The Sims 4 Unveils Life & Death Expansion Pack

Just in time for Halloween, The Sims 4 is gearing up to release its highly anticipated 17th expansion pack, Life & Death, on October 31. This thrilling update introduces two new death-related career paths, a rewards system designed to help Sims lead fulfilling lives, and the exciting ability to control ghostly Sims.

Fans got an early glimpse of this expansion after a teaser post on The Sims' official Twitter page on October 1 revealed a nine-second clip of a living Sim donning the Grim Reaper’s iconic robes. While this sparked widespread curiosity, details about the expansion remained scarce until the official announcement on October 3. Now, players can look forward to exploring the eerie new content, thanks to a three-minute trailer and a detailed description of the expansion, available on the game’s website.

Welcome to Ravenwood: A New Realm for the Living and the Dead

The Life & Death expansion introduces Ravenwood, a hauntingly beautiful realm made up of three unique neighborhoods, where living Sims and ghosts co-exist. Alongside this new setting, players can dive into two new career paths: the Reaper, who helps souls transition between life and death, and the Undertaker, who assists with more traditional or supernatural endings.

In addition to these careers, players will now be able to draft wills, plan and host funerals, and experience four emotional states of grief—Denial, Holding It Together, Anger, and Blues—as their Sims navigate the loss of loved ones.

What to Expect in the Life & Death Expansion

Here’s a snapshot of the features coming to The Sims 4 with this latest expansion:

- Playable Ghosts that can join your household

- Explore a new three-neighborhood realm

- Engage in out-of-body experiences at Baleful Bog

- Start your Sims’ Soul’s Journey

- Complete Bucket Lists for rewarding experiences

- Experience Spectral Woohoo in various objects

- Customize your ghost Sims’ appearance

- Ghost powers with a progression system

- Pursue Reaper and Undertaker careers

- New Ghost Historian Aspiration

- Three new traits: Macabre, Chased by Death, and Skeptic

- Write wills and manage inheritances

- Four types of grief

- Plan customizable funerals

The expansion’s trailer offers a heartfelt glimpse into the new content. It opens with an elderly Sim passing away in bed, surrounded by family. His daughter later struggles through funeral preparations, family disputes over the will, and memories of cherished moments with her father. When she visits his gravestone, she encounters her father’s ghost, who’s on a mission to resolve unfinished business before he ascends. The Grim Reaper himself makes an appearance, hinting that mastering ghostly powers is a key element of the new progression system. Although the website doesn’t reveal too much, it suggests that ghost Sims will be able to earn Simoleons by building Fear or Goodwill through their interactions with the living. Even living Sims can temporarily tap into ghostly abilities by visiting the mysterious Baleful Bog.

Celebrate Life as Well as Death

While much of the expansion centers on the afterlife, Life & Death also adds new ways for living Sims to make the most of their time. Starting in the Young Adult phase, Sims can now create Bucket Lists, allowing them to earn powerful rewards by completing key milestones in their Soul’s Journey. It’s still unclear how this will differ from the game’s existing Aspiration rewards, but players can expect fresh challenges and exciting opportunities.

For those eager to dive in, the expansion is available for pre-order now. Players who purchase before December 12 will receive exclusive pre-order bonuses, including the Lasting Legacy Family Portrait, the Mournful Melodies Music Box, and the Plumed Elegance Mask.

With Life & Death, The Sims 4 offers an intriguing blend of emotional depth, supernatural elements, and new challenges, making it a must-play for longtime fans and newcomers alike.