How do you increase friendship in The Sims 4? At its heart, building friendships in The Sims 4 is about guiding your Sims to positive, meaningful social interactions. Whether you’re aiming for a classic best friends scenario, working up to a big in-game wedding, or just trying to stop those awkward household squabbles, raising friendship levels can be a game-changer. The simplest way: consistently use friendly and funny interactions while making sure conversations don’t sour. That said, there are clever tricks, fun workarounds, and even some downright speedy cheats to help your Sims forge connections in no time. Let’s dive into the most effective, timeless ways to boost friendship, plus answer all those little questions simmering at the back of many a Simmer’s mind.
Mastering Organic Friendship: The Essentials
Most Simmers start out by just clicking random social options and hoping for the best. But there’s a real strategy to building relationships in The Sims 4 efficiently. The game’s friendship meter is split into negative and positive, ranging from outright enemies to inseparable BFFs. Fill up that green bar to turn acquaintances into friends – and friends into besties. Here are the methods that have reliably worked, patch after patch:
1. Mix Up Friendly and Funny Interactions
Variety really is the spice of Sim life. Repeating the same action over and over actually starts to lose its effect. Instead, alternate between interactions like “Brighten Day,” “Get to Know,” “Ask About Day,” and toss in a few jokes. “Tell Joke About Penguins,” “Funny Story,” and “Cheer Up” (if available) work wonders, especially with Sims who don’t seem easily impressed.
Short on time? Try rapid-fire selfies! Taking multiple selfies with the same Sim can move your relationship bar by 40% or more in just a few in-game minutes. It’s not glamorous, but it might be the closest The Sims has to an instant friendship hack outside of cheats.
2. Use Traits and Aspirations for an Edge
Certain Sims are just built for the social scene. The outgoing trait, cheerful moodlets, or the Social Butterfly aspiration all give bonus success rates during socialization. A Sim working through the “Friend of the World” aspiration will naturally accumulate connections. Need more detail? Check out guides like Carl’s Sims 4 Relationship Guide for a breakdown.
3. Charisma Skill: The Secret Weapon
Think of the Charisma skill as an invisible friend magnet. As your Sim levels up Charisma, new interactions unlock. “Smooth Apology” can salvage a negative conversation; “Compliment Outfit” gets even more effective. At Charisma level 8, you’ll gain “Enchanting Introduction,” a massively powerful way to make a great first impression and leapfrog past basic acquaintanceship. If you’re aiming for a big, social-savvy household, practicing speeches in a mirror isn’t just vanity—it’s strategy.
For more on skill-based socializing, Screen Rant’s relationship mechanics article is worth a look.
4. Social Events, Parties & Clubs
Why chat one-on-one when you can mingle en masse? Hosting events (like house parties or dinner gatherings) lets shy Sims piggyback off more outgoing party members’ successes. Every successful interaction at a party improves relationships, and Sims that attend the same event already have a head start toward friendship.
If you own the Get Together expansion, clubs are even better. By inviting target Sims to your club, your Sim will get to know them naturally, and club perks can boost relationships faster than through ordinary chats. See the details on Simming Simplified’s BFF guide.
5. Living Together: Friendship on Fast-Forward
Sims who share a household start with a slight relationship boost, and daily routines make socialization natural. Siblings, spouses, and Roommates can quickly build strong friendships during chores, meals, or just awkward bathroom run-ins. It’s like university or a tiny apartment—when you can’t escape each other, you’ll probably end up friends (or enemies!) fast.
6. Avoiding Negative Interactions
Not every conversation is sunshine and rainbows. Rejecting a request, mocking outfit choices, or repeated mischief can backfire and tank that friendship bar. Keep an eye on emotional states: an angry or tense Sim is more likely to trigger arguments, while a sad Sim might prefer comforting words. If things go sour, “Apologize” and “Try to Cheer Up” are your best friends for patching things up.
The Power of Cheats: Speeding Up the Friendship Process
Time is money – or, in Sim terms, time is social opportunities! For Simmers not interested in the slow climb, The Sims 4 includes robust cheats for instant friends, maxed relationships, and even pet bonds.
How to Enable Cheats
- PC: Press Ctrl + Shift + C
- Mac: Press Command + Shift + C
- Console: Press all four shoulder buttons at once
Type testingcheats true to activate cheat mode.
Modifying Friendship Values
The main relationship cheat is:
modifyrelationship YourSimFirstName YourSimLastName TargetSimFirstName TargetSimLastName X LTR_Friendship_Main
Replace X with the number of points (positive up to 100, negative down to -100). For example, to instantly max a friendship bar from scratch, set X to 100.
Examples:
modifyrelationship Bella Goth Mortimer Goth 100 LTR_Friendship_Main– This maxes out the friendship between Bella and Mortimer Goth.- To reduce friendship, use a negative number:
modifyrelationship YourSim TheirSim -50 LTR_Friendship_Main
Instant Friends and Neighborhood Shortcuts
- relationships.create_friends_for_sim – Instantly generates a new friend Sim for your Sim.
- relationship.introduce_sim_to_all_others – Your Sim will instantly know every other Sim in the neighborhood, perfect for social butterflies!
- For Pets:
modifyrelationship SimFirst SimLast PetFirst PetLast X LTR_SimtoPet_Friendship_Main
Feeling curious about more hidden cheats and real-world examples? The GamesRadar relationship cheats guide collects even more quick hacks for social success.
Friendship Building FAQ
Why isn’t my Sim making friends, even after lots of friendly interactions?
Sometimes a Sim just seems stubbornly antisocial, right? The answer is usually in mood, traits, and repetition. If your Sim or the target Sim is angry, sad, or just hasn’t had enough sleep, social interactions are less likely to succeed. Also, if you repeat the same action (like “Brighten Day”) three or more times in a row, it stops working as well. Try mixing things up, check if they’re in a good mood, and experiment with social locations—cafes, bars, and lounges sometimes help break the ice.
Can you lose friendship over time in The Sims 4?
Absolutely. If your Sims don’t keep in touch, friendship will slowly decrease, especially for “Good Friends” or “Best Friends.” Major negatives like arguments, cheating, or ignoring invitations can cause a sudden drop. Staying proactive with texts, chats, and invitations can help keep those relationships green and healthy. For more on how those mechanics work, see Sims Wiki’s friendship page.
How do I make my Sim best friends with another Sim?
First, fill the green friendship bar to about 80% or higher. Then, look for the “Ask to Be Best Friends” interaction – it appears only at that higher level. Accept, and they’ll hold the best friend status until you choose to replace it. A Sim can only have one official best friend at a time, so choose wisely!
Are there any relationship perks for being in a club?
Yes, with The Sims 4: Get Together, joining or forming clubs can fast-track your Sims to friendship. Clubs have leader abilities and perks that increase the rate at which friendships build, and every club interaction adds up. Want to dig deeper? This relationships cheat guide covers the ins and outs.
Does the Charisma skill affect friendships with pets too?
Nope! Charisma boosts social interactions between Sims, but pet relationships rely more on direct pet care: feeding, brushing, playing, and going for walks. To rapidly befriend an animal, try giving treats, using the “Get to Know” and “Praise” options, or try the appropriate friendship cheat with pets as described above.
Can you make enemies instead of friends deliberately?
Definitely! Just as friendship flourishes through kind words, rivalry and grudges blossom from negative and mean interactions. If you repeatedly mock, insult, or pick fights, the friendship bar will turn red and slide into enemy territory. Some players even pursue a nemesis as a gameplay challenge. The system works both ways – which can actually be fun for a bit of drama!
Level Up Your Social Game
Whether you’re a purist who loves the gentle chaos of organic relationships or a power player seeking instant results, The Sims 4 has tools for every play style. For even more creative strategies, browse in-depth tutorials at Carl’s Sims 4 Relationship Cheats or find new inspiration through fan discussions on GameFAQs forums. Every Sim has a story—and yours can be filled with bustling parties, secret confidants, or dramatic feuds. So why not send your Sim out for a chat, snap a selfie or two, and see what stories unfold?
