Disclaimer: This tier list is based on data and personal opinion from March 2025. Since it’s 5 months old, not every Sims 4 pack will be represented, especially the most recent releases.

Rosannatxt ranked every Sims 4 expansion, game pack, and stuff pack (kits excluded) as of that date. The packs are split into five categories: Obsessed, Good choice, Meh, Broken, and Burn. Here’s a detailed breakdown of where each DLC landed and why.

The tier categories

  • Obsessed – Must-haves, packs that feel essential.
  • Good choice – Solid additions, but not must-haves.
  • Meh – Packs that aren’t bad but lack replayability or depth.
  • Broken – Packs with potential, but ruined by bugs or technical issues.
  • Burn – Regrettable releases that aren’t worth the price.

Stuff packs

  • Outdoor Retreat – Meh. Nice world, but limited replayability.
  • Luxury Party – Burn. Few items, poor value, outdated.
  • Perfect Patio – Meh. Outclassed by newer packs with hot tubs.
  • Cool Kitchen – Meh. A few decent items, but forgettable.
  • Spooky Stuff – Meh. Fun for Halloween, but too narrow.
  • Movie Hangout – Good choice. Family-oriented, fun popcorn machine and movie nights.
  • Romantic Garden – Good choice. Strong for builders, weaker for gameplay.
  • Kids Room – Good choice. Great décor and activities for family gameplay.
  • Backyard Stuff – Meh. Slides are too large and clunky.
  • Vintage Glamour – Meh. Butler feature useful, but style better served by kits.
  • Bowling Night – Meh/Broken. Bowling bugs ruin its potential.
  • Fitness Stuff – Meh. Fine, but redundant.
  • Toddler Stuff – Good choice. Ball pit and slides add depth to toddler gameplay.
  • Laundry Day – Broken. Great concept, constantly glitchy.
  • My First Pet – Meh. Controversial DLC-for-DLC, but decent items.
  • Moschino – Good choice. Photography skill makes it worthwhile.
  • Tiny Living – Obsessed. Modular furniture, boosts for small lots.
  • Nifty Knitting – Good choice. Fun hobby pack with well-balanced content.
  • Home Chef Hustle – Obsessed. Modern kitchen items, useful gameplay.
  • Paranormal – Good choice. One of the richest stuff packs, especially for occult players.
  • Crystal Creations – Good choice. Strong items and systems.

Game packs

  • Spa Day – Good choice (after refresh). Relaxing gameplay, though niche.
  • Dine Out – Broken. Still buggy years later. Only playable with mods.
  • Vampires – Good choice. Deep occult pack, strong replayability.
  • Parenthood – Good choice. Adds meaningful family gameplay.
  • Jungle Adventure – Meh. Gorgeous world, but not replayable.
  • Strangerville – Meh. Mystery is one-and-done, world is nice.
  • Realm of Magic – Meh. Shallower than Vampires or Werewolves.
  • Journey to Batuu – Meh. Weak story-based gameplay, but strong build/buy.
  • Dream Home Decorator – Obsessed. Fantastic modular build/buy, game-changing.
  • My Wedding Stories – Broken. Lovely world and items, but buggy weddings.
  • Werewolves – Good choice. Solid lore, fun systems.

Expansion packs

  • Get to Work – Meh. Dated visuals, limited replayability, overshadowed by Businesses & Hobbies.
  • Get Together – Obsessed. Club system is endlessly versatile.
  • City Living – Good choice. Unique world and apartments, though less essential now.
  • Cats & Dogs – Obsessed. Pets feel essential, versatile world and items.
  • Seasons – Obsessed. Calendar, holidays, weather – one of the most impactful expansions.
  • Get Famous – Meh. Fame system shallow and frustrating.
  • Island Living – Good choice. Beautiful world, weak mermaid gameplay.
  • Discover University – Good choice. Strong world/items, but university is time-consuming.
  • Eco Lifestyle – Good choice. Great for rags-to-riches and integrated systems.
  • Snowy Escape – Good choice. Unique culture and activities, solid all around.
  • Cottage Living – Obsessed. Charming world, farms, animals, very polished.
  • High School Years – Good choice. Teen gameplay is fun, but restrictive.
  • Growing Together – Obsessed. Adds deep family and relationship gameplay.
  • Horse Ranch – Good choice. Horses are well-executed, but niche.
  • For Rent – Broken. Extremely buggy, corrupts save files. Avoid until fixed.
  • Love Struck – Obsessed. Richer romance and relationship gameplay.
  • Life and Death – Obsessed. Grim reaper career, funerals, lore-heavy.
  • Businesses & Hobbies – Obsessed. Core systems and multipurpose lots, game-changing.

Final thoughts

This tier list reflects Rosannatxt’s personal preferences and experiences with Sims 4 DLC up to March 2025. Packs that add depth, replayability, or essential systems ranked highest, while those plagued by bugs or shallow design were pushed down.

Source: Rosannatxt on YouTube

Faq

what’s included in this tier list?

Stuff packs, game packs, and expansion packs ranked as of March 2025. Kits were excluded, and because this is based on data from 5 months ago, very recent packs may not be represented.

how are the tiers defined?

  • Obsessed – near-essential, high replayability or core systems.
  • Good choice – solid additions, strong but not mandatory.
  • Meh – fine, limited scope or replayability.
  • Broken – promising content hurt by bugs.
  • Burn – poor value or obsolete design.

which expansions are the safest “must-haves”?

Seasons, Cats & Dogs, Get Together, Cottage Living, Growing Together, Businesses & Hobbies. They add systems or versatile gameplay you’ll use across most saves.

which packs should I avoid right now?

For Rent (save-corruption and stability issues) and Dine Out (long-standing bugs) unless you’re prepared to use reliable mods and backups.

is dine out finally fixed?

No. It’s still considered broken in this list. Many players rely on Carl’s Dine Out mod to make restaurants playable.

are there good family-gameplay picks?

Yes: Growing Together, Parenthood, Movie Hangout, Kids Room, Toddler Stuff, Home Chef Hustle. They deepen family loops without being too intrusive.

what about occult gameplay?

Vampires and Werewolves are strong. Realm of magic is lighter by comparison. Paranormal is a great stuff-pack companion for occult flavor.

best value stuff packs today?

Tiny Living, Home Chef Hustle, Paranormal, Nifty Knitting. They punch above their weight with useful items and repeatable loops.

is journey to batuu worth anything?

Gameplay is niche, but the build/buy catalog is surprisingly useful. It lands in Meh mainly for builders.

I’m a builder—what should I prioritize?

Dream Home Decorator (modular systems), Tiny Living, Home Chef Hustle, Romantic Garden, Snowy Escape, City Living. You’ll also get mileage from Businesses & Hobbies for multipurpose lots.

I love rags-to-riches and systems play—any tips?

Eco Lifestyle (footprint, dumpster diving), Businesses & Hobbies (small business + custom venues), and Get Together (clubs as soft automation) work brilliantly together.

is my wedding stories usable now?

It’s better than at launch but still classed Broken here. The world and décor are lovely—plan on workarounds if you buy it.

do I need mods for any of this?

Not required, but some packs become dramatically better with mods (e.g., Dine Out). Always read creator notes, keep backups, and update carefully.

how can I protect my saves if a pack is buggy?

Use Save As frequently (new slot per session), keep external backups, and avoid editing the most important saves immediately after big patches.

I can only buy two expansions—what combo covers the most?

Common, flexible pairs:

  • Seasons + Get Together (calendar/holidays + clubs)
  • Seasons + Growing Together (family depth)
  • Cats & Dogs + Cottage Living (pets + cozy farm play)
  • Businesses & Hobbies + Get Together (custom venues + clubs for automation)

why isn’t a pack I like ranked higher?

This is one simmer’s perspective focused on replayability, systems, stability, and value. If a pack fits your style, it’s the right pick for you—no matter the tier.