The Sims Answers Nature’s Call

Despite being released over a decade ago, The Sims 4 continues to maintain a strong player base thanks to the developer’s commitment to providing new content for the game. Even though an impressive 18 expansion packs are already available, including the likes of Cats & Dogs and Snowy Escape, the new content isn’t slowing down just yet. A brand-new expansion, titled Enchanted by Nature, is on the horizon.

Game Rant was recently shown a preview of Enchanted by Nature. The expansion focuses on all things nature, with Sims able to explore the wilderness, grow closer to nature, and even sleep outdoors should they display the right traits. The newest Sims 4 expansion will also feature things like fairies, magic, and, of course, a plethora of new cosmetics for both the Sims themselves and their lush habitats.

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Enchanted by Nature is a Nature Lover’s Dream

Sims 4 Enchanted By Nature Pointless Feature Matter

Enchanted by Nature puts an emphasis on free-spirited Sims who are attuned to their natural surroundings, introducing mechanics like the Nature Nomad aspiration. It allows Sims to sleep outside and become an expert at foraging for ingredients and crafting elixirs. There’s also the Natural Living skill, which sees Sims acquiring mystical traits and gardening skills. Several new areas were shown in the preview, including Innisgreen, an area heavily inspired by villages on the coast of Ireland, and Mossville, a heavily wooded area complete with houses built within the branches of huge trees. There’s even an enchanted spring called Moondrop Springs where Sims can go to relax, unwind, or refill potions.

New Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature Locations

Innisgreen
Mossville
Moondrop Springs

The best Sims 4 expansions are the ones that strike the right balance between introducing new elements while integrating them into the core game’s mechanics. Enchanted by Nature aims to do exactly that by focusing on a couple of mechanics that have often been overlooked or underused, with the illness system perhaps being the most notable. This mechanic, which allows Sims to get sick and require treatment, has never really had a satisfying gameplay loop, and the latest expansion is looking to fix that. With the introduction of a brand-new apothecary skill, Sims can concoct elixirs to cure illnesses, using ingredients that they can forage from the surrounding nature.

Fairies Are at the Heart of Enchanted by Nature

Fairies play a big part in Enchanted by Nature, as any Sim can become a fairy, but younger ones won’t obtain their wings or powers until they reach adulthood. Fairies can follow a light or a dark path, which can help or hinder the player and their Sims, but this path can be changed and is not set in stone. Fairy dust generated by fairies can be used to maintain plants, granting advantages that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

Fairies can also bring gnomes to life. These gnomes in The Sims 4 can then perform jobs for the player, helping with cleaning or even fighting off evil gnomes should the need arise. On top of this, fairies can absorb emotions from other Sims, allowing them to use abilities for a variety of different things.

The Sims 4‘s UI has also been updated and refreshed. There are new quests to engage with, and Sims can log their findings in a notebook that players can access and fill in, giving them a nice reference guide for in-game lore.

The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature Expansion Pack promo gameplay screenshot (3)_1

Enchanted by Nature Has Other Mechanics for Players to Experiment With

Other new mechanics include a balance system that sees Sims become imbalanced if they display negative emotions for too long, and a luck factor that operates behind the scenes and influences a wealth of other stats. These mechanics can be easily turned off, though, should players find them more of a hindrance than a help.

Create-a-Sim is full of new cosmetics such as Celtic, nature-inspired hairstyles and outfits, and there are plenty of new additions to buildings, like elegant glass walls and rustic wooden outbuildings. The expansion is set to be released on July 10.