- For in person dating, see Dating.
Online dating is a gameplay feature introduced in The Sims 3: Seasons and reintroduced in The Sims 4: Lovestruck. Online dating allows Sims to set up profiles online via computer or phone and browse a list of Sims that are looking for romance and dates. This makes starting relationships easier since Sims can select to message a potential date to meet up at a venue without having to visit their house.
The Sims 3: Seasons[]
With The Sims 3: Seasons expansion installed, Sims can use computers to set up their online dating profiles and browse potential dates.
Sims have to first set up their online profile before interaction more with online dating, and this can be achieved by using any computer. When setting up an online dating profile, it will display: their profile picture, their zodiac sign, first name, traits, favorites, and their body type. From here players can just select create profile but they also have the chance to change their profile's listed aspects such as their traits, body type, and their favorites, displaying aspects that aren't true may have consequences.
When setup Sims can re-enter online dating on their computer to browse profiles, check messages, as well as editing and deleting their own profiles. When browsing profiles, players will be able to select potential date's profiles as well as what gender of available dates they want to pursue, when selecting a profile, it will also display the Sim's names, traits, zodiac, favorites, and body type.
Sims can send potential dates a message as well as receive friend requests and messages from potential dates as well. When accepting the messages, the potential date will be added to the Sim's relationship panel to which they can be chatted with and invited out to places. When Sims go to meet up with their online dates, the date will express wanting to go on a date and will accept romantic advances.
The Sims 4: Lovestruck[]
With The Sims 4: Lovestruck expansion installed, Sims can use their phones to set up their online dating profiles on the app "Cupid's Corner". A Cupid Corner's Sim's online dating profile will display: their profile picture, their sexual orientation, WooHoo Interests, home world, age category, first name, traits and all their compatible and saved romantic matches.
When opening the Cupid's Corner app, players can select what ages the Sim is looking for, which two traits to display, as well as being able to change their profile picture using the Photography skill.
Players will be able to cycle between 7 potential matches per day and can be refreshed once every 12 hours as well. These matches include 3 pre-existing Sims or townies, 3 randomly generated Sims, and 1 Gallery Sim. Each profile players can select to save the match's profile. Matches will have traits display if they are a turn on or a turn off for the Sim. The potential matches can also be filled with Sims from the Gallery to have potential dates outside townies. Sims from the Gallery must be more than 7 days old with more than 50 downloads to be chosen as matches.
When lookin in the matches tab, players can add the match to their contacts which will be added to the relationship panel, or initiate a date. Sims can save up to 15 matches but players will be able to delete any saved matches if they wish as well.
In the Game Options, players can look underneath the Pack Settings tab for Lovestruck and optimize their Cupid's Corner to:
- Enable Gallery Sims in Cupid's Corner
- If disabled, there will be 4 randomly generated Sims instead of 3.
- Enable Only Favorited Gallery Sims in Cupid's Corner
- Enable Occult Sims in Cupid's Corner
If any of these options are disabled, it will disallow gallery Sims, favorited gallery Sims, and/or occult Sims respectively from appearing on the Cupid's Corner app of potential dates.
Certain Sims will not show up on Cupid's Corner no matter what settings are chosen in Game Options. These Sims include:
- Sims in a relationship (dating, engaged, or married).
- Any celebrities.[TS4:GF]
- Sims not present in Manage households, such as NPCs.
- However, this doesn't apply to every Sim in a hidden household. Sims who may still appear on the app include Agatha Crumplebottom[TS4:CLV], and Erwin Pries[TS4:SV].
- University professors.[TS4:DU]
When a randomly generated Sim or Gallery Sim is viewed in Cupids Corner, or "Saved" with the Save button, they are not automatically added to the player's save file. Only once "Add to Contacts" is selected, or a date is initiated with the Sim, are they added to Other Households in Household Management as Currently Not In World.