Emotions and moodlets are a gameplay feature unique to The Sims 4 in The Sims franchise. Sims are emotional creatures. Emotions such as Happy, Focused, and Energized can be helpful for skill building, work performance, and forming friendly relationships. While some players prioritize keeping their Sims consistently happy and worry-free, others enjoy toying with their Sims’ emotions.
It may be necessary for a Sim to be Angry or Sad to add realism to the game or follow specific storylines. If left unchecked for prolonged periods, Sims can die as a result of their extreme emotions. Although some death animations can be funny, many Simmers are stricken with fear each time they see their Sims in emotional distress. Learn how to handle Sims’ emotions and avoid an emotional demise.
Updated on July 27, 2024, by Jenna Amore: With the release of the Lovestruck expansion comes another emotion-based death in The Sims 4. Many players can relate to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and heartache when going through breakups and rejection; but, in The Sims 4, these feelings can be deadly. If Sims do not take safety measures to recuperate and reassess, they could die of a broken heart. Learn how to avoid this untimely demise along with other deadly emotions like anger, hysteria, and embarrassment.
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How Do Emotions Work In The Sims 4
Sims have emotions, just like human beings. There are 18 emotional states that Sims can exist in, each with its own superlatives. Different mods can add more emotions or the ability to control them, but a vanilla play-through allows for up to 34 different emotions. Here are all 34 emotions in The Sims 4:
- Angry (and Very Angry and Enraged)
- Asleep
- Bored
- Confident (and Very Confident)
- Dazed
- Embarrassed (and Very Embarrassed and Mortified)
- Energized (and Very Energized)
- Fine
- Flirty (and Very Flirty)
- Focused (and Very Focused)
- Happy (and Very Happy)
- Inspired (and Very Inspired)
- Playful (and Very Playful and Hysterical)
- Sad (and Very Sad)
- Scared (and Terrified)
- Tense (and Very Tense)
- Uncomfortable (and Very Uncomfortable)
- PØŞŞ€ŞŞ€Đ (The Sims 4: StrangerVille)
When autonomy is enabled, Sims in specific moods will be inspired to do specific things. For example, Sims in a Playful mood will often autonomously tell jokes, watch comedy, or take bubble baths. Players can also make their Sims complete these interactions to amplify their Sim’s current emotions. Correlated emotions like Happy and Energized can add extra buffs to a mood, causing it to intensify. Too many emotional buffs and moodlets can result in extreme emotions.
What Are Emotional Deaths
Unfortunately, Sims can die as a result of their extreme emotional states. There are currently three third-tier emotions that can be lethal for Sims if they exist in the state for too long: Mortified (extremely embarrassed), Enraged (extremely angry), and Hysterical (extremely playful). Players with The Sims 4: Lovestruck can also experience Sims dying of a broken heart, which some consider to be an emotional death. These deaths can only happen to Sims when they are in the young adult, adult, or elder life stages.
Hysterical
A Sim with over 15 playful moodlets or boosts will become Hysterical and risk death by hysteria. The following interactions and events can cause a Sim to become Hysterical:
- Wishing for Happiness at the Wishing Well and Getting the Death Outcome (+99) (The Sims 4: Romantic Garden Stuff)
- Being Targeted by a Vampire’s “Influence Emotion” Power (+8) (The Sims 4: Vampires)
- Being Near Playful Decorations or MySims Trophies (+2)
- Drinking the Essense of Playfulness (from Cowplants) (+2)
- Being the Target of Voodoo – Joy (+2)
- Spamming Playful Interactions
- Taking Bubble Baths (+2)
- Play in Bathtub (+2)
- Telling Multiple Jokes in a Row (+1)
- Viewing Playful Paintings (+1)
- Watching Comedy TV (+1)
- Watching Funny Videos (+1)
- Playing Video Games (+1)
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The Sims 4: Emotion Guide
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Mortified
A Sim with over eight embarrassed moodlets or boosts will become Mortified and risk death by embarrassment. The following interactions and events can cause a Sim to become Mortified:
- Experiencing Bladder Failure (+5)
- Farting With Low Bladder Needs (+3) (The Sims 4: Parenthood)
- Failing to Unlock the Hidden World in Willow Creek (+2)
- Drinking the Essense of Embarrassment (from Cowplants) (+2)
- Repeatedly Getting Rejected when Flirting (+2)
- Witnessing Other Sims Woohooing or Using the Bathroom/Shower/Bathtub (+1)
- Getting Witnessed Woohooing or Using the Bathroom/Shower/Bathtub (+1)
- Being Targeted by a Vampire’s “Influence Emotion” Power (+8) (The Sims 4: Vampires)
- Wishing for Skill Increase at the Wishing Well and Getting the Death Outcome (+99) (The Sims 4: Romantic Garden Stuff)
Enraged
A Sim with over seven angry moodlets or boosts will become Enraged and risk death by cardiac explosion. The following interactions and events can cause a Sim to become Enraged:
- Catching a Spouse Cheating (+3)
- Being Riled Up by Hot-Headed Sims (+2)
- Being Woken Up with the Lazy trait (+2)
- Being Near Sims of Opposite Traits (Good Sims vs Evil Sims) (+1)
- Being the Target of Voodoo – Pain (+2)
- Drinking the Essence of Anger (from Cowplants) (+2)
- Being Near Angry Paintings (+2)
- Viewing Angry Paintings (+1)
- Eating Flaming Hot Spaghetti (+2)
- Drinking the Boiler Room Cocktail (+2)
- Being Targeted by a Vampire’s “Influence Emotion” Power (+8) (The Sims 4: Vampires)
- Being Angry with the Emotion Bomb Fame Quirk (+8) (The Sims 4: Get Famous)
- Sitting on Furniture Damaged by Cat Scratches (+1) (The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs)
- Wishing for a Promotion at the Wishing Well and Getting the Death Outcome (+99) (The Sims 4: Romantic Garden Stuff)
- Werewolf Temperaments (The Sims 4: Werewolves)
- Rampaging as a Werewolf (The Sims 4: Werewolves)
Heartbreak
While the previous three emotion-based deaths are a result of stacked moodlet buffs that go unchecked for some time, Sims do not actually need to have an overarching sad moodlet to die of a broken heart. If this death is imminent, players will receive notifications warning them that if safety measures aren’t taken and the sad mood does not pass, the Sim will die. Death by a broken heart is unlikely to happen unintentionally, as several things need to happen for this to occur. Here are some ways Sims can experience sorrow and risk death by a broken heart.
- Being rejected by romantic pursuits
- Witnessing a romantic partner crossing romantic boundaries
- Repeated dates that end poorly
- Depressed eating
- Bad breakups
To avoid this death, Sims should wait until their sad feelings simmer before jumping back into the dating pool. While using strategies to reduce sad moodlet buffs, players can have their Sims work on their confidence and bolster their romance skills. If the Sim is in a relationship while the death of a broken heart is threatened, the Sim can go to relationship counseling to sort out their issues. On the Cupid’s Corner app, Sims can select “Go to Couple’s Counseling With…” for 1,000 simoleons to improve the relationship.
Emotional Death Effects
If a Sim meets their unfortunate demise due to these three extreme emotions, the camera will shift focus to this Sim and the death animation will play out. Other Sims can attempt to plead for this Sim to save them from death, but if all else fails, they will be reaped by the Grim Reaper. Even as ghosts, they will often be afflicted by +2 mood buffs of the emotion they died by. Sims within the ghost’s vicinity will receive this buff as well.
How To Remedy Intense Emotions & Avoid Emotional Deaths
If too many emotional buffs or moodlets get stacked on top of each other, Sims can experience intense emotions. While some emotions like Tense or Uncomfortable can be fixed by attending to a Sim’s needs, other emotions require specific interactions to diminish their effects. If you notice a Sim experiencing intense emotions and you would like to avoid an emotional death, there are a variety of things you can do. Aside from using cheats and mods to add or remove emotional buffs, the following things can soothe or change a Sim’s emotions:
Drinking Tea
Several beverages can improve a Sim’s life in The Sims 4. Different types of tea can improve a Sim’s mood by giving them a +2 mood buff for up to four hours. Choose a specific type of tea to brew to cause different emotional effects.
Tea Type |
Emotional Effect |
---|---|
Bee Tea (The Sims 4: Seasons) |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+1) |
Black Dragon Tea (The Sims 4: My Wedding Stories) |
Boosts Focused Emotion (+2) |
Builder’s Tea (The Sims 4: For Rent) |
Boosts Focused Emotion (+2) |
Calming Chamomile Tea |
Decreases Angry & Tense Emotions |
Cozy Apple Juice Tea (The Sims 4: My Wedding Stories) |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+2) |
Earl Grey, Hot Tea |
Boosts Confident Emotion (+2) |
Healthy Green Tea |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+2) |
Lemon Honey Ginger Detox Tea |
Boosts Focused Emotion (+2) |
Orange Blossom Tea (The Sims 4: My Wedding Stories) |
Boosts Focused Emotion (+2) |
Pitch Black Tea |
Boosts Focused Emotion (+2) |
Rainbowberry Unicorn Galaxy Tea (The Sims 4: For Rent) |
Boosts Playful Emotion (+2) |
Run Oolong Tea |
Boosts Energized Emotion (+2) |
Spiced Sparkling Apple Juice (The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs) |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+1) |
Steamy Ginseng |
Boosts Flirty Emotion (+2) |
Yerba Mate (The Sims 4: Jungle Adventure) |
Boosts Inspired Emotion (+2) |
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The Sims 4: Best Mood Cheats
This article will provide Simmers with some effective mood cheats that they can use to manipulate Sims’ moods to their liking.
Drinking Emotion Potions & Serums
Emotion potions can be bought at the rewards store using satisfaction points. Earn satisfaction points by completing aspirational goals or whims. The potions cost 200 simoleons each. Additionally, master mixologists can make some of the available emotion potions. Fans can also gift them in the mail if a famous Sim has the CelebuSerum fame perk. There are plenty of other potions that exist in the game, but the following affect emotions.
Potion/Serum Name |
Emotional Effect |
---|---|
Confidence Potion |
Boosts Confidence Emotion (+100) |
Energized Potion |
Boosts Energized Emotion (+100) |
Flirty Potion |
Boosts Flirty Emotion (+100) |
Focused Potion |
Boosts Focused Emotion (+100) |
Happy Potion |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+100) |
Inspired Potion |
Boosts Inspired Emotion (+100) |
Red Hot Serum (The Sims 4: Get To Work) |
Boosts Anger Emotion |
Rose Perfume Serum (The Sims 4: Get To Work) |
Boosts Flirty Emotion |
Spark Drive Serum (The Sims 4: Get To Work) |
Boosts Energized Emotion |
Lot Traits
When building or editing a lot, you can assign traits to affect the lives of the Sims visiting or staying there. These traits can be added and removed at will. The following lot traits can affect emotions:
Lot Trait |
Emotional Effect |
---|---|
Bracing Breeze |
Causes Sims to be Energized |
Mean Vibe |
Causes Sims to be Angry |
Romantic Aura |
Causes Sims to be Flirty |
Sunny Aspect |
Causes Sims to be Happy, Inspired, or Energized |
Baths & Showers
Naturally, taking a bath or a shower increases the hygiene bar for a Sim. This can decrease Uncomfortable moodlets. In addition, specific baths and showers can cause emotional effects. With The Sims 4: Spa Day installed, players have a variety of options for bath soaks that can add emotional moodlets. Choose from these bath or shower types to affect emotions:
Type of Bath/Shower |
Emotional Effect |
---|---|
Brisk Shower |
Boosts Energized Emotion |
Cold Shower |
Decreases Anger and Flirty Emotions |
Steamy Shower |
Boosts Flirty Emotion |
Thoughtful Shower |
Boosts Inspired Emotion |
Bubble Bath |
Boosts Playful Emotion |
Citrus Soak |
Boosts Focused Emotion |
Lavender Foam |
Boosts Happy Emotion |
Milk, Honey, and Oatmeal Soak |
Boosts Happy Emotion |
Mud Bath |
Boosts Confidence Emotion |
Muscle-Relaxing Soak |
Boosts Energized Emotion |
Rose Petals |
Boosts Flirty Emotion |
Lighting Incense
The Sims 4: Spa Day also introduced incense to calm a Sim’s emotions. Choose from the following scents to affect a Sim’s emotions:
Scent |
Emotional Effect |
---|---|
Evocative Lemon |
Boosts Inspired Emotion (+2) |
Invigorating Cinnamon |
Boosts Energized Emotion (+1) |
Peaceful Patchouli |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+1) |
Romantic Sandalwood |
Boosts Flirty Emotion (+2) |
Sharpening Saffron |
Boosts Focus Emotion (+1) |
Soothing Sage |
Boosts Happy Emotion (+1) |
Miscellaneous
In addition to the above methods of soothing or changing a Sim’s emotions, the following strategies can be used to affect emotions:
- Crying it Out (decreases sadness)
- Using Punching Bags (decreases anger)
- Kicking Garbage Cans & Stomping in Trash (decreases anger)
- Talking in the Mirror (decreases ‘negative’ moods)
- Talking to Other Sims
- Asking for Reassurance (decreases embarrassment)
- Telling a Self-Deprecating Joke (decreases embarrassment)
- Sharing Insecurities (decreases embarrassment)
- Calling the Sadness Hotline (decreases sadness)
- Being Calmed Down by Other Sims (decreases ‘negative’ moods)
- Meditating
- Crafting Emotional Paintings
- Eating Fruits From the Tree Of Emotions (The Sims 4: Jungle Adventure)
- Being Near Emotional Objects (MySim Trophies, Plumbob Lamps, etc.)
- Practicing Voodoo