Is The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack Worth Your Time and Money?

The announcement of The Sims 4’s Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack received a somewhat indifferent response from the Simming community, with many expressing disappointment in its content and some even calling it a ‘rehash’ of the Get To Work pack based on the gameplay trailer.

However, with the enticing blend of ‘businesses’ as well as ‘pastimes’ suggested by the DLC’s title, and following the success of the Life & Death Expansion, one might wonder how effectively this game’s 18th Expansion Pack delivers on its title promise. More importantly, does it manage to avoid feeling excessively expensive?

Well, sort of, but it ultimately depends on what kind of Simmer you are.

The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack details & screenshots

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Price: $39.99 / £34.99
Developer: EA / Maxis
Release date: March 6, 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Reviewed on: PC

(Small) businesses abound

Let’s kick things off with the initial component of the expansion’s name: Businesses. The game pack, Get To Work, was launched back in 2015, which is nearly a decade ago. Even though you have the option to own retail lots in that package, there are exceptional features when launching your small business within Businesses & Hobbies – and this sets it apart from Get To Work: specifically, small businesses.

In this latest update, the fresh abilities in Tattoo Artistry and Pottery Crafting are directly applicable, enabling you to establish a business where Sims can request custom tattoos or buy your beautifully made and glazed pottery right from your workshop.

The flexibility of the small business aspect in the game makes it an excellent tool for narratives. In my experience with the game, I was limited to using just the expansion pack and the basic version, yet the variety of options available for gameplay remained abundant.

It’s slightly inconvenient that just a single Sim can control the small business (even if it can be passed on or sold), yet one aspect I adore about this game is the ability to personalize the activities of your Sim, their colleagues, and possible clients.

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You have the flexibility to customize the kind of Sim character visiting your establishment, considering factors like age, profession, Occult category, and traits, among others. Additionally, you can control aspects such as whether there’s an entrance fee, whether it’s charged per hour, and the pricing for items being sold, including any markups.

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You have the flexibility to customize the responsibilities of each employee in your business, allowing one Sim to excel at ‘Maintaining a Friendly Environment’, while another can specialize in ‘Nurturing Young Ones’. This feature offers an opportunity for players who enjoy family-oriented gameplay to establish a daycare center within their simulation.

Due to its unique feature, one of the small businesses included in Nordhaven, Koffieboon, is not just a regular store but an authentic café where Sims can enjoy beverages, attend lectures, and browse through books. The crosspack functionality from additional DLCs opens up numerous creative possibilities – and having experienced it with my own Pottery business, I can confirm that it’s a truly enjoyable experience.

Small businesses and retail lots share some similarities, and I must admit, there were times when I wondered why this setup wasn’t updated like a game expansion pack instead. However, I can confidently say that I prefer this DLC (Downloadable Content) over Get To Work’s content any day, because the diverse options it offers lead to a wealth of creative possibilities – something I never really felt in Get To Work.

In simpler terms, some unique advantages found in games like Occults and Get Famous are now being applied to smaller businesses through Dreamer, Neutral, and Schemer rewards. These options offer different perks (such as an Ultrasonic Whistle that causes existing customers to leave while attracting new ones) based on your selection. Additionally, the actions of your Sim within the business can influence which direction these benefits take.

This fits seamlessly with the introduction of two new characteristics: Idealist and Dishonest, particularly the latter offering intriguing interplay that nudges your behavior in that direction. Among my favorites are ‘Insincere Apology’ and ‘Steal’ (yes, it’s true), with a moodlet for the former emphasizing the shady nature of this trait.

As your business evolves, various consequences unfold. Unforeseen occurrences such as an unknown phone call and a fresh wave of Fear for a Sim following the Schemer pathway, emerge, making it more challenging to decide between paths. Additionally, small advantages in connections with specific types of Sims provide incentives to leverage these relationships to foster growth in your chosen business direction.

The zoning function from For Rent is now applicable to Businesses & Hobbies as well, enabling users to designate specific areas for residential use, employee-only zones, or open to the public.

This is somewhat peculiar as it’s essentially a modified version of a system found in another premium pack, but adapted for a distinct purpose. It seems unusual to find it migrating into another DLC, but it’s acceptable here due to my uncertainty about how else it could be implemented when it’s connected to two different types of lots.

Moreover, having a zoning feature is crucial when starting a business, as I found out the hard way by neglecting to establish distinct areas when I initially opened my shop. Consequently, clients ended up relaxing in my Sim characters’ living room, which was far from desirable.

Hobbies for all!

Moving on to the leisure part of the Expansion Pack, we’ll dive into the ‘Whiteboard for Sharing Hearts’ first. This item uniquely bridges both sections of the pack. It serves as a platform for either free talks or paid classes, but only the latter can be conducted when your Sim is both the owner and an employee of a small business, and has reached level five in a major skill (or level three in a minor one).

In addition, this update introduces a fresh kind of connection, Mentor/Mentee, which will also foster specific Emotions. It’s wonderful to notice that this aspect has received attention in both Professional and Personal pursuits. Although there is currently a ‘Mentor’ reward attribute, the introduction of this relationship type, Emotions, and the class feature makes it feel more comprehensive and immersive.

Regarding classes – whether you’re teaching or participating as a student – they typically adhere to a common structure involving specific activities such as ‘Guide for 30 Minutes’ and ‘Create a Handmade Pottery Item’. This setup works effectively, and observing Sims interacting with various items while they attend the venue gives an authentic classroom feel. It’s more engaging than High School Years, adding a touch of realism to the learning experience.

At Hobby Meetups, which are regular events Sims can join to participate in various activities, whiteboards occasionally show up too. Not every meetup has one; for instance, ‘Munch & Mingle’, a food-focused event, provides a table where you can display your baked goods, and ‘Spotlight Stars’ offers musical instruments for those with a penchant for music.

Since the kind of Simmer I am, I’m unsure if I would attend these gatherings beyond my review. In fact, I seldom participate in in-game festivals and find them somewhat underwhelming – meetups being a slightly more personalized alternative to that experience.

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In this area, activities related to hobbies beyond Pottery are emphasized, providing additional ways for Sims to interact, foster new friendships, and gain knowledge from others. These interactions don’t solely serve career purposes. Furthermore, Sims can acquire Mastery Perks by participating in these workshops and, in turn, impart their wisdom.

The first thing that stands out as odd when watching the ‘Hobbies’ section of the Expansion Pack, such as in a trailer, is that it doesn’t appear to be particularly hobby-worthy, since Pottery seems to be the only new addition. However, upon playing the Pack, it becomes clear that this isn’t accurate.

I’d appreciate learning additional skills we haven’t mastered yet, but Businesses & Hobbies tends to focus on enhancing existing abilities and finding alternative uses for hobbies from other DLC packs. It’s not flawless and there’s definitely room for improvement, but I’m open to connecting content and introducing fresh gameplay opportunities – I’m just uncertain if an Expansion Pack is the most suitable approach.

In essence, it resembles The Sims 2: FreeTime, yet since the expansion pack introduced features that are now present in The Sims 4, incorporating extra skills or innovative methods for acquiring items could have made this more unique and enriching.

The recently introduced ‘Kate & Berry Sweet Treats Fabricator 3000’ (a humorous moniker for those in the know), allows your Sim characters to produce candies for potential sales. However, its lack of introducing a unique candy-making skill is somewhat disheartening. In reality, I can manage cooking quite well, but the idea of creating candy lollipops is beyond my grasp. Introducing a new skill specifically for this feature would have been more engaging in this case.

What I’m particularly fond of and wish to encounter more often here is something along the lines of the Family Recipe function. This feature allows you to modify an existing recipe, such as mac and cheese, by incorporating additional ingredients like pomegranate. Additionally, it offers Special Touches that can be obtained through normal gameplay, offering bonuses like Motivate-ing, which temporarily halts one of a Sim’s needs for a specific duration.

Elements such as these perfectly align with what makes The Sims unique, and I’m thrilled that there are innovative methods for passing items through a family tree. It’s reminiscent of a hobby, where one modifies and adjusts recipes using unusual ingredients to explore new possibilities.

Chic, stylish CAS & Build/Buy mode

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If, much like yourself, you can’t wait to explore the latest additions in CAS and Build/Buy mode, then Businesses & Hobbies boasts an array of enticing items just for you!

This round, CAS (Creator Asset System) leans towards a wider variety of masculine items, but it also offers an assortment of styles that pay homage to past decades such as the 60s, 70s, and include everyday pieces that seamlessly blend with existing items in your game. A fresh wolf-cut style and a fashionable middle-part bun, which I’m excited to incorporate into my game, are among the new additions.

In this latest version, the custom tattoo option has become a standout feature in CAS, much like the ones available in games such as Cats & Dogs and Horse Ranch. This new system allows you to design tattoos your Sim will wear with pride (though I may have given Bob Pancakes a plumbob tattoo he’d probably want removed immediately – my apologies, Bob). You can also upload these creations to The Gallery for other Sim players to utilize.

I appreciate the various poses available for my Sims in this game, especially when I’m trying to apply ink to a less accessible area, as it makes it easier to see what I’m doing.

As a gamer, stepping into Build/Buy feels like entering an IKEA showroom, where simplicity and chicness reign supreme. Initially, I was yearning for a fresh kitchen, but the recently introduced base game one for the 25th Anniversary surprisingly complements the neutral palette of this DLC extension.

Initially, I felt somewhat disappointed with Build/Buy overall, especially since I’m a fan of cottages and rustic-style furniture. However, there were some exceptional decor items like the impressive gallery wall and beautiful new rug that caught my eye. Yet, I don’t anticipate using many other pieces frequently due to my preference for rustic style.

It’s beautiful in Nordhaven

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Lastly, but by no means least, we introduce Nordhaven – a new realm from Businesses & Hobbies that I’ve been eagerly anticipating for quite some time. This world shares similarities with Windenburg, except it features 12 lots instead of 27. Yet, it is equally filled with breathtaking landscapes.

The twin neighborhoods, Gammelvik and Iverstad, exhibit distinct vibes. The former exudes an older, more traditional charm in its architecture, while the latter incorporates contemporary, industrial aesthetics. However, what truly makes this place captivating is its network of canals, train station, and church (although they might lead to a rabbit hole), which make exploration a delightful adventure.

Among the aspects I adore here is that Sims can observe trains at the station, and this isn’t just a simple interaction. Instead, they’ll stroll towards a vantage point overlooking the tracks, earning a ‘Choo Choo’ moodlet when a train passes by. Moreover, you can utilize the station to travel around the world or even visit other ones, making it an engaging part of the game. This feature gives the world a sense of authenticity and immersion, making Sims seem like they are truly part of the environment—although, regrettably, this concept is still somewhat present (as depicted in the image below).

TopMob Review Score: 3/5 – Good

Pros	Cons
Great CAS & Build/Buy offering	Candy creation isn’t tied to a new skill
Paint tool for tattooing adds a new layer of customization	Lacking more skills and objects focusing on different hobbies
Plenty of player choice in creating and managing a small business	Meetups add little value and feel similar to festivals
New pottery and tattoo skills tie nicely into the small business system	Feels similar to the retail system in Get To Work

The Business & Hobbies Expansion Pack presents an intriguing dilemma. On one hand, it boasts impressive cross-content compatibility with other downloadable content, but on the other, it falls short in several aspects. Specifically, it introduces only two new abilities, a rudimentary candy making process that lacks depth, and a limited world with decorative elements that have been mentioned previously since My Wedding Stories.

If you’re a fan of stories that follow characters from rags to riches, family-focused gameplay, and building lasting legacies, then this pack is ideal for you. However, the somewhat repetitive feel that reminds one of ‘Get To Work’ in certain aspects holds it back from being an exceptional experience.

2025-02-28 23:20