- Not to be confused with Scenario (The Sims 2).
Scenarios are a feature that was added to The Sims 4 in patch 120. They consist of themed challenges that players can select from the main menu. Hovering over a scenario will show required Sims the player should start with and potential story endings. The player will then be given the option to start the scenario in an existing save or in a new save when they click "Play Now". In patch 125, scenarios were updated with difficulty tags (beginner, easy, intermediate, or hard) to indicate how difficult they would be to complete.
They are similar to challenge events, which were occasionally available in the game up to 2018. However, challenge events were always active and the player couldn't choose to only run them in certain saves.
Completing a scenario[]

The scenario screen in live mode, showing the potential story endings.
When a scenario is chosen, the player is taken to Create a Sim to make (or download) a household that fulfills the requirements, and then move them into a lot. However, some scenarios allow the player to use an existing household in the save. A window will be present at the top left of the screen as a reminder of the scenario, but the player is otherwise not forced to complete it. Completing one of the outcomes rewards each Sim in the household with either 5,000 satisfaction points (which can be spent in the rewards store), a potion, or a trait.
List of scenarios[]
Permanent scenarios[]
Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
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![]() Aliens Stole My Parents |
Intermediate | Mentor trait, Speed reader trait | ||
Description | ||||
A Teen needs to take care of their younger sibling after their parents, and the family wallet, have been abducted by aliens. Luckily, the aliens were nice enough to leave a note: their parents will be returned to them once both of the kids raise their grades, and some Simoleons. Is this Teen up for the challenge of raising their kid sibling as well as some funds for the aliens? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Engaged in Conflict |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
An engaged couple is rethinking their relationship after a huge fight about how to make grilled cheese. A total meltdown over something so trivial might indicate deeper problems. Will cheesy romantic gestures and heartfelt conversations melt the tension before their wedding day? Sims will start out as engaged but recently having had an argument, with high romance but not-so-great friendship. | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Extraterrestrial Researcher |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
A Sim obsessed with outer space knows we cannot be alone in the universe, and this Sim is determined to discover all there is to know about extraterrestrial creatures. Unfortunately, getting into space is not so easy. You need a lot of spare time, and possibly money, to go looking for these mysterious critters. The first step: build a DIY rocket that can take the Sim to space and back home again safely (more or less)... how hard can it be? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Family Fortune |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Play with the Landry household 3 squabbling siblings scheme to get their hands on their grandmother's fortune. However, the family matriarch only plans to award her inheritance to those that prove themselves worthy. Will you compete or cooperate to earn grandma's favor - and potentially her millions of Simoleons? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Finding Love After a Breakup |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
A messy breakup is even messier for Sims who live together. Is there anything worth salvaging in this relationship or is it time to find new love? Sims will start the scenario having recently broken up with each other. | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Honeymooners |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Two Sims are freelance artists, recently engaged, and recently moved to a new home far from family and friends. So, they're on their own with planning a small wedding and, on top of that, figuring out where to go for their honeymoon. Will they make some new friends to invite to the wedding, or keep the focus just on each other? And where will they go to celebrate the start of their new life together, just the two of them? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() In The Moodlet |
Easy | Potions | ||
Description | ||||
Working in Retail can be so stressful! Some Sims just have the worst luck and get all the rude customers. Can this Sim leave their problems at work and unwind at home? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Making Money |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Step 1: Move to a new place and start off without a single Simoleon in your bank account. Household funds will be set to §0 after moving in to a lot. | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
N/A |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() New in Town |
Beginner | Inspired Explorer trait | ||
Description | ||||
Play with the Nouvel Household Moving to a new place can be scary—especially if you don't know anyone there—but it can also be a great adventure! Help Farrah explore her new home, make some friends, and throw a moving-in-party that will be the talk of the town! | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() No Skills, No Problem |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
A Sim cannot seem to ever get more skillful at... well, anything! It's made everything more difficult, from interpersonal relationships to holding a steady job, and, as a result, they've had to become quite resourceful, figuring out ways to work harder or smarter than everyone else. Can this unskilled Sim figure out how to hack life and earn some sweet Simoleons? Household funds will be set to §0 after moving in to a lot. | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Parenting Predicaments |
Beginner | Re-Traiting Potion | ||
Description | ||||
Play with the Martínez Household Two happy-go-lucky young parents are at a loss for what to do with their rambunctious, unruly children. Can they cultivate the right environment for their children to thrive, and support their children towards becoming teenagers on the right track? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Plant-a-Sim |
Easy | Super green thumb trait | ||
Description | ||||
A Sim has recently acquired the mysterious Forbidden Fruit of the PlantSim. What harm could come from taking a bite or two? It's not like you're going to magically turn green, sprout leaves and begin your life as a PlantSim!? Can the Sim reach their best Plant-self before time and the fruits run out? Or, will they realize that the plain old Sim life is their true calling? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Power Couple |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
A married couple working in business have a friendly bet going about who will become CEO first. Can their marriage survive the cutthroat competition? Can they make room in their busy lives for more than their ambitions? Both Sims will start out in Business Career as Assistant Managers with some relevant skills. | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Proud Parent |
Intermediate | Savant trait | ||
Description | ||||
A Sim wants to be the best parent they can possibly be. Support your child from infancy all the way through their Teenage years with love and attention! Can this new parent overcome all the pressures and difficulties of having a kid and lovingly nurture and raise their child? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Rom-Com |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Two engaged Sims have a great friendship, but the romance has died. "It's Complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship. Can an aspiring comedian find humor in their personal life, make it big in showbiz, AND keep their personal life from falling apart? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Stuck in Their Shadow |
Beginner | Highflier trait | ||
Description | ||||
Play with the Curious Household Nova Curious was one of the best programmers in college, and nothing will stop her from shining at a new job! Well, someone might. Lewis: top programmer in her class, who overshadowed her during their uni years. Now that she wants to start her professional life, there's no way she'll bump into him again... right? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Super Rich Supervillain |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Working as a Secret Agent can make a Sim cynical about the world, but it also means a lot of time spent wearing glamorous clothing, playing high-stakes poker, and being very picky about how your drinks are prepared. That luxurious lifestyle is appealing, but why settle for just being rich when you can also be villainous? Household funds will be set to §0 after moving in to a lot. | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Too Many Toddlers |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Can a Sim master the art of caring for a bunch of Toddlers and provide all the attention, care and love that they need to thrive? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Troublemaker |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Moving to a new town and a new school could be a fresh start for a teen who's been more interested in causing mayhem than doing homework up until now. Will this teen turn things around and improve their grades at their new school, or turn the school upside down with more mischief? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Unlucky Chef |
Hard | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
A Sim is certain their destiny is to become a world-famous chef. There's just one little problem: this Sim is way more likely than most people to accidentally start fires while cooking. It's not merely a lack of skill, it's just some freakish bad luck. Can the Sim survive the dangerous journey to culinary excellence? Or, will they decide that playing with fire isn't for them, and making fancy drinks seems like the safer route to success? | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||
![]() Well Rounded |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||
Description | ||||
Some Sims need a little push in the right direction; they need to be shown the ropes, given the rundown, lowdown, and just generally rounded out. This is the start of what could be an amazing Sim! | ||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||
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Limited time scenarios[]
Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
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![]() Best Friends Forever |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
They say best friends are forever! Form bonds by making a childhood best friend and becoming good friends with other youthful Sims. Play, Adventure and form lifelong sentiments in the passion of youth, before entering into your Teenage years. | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available from May 25, 2022 to June 29, 2022. |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
![]() Celebrate Carnaval |
N/A | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
Carnaval is here - a time to celebrate with music, food, and dance! Dress up, have fun, and enjoy a good company; in whatever way you choose to celebrate. Sims age Teen and up will start with some cooking skill so they can be more successful in preparing tasty dishes. | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available until March 8, 2022. |
N/A |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
![]() Cook Out |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
A Sim wants to perfect the art of grilling to impress all their friends and family at the next Cook Out. Can they earn their license to grill in time for the next big Cook Out? | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available from June 23, 2022 to September 7, 2022. |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
![]() Explore the Night |
Hard | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
A Sim has been curious about the night and wants to explore everything it has to offer. Can this Sim learn what's out there at night or will they simply fall asleep? | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available from June 23, 2022 to July 8, 2022. |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
![]() Frog Fanatic |
Intermediate | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
A Sim is frantically trying to gather all the frog facts of the world. After all, frogs are ribbiting creatures that can be used for a whole slew of things...even breeding! This frog fanatic toad-ally cannot wait to hop right into the nearest pond and collect all the frog friends. | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available from April 27, 2022 to May 24, 2022. |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
![]() Inspirational Mentor |
Easy | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
This Sim is all about learning and sharing her knowledge, and her goal is to help others grow! Sims can mentor in: Programming, Rocket Science, Comedy, Writing, Painting, Fishing, Handiness, Logic, Piano, Violin, Guitar, Fitness, Robotics, Fabrication and Knitting. To mentor, reach level 10 in a mentorable skill and use the "Mentor" interaction on another Sim while they're practicing that skill. To write a skill book, reach level 5 in a skill and use the computer to "Write Skill Book" in the "Write" category. | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available from March 24, 2022 to April 25, 2022. |
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Icon and name | Difficulty | Rewards | ||||
![]() Surviving the Holidays |
N/A | Satisfaction points | ||||
Description | ||||||
Two Sims who hate each other are stuck living together due to a convoluted backstory involving some gnomes and real estate scams, and both are too stubborn to move out. In the spirit of the season will they find a way to mend their differences, or at least find some way to make the situation more bearable to get through the holidays? Sims will start the Scenario as enemies with grudges against each other. | ||||||
Notes | Start with... | Story endings | ||||
This scenario was only available from December 1, 2021 to January 5, 2022. |
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