As The Sims 4 approaches its fifth anniversary, it's a good time to take a look at some of the greatest pre-made families the game has given us so far. Back when it was first released, the town’s population was quite light. While franchise favorites, such as The Goths, were present and correct, there was very little variety, and most households were quite traditional. These days, players have more choices than ever before. The new worlds are filled with a variety of families, and there are many different family setups present in these pre-made families.
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As a result, any person playing through The Sims 4 doesn't necessarily need to focus on creating Sims if they want to play the family of their choice. The sheer number of options to choose from is so vast that most players don't really need to worry about having to compromise while playing as one of these pre-made Sims. In fact, some may argue that these families have way more character and nuance than any other Sims game, although that is a fiery debate indeed.
Updated on August 8, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: The Sims 4 has gone through a pretty wild ride since its release. While it's true that most Sims games have lackluster base games (given that most of the other content would be packaged as separate DLCs), The Sims 4 was lambasted across the board for not having features that had made previous games in the series such a hoot. However, over time, the game has slowly won over fans once again, with its vast and diverse collection of pre-made families making it clear why players love this title despite its faults.
23 Bougie Duo - Dream Home Decorator
Each expansion pack for The Sims 4 brings with it its fair share of pre-made families that are a joy to play with. One particularly unique household that fans can mess around with is the half-sibling pair of Freddie Hatton and Autumn Ziegler, who think themselves to be the coolest Sims around and certainly dress that way.
Since this household only has two Sims, beginners can find the Boogie Duo to be easier to control if they want to come to grips with how the game works. It helps that their sense of style helps them stand out from the crowd, allowing players to help them mature together before they either grow old together or they find families of their own to move in together with.
22 Simmons - Parenthood
Players who want to challenge themselves by controlling a massive family and having to take charge of multiple Sims at once will love what the Simmons family brings to the table. Added via the Parenthood expansion, this household features six Sims who can be directed to reach their goals, have fulfilling careers, and form meaningful relationships throughout their lives.
They need to be selected from the gallery and placed in a lot, so players should be wary of the size of the lot they choose when deciding to place these Sims in a location. If the house isn't large enough, then it's only a given that these Sims won't really be happy in the long run with their cramped accommodation.
21 Eclectic Arts - StrangerVille
StrangerVille is a great expansion that added one of the most popular locations from the Sims lore into the game. StrangerVille is full to the brim with many mysteries and a ton of new families to boot.
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One particular group that players can have a ton of fun with is the Eclectic Arts. The three roommates Alice Martin, Mark Eggleston, and Leslie Holland are pretty creative and have enough funds to make a name for themselves in the world of The Sims 4.
20 Giordano - Dine Out
Sometimes, all players need is a simple family to control so that they can help them prosper. Such is the case with the Giordano family, who were introduced in the Dine Out expansion.
The Giordanos are a fun bunch to control, essentially serving as a template for players to mold the lives of these family members how they see fit. They might seem uninteresting, but it's the creativity of the player that lets this family hit their stride.
19 Keye - Parenthood
The Keye family has a pretty interesting backstory that makes them quite fun to control. The husband of this family lost his wife under mysterious circ*mstances, which meant that he would serve as the sole parent to three children.
This can be quite a handful, but the fact that two of his kids are already teenagers makes things slightly easier. Maintaining a steady source of income to support the whims and fancies of three kids is important for players to control the Keye family effectively.
18 Curious - Base Game
A family that has been a constant part of the game since the second entry, players love messing around with the Curious family. Aside from their pretty hilarious name, there are many other things that make the Curious family a joy to control.
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In Sims 4, the Curious family has three brothers, one of whom is pregnant. There's also another member of the family added in the Stuck in Their Shadow scenario, making for a pretty unique playthrough indeed.
17 Price - High School Years
A family consisting of six people, the Price family can be somewhat of a pain to control early on because of the sheer chaotic nature of controlling so many people in one go. However, for what it's worth, players can consider this family to be a great challenge to learn some of the more advanced tricks in the game.
The Price family consists of the parents, their three children, and an exchange student as well. Players who can handle this extra workload will definitely have a great time with this family!
16 Best Of Friends - Discover University
Made famous by the Discover University trailer, the Best of Friends household consists of two students living in Britechester, attending Britechester University from Wyvern Hall. According to their family description, Becca Clarke and Julia Wright have been friends for ages, and have been through everything together - now university as well.
While Julia is studying physics at the university, Becca is specializing in language and literature. Julia is generally the more outgoing and extroverted of the pair, while Becca is more the bookwormish introvert Julia has adopted as her friend. The two of them are a lot of fun to play, especially when diving straight into Discover University, as it allows players to experience dorm and student life immediately.
15 Vatore - Vampires
The Vampires game pack is one of the better game packs introduced to The Sims 4, mainly due to the depth that vampires have in terms of skills, abilities, and lore. Included in the pack was Forgotten Hollow, inhabited by two siblings who both desire to be good vampires: the Vatore siblings.
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The Vatore were also included in the game pack trailer, and are seen as the two unfortunate souls who were turned by Vlad and Miss Hell. Now, they inhabit Forgotten Hollow with the aspiration to never harm humans to quench their thirst. Good vampires - what more does one need to like this quirky family? Gameplay-wise, they definitely present a challenge.
14 Grove - Horse Ranch
The Sims 4: Horse Ranch is one of the more unique and anticipated expansions to come out in quite some time, promising a new and engaging gameplay loop that has never been seen in the series before. The idea of tending to the needs of horses and helping them bond with their owners makes for a great (if somewhat simplistic) time that serves as a breath of fresh air from the usual gameplay loop of The Sims 4.
It helps that this expansion pack comes with its fair share of great households that players can mess around with to experience the strengths of the Horse Ranch DLC firsthand, with the Grove household being a great pre-made family in its own right. Aside from the three Sims that players can control, the family also has two horses who are pretty well-bred and love their owners from the get-go!
13 Karaoke Legends - City Living
City Living brought in a bunch of very cool families into the game, and one of them has to be Karaoke Legends. Not only is Akira Kibo one of the better-looking and better-designed townies in The Sims 4, but the family also has a nice touch of internal drama going on with Miko crushing hard on Akira.
Miko and Akira aside, Darling Walsh, the third roommate, is also one of the most interestingly designed townies for their gender-neutral appearance. There's also an air of mystery here: why is a teen living with roommates rather than their family? It's great to see representation being so strong in The Sims 4, and Darling is actually a good example of it.
12 Pleasant - Discover University
When The Sims 4 brings back families from previous games, it's always a happy day. In Discover University, the famous Pleasant family sisters have returned and are now of age to start their university careers. They live in a proper house in the center of Britechester in Gibbs Hill, but they can also be moved to the campus for a more immersive university experience.
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Angela and Lilith will have to face the usual challenges of rooming together, such as having completely opposite personalities and interests. While Angela specializes in art history, Lilith studies villainy. Chaos is bound to take place in this household as drama erupts, and that's where all the fun comes from.
11 Landgraab - Base Game
Another long-time family that's been in the game to a degree since the first The Sims game in the franchise is the Landgraab family. Incredibly rich and ambitious, the family is known for owning a wide variety of businesses, land and even have roads named after them.
Living in Oasis Springs, the Landgraabs of The Sims 4 have a bit of internal drama going on (like every family, really). Geoffrey and Nancy both lead secret lives from one another, while Malcolm is an evil, terrible teen bound to grow up to be just as dastardly as his parents. As insidious as they are, they're a core part of The Sims franchise's lore and therefore loved and hated by fans.
10 Hoapill - Island Living
This household contains Keala Hoapili and her granddaughter Lia Hauata. Their story is one of the most unique in-game. Keala watches over Ohan’ali Town in Sulani. She is able to easily commune with the spirits of the island and often summons them to her house. Her aim is to pass on her knowledge and culture to Lia.
There’s a lot of heritage in this household, and the dynamics of grandmother and granddaughter are a refreshing change when playing the game.
9 Jeong - Get Famous
Vanessa Jeong is a one-star celebrity who’s aiming high. An aspiring actress who lives in Del Sol Valley, she has a great sense of style and a lot of ambition. She also has vibrant hair, which makes her stand out amongst the other wannabe actresses.
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She begins her life in-game at level 3 of the actress career and has her sights set on reaching the top. This small-town girl is seeking her breakthrough while mingling with the rich and famous; something she dreamed about when she lived in a quaint country town while growing up.
8 Behr - Get Together
The Behrs are two sisters with an inherited house and big dreams. The oldest is Candy, who is a skilled DJ, and the youngest is Yuki, who is gaining a reputation as an infamous hacker. It’s said that the house was their grandmother's, although players don't really see any parents in-game either.
Yuki idolizes her sister, and it’s interesting to see the sisterly dynamic play out with the siblings being older and independent while still needing each other. Both girls have a good set of skills, and it’s very satisfying to help make their dreams come true.
7 Straud - Vampires
Count Vladislaus Straud IV is a pre-made vampire and the most enjoyable supernatural household to play. He appears old but is actually an eternally young adult, claiming to be an elder.
The Straud family has been in Forgotten Hollow since it was founded and has amassed a huge fortune, including the mansion Vlad currently lives in. If players want to play with a vampire then the Straud household is a solid choice. The mansion is huge and has plenty of places to explore.
6 Caliente - Base Game
Just reading the description of this family is enough to bring drama to a player's game. The Sims 4 version of this well-known family sees sisters Dina and Nina living with their mother Katrina and her flirtatious toyboy, Don Lothario.
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As people play with this household it’s almost inevitable that Don will end up entangled with all the Caliente girls, offering some chaotic gameplay choices. If players like their families to be wild and unpredictable, then the Calientes are a top choice.
5 Pizzazz - City Living
Penny Pizzazz is the embodiment of San Myshuno, where she lives in an apartment in the fashion district. She’s an online a-lister, at level 8 in the social media career. This means that she’s going places very quickly.
If players want to play a single sim household that is enjoyable and can earn money fast (and without using cheats) then Penny is a great choice. She’s outgoing and ambitious, and her career will soar very quickly in the right hands.
4 Ngata - Island Living
The Ngata family is a great example of a non-traditional happy household. They comprise Oliana Ngata, her son Tane and her wife Leila Illes.
According to their history, Leila came to the islands, not expecting to fall in love with the area and Oliana. The trio now lives in a beautiful house on the ocean, which is enjoyable to play with and a joy to look at.
They are the first lesbian pre-made family for The Sims 4 and the second for the franchise, the first being the Shears in The Sims 3.
