The Sims 4: A Complete Guide To Traits (2023)

The Sims 4’s Traits are the characteristics or qualities that belong to a Sim. Some of them were released with the Base Game, while others were added with the release of The Sims 4’s Expansion Packs. Usually, every new Trait will be related to the new Pack one way or another, like the Maker Trait from Eco Lifestyle.

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Traits will allow Sims to feel certain emotions for a period of time. This feature is called Moodlets in The Sims 4. These Moodlets will appear under Sim's picture in Live Mode. Players need to keep in mind that picking different Traits will cause over one Moodlet to appear.

Updated on September 9, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: Traits form the crux of the personality systems in most of The Sims games. The fourth game is no exception here, with the Sims 4 Traits system being expanded quite a bit to make every Sim as unique and engaging as possible. As a result, it's only a given that people absolutely obsessed with the game would want to know everything about these traits and how they can affect a Sim.

How Do Traits Work In The Sims 4

There are four kinds of Traits; Personality, Bonus, Death, and Reward Traits. Some of them can be selected at the start of The Sims 4, whereas others can be earned by a variety of methods.

Personality Traits

The Personality Traits are available in Create A Sim (CAS). Simmers can choose up to four different Traits for Young Adults and older, three Traits for Teens, two Traits for Children, and one Trait for Toddlers. It's worthy of note that Toddlers' Traits differ from the rest.

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There are four different categories; Emotional, Hobby, Lifestyle, and Social Traits. Each one has Traits that could help Sims in their Career or social life.

Emotional Traits

Emotional Traits govern the many strong feelings a Sim may experience over the course of their lives. This forms a major part of their interest, with the majority of their conversations being dictated by what emotions govern them.

Sims can be everything from hopeless romantics to active players, wanting to pursue goals that adhere to their personality. It's one of the most classic forms of Traits that have been fairly consistent across the series.

Hobby Traits

Over the course of their life, it's only a given that a Sim would inevitably develop a passion for something that they really want to do. This becomes a major hobby for them throughout their life.

Sims might aspire to be great musicians or art connoisseurs, which adds more depth to their personalities. While realizing this goal can take a lot of work, Sims who manage to turn their hobby into something greater will be pretty satisfied in life.

Lifestyle Traits

A Sims' lifestyle is also dictated by Traits that shape their interests in the world around them. These Lifestyle Traits are numerous and definitely turn Sims into unique facets of a world that will be more inclined to opt for one particular action to help them enjoy.

These Traits decide if a Sim loves cats or dogs, likes mountains or beaches, is more spiritual or materialistic, and everything else along the same lines. It's a simple yet great way to make each and every Sim feel like a genuine person as opposed to mere lines of code.

Social Traits

Social Traits do pretty much what is stated in the title. They govern how a Sim interacts with other characters, establishing the chemistry they can share with potential friends, romances, and rivals.

Some Sims are talkative and boastful, while others are shy and reserved. These Traits decide whether a Sim has numerous friends in life or is perfectly content with a smaller group of closer friends.

Bonus Traits

Upon choosing an Aspiration in CAS, players can choose the fourth-Trait based on the Aspiration they chose. They are called Bonus Traits.

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Death Traits

Death Traits are only given to a Sim after passing away. They can be found in the Simology Panel, and they describe how the Sim died and what new abilities they possess. These Traits are:

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• Consumed By the Mother
• Death by Anger
• Death by Beetles
• Death By Being Crushed By a Murphy Bed
• Death By Being Swarmed By Flies
• Death by Cowplant
• Death by Drowning
• Death by Electrocution
• Death by Embarrassment
• Death by Falling from Heights
• Death by Fire
• Death by Flowers
• Death by Freezing
• Death by Hunger
• Death by Killer Chicken
• Death by Killer Rabbit
• Death by Laughter
• Death by Lightning
• Death by Old Age
• Death by Overexertion
• Death by Overheating
• Death by Poison
• Death by Pufferfish
• Death by Rabid Rodent Fever
• Death by Spellcaster Overload
• Death by Steam
• Death by Stink Capsule
• Death by Sunlight
• Death by Urban Legend
• Death by Vending Machine
• Ghastly Consequences
• Night Wraith
• Spectral Look

Reward Traits

There are currently 13 Reward Traits; Aspiration Reward, Inherited, Toddler Skill Reward, Child Aspiration Reward, Character Value, Satisfaction Reward, Career Reward, Food mastery, Mountaineer, Temporary, Sage, Childhood Phases, and Infection.

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Each one of these Traits has a specific method to be gained. Some develop when the Sim was a child and stay until they are Elders.

The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.

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