Wants are desires shaped primarily by your Sim’s traits. The activities they do and the places they visit can also trigger new ones on the spot. Think of Wants as a more trait-driven, expanded version of the old Whims.
There are three types of Wants:
- Long-term Wants: Ongoing desires tied closely to your Sim’s traits.
- Short-term Wants: Wants that pop up and resolve quickly.
- Reactionary Wants: Wants triggered by location. Visiting a bar might make your Sim want a drink, while a gym visit might trigger a want to do a specific workout.
Here are some examples of wants.
- Admire Yourself in the Mirror: Confident Sims may get the sudden urge to check themselves out. It’s less about vanity and more about being in a genuinely good mood.
- Fish for Compliments: A want typical of self-absorbed Sims, who need regular validation from others.
- Plant Something: Common for Sims with a green thumb or the Freelance Botanist aspiration. These Sims love getting their hands dirty and building out a garden.
Fears are temporary emotional states triggered by negative experiences. Each trait tends to open the door to a specific type of fear, and your Sim can either confront a fear head-on or let it shape their behavior over time.
You’ll get a notification whenever a fear surfaces, giving you a heads-up on what’s affecting your Sim and a chance to decide how to respond.
Fears can also come from specific events. Witnessing a fire, for example, might leave a lasting fear of fire that makes future fire-related situations harder to deal with.
Swimming while energy is low can trigger a Fear of Drowning.
Here are some examples of fears.
Being Cheated On (Base Game): Triggered by bad WooHoo with a partner or a lack of romantic interaction.
Being Judged (Base Game): Triggered by mean interactions directed at your Sim.
Cowplants (Base Game): Triggered by being swallowed by a Cowplant.
Crowded Places (Base Game): Triggered by spending time on a crowded lot.
Dead-End Job (Base Game): Triggered by going a long time without receiving a promotion.
Death (Base Game): Triggered by witnessing the death of a loved one.
Failure (Base Game): Triggered by crafting poor-quality objects or performing poorly at work.
Fire (Base Game): Triggered by experiencing a fire.
Ghosts (Base Game): Triggered by having a frightening encounter with a ghost.
Swimming (Base Game): Triggered by having a scary experience while swimming.
The Dark (Base Game): Triggered by a frightening nighttime encounter, such as an alien abduction or vampire encounter.
Unfulfilled Dreams (Base Game): Triggered by not completing any Wants for a long time.
Disappointing Parents (High School Years): Specific trigger not officially listed.
Failing After-School Activities (High School Years): Triggered by failing an after-school activity.
Failing Classes (High School Years): Triggered by failing classes.
Failing Tests (High School Years): Triggered by failing or barely passing an exam.
Homework (High School Years): Triggered by not doing homework for a long time.
Being Evicted (For Rent): Triggered by receiving a fine as a tenant.
If the system isn’t for you, it’s easy to disable:
Open Game Options.
Go to Gameplay.
Uncheck Show Wants and Fears.
Since it’s on by default, this is the only step needed to turn it off entirely.
Each time a fear resurfaces, your Sim gets a choice: confront it or let it continue running the show.
Conquering a fear rewards 100 Satisfaction Points.
Not conquering it means the fear can stick around indefinitely. Some fears may never fully go away.
You can also have your Sim discuss their fears with other Sims as a way of working through them.