The Sims 4’s Growing Together expansion grants me the drama I crave

polygon.com:

The Sims 4 built up a reputation over the last decade as being a cozy, cotton candy-style life simulator. While a pandemic, an economic recession, and war raged outside in the real world, players could bundle up and have a good, problem-free time with their Sims. If you wanted to support a family and buy a house as a freelance artist, that was entirely possible — and even encouraged! Everyone in The Sims4 was just nice. That is, until Electronic Arts released the new expansion Growing Together on March 16. Now, my Sims are all part of the Real Housewives of San Myshuno. Everything’s all drama, all the time, and I am living for it.

Growing Together adds a lot more nuance to a Sims’ likes and dislikes, including how they feel about each other. Some people will simply get along great off the jump, whereas other pairs will just burn each other’s biscuit. Likes and dislikes are much more impactful now. A Sim who hates video games won’t have their fun meter fill; it drains. A Sim who can’t stand singing will seethe when their roommate practices their scales.

These dynamics run deep, altering playthroughs. Take the case of the Hart family — a mom, a dad, and their little child. In my playthrough, the dad had a few commitment issues, leading to a “distant” relationship with his wife and a “difficult” relationship with his son, which is kind of impressive, because I’m not 100% sure how you can have beef with a baby. During the housewarming party, Mrs. Hart went in to check on their son, and dad Mason bee-lined for the newest neighbor to flirt with her. I was transfixed; this deliciously messy drama played out in real time, fuelled entirely by the Sims’ own agency.

Returning to an old save was equally spicy. My werewolf and