The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature Expansion Pack review: Is it worth it?

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Experience The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature, where players are transported to the mystical, Celtic-inspired island of Innisgreen. Prepare for an abundance of enchantment and endless chances to immerse yourself in nature’s wonders.

Although the main attraction might not solely be the Fairies for some players, they seem to be more fully developed compared to the Mermaids in the Island Living expansion pack. This expansion offers a blend of features that allow Sims to connect with nature and explore their inner naturalist by walking on grass.

The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature screenshots

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What is Enchanted by Nature about?

In a fresh twist, The Sims 4’s 19th expansion pack, titled “Enchanted by Nature,” significantly alters the gameplay dynamic, making it possible for Sims to engage with their surroundings without needing to frequently return home.

This update largely owes to the introduction of two innovative abilities that make it easier for Sims to venture out and gather resources more instinctively, utilize their surroundings to replenish needs like Energy and Hygiene, create art from pressed flowers, cast spells using Fairy Dust to charm helpful or malicious Gnomes, or even encounter charming Fairy Sims. In other words, this expansion pack doesn’t just offer content for fans of the occult but also caters to a broader audience.

If you’re fond of magic, storytelling, legacy gameplay, and have cherished experiences with Outdoor Retreat or Cottage Living, then the game Enchanted by Nature is perfectly tailored to your woodland tastes.

Nurtured by Nature

Let’s discuss new abilities rather than Fairies. The Apothecary allows Sims to work with various ingredients to create remedies for the latest Ailments system (similar to Herbalism from Outdoor Retreat). An interesting one is Emotional Void, which manifests as grey, stone-like areas on your Sim’s skin, causing them a continual sense of boredom and keeping their mood at ‘Fine’ until treated.

Living Naturally stands out among my recent favorite abilities; it opens up a multitude of gameplay possibilities based on the packs you have. Whether you’re embarking on Rags to Riches adventures, tackling Off-Grid lot challenges, crafting runaway stories, or experimenting with Spellcaster Sims, there are numerous ways to utilize this skill.

This feature allows Sims to sleep comfortably on the ground, both indoors and outdoors; bathe in shallow water sources to improve their hygiene levels; and magically summon a Privacy Bush for their bathroom needs. As they become more proficient in this skill, these actions become increasingly effective. The first time my Sim tried sleeping on the ground, they experienced numerous wake-ups during the night, resulting in negative mood swings and contracting an illness in the morning – which provided me with a good chuckle.

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Three unique characteristics – Disruptive, Mystical, and Green Thumb, each possess their own allure (such as the Aura Reading ability for Mystic Sims, influencing moodlets), and there’s a fresh Luck mechanism introducing a hint of dice-rolling from tabletop games to make daily interactions more engaging.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that the latest Balance system comes with three tiers, and veering towards the Imbalanced or Overly Imbalanced end can disrupt a Sim’s daily routine, causing health issues like Ailments and hindering skill advancement. However, my Sim seemed unaffected by this, and I wonder if it was intentional since it consistently remained Balanced during my gaming sessions, even when she contracted Ailments or her needs dropped. Interestingly, I was using the Mystical trait that boosts balance whenever I bestowed a Sacred Blessing upon other Sims.

In the magical world of Enchanted by Nature, my cherished PlantSims participate more actively, often wandering the globe frequently. You can even interact with them for a novel way to obtain the Forbidden Fruit and transform!

Additionally, there’s fresh backstory provided, though I won’t reveal it here to avoid spoilers. It seems this narrative has been crafted to explain their current non-permanent status, which I hope will be updated in the future.

The pack’s CAS and Build/Buy modes are remarkably imaginative, but occasionally, I felt that the latter leaned slightly towards being overly theatrical. Introducing the ability to nurture ‘Live Houseplants’ indoors is a wonderful novelty, and it’s delightful to have the option of arranging various types in an assortment of pots for personalized customization. This addition seems particularly grounded within the pack, making it highly attractive, especially since I found these plants easier to care for compared to others.

Fairly fair fairies

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In The Sims 4, it’s now possible to introduce fairies who can either soothe or stir up trouble among the Sims community. Their primary focus is on influencing emotions and meddling with nature. As an enthusiast of things occult, I was eager to experiment with them, but unfortunately, my initial experience fell short of expectations.

Initially, I focused on the down-to-earth aspects of Enchanted by Nature, enhancing my Sim’s Natural Living and Apothecary abilities, exploring the world, and familiarizing myself with it (though I can’t help but notice that the Coast of Adhmor seems to have an unusual cluster of identical shell buildings). Afterward, I transitioned to Fairies for a feeling of development.

Using my advanced abilities, I was surprised at how effortless it seemed to become a Fairy: there’s an opportunity to purchase the necessary seed from a computer, which once planted, summons Mother Nature, who then sends you on a journey to a magical, deeply emotional spring (you read that correctly) for your transformation – all in just a few minutes.

Upon completing my transformation, I couldn’t help but think that it felt less rewarding than anticipated, given the immense effort required to summon such a natural force – almost as if I were merely a vessel for its power.

The novel abilities you can unlock are quite entertaining, but you’ll need to be cautious with managing their Emotional Force level while using them to avoid depletion – otherwise, it could lead to their demise. The ability to diminish yourself to recharge in a Fairy House, or elevate others by interacting with a sink or sleeping on a piano is reminiscent of The Sims, but the lack of an option to reduce size at will is a significant oversight, hindering Enchanted by Nature from being a top-tier Expansion Pack.

Verdict

In a delightful twist, Enchanted by Nature amplifies The Sims 4’s quirkiness across all facets without overwhelming players. Although fairies and the newly introduced realm are appealing enhancements to the game, they may not leave Sim enthusiasts utterly astounded.

This expansion truly excels in its innovative Natural Living ability, charmed Gnomes, and fresh additions such as Vitalized Houseplants. Each element is impressive within the pack, though it’s unlikely that any single feature would justify purchasing this DLC on its own. However, there’s a substantial amount of content provided here, ensuring that every Sims player will find something they enjoy.

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2025-07-03 18:19