The Sims 4: Realm of magic is a game pack (the eighth) that came out on September 10, 2019 for PC and Mac and October 15, 2019 for PlayStation and Xbox. It adds spellcasters as a new occult life state, the world of Glimmerbrook with a portal to the floating Magic Realm, spells, potions, wands, brooms, familiars and three magic sages who train your Sim. If you like occult gameplay, it is one of the deepest game packs in The Sims 4.
Realm of Magic at a glance
| Pack type | Game pack (GP08) |
| Release | September 10, 2019 (PC/Mac), October 15, 2019 (PS4/Xbox One) |
| Platforms today | PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S |
| New life state | Spellcaster |
| New world | Glimmerbrook, plus the Magic Realm |
| New creatures | Familiars (for example dragon, fairy and phoenix) |
| New aspirations | Spellcraft & Sorcery, Purveyor of Potions |
| New traits | Weak, Strong and Ancient Bloodline (inherited) |
| New objects | Cauldrons, magic brooms, spell books, wands |
| New collectibles | Potions, mandrake root, valerian root |
| New death | Death by Spellcaster Overload |
Spellcasters: the heart of the pack
Spellcasters are Sims who learn spells and brew potions. Unlike vampires or werewolves they have no second form, so they look like normal Sims. You can create one in Create a Sim, turn an existing Sim into one through a quest in Glimmerbrook, or be born as one. Our step by step guide covers the quest: how to become a spellcaster in The Sims 4.
Ranks and perks
Spellcasters level up through six ranks. Each rank gives perk points to spend on 24 perks.
| Rank | Name | Perk points |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Apprentice | 0 |
| 1 | Neophyte | +1 |
| 2 | Acolyte | +2 |
| 3 | Adept | +2 |
| 4 | Master | +2 |
| 5 | Virtuoso | +3, then +1 per full bar |
Three schools of magic, plus alchemy
Spells are split into three schools: Practical, Mischief and Untamed. Alchemy (potions) is the fourth magic style. You can learn all of them on the same Sim. In total a spellcaster can learn 24 spells and 15 potions, all logged in the spell book. Spells range from teleporting and conjuring food to turning Sims into objects, starting fires and even bringing the dead back to life.
Spellcaster charge, curses and overload
Every spell fills up the spellcaster’s charge. A charged Sim casts stronger spells, but the chance of failure rises. At full charge the Sim is dangerously overcharged and will soon have a magical overload: they float into the air, release wild magic and fall down singed. Repeated overloads can kill them, which is the new Death by Spellcaster Overload. Failed spells can also give your Sim curses. Curses can be removed again, for example with a potion.
Bloodlines
Children of a spellcaster have a 50 percent chance to be spellcasters themselves (100 percent if both parents are). Their powers show up when they become teens. Magic families build a bloodline over the generations, from Weak to Strong to Ancient Bloodline, and a stronger bloodline gives the Sim a head start once their powers appear.
Glimmerbrook and the Magic Realm
Glimmerbrook is a small mountain forest world with one neighborhood, Glimmerbrook Village: three residential lots, one community lot and one empty lot. A portal above the Glimmerbrook waterfall leads to the Magic Realm, a floating neighborhood where the sages and other magic Sims live. Casters Alley in the Magic Realm is where you buy wands, brooms and magic books. Spellcasters also get a Glimmerstone, which lets them travel to the Magic Realm without the portal.
The sages
Sages teach your Sim new spells and help them rank up. The three active sages are L. Faba, Morgyn Ember and Simeon Silversweater. Each one covers a school of magic. They are also the Sims who perform the Rite of Ascension (to become a spellcaster) and the Rite of Dissolution (to stop being one, with every perk refunded as talent points).
Familiars
A familiar is a magic companion that follows and protects your spellcaster. Options include a dragon, a fairy and a phoenix, and with Cats & Dogs you can also bind a cat or dog. A spellcaster can bind as many familiars as they like, but only one can be summoned at a time.
Is Realm of Magic worth it?
Buy it if you enjoy occult Sims, family legacies with special powers, or storytelling with spells and potions. The rank and perk system gives you long term goals, and the bloodline system adds a reason to play several generations. Skip it if you mostly build or play everyday life: Glimmerbrook is a small world, and most of the pack revolves around magic. To compare it with the other game packs, see our list of every Sims 4 pack in order.
Realm of Magic works well with Life & Death and the Grim Reaper for supernatural stories, and spellcasters fit right into many Sims 4 challenges. Want more ways to play occults? Check how to become a vampire or a mermaid.
FAQ
When was Realm of Magic released?
September 10, 2019 on PC and Mac, and October 15, 2019 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Is Realm of Magic an expansion pack?
No, it is a game pack. Game packs are smaller than expansion packs and cost less.
How do I get to the Magic Realm?
Travel to Glimmerbrook and find the portal above the waterfall. Spellcasters can also use their Glimmerstone to go straight there.
Can a spellcaster also be a vampire or werewolf?
Not at the same time. A Sim who wants another occult life state can ask a sage for the Rite of Dissolution first. If they become a spellcaster again later with the Rite of Ascension, they get their spells, potions, rank and unused points back.
Can spellcasters die?
Yes. Besides normal deaths, repeated magical overloads can kill a spellcaster. Keep an eye on the charge meter and discharge the magic before it fills up.
Do children of spellcasters get powers?
With one spellcaster parent the chance is 50 percent, with two it is 100 percent. Powers appear when the child becomes a teen.