I always knew Cassandra Goth was a rebel. As I opened my very first tattoo parlour for business, she was straight in the door. My tattooing skill level of zero didn’t bother her, and she willingly volunteered to let me practice my brand new occupation on her arm. It looked like it hurt, and the lines were a bit wobbly, but what do details matter when you can stick it to your parents by getting inked at the hottest new venue in town?
The Sims 4: Businesses And Hobbies is bringing tattoos to all those rebellious teens, and anyone else who wants to take a chance on a tattooist of dubious ability. If you prefer something less permanent, your Sims can also choose to take up pottery. These two new skills are a highlight of this new expansion, backed by systems based around running small businesses, learning new skills, and sharing your hobbies in fresh ways.
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This is all accompanied by Nordhaven, another beautiful world, this time inspired by the Nordic Countries. As with most recent worlds, a lot of thought has been put into the setting and while it doesn’t hold as many secrets as Ravenwood, it’s still a stunningly designed joy to explore.
Get To Work? I’m Already Here
Get To Work allows you to own a retail store on a second lot, but small businesses function differently from the current retail stores. You designate an area to become your small business space and can charge people a one-off entry fee, or per hour. This can be on a second lot or simply on your home lot. Building space is split between public, employee only, and residential, using the same system as rental buildings. This gives you the flexibility to start very small and grow organically, without an expensive initial investment.
My Sim began from the garage of her starter home. I used the pre-set options and opened a tattoo parlour. You can sell items, run classes, or mentor visitors to earn extra money. With tattooing, you just get inking and Sims will come and pay you to draw wobbly designs on their skin.
Having tattooing as an activity in a tattoo studio makes sense. In fact, it’s a suggested activity for the store. However, I didn’t realise that this would mean that unless I kept my Sim permanently attending her tattoo table, other Sims would randomly decide they can do a much better job. They probably have a point, given my skill level, but I don’t need or want Eliza Pancakes badly tattooing my clients when I can do it myself and earn some money for it.
Wanting to get ahead, I also played as the Sarpong Family who own the tattoo parlour, Spilled Neon. Nia Sarpong, the matriarch of the family, is far more skilled at level eight, so prices were higher and customers happier. However, running a business still isn’t as simple as I hoped.
Nia’s eldest two (of three) children take themselves off to school and get out of the way. I assumed that opening my business would send the toddler to daycare, just as going to a job does, but no such luck. Since the game doesn’t allow you to call up and send them yourself, I was left with an adorable but chaotic bundle of energy running through my shop.
At points, I had to attend to the toddler, lest Sim Services pay me a visit, and whenever I did, we went back to other Sims hogging my equipment.
She didn’t want to stay upstairs, nor did she want to nap. She threw paint on the floor, repeatedly asked for food, and generally annoyed the customers until eventually she fell asleep in the one comfortable chair for clients to sit in while waiting.
Relaxing With A Hobby
If you choose to pursue pottery instead of tattooing, then things are a little calmer. Sims will still use your equipment, but in the pottery studio it makes more sense. You can teach or attend classes, both of which generate pottery-based goals, which results in social rewards.
Mentoring and teaching are linked to skill levels rather than the new activities, meaning Sims can teach classes or mentor others in any other skills they have including cooking, painting, guitar playing, or writing.
The club system from Get Together is also given a new lease of life for hobby meet ups. Like-minded Sims with specific interests can hold meetings where they participate in their hobby and can socialise with others who share it.
Strength In Building
Despite my reservations with gameplay, I have no such qualms about the new build buy items. You’ll find a wide range of modern and chic Nordic designs, which are great on their own and fit perfectly into The Sims’ world.
Clean lines are in and a new kitchen is my personal highlight. There’s also bedroom furniture, sofas, a desk, and some bookcases with a unique assortment of decorative items on top. Walls and flooring are basic but versatile, and lighting similarly so.
In line with the new skills you’ll find items for pottery and tattooing, as well as a range of new shelving for stores. Decals and signs add some flexibility to business branding, as does new wall decor, clutter, and plants. Overall, this is a solid selection of items I can see myself using regularly.
Business And Casual Chic
Create a Sim has similar strengths. There’s a classic vibe and the range is versatile enough to allow Sims to dress for the job they want – unless it’s Batman. There’s also an entirely new custom tattoo system which utilises pre-drawn designs, stamps and free form painting to give you maximum flexibility with your Sim’s body art. This is accessible via Create a Sim and through tattooing interactions.
Many new clothing items are unisex, with two variants to better fit both frame types. Overalls are a chic option for pottery lovers, and come with dirty and clean swatches. General business chic is in for the rest of the pieces which include shirts, trousers, skirts, smart casual tops and fur edged coats. Mini skirts and knee high knitted boots are also back, as well as some casual loungewear. Infants, toddlers, and kids also have a handful of adorable staples.
Overall, the pack theme is on point, but there are some gameplay wrinkles I hope to see ironed out in the final version when it launches on March 6, 2025.
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