The Sims 4 review

The Sims 4 is the best free simulation game on PC and the pick for anyone who cares more about people and homes than machines. Maxis lets you shape how Sims look, act and dress, then design and decorate their houses and guide their careers, relationships and life goals. Neighborhoods can be visited to meet other Sims. The base game is free to download, and 86% of 107,964 English Steam reviews are positive. The minimum spec asks for 4 GB of RAM and 26 GB of storage. The catch is the add-on model: Steam lists 115 DLC, and many features players expect come in paid packs. The Steam version also requires an EA account and the EA app running in the background, and it is Windows only on Steam.

Who it is for

life sim and home building fans who want to start free

Price

Free base game on Steam; expansions are sold separately.

The base game of The Sims™ 4 is free to download.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Create Sims and decide how they look, act and dress
• Design, build and decorate homes for every family
• Travel to neighborhoods to meet other Sims
• Careers, relationships and life aspirations to pursue
• Free base game, with paid packs sold separately

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Base game is free to download
• Strength: 86% of 107,964 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: Minimum spec is 4 GB of RAM
• Weakness: Steam lists 115 DLC, so the full experience costs far more than free
• Weakness: Requires an EA account and the EA app running in the background
• Weakness: Windows only on Steam

Key facts

• Developer: Maxis
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Released on Steam: June 18, 2020
• Minimum RAM: 4 GB
• English Steam reviews: 86% positive of 107,964

Where it ranks

The Sims 4 is No. 4 in our Best PC Simulation Games verdict.