EA provided a code for the pack to onlyabidoang via the EA Creator Network.
Below is a fast, spoiler-lite tour of twenty nifty systems and edge-case interactions that make The Sims 4: Life and Death feel deep and replayable.
1) Baleful Bog has consequences
Swim in Mourningvale’s Baleful Bog for 7 in-game hours and your Sim becomes a temporary ghost with a random ghost type and access to the Ghost Mastery tree. Return to normal, get a debuff. Do it again while debuffed, you’ll get dazed on return. Do it a third time before the daze ends and you’ll die permanently in the style of the ghost type you had (electrocution, heartbreak, rabid rodent disease, etc.). It’s a three-strikes system. Careful.
2) Pet funerals are a thing
The new funeral social event works for cats, dogs, and horses, too. Start from a pet’s tombstone or the phone/calendar, pick activities and a venue, and hold a proper memorial.
3) Beat Grim at games to save a life
Beyond pleading, you can challenge Grim to a game for a Sim’s life. Supported games include chess, foosball, darts, Don’t Wake the Llama, horseshoes, basketball shots or dunks, ping pong or juice pong, bowling, and hopscotch. Win to resurrect. Lose and the reaping continues.
4) Grimborn kids are canon now
WooHoo with Grim (base-game update), and with Life and Death you can Try for Baby with him. Children born of Grim gain the Grimborn reward trait (scythe birthmark, slightly longer lifespan). No powers, just lore weight. Science babies with Grim can also be Grimborn. Kids of Grimborn carry a watered-down Grim Descendant trait.
5) Death frog = guaranteed plea success
Find the new Death Frog (Ravenwood frog logs, mysterious merchant, or festival fountain). Keep one in inventory when pleading and Grim always accepts, consuming the frog. At Level 7 Cooking, use one to cook Boiling Death Frog Hot Pot to become a random ghost for 4 hours.
6) Crows can literally end you
The Crow’s Perch pet offers mimicry, gifts, and mischief. Provoke it too many times and you’ll die by Murder of Crows. Ghosts of this death have a crow’s head inside their chest, get a unique buff when provoking crows, and from then on only receive common gifts.
7) Plumbobs become collectible objects
When a ghost finishes their Soul’s Journey and chooses to Move On, they drop a mysterious object – their plumbob. Sell it for §2,000 or use it for a short buff interaction. Occults drop unique variants (aliens, vampires, mermaids, spellcasters, werewolves), plus iridescent versions for Burning Soul completions.
8) Ghost-only outfits and true color control
Ghosts have CAS-exclusive outfits with skeletal arms, missing legs, visible spines and ribs. You can also lock ghost color in live mode so it doesn’t shift with emotion.
9) Peaceful death in sleep and haunted beds
Elders at the end of their life may die peacefully in their sleep. The bed becomes “haunted” with moodlets for future sleepers: sad for household, uncomfortable for others, happy if they have Macabre. It’s moodlet-only, no haunting visuals.
10) Skeptical trait has cross-pack bite
Skeptics doubt the supernatural, can demand proof of powers from Grim and occults across packs (aliens, vampires, mermaids, spellcasters, werewolves, Father Winter). They’re also immune to most supernatural effects (e.g., vampire hallucinations, alien mind wipes). If they become an occult, expect identity conflict moodlets.
11) Chased by Death makes life spicy
When a Chased by Death Sim almost dies (repairing electronics, provoking crows, fire, telescope meteor, vending machine), Grim appears with a final warning and grants a 3-day buff. During the buff: bucket lists and Soul’s Journey progress speed up, aspiration points increase, but any lethal risk becomes 100% lethal. If they die, the trait becomes Embraced by Death (ghost can give Deathy Gifts). Survive long enough and you might receive a mystery gift containing Potion of Youth.
12) The Guardian Tree’s got your back
In Mourningvale, help Alice (the Weeping Mother) by finding her children to unlock the Guardian Tree. You can then Scavenge (harvestables on cooldown) and Fill Needs instantly. Interactions use rabbit hole animations, but the utility is great.
13) On Hallowed Grounds adds ambiance and freebies
This new lot trait adds fog banks, cold spots, flickering lights, and Netherworld Fissures that spit out collectibles. Your TV’s new Static channel can escalate into a ring-style ghost (Edith) climbing out to jumpscare Sims. Bills are slightly lower as a perk.
14) Reaper career Level 10 = Grim’s Right Hand
The Reaper active career ends with the Grim’s Right Hand reward trait: better grief handling, Death Touch to break objects, Healing Touch to instantly repair, and automatic revives if you die.
15) Wishing well and Edith’s mark
At Crow’s Crossing, the Well of Longing and Regret grants wishes with mixed results. Befriend Edith (child ghost) and get the Mark of Edith for 2 hours to guarantee a Greatly Fulfilled wish. You can also obtain Courage of Edith permanently to stare down the supernatural and unlock an unnerving stare.
16) Tarot that actually matters
Tarot cards are a 26-card collectible and a new reading gameplay. Learn via the tome sculptures, intuition hotspots, and Order of Lenore quests. At 25 cards, Grim appears to grant the 26th. Combine them into Lady Ravendancer Goth’s Tarot Deck for boosted earnings and three strong interactions: Divine Slumber (energy power-sleep), Affirmative Healing (cleanse negative moodlets and advance grief coping), and Summon Lady Ravendancer Goth with lore. You can also buy the final deck for 8,000 points in the Rewards Store. The wall display shows your art collection.
17) Reunited soulmates across lifetimes
If two Sims were Soulmates, one completes Soul’s Journey, dies and chooses rebirth, upon meeting again they can Reencounter Soulmate to restore romantic and friendship meters and gain Reunited Soulmates status. Works if both die and are reborn, too.
18) Thanatology skill and Soul Soup
A 5-level Thanatology skill unlocks dead language socials and at Level 5, Soul Soup (requires a Soul from reaping or the merchant). Eating it maxes all needs and freezes decay for 4 hours, then returns to normal.
19) Undead Cowplants never starve
Meet Perceival the Patient in Mourningvale, then obtain your own undead cowplant via merchant, cleansing the Oldies’ house, or Rewards Store. They act like cowplants but never die of starvation. Still dangerous.
20) Possessed WooHoo is everywhere
Ghost lovers can Possessed WooHoo in almost any possessable object, including a hamster habitat, Patchy, and yes, a pile of horse poop. Electric objects will break afterward. With Transcendent WooHoo (Ghost Mastery) you can temporarily ghost-ify a living Sim to join the fun. Sims reborn with Burning Soul can also transcend as living Sims.
Quick tips and notes
- Mysterious Merchant appears in Crow’s Crossing with valuable items including Death Frogs and Undead Cowplants.
- Funerals finally work consistenly, with multiple meaningful activities.
- Cross-pack synergy is strong: Skeptical trait with all occults, tarot lore with Realm of Magic, and Reaper career hooks into core death systems.
- Collections and Rewards meaningfully incentivize trying all the new systems.
If you want the detailed demonstrations and exact object locations, watch onlyabidoang’s video walkthrough – it’s packed with proofs, timings, and edge cases.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex-mSzmpHP4&ab_channel=onlyabidoang
FAQ – The Sims 4: Life and Death Expansion Pack
Q: What is Baleful Bog and what happens there?
A: Baleful Bog is a magical lake in Mourningvale. Swimming for 7 in-game hours turns Sims into temporary ghosts. Doing it repeatedly with debuffs active can eventually cause a permanent death tied to the ghost type received.
Q: Can pets have funerals?
A: Yes. Cats, dogs, and horses can now be honored with full funerals, complete with eulogies, toasts, candles, and more.
Q: Can Sims really beat Grim to save a life?
A: Yes. Instead of pleading, Sims can challenge Grim to games like chess, darts, ping pong, foosball, bowling, and more. Winning revives the dead Sim, losing means Grim continues the reaping.
Q: What is a Grimborn Sim?
A: Children conceived with Grim Reaper gain the Grimborn trait, a scythe-shaped birthmark, and a longer lifespan. Descendants may carry a weaker Grim Descendant trait.
Q: What does the Death Frog do?
A: Keep one in your inventory and Grim will always accept a plea for life, consuming the frog. At Level 7 Cooking, it can also be used in a dish that temporarily turns Sims into ghosts.
Q: Can crows kill Sims?
A: Yes. Provoking them repeatedly can trigger Death by Murder of Crows. Ghosts of this death carry unique buffs and visuals.
Q: What are plumbobs as objects?
A: When ghosts complete their Soul’s Journey and move on, they drop their plumbob. Sims can sell it for §2,000 or interact for buffs. Occults drop unique versions.
Q: Do ghosts get new outfits?
A: Yes. Ghosts have exclusive skeletal and legless outfits in CAS, plus the ability to lock their ghost color.
Q: How do Sims die in their sleep?
A: Elders at the end of life may die peacefully while sleeping. The bed then gives moodlets (sad, uncomfortable, or happy depending on traits and relationships).
Q: What is the Skeptical trait?
A: Skeptics doubt the supernatural, can demand proof of powers, resist occult abilities, and struggle with identity if they become occult.
Q: What is the Chased by Death trait?
A: Sims with this trait get a “final warning” from Grim and a temporary buff that speeds Soul’s Journey and aspirations, but also makes all dangerous actions instantly fatal.
Q: What is the Guardian Tree?
A: Found in Mourningvale, completing Alice the Weeping Mother’s quest unlocks the tree’s powers: Scavenge for resources and Fill Needs instantly.
Q: What does the On Hallowed Grounds lot trait do?
A: Adds creepy events like fog, cold spots, flickering lights, fissures, and ghostly TV appearances. Bills are reduced as a bonus.
Q: What’s special about the Reaper career?
A: At Level 10, Sims gain Grim’s Right Hand trait: immunity to grief, Death Touch, Healing Touch, and auto-revival on death.
Q: What does the wishing well do?
A: The Well of Longing and Regret grants risky wishes. Befriending Edith the ghost child lets you mark wishes as always successful.
Q: How do tarot cards work?
A: Collect 26 cards by exploring Ravenwood, doing quests, or intuition actions. Complete the set to create Lady Ravendancer Goth’s Tarot Deck with powerful new interactions.
Q: What is the Reunited Soulmates feature?
A: If soulmates die, complete Soul’s Journey, and are reborn, they can reconnect in their next life and restore romance and friendship.
Q: What is Soul Soup?
A: A Thanatology skill unlock. Cooking it consumes a Soul and restores all needs, freezing decay for 4 hours.
Q: What is an undead cowplant?
A: A special variant that never dies from starvation. Available via quests, merchants, or Rewards Store.
Q: What is Possessed WooHoo?
A: Ghost couples can WooHoo inside almost any possessable object, from hamster cages to even piles of horse poop. With Ghost Mastery, they can also turn living Sims into ghosts for WooHoo.
