Relationships in The Sims 4: A Complete Guide

Relationships are one of the most engaging aspects of The Sims 4. From casual friendships and romantic interests to family bonds, building and maintaining relationships is essential to a fulfilling Sim life. This guide will walk you through all the basics, advanced tips, and even cheats to help you master relationships in The Sims 4.

Understanding Relationship Basics

Friendship and Romance Bars

Every Sim relationship is represented by two bars:

• Friendship (Green Bar): Indicates your Sim’s friendly relationship level. The higher the bar, the better friends they are.
• Romance (Pink Bar): Indicates romantic interest and attraction. A high romance bar is essential for romantic interactions like Woohoo and proposals.

These bars decay gradually if your Sim doesn’t interact regularly with their friends or romantic interests. Fortunately, rebuilding these relationships is quicker due to familiarity.

Relationship Levels

Sims relationships progress through these statuses based on how full the bars are:

• Acquaintances (0–39%): Sims who have just met or have minimal interaction.
• Friend (40–59%): Sims who like each other and enjoy each other’s company.
• Good Friend (60–79%): Higher friendship level with more interaction options.
• Best Friends (80–100%): Highest level of friendship. Sims must explicitly ask to become Best Friends.

For romantic relationships, you’ll see statuses like Romantic Interest, Lovebirds, Girlfriend/Boyfriend, Engaged, and Married. These depend on the Romantic bar and interactions used.

Sentiments and Relationship Context

Sentiments are emotional memories Sims form about each other, adding depth to interactions. Positive sentiments like “Adoring” or “Closer from Happy Memories” enhance relationships, while negative sentiments like “Grudging” make interactions strained.

Building Friendships Quickly

Starting Strong

When your Sim meets someone new, start with casual interactions such as “Discuss Interests” or “Get to Know.” Use “Get to Know” repeatedly to uncover the other Sim’s traits, which can provide clues on which interactions they will enjoy.

Positive Moods and Traits

Your Sim’s mood matters. Being in a Happy or Confident mood increases success rates for Friendly interactions. Traits like “Outgoing,” “Cheerful,” or “Gregarious” (from Social aspirations) offer bonuses, making friendships easier to build.

Avoiding Social Mishaps

Avoid repeating the same interaction more than twice, as it can become boring. Mix in Funny and Friendly interactions, and watch for cues from the other Sim. If they react negatively to a joke or interaction, switch tactics immediately.

Multitasking Activities

Utilize activities that Sims can do together, such as watching TV, playing chess, or sharing meals. These activities boost relationship scores while fulfilling other needs.

Romantic Relationships

Starting Romance

Begin with low-risk interactions like “Flirt” or “Compliment Appearance.” Avoid advanced interactions like “First Kiss” until the Romance bar is higher (at least 25% filled).

Enhancing Romance with Mood

A Flirty mood can greatly enhance your romantic success. Decorate your Sim’s home with Flirty paintings or use the “Freshen Up” action at a mirror to quickly become Flirty before romantic interactions.

Romantic Context Levels

Romantic conversations have context levels:

• Suggestive Conversation: Initial flirting accepted.
• Amorous Exchange: Multiple successful romantic interactions.
• Steamy Exchange: High success rate, best time for risky moves like “First Kiss” or “Propose.”

Avoid interactions during “Awkward Encounter,” as this indicates a negative reaction.

Proposals and Marriage

To propose, your Sims must be at high Romance (pink bar nearly full) and have a strong friendship level. A Sim may propose under the “Romance” interaction menu. After becoming engaged, plan a wedding event or elope immediately.

Maintaining Relationships

Regular Interaction

Relationships decay over time. Invite friends over, visit their homes, or meet at community lots regularly. Phone interactions, while convenient, provide smaller relationship boosts than in-person meetings.

Mentoring and Skill Interactions

Mentoring a Sim at the gym, playing instruments together, or engaging in shared activities can quickly build and maintain relationships.

Relationship Cheats

Using cheats can speed up the process if you prefer instant results. Press Ctrl + Shift + C (PC) or all four shoulder buttons (Console) to open the cheat window. Enter testingcheats on first.

To modify relationships:

modifyrelationship [YourSimFirstName] [YourSimLastName] [TargetSimFirstName] [TargetSimLastName] [Number] [RelationshipType]

• Relationship Types:
• LTR_Friendship_Main (Friendship)
• LTR_Romance_Main (Romance)
• LTR_SimtoPet_Friendship_Main (Sim to Pet friendship, Cats and Dogs pack required)

Example:

modifyrelationship Alex Green Bella Goth 100 LTR_Friendship_Main

This cheat sets Alex Green and Bella Goth as Best Friends instantly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sims Not Responding to Romance

Ensure both Sims are the proper age category (Teen with Teen, YA/Adult/Elder with YA/Adult/Elder). If romance options won’t appear, verify that the other Sim isn’t a relative or a Teen-Adult pairing.

Relationship Status Not Updating

Occasionally, relationship statuses become stuck, especially after aging up. Use the “Ask to Just Be Friends” interaction to reset the romantic relationship, allowing you to rebuild it properly.

Sims Won’t Leave Property

If a Sim won’t leave your lot, form a group with them, then travel to a different lot. Disband the group and return home without them.

Tips for More Enjoyable Relationship Gameplay

• Play Wants-Based: Fulfill your Sim’s whims and desires to guide relationships naturally, creating more spontaneous and realistic stories.
• Rotational Play: If playing multiple households, keep relationships fresh by rotating regularly. Maintain friendships by inviting Sims from other households over frequently.
• Vary Sims’ Traits and Aspirations: Diverse traits lead to diverse relationships. Try mixing incompatible traits (e.g., Good and Evil) for friendship challenges.

Final Thoughts

Mastering relationships in The Sims 4 can turn your gameplay into a dynamic social experience. Building meaningful connections, fostering romance, and maintaining family bonds add depth and dimension to your Sim’s life. Whether playing naturally or employing cheats, relationships offer endless opportunities for storytelling and entertainment. Happy Simming!