The first official trailer for The Sims 4’s upcoming Adventure Awaits expansion pack debuted today, and the nostalgia is really kicking in for this one. This teaser confirmed the return of Imaginary Friends from The Sims 3, and I don’t quite know how to feel about it.
Imaginary Friends were equal parts terrifying and fun in the last game, and they’re channeling exactly the same vibes in the expansion pack trailer. I’m not sure if I’m 100 percent sold on the new look just yet, but I’m still ecstatic these strange yet lovable beings have finally found their way into The Sims 4.
An Imaginary Friend first appears in The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits trailer at about 21 seconds as a small doll that a child is interacting with. Then, at around 41 seconds, the doll is transformed into a full-on Imaginary Friend who is about the same size as child Sims. The process seems super similar to how it worked in The Sims 3: Generations, so it’ll be intriguing to see if they can eventually become humans, too.
In The Sims 4, Imaginary Friends have a more Muppet or Sesame Street look and feel to them. They were a lot more robotic and futuristic-looking in the last game, so it’s a bit of a jarring change. It does seem like there might be a few different appearances for them, though, as a different base doll is showcased at about 39 seconds into the trailer.
I’m glad that it seems like there are a few different looks for this doll, because if I’m being honest, the very first thing I thought of upon seeing the newly imagined version is Balloon Boy from Five Nights at Freddy’s, which is definitely not the vibes we want for our child Sims. Still, the kind of creepy but cute look is exactly what Sims does best, so even though I’m a bit creeped out, I’m equal parts excited.
This series is at its peak when it leans into the truly bizarre yet endearing, as is evidenced by features like Cowplants, the Grim Reaper, Bonehilda, Spruce Almighty, and the Tragic Clown. Sure, some of these things are kinda strange, but they’re also super fun and give The Sims franchise so much personality.
I’m always wanting more weirdness in The Sims 4, as I’m often missing the bold and unique strides that were taken in The Sims 3. The return of Imaginary Friends feels like a really great step in the right direction, and I hope the devs keep this momentum moving forward. I’m talking about full expansion packs that channel the same kind of vibes, similar to The Sims 3: Into the Future, which was a completely novel, unique, and wildly fun pack.
Imaginary Friends were easily the standout for me in the expansion pack trailer, but there are also plenty of other exciting additions to look forward to. Geysers, exercise bikes, water slides, new vacation destinations, fully customizable playgrounds, archery, challenge modifiers, and diving boards stuck out to me the most, although we haven’t even gotten the actual gameplay trailer yet, so there’s likely plenty more to uncover. Everything else seems pretty exciting, but none of it really compares to the return of my all-time favorite weird little friends.
Are the new Imaginary Friends going to haunt me in my dreams? Maybe, but the unique charm and chaotic gameplay they bring are totally worth it. Especially since child Sims are always desperate for more to do.
The upcoming expansion pack may be called Adventure Awaits, but I’m most looking forward to staying in and watching my Sim kids bond with their adorably creepy new friends. Who needs to touch grass when you’ve got a nightmare doll with a rich personality?
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The post The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits trailer just reignited my love-hate relationship with the weirdest Sims 3 feature appeared first on Destructoid.
