Summary
The Sims is an old series spanning decades and dozens of games and expansions. WhileThe Sims 4contains loads of content, there’s not much that stays the same from game to game. Furniture and clothing available in The Sims 2 or 3 often aren’t available in The Sims 4.
Fortunately, the game’s extensive modding community has stepped in to recreate nostalgic favorites from older Sims games. You’ll find recipes, furniture, hairstyles, and much more on the internet, that’ll take you back to Sims games of old. We’ve added some of the best nostalgia on here, so no matterwhat your favorite Sims game is, you can pay it tribute in The Sims 4.
10Fran Foofaraw Hair
The Sims: Bustin' Out was one of the most influential spinoff games in The Sims series, even if it’s mostly forgotten these days. It was the first game to allow Sims to visit other Sims' homes, a feature that became standard for the base game by the time The SIms 3 rolled around.
Luckily, it seems that not everyone has forgotten about this gem of a game. User littledica has re-created the cartoonish pigtails of NPC Fran Foofaraw. It’s available for feminine-presenting Sims aged teen through elder, is low-poly, and compatible with most types of hat.
9The Sims 4: IKEA Home Stuff
There’s little that unites people more than the sweet, sweet allure of reasonably-priced, flat-packed furniture. This is what IKEA promises, and in The Sims 2, your Sims could enjoy the same if you purchased the IKEA Home Stuff pack. The IKEA pack was one of the earliest of what would become a long-standing tradition of Sims brand collabs.
Unfortunately, IKEA furniture, or furniture suspiciously similar to the brand, was sadly absent for most of The Sims 4. A few custom content creators have made individual IKEA items, but this fan-made stuff pack is the only recreation of the original Sims 2 pack that currently exists on the internet.
8Stu Surprise
You probably would not want to eat Stu Surprise in real life. This beige mystery slop graced the tables of Sims everywhere in the days of The Sims 3. While Simmers might have wished for something more fancy then, they can’t deny that Stu Surprise is a nostalgic flavor in the era of The Sims 4.
There aren’t many custom content creatorswho specialize in food. However, icemunmun is one of the best in the community, and they’ve managed to deliver a faithful recreation of everyone’s favorite mystery stew. Now your Sims can enjoy a hearty bowl of Stu Surprise, just as their Sims 3 grandparents used to make.
7Tapestries And Stone Murals
The Sims Medieval introduced the world to beautiful medieval-inspired furniture and decor, all while keeping the whimsical spirit of The Sims alive. Sadly, we never got a remake or an official conversion of its items to The Sims 4, but the custom content community has stepped in where EA has failed.
This set from historicalsimslife includes all the most memorable wall coverings from The Sims Medieval, including the gorgeous tapestries that everyone remembers from that game. They’re perfect forbuilding your own castle, whether it’s for a medieval game or simply a tourist attraction for your modern Sims.
6The Sims 4: Teen Style Stuff
Teen Style Stuff was one of the most memorable packs released during the Sims 2 era. It gave Sim teens the ability to express themselves with a variety of different furnishings, all of which represented a different subculture in the teen world. High School Years, meanwhile, was far more homogenous in its treatment of teen aesthetics.
That’s not an ideal situation for anyone who wants to keep the preps and the goths apart, as the Watcher intended. Luckily, user simsi45 has brought the Teen Style Stuff pack to The Sims 4, updating every item to be compatible with the latest DLCs. You’ll need the Vintage Glamour Stuff DLC for the vanity table, but everything else works with the base game.
5TheJim07’s Sims 3 Bedroom Sets
While The Sims 3 might have had a more down-to-earth aesthetic feel than both its predecessors and The Sims 4, it excelled at having furniture that was visually distinct without being too cartoony. EA content in The Sims 4 tends to be either ugly as sin or something the average person would never realistically have in their home.
Enter TheJim07, who’s taken the time to recreate the different furniture sets that appeared in The Sims 3. Most of these are sets from EA’s now-defunct Sims 3 store, but some, such as the island bedroom set, first made their debut in the various expansions. Now, your Sims can decorate their homes in style.
4Knitting And Cross-Stitching Chests
Knitting and embroidery are crafts that have existed since the invention of textiles. So why do the yarn baskets and cross-stitching supply stashes in The Sims 4 look so modern? This has proven to be a conundrum for historical and fantasy Simmers, who want their Sims to do era-appropriate activities without ruining their aesthetic.
Enter zx-ta, who converted the small chests from The Sims Medieval into functional craft supply stashes. Now, Simmers with the Nifty Knitting or Cottage Living packs can let their Sims knit and embroider to their heart’s content, all without the frustration and pain of anachronism.
3Rectangular Classic Rugs
With the exception of a handful of rugs that are only available if you purchase certain DLC, the rugs available in The Sims 4 are all decidedly modern-looking. This is obviously a problem for historical Simmers, but it’s also not a great situation for anyone who simply prefers a more traditional look.
The Sims 3 had a beautiful set of traditional rugs that fit just about anywhere, from a Victorian drawing room to your grandma’s house. These rugs have all been recreated by user TheJim07 over on Mod The Sims, so now you can make your Sims' floors look absolutely marvelous.
2Sims 2 CAS Background Replacement
Back in simpler times, Sims were created in rooms that were designed with love and care. These CAS screens felt just like home, even if a Sim’s forever home would probably look quite different. Then The Sims 4 came around, and all Sims were destined to be created in a soulless blue void.
Several custom content creators have stepped in to make more aesthetically appealing CAS screens, but none are quite as nostalgic as this one. It’s a faithful update of the warm, homey CAS screen you’d see in The Sims 2, and it fits perfectly in the mod folder of any long-time Simmer.
1The Heart Bed
Long ago, in the simpler times of The Sims 1, there was the Vibromatic Heart Bed, which made its debut in the Livin' Large expansion. The bed went on to reappear in The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 but tragically died after the release ofthe Basement Treasures kit, where its disassembled corpse was used as a clutter item.
This is a travesty. Luckily, there’s custom content to restore the natural order. This bed from SimsLabs is a recreation of The Sims' most iconic piece of furniture, from its tacky heart-shaped headboard to its luxurious purple sheets. Now your Sims can woohoo on a bed that screams “unforgettable romance,” complete with its own flirty aura.
