In The Sims 4, managing the aging of your Sims is a core aspect of gameplay that allows players to tailor the life progression of their characters. Aging can enhance storytelling, help unlock new gameplay opportunities, and align Sims’ life stages with the player’s vision. While the game offers organic methods for aging up Sims, there are efficient shortcuts such as cheats that provide more control. If you’re looking for ways to expedite the process, leverage in-game mechanics strategically, or simply explore all your options, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about aging up Sims in The Sims 4.
Understanding the Basics of Aging in The Sims 4
The Sims 4 features multiple life stages: Newborn, Infant, Toddler, Child, Teen, Young Adult, Adult, and Elder. Each life stage introduces unique gameplay elements and interactions, making the aging system an integral part of the game. As your Sim ages, they progress through these stages, unlocking new aspirations, traits, and life experiences.
Automatic Aging – Letting the Game Take Control
If aging is enabled in your game settings, Sims will naturally age up as they reach the end of their current life stage. This option provides a hands-off approach, especially for players who prefer the game to evolve organically. Here’s how it works:
- Game Options: You can control automatic aging in the main settings menu under the Game Options section.
- Notifications: The game sends a notification when your Sim is nearing the end of their current life stage, letting you prepare for their birthday or other associated events.
- Adjustable Lifespan: Lifespan duration can be configured as Short, Normal, or Long, giving players further flexibility.
Adjusting Lifespan – Make It Short or Long
Depending on your gameplay style, you might want to speed up or slow down the Sim’s aging process. Here’s how you can manage it:
- Open the Game Options menu.
- Navigate to the Gameplay tab.
- Select the lifespan duration: Short, Normal, or Long.
These settings apply game-wide and help align your game progression with your desired timeline.
The Birthday Cake Method – A Celebratory Way to Age Up
One of the most interactive in-game methods to age up Sims is using a Birthday Cake. This festive approach not only progresses the Sim’s age but also adds a joyful moment to the gameplay.
How to Age Up Using the Birthday Cake
Follow these steps to age up a Sim using the Birthday Cake:
- Have your Sim bake a cake by selecting Cook from the refrigerator or stove menu.
- Once the cake is ready, click on it and choose Add Birthday Candles.
- Click the cake again to select options like “Make A Wish,” “Blow Out Candles,” or “Celebrate” with the Sim you want to age up.
- After the Sim blows out the candles, they will instantly transition to the next life stage.
This method is ideal for story-driven players who enjoy creating memorable milestones for their Sims.
Sims 4 Age Up Cheat – Ultimate Control at Your Fingertips
If you’re looking for a quicker way to age up Sims or want full control over their life stage, enabling cheats is the way to go. Cheats offer a reliable and instant solution for aging, bypassing the limitations of in-game mechanics.
How to Use the Sims 4 Age Up Cheat
Before using cheats, you need to enable them in your game. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Open the Cheat Console: Press Ctrl + Shift + C on PC or Command + Ctrl + C on Mac.
- Enable Cheats: Type testingcheats true in the console and hit Enter.
- Enter CAS Mode: Type cas.fulleditmode and press Enter again.
- Edit Sim: Shift+Click on your Sim and select Modify in CAS. From there, you can manually adjust their age by dragging the age slider bar to the desired stage.
This method ensures precision, allowing you to adjust not only age but also other characteristics like traits and appearance.
Age Progression Tips and Tricks
Although there isn’t a direct cheat with commands like sims.age_up, players can utilize additional tools to manipulate aging, such as:
- Age Progression: The cheat sims.age_add_progress # increases the Sim’s current age within their lifespan by a specific number of days.
- Essential Debugging: If any issues arise while aging up, resetting the Sim or reloading the game can often resolve the problem.
Other Unique Methods for Aging Up Sims
The Sims 4 features several unconventional and niche methods for aging up characters, offering players diverse ways to experiment with their gameplay.
Using Flower Arrangements
Flower arrangements, particularly those involving the “Death Flower,” can indirectly contribute to aging. By gifting a special bouquet to a Sim, you can trigger unique actions that may impact their age. However, use this method cautiously, as it carries risks, especially for Elder Sims.
Reward Potions
The Potion of Youth, available through the Rewards Store, resets a Sim’s age to the beginning of their current life stage. While it doesn’t age up Sims directly, it helps manage the aging process strategically.
The Recent Infant Update and Life Stages
The addition of the Infant life stage reshaped aging mechanics in The Sims 4, providing more depth to the earliest stages of life. Players now have additional milestones to explore and more time to customize their Sims’ fundamental traits and skills.
How the Infant Update Impacts Aging
- Extended Early Life Stages: With the new Infant stage, players have more control over the developmental journey of Sims.
- Improved Lifespan Settings: The update adjusts the timeline to accommodate the new life stage seamlessly.
How-To Guide for Sims 4 Age Up Cheat
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to using age-related cheats for maximum efficiency:
- Enable cheats using the testingcheats true command.
- Enter full CAS mode with the cas.fulleditmode command.
- Shift+Click your Sim, then choose Modify in CAS.
- Adjust the age slider to the desired life stage and save your changes.
- Return to gameplay with your updated Sim!
FAQ – Everything You Need to Know About Sims 4 Age Up Cheat
How do I enable cheats in Sims 4?
To enable cheats, open the Cheat Console (Ctrl + Shift + C on PC) and type testingcheats true. Press Enter to activate them.
Can I age down Sims in The Sims 4?
Yes, you can age down Sims using the Potion of Youth from the Rewards Store or by manually editing their age in CAS mode using cheats.
Does the birthday cake method work for all Sim ages?
Yes, any Sim from Toddler to Elder can use the birthday cake method to age up. Make sure to add birthday candles to the cake first.
Is there a direct cheat to age up Sims?
While there isn’t a specific age_up command, the cas.fulleditmode cheat allows you to manually adjust a Sim’s age.
How do I stop aging completely in the game?
You can disable aging entirely by navigating to Game Options > Gameplay and selecting the Disable Aging option.
What happens if I use cheats in the game?
Using cheats may disable achievement progress in certain circumstances, but it provides unparalleled control over your game. Always save your progress before applying cheats.
Can I age up NPCs with cheats?
Yes, enable cheats and Shift+Click on the NPC. Choose Modify in CAS to adjust their age.
What lifespan settings work best for storytelling?
For detailed storytelling, the Long lifespan is ideal, as it allows more time to develop Sims and build intricate storylines.
Can you age up a Sim without interactions?
Yes, you can use the cas.fulleditmode cheat to age them up directly in Create-a-Sim mode.
Are there any aging cheats for console players?
Yes! Cheats also work on console versions. Simply enable the Cheat Console by pressing R1 + L1 + R2 + L2, then proceed with the same commands as on PC.
Conclusion
Whether you’re aiming for a hands-off, story-driven experience or looking to optimize your gameplay with cheats, The Sims 4 offers plenty of options to manage the aging process. From the joyous birthday cake celebrations to the powerful flexibility of cheats like cas.fulleditmode, you can tailor your Sims’ life progression to fit your vision. Dive in, experiment with different methods, and make your Sims’ journey through life as vibrant and fulfilling as your imagination allows!
