science babies and hospital births are permitted.

1990s

Laptops and unrestricted TV watching are allowed. Appliance and furniture restrictions are lifted, and texting is permitted. Families must build a Y2K shelter and stay in it for three days.

2000s

Computer and phone restrictions are lifted, except for Trendi. Babies can be born at home or in the hospital, and all music types and TV channels are allowed.

2010s

Journalism is not allowed due to the decline of print media. Same-sex marriages are permitted, along with all part-time work and the use of the meat wall, trendi, and weather generator.

This comprehensive guide to the Decades Challenge in *The Sims 4* should help you navigate your Sims through history with authenticity and fun. While the *Eco Lifestyle* pack enhances the challenge, feel free to adapt it to the packs you own.

*The Sims 4 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*