The Sims 4 Neighborhood Stories allows NPCs to make autonomous life-changing decisions. Your Sims can influence some of those choices, but not all of them. These new gameplay options bring some sort of Story Progression to the Sims 4.
But it’s not exactly the same system as in The Sims 3.
This is how Story Progression works in The Sims 4
- Sims all over the game can experience life changes
- You get to control or influence what NPC Sims do with their lives
- Some things remain out of your control
Story Progression differences between Sims 3 and Sims 4
Story Progression is a complex system that can only be turned on or off. Basically, you get to choose between a chaotic world and a controlled, possibly boring world.
Neighborhood Stories adds new gameplay settings but lets you can choose how it affects your game. Every time an NPC Sim is about to make a major life change, they will ring up your Sims and ask for their advice.
As a player, you can encourage the decision, reject it, or remain neutral and let the NPCs decide on the best course of action.
Rest assured, NPCs will only contact your Sims if they’re really good friends. If you’re pursuing the Neighborhood Confidante Aspiration, you may actually get a lot of calls.
But there are certain life changes, such as accepting a marriage proposal or getting a promotion that your Sims can’t trigger or control. These life changes can occur independently of your Sims’ will.
The Sims 3 Story Progression can affect almost the entire game. On the other hand, Neighborhood Stories affect a smaller range of life changes such as career, relationship, and children-related decisions.
Micromanagers won’t like Story Progression in Sims 4
If you’re a micromanager who likes to control all the aspects of your Sims’ lives, you won’t like the idea of story progression. The game could become hectic and out of control at times with this option enabled.
If you hate the idea of not having control over every player in the game manually, feel free to disable Story Progression.
For some players, the constant social phone calls and texts, pop-ups about Likes and Dislikes, and pop-ups asking for advice on other Sims’ life choices might be too much to handle.
But if you don’t want to micromanage the whole world, then Story Progression is the right thing for you.
Console players can’t use mods like MCCC, so the idea of native story progression is really exciting for them.
If you want to learn more about the newest Neighborhood Stories gameplay options, check out EA’s blog.
By the way, if the Neighborhood Stories button is not working, update all of your mods to the latest version.
Conclusion
Neighborhood Stories allows NPC Sims to make major life decisions autonomously. While you can influence and encourage certain decisions, some things remain out of your control. That’s the element that brings Story Progression to the Sims 4.
What do you think about NPCs being able to make their own decisions? Are you planning to help everyone with pieces of advice full of wisdom or you don’t want to babysit anyone?
Let me know in the comments below.
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