EA made The Sims 4 core game free to play in October 2022, under the impression that people were going to blow a couple hundred quid on DLC for it. Don't let's dance around the point: The Sims 4 is stripped way, way down; it was designed specifically for expansion packs and EA knows this. They're counting on people being too uninformed to know better and throw money at them for things that only look good from one angle.
Fortunately, The Sims has a long history of modding. From the very first sofa recolour made on The Sims Transmogrifier in 2001 to the 3D wizards making entire custom game packs in Blender in the present day, the community always has your back. The oldest and most-respected source for Sims downloads is ModTheSims, established in 2004 to host things for The Sims 2. Apart from an extensive database of custom content for The Sims 2, 3, and 4, they also have a forum where users can request things, talk about the game, and help other users discover how to make their own content. Right now, however, we'll focus on the things that you can download in order to expand your game without throwing an entire paycheque at EA. These items require no prerequisite DLC, being fully compatible with a new, unexpanded install.
"How do I even install this stuff?" Unless otherwise instructed by the creator, extract all the files from the ZIP, RAR, or 7z you get from MTS into your Documents / Electronic Arts / The Sims 4 / Mods directory. On Mac, it's a similar process and the directory has pretty much the same path, you just use the Finder to get there.
"Why can't you just give me a batch download link? Why do I have to torturously download every item one at a time?" I agree, a batch download would be easier, but all of these creators have different policies towards redistribution. The only website they've all agreed to be a distributor of their content is ModTheSims.info, so that's the only place I'm going to link to.
Table of Contents
Room Sets
Single Objects
Building Materials
Create A Sim Mode
Game Mods
Teen Style Stuff
Download on ModTheSims.
This is a recreation of the stuff pack by the same name from The Sims 2. It immediately grants you access to three design aesthetics; Goth, Frilly, and Preppy. Obviously, as the name implies, this is more suitable for children and teenagers than any other age group, but it lays the groundwork for these three archetypes that you can expound upon later. Also, this set is only concerned with interior design; clothing and hairstyles are beyond its purview. Besides, this is the "Room Sets" section-- we'll get into style parts later. Also, it should be noted that the set contains a vanity table, which will not function without the Vintage Glamour Stuff DLC, but the creator has headed off any potential conflicts by separating this object from the rest of the set for people who don't have that particular expansion pack.
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Sleek Slumber Stuff
Download on ModTheSims.
An absolute must for any clean install, Sleek Slumber Stuff is a highly-alliterative custom stuff pack that focusses on a midrange European loft aesthetic. Rather than being informed by ridiculously unlikely designs that only exist in architecture magazines like EA, this set is based upon actual designs that you can find in the real world, but without breaking my cardinal rule of the Microcosm. That is to say, this set remains grounded in the universe of The Sims and does not attempt to introduce real-life branding or Latin alphabet lettering. At the same time, it stays true to the general form of Sims 4 object design; wide, chunky furniture; visible joinery; bright colours; a bit low-poly; and just the right amount of detail without looking like a PS2 game.
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Eco Kitchen Stuff
Download on ModTheSims.
From the same creator as the previous item, Eco Kitchen Stuff does for the kitchen what the Sleek Slumber pack does for the bedroom, containing all the items necessary to create a kitchen for a midrange European loft. It also introduces some ideas not present in The Sims 4 core game or any DLC, such as stackable decorative dishware to place in the cupboards, object slots on the unused burners of the range top, and a smartscreen-like panel to attach to the refrigerator. While the dining chairs are a bit chunkier than one may otherwise prefer, the set more or less matches the colour scheme of the "Sooner or Ladder Dining Chair" from the stock game, or you can find a better chair elsewhere on the website.
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Rusti.co Office
Download on ModTheSims.
The Sims 4 is sorely lacking in decent office furniture. The only office chairs look like they'd smash your butt flat if you sat in them for more than 25 minutes, and the desks are just bad. This pack looks like it fell out of Office Depot, right down to the dual-screen computer. Also, this set doesn't forget about the printer—just like a real office, someone invariably prints something and forgets about it, so it just sits there on the printer... waiting...
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Glamour Life Stuff
Download on ModTheSims.
A recreation of the stuff pack for The Sims 3 by that name, this pack reintroduces several well-known DLC items from The Sims 2 as well, such as the huge television set, wood-trimmed stereo, and pop art paintings.
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Halcyon Closet System
Download on ModTheSims.
For those who have dreamed of the perfect closet storage system ever since they saw that influencer video on TikTok the other week, now here's your chance to build it from scratch. While it's designed to produce a high-end American walk-in closet, it can be piecemealed out into bureaux, shelving units, displays, or just used as clutter for the fugly core game dressers.
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Office Set from The Sims 3
Download on ModTheSims.
Originating from the Vaindenburger DLC set from The Sims Store, this is the set's executive desk, office chair, and armchair. Man, did I ever use and use and overuse the Vaindenburger set. I loved that stuff. Still do, actually.
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Mini Drive-In Set
Download on ModTheSims.
It's an interesting concept; a drive-in movie in a game where nobody drives. Nonetheless, the Sims 3-sourced "cars" in this set (actually loveseats, but don't tell anybody) give you the ability to have a car parked outside your house. You can't drive it, but it looks good, and what's The Sims if not making stuff look good?
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Modern Dining Table and Chair
Download on ModTheSims.
Sourced from The Sims 3 Seasons, this 3x1 table and matching dining chair are far better than any of the outdoor furniture EA included with the stock game. Sure, you can use it inside, as the picture preview suggests, but they're really outdoor furniture.
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Greasy Goods Stuff
Download on ModTheSims.
From the same creator as Sleek Slumber Stuff, this custom stuff pack is geared more toward community lots. The reason this is so far down on the list is that, without the Dine Out DLC, it can never be anything more than ornamental. I don't discount ornamental lots, because a lot of players are more interested in visual storytelling than actually playing the game, and in that case, this fast food joint will create a convincing, if inutile, setting or backdrop.
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Videogames Store
Download on ModTheSims.
I just finished talking about the Rule of the Microcosm, and then come along and suggest this thing that just demolishes that rule. But, if we're talking about backdrops for storytelling, this is a pretty good one. Hmm... I seem to remember gaming being a bit more... I dunno... colourful than this.
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Build Your Own Habitable Truck
Download on ModTheSims.
Remember that TNT: Evilution map, "Shipping/Respawning"? Remember that kickass lorry it had in it? I know you used KillerSims' truck front that let you make this sort of thing in The Sims 1. So, here it is, your very own "Shipping/Respawning" lorry in The Sims 4. Plus, it preserves the microcosm, using iconography from the DLCs.
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Tabula Rasa Dining Table
Download on ModTheSims.
Since the 1x1 dining tables in stock Sims 4 quite frankly suck, let's address that problem first. If you're like me, you're going to be sorely wanting a 1x1 table, and all the available options are just... well... bad. This table is a modification of the stock glass-top 1x1 table, only with the glass filled in with wood.
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Dining Table - Metal with Lino Top
Download on ModTheSims.
On that point, maybe you want a 1x1 table with a little more decorative panache. This one looks a bit like it got nicked from a roadside diner along Route 47 in the '60s.
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Dining Table - Another Era Dining Table
Download on ModTheSims.
Of course, if you'd prefer something a bit less institutional, this table was sourced from The Sims 3. Yes, sims' feet still clip through the supports.
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Small set - Boring Furniture
Download "Boring Dresser" on ModTheSims.
Download "Boring Tables" on ModTheSims.
Download "Boring Nightstand" on ModTheSims.
Download "Boring Desk" on ModTheSims.
A set of functional wooden surfaces that have absolutely no frills of any kind. They're bland enough to match most design schemes and will do the job better than anything available in a clean install. The reason I've recommended them all is more functional than anything else; the creator took the odd route of slaving the textures for all four (five, actually—two styles of dining table) pieces of furniture through the dresser. Thus, you need the dresser in order for the others to work properly. A bit unorthodox, but I'm sure it saved time. Probably.
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Dining Chair - 7K Holy Chairs
Download on ModTheSims.
I'm not totally sure what makes these chairs holy, but they look 7000 times more comfortable than any of the stock dining chairs.
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Dining Chair - Lux Dining Chairs
Download on ModTheSims.
Talking of comfortable, I could sit in one of these for 5 hours, writing an HTML document. It originated as the "Lap of Luxury" living chair, repurposed for dining room use.
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Chairs - EdwardianEd's Sims 3 Seating Conversions
Download on ModTheSims.
We've all gotten used to The Sims 3's furnishings by now, and the core game's offerings when it comes to chairs was far and away better than The Sims 4. This user took the liberty of porting many of The Sims 3's chairs to The Sims 4, as well as The Sims 2's upright parlour piano.
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Bed - Box Spring Bed
Download on ModTheSims.
You've always thought about that ad-hoc apartment in the ancient storage attic of the industrial building along the old rail line downtown, but you'd had no way of building it in The Sims. Well, now you do. This bed requires absolutely no frame of any kind; just a box spring and a mattress. I'm recommending this bed over the "mattress on the floor" bed from elsewhere on the website for two reasons; first, because it's got a frumpy, rumpled appearance that says "squatting in an abandoned industrial building" more than the hospital corners of the regular beds; and two, it's the same height as regular beds. Since it isn't any shorter than the game expects it to be, sims will not awkwardly clip through the floor when they interact with it.
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Appliances - Under-Counter Refrigerator
Download on ModTheSims.
Ah, yes... the staple of The Sims 3 University Life, intentionally overlooked by EA so they could make a swift quid. This pack contains half-sized versions of all the available refrigerators, shrunk down to fit under a countertop, like a dishwasher would. Unlike the Discover University minifridges, these aren't restricted to quick meals; they're full-size fridges, but small. The pack contains all the fridges from all the DLCs the creator owned at the time, but the ones cloned from core game fridges are separated for convenience.
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Electronics - Actually Portable Computer
Download on ModTheSims.
The Sims 3 core game came with a laptop. The Sims 4 did too, but it was considered a career reward. This corrects that problem. Unlike the unlocked version of the career reward object elsewhere on the website, this is a completely new mesh.
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Electronics - Unhidden Midrange PC Tower
Download on ModTheSims.
I dunno, I always thought that was a good idea, putting the console behind the monitor. After all, we don't use CRT screens anymore, so what's supposed to happen behind the monitor? I'll tell you what: dust. Anyway, if you prefer a more traditional PC layout, this computer is just the stock "Respecterion Midrange Computer" with the console moved over to the side of the monitor.
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Storage - Bookshelves from The Sims 3
Download on ModTheSims.
Yeah, the bookshelves from The Sims 4 are really bad. You know what didn't have crappy core bookshelves? The Sims 3! Here are the two cheap ones.
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Storage - Moderate and Subordinate Intellect Bookshelves
Download on ModTheSims.
Sims Division has never been good about making bookshelves that can frame windows. These are 2- and 1-shelf high modifications of the stock "Towering Intellect" bookcase. They have also been given object slots on the top, allowing them to be used as sideboards.
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Toys - MySims Trophies as Playable Toys
Download on ModTheSims.
I never could figure out why they spent so much time and effort putting MySims characters in here, making wall decals of their likenesses, putting their faces onto shirts and things, and then having them be museum pieces. This pack changes all that, converting the existing MySims character trophies into toys. Ah, MySims... it's the only Wii game that I miss.
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Decoration - Deco Washer and Dryer
Download on ModTheSims.
Laundry Day Stuff washing machines in the core game?! Don't get too excited--it's just a decoration. You still need the DLC to actually wash clothing; but there's plenty of laundry-related décor in the core game anyway, these just make it official.
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Wall - Basic Wood Panelling
Download on ModTheSims.
The core game's capacity for building a house from the '70s is sorely lacking. The first step, obviously, is woodgrain panelling, which this pack contains.
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Floor - Couple of Carpets
Download on ModTheSims.
The next step would be shag carpet, which this pack contains, along with several others that are probably more useful in modern design.
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Before we begin here, it should be noted that ModTheSims' selection of CaS parts is much too extensive to go into here. I'll only cover the things I feel that EA "forgot to put in the core game" for the Everyday setting in Young Adult and Adult age groups only. For purposes of clarity, I'll also mention whether a part is Male or Female (it's not strictly relevant, since CAS parts in The Sims 4 aren't gender-locked).
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Male - Vexed Top
Download on ModTheSims.
A sweatshirt layered over a white button-down shirt.
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Male - Antisocial Jeans
Download on ModTheSims.
Tightly-cuffed straight leg denim trousers with no belt. Be advised that they will clip through most shirts.
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Male - Layered Button-Up Shirt
Download on ModTheSims.
A button-down shirt layered over a long-sleeve teeshirt. Sort of like if you took that layered shirt from The Sims 3 Generations and buttoned it closed.
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Male - Two-Button Suits
Download on ModTheSims.
Eight additional recolours of the stock business suit jacket, with matching trousers.
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Male - Four-Button Suits
Download on ModTheSims.
The same as the previous item, only for the formal suit jacket.
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Male - Polo Recolours
Download on ModTheSims.
Clones the stock polo shirt mesh and adds nine brighter colours.
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Female - High-Waisted ACC Jeans
Download on ModTheSims.
I can't tell you how annoying it is to find the perfect trouser to complete an ensemble and the rise is too low. These trousers actually cinch up above the hips for a change! It should be noted that these are not actually "Bottoms", per se; they're actually leggings, found under Accessories. They're not compatible with most kinds of socks and certain kinds of heels, so have a pair of high-top sneakers picked out.
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Female - Maternity ACC Jeans
Download on ModTheSims.
Unlike The Sims 3, clothing in The Sims 4 is not locked out when your sims are pregnant. However, it's a bloody nuisance finding any decent trousers for it. These trousers are modified from the previous item to specifically fit pregnant sims.
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Female - Tops for the Cold Days
Download on ModTheSims.
Texture has been added to the stock off-shoulder sweater to make it look less flatly synthetic. Its CaS thumbnail is a bit wanky, but you can see what's going on on the sim, really, can't you?
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Female - Crop Top sans Bow
Download on ModTheSims.
A modification of the stock crop top without the bow decal.
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Female - Centre Part Hair
Download on ModTheSims.
Long hair that is parted in the centre of the forehead.
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Female - Straight Bangs
Download on ModTheSims.
Long hair with fringes. A similar hairstyle came with one of the DLCs, but this mesh is core game compatible.
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The term "mod" here generally refers to things that change the behaviour or appearance of the game beyond the aesthetic changes made by objects and style parts. Technically speaking, some of these aren't "mods" per se, but more "overrides" or "behaviour tuners". Whatever. Mods. It's easier.
Neighbourhood mod - World of WIPs
Download on ModTheSims.
This mod empties all the available worlds (neighbourhoods) of all preset structures and sims, bringing the game more in line with The Sims 2. The creator set the savefile number insanely high so it won't interfere with games in progress or new games that you start after installing this mod. Also, the mod may appear to unlock all the DLC worlds, but it doesn't. The Sims 4 core game only comes with Newcrest, Willow Creek, and Oasis Springs. The creator's suggestion is, "ignore the worlds you don't own". The way this mod works is, it's actually a gamesave file which needs extracting into the "Saves" folder instead of "Mods". When attempting to load it, the game will make a big deal out of the fact that all the "necessary" DLCs aren't present to load it properly, but we can just dismiss all these prompts without any issues. Remember, Newcrest is empty by default, so nothing will change there.
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Sim mod - Height Slider Updated
Download on ModTheSims.
With the exception of the highly imprecise (and eventually patched-out) stretchSkeleton cheat in The Sims 2, sims have all been the same height. This mod changes that. Once installed, height is controlled by the size of your sim's feet. Larger feet, taller sim. You get it. It goes without saying that extremely tall or short sims will not interact with objects correctly, leading to artefacts such as improper clipping.
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Sim mod - Body Diversity Mods
Download "Breast Shape and Separation Slider" on ModTheSims.
Download "Enhanced Butt Shape Slider" on ModTheSims.
Download "Enhanced Leg Shape Slider" on ModTheSims.
The Sims has only ever had the most basic support for body diversity. I mean, for a start, it took them 2 years to implement breast size modification in The Sims 3—which, admittedly, is an improvement over the body settings of "Thin" or "Emaciated" on The Sims 2--but this is 2023. We can improve on that. The breast shape slider only affects sims with feminine frames, but the leg and butt sliders affect feminine and masculine frames. The screenshot above shows the roundest setting for breasts, though the mod also lets you shape breasts into points. There are also weight and muscle settings elsewhere on the website, but they are either not compatible with the current version of the game or they haven't been shown to be any better than what is available by default.
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Gameplay Mod - LGBTQIA+ Gender and Orientation Overhaul
Download on ModTheSims.
While The Sims Division did give LGBTQ+ a jolly good go, there were just some things that they weren't going to know about, fully understand in order to develop a reasonable virtual approximation, or be allowed to include by order of the corporate feudal state. Rather than act as a supplement to the official gender identity settings, this mod completely supplants them with its own system. It's a bit difficult to describe, but it makes sense naturally during gameplay.
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Gameplay Mod - Pregnancy Variation
Download on ModTheSims.
While there is something to be said for the copy-and-paste predictability of pregnancy in The Sims, it can get a bit frustrating, especially for players whose sims are constantly pregnant. This mod puts more to chance, such as how fast the foetus grows, how long the pregnancy lasts, and how large your expecting parent gets based upon how many foeti are gestating. The creator mentions the body morphing may get restricted by the game's in-built body shape limitations, but that this can be overcome by modding your install's main Python scripts, for which instructions are provided. It should be noted that this mod will probably cause sims' pregnant bellies to awkwardly clip through objects. Also, this mod does nothing to the in-built pregnancy mood effects, but there are other mods that can be used in tandem with this one that can alter how pregnancy affects your sims.
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Gameplay Mod - Teen Pregnancy
Download Core Functionality Mod on Patreon.
Download Teen Pregnancy and Interactions Mod on Patreon.
While I won't say that Sims Division "forgot" to include this, as it's been pretty well-established since The Sims 2 that game ratings boards don't like the concept in general, I'll mention it for purposes of completeness. You can gloss over it and lose nothing, but many players who play for the soap opera-like drama of the game want the possibility for teenagers to get pregnant. This is that mod. The required core mod contains all the under-the-bonnet stuff that makes it work at all; the mod functionality is, well, the bit that you get to see onscreen. Apart from just bestowing pregnancy upon the Teen lifestage, the mod also calls a decision box for the expecting grandparents; will you support your pregnant child and defuse a tense situation? Or will you refuse and throw the match onto the powderkeg?
Furthermore, you'll notice the links go to Patreon instead of MTS. Don't worry, it's supposed to do that.
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For the moment, that's this list finished. Of course, people are constantly making things for The Sims 4, so you may want to return to ModTheSims.info on a regular basis. Also, ModTheSims is just one website amongst many. A DuckDuckGo search for "sims 4 custom content" will yield a wide variety of results for content that is far more specialised than MTS. The reason I did not include any of those search results here is that some of them cost money. Creators often have Patreon accounts where only their patrons are permitted to download content from them, or they have a Sims Store-style catalogue where clicking "download" takes you to Patreon or a custom page requiring you to input payment details. ModTheSims, on the other hand, is completely free; though the website is ad-supported.
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~~22 July 2023~~