How do you play The Sims 4?

How to play The Sims 4: a beginner's guide

Start a new game and make your Sims in Create a Sim. Move them into a lot. In Live Mode, click objects and Sims to choose actions, and keep needs like Hunger and Energy up. Build skills, find a job on the phone and follow your aspiration. Press P to pause and 1, 2 or 3 to set speed.

Pack: Juego base.

Pasos

From the Main Menu, start a new game. New players can play the tutorial, which gives you a starter home and a roommate.
In Create a Sim, pick your Sim's look, traits and an aspiration. Click the head for face and hair, and the body for clothes. The dice icon makes a random look.
Choose a lot and move in. You can buy a pre-built home to start playing at once.
In Live Mode, click an object or another Sim and pick an action from the menu.
Watch the needs panel. Use a fridge or stove for Hunger, a bed for Energy, a toilet for Bladder and a shower or bath for Hygiene. Talk to Sims for Social and do fun activities for Fun.
Get a job: open the phone and select Business > Find a Job, or use Career > Find a Job on a computer.
Use Build Mode to build rooms and buy furniture. Save often from the Options Menu.

Controles

Acción	PC	Mac	PlayStation	Xbox
Pause	P, 0 or	P, 0 or	See the in-game Controls list	See the in-game Controls list
Normal, fast, ultra speed	1, 2, 3	1, 2, 3	See the in-game Controls list	See the in-game Controls list
Move camera	W, A, S, D or arrow keys	W, A, S, D or arrow keys	See the in-game Controls list	See the in-game Controls list
Zoom in and out	Z and X, or + and -	Z and X, or + and -	See the in-game Controls list	See the in-game Controls list
Switch to next Sim in household	Spacebar or N	Spacebar or N	See the in-game Controls list	See the in-game Controls list
Cancel	Esc	Esc	See the in-game Controls list	See the in-game Controls list

Needs, skills and careers

Sims have six needs: Hunger, Bladder, Energy, Hygiene, Social and Fun. Keep them up and your Sim stays happy and does better at everything.

Most skills have 10 levels; minor skills have 5. A Sim builds a skill by doing the activity, such as cooking for Cooking or talking for Charisma. Check progress in the Sim Panel under the Skills tab.

Careers send your Sim away for a shift. Professions (active careers) let you go to work with your Sim; they come with packs such as Get to Work. Check the Career panel (the briefcase icon) for the schedule and promotion needs.

Aspiraciones

An aspiration is your Sim's life goal. Most aspirations have four milestones, and each milestone has goals. Goals give satisfaction points that you spend in the Rewards Store. When a Sim finishes an aspiration, they get a reward trait and can pick a new one.

Console controls

On PlayStation and Xbox, the game shows a controls legend on screen. Turn it on or off in Game Options > Other with the Show Controls Legend option.

Common problems

My Sim will not do what I click

Check their needs. A Sim with very low needs may refuse some actions. Cancel queued actions (top-left of the screen) and fill the lowest need first.

I run out of money

Get a job through the phone, or sell items. Drag an item from your Sim's inventory onto the cash register icon to sell it.

I can't find a pre-built home

Most neighborhoods have at least one pre-built home. You can also download homes and Sims from the Gallery on PC and Mac.

The game moves too fast

Press P to pause, or 1 for normal speed, while you plan your Sim's actions.

In the Sims 4 database

More how-to guides

Play your Sims somewhere new

LifeSim is a free life sim in your browser, set in real cities. It can bring in a household from your Sims 4 Tray files or a save: importar una unidad doméstica de Los Sims 4. It doesn't change your Sims 4 game.

Fuentes

Checked on November 5, 2026.

Preguntas

Is there a tutorial in The Sims 4?

Yes. The base game has a tutorial that gives you a starter home and a roommate and walks you through needs, the camera and interactions.

How do I play The Sims 4 on a Mac?

Install the EA app for Mac and download The Sims 4. It is the same game as on PC, with the same controls.

Do I need packs to play The Sims 4?

No. The base game is free and complete. Packs add things like active careers (Get to Work), seasons and pets.

How do I get a job in The Sims 4?

Open the phone and select Business > Find a Job, use Career > Find a Job on a computer, or select Join a Career in the Career panel.