Best Sims 4 CC and how to use custom content explained
Sim-ply amazing.
The Sims 4 came out a decade ago, but it's still receiving plenty of updates and expansions. For Rent, the latest landlord-themed expansion, dropped at the end of last year. It's up there with GTA 5 in terms of longevity.
Yet not everybody can afford to splash out £34.99, especially when they've already bought the game. There are plenty of mods available, or cheats if you feel like bending the rules a bit.
And if you'd rather follow more official lines, there's always the option to explore custom content.
Listen to our Sims developer interview on the One More Life podcast!
Custom Content is a completely free part of the game which involves player-made hair, clothes, furniture, and other features. Let's take a closer look at The Sims 4 CC!
How to use The Sims 4 CC
To use custom content in the Sims 4, you need to follow the following steps:
- Download your chosen CC and unzip the files.
- Take the .package files or uncompressed folder containing .package files and move them into the Sims 4 Mods folder
- This folder can be found here: Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods
- Upon launching The Sims 4, go into the options menu and make sure “Enable Custom Content and Mods” is enabled under the “Other” tab.
- Restart The Sims 4 and look out for the “Mods” pop-up shows up.
It’s worth noting that anytime The Sims 4 receives an update, mods are disabled. To remedy this, just head to the Options menu once more and click on “Enable Custom Content and Mods” again.
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Where to find Sims 4 CC?
There are a few websites to find custom content for The Sims 4 and for the most part, the same content can be found on each, but it is worth checking out the individual sites to make sure you haven’t missed anything.
The best Sims 4 CC websites in no particular order are the following:
- The Sims Resource – We recommend checking out the Featured Artists page to get started as it’s easy to get lost here
- Maxis Match CC World – All the CC featured here will be in line with Maxis’ original artists' intent for a more unified custom experience
- CurseForge – Maxis has officially partnered with CurseForge which means you can use their specific CurseForge app to download and install CC rather than doing it yourself.
What is the difference between Maxis Match CC and Alpha CC in The Sims 4?
Simply put, Maxis Match CC is custom content that is created in the same style and design as Maxis’ own content so that it results in a cohesive visual experience.
Alpha CC, on the other hand, takes a more realistic approach with clothes, furniture eyes, skin texture packs and more all looking a little more true to life.
These can look a little out of place with the rest of the original design language but, fortunately, there is so much Alpha CC that you can almost completely replace the vanilla look of the game.
Best Sims 4 CC to use in 2024
Below are just a few picks of our favourite Sims 4 CC packs available from Curseforge, The Sims Resource and Maxis Match.
We have tasteful Scandi furniture, mermaids and the Matrix for you to transform your Sims 4 experience.
Baysic
For Ikea fans, Felixandre and Hey Harrie’s Baysic is a must-have as it adds 91 neutral and Scandic-inspired items that look straight out of the Swedish home stores’ catalogue.
Similar to the way Ikea lists their products by rooms, Baysic has items for the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom.
Life’s A Beach
For those of us living in colder climes, escaping to somewhere warm enough to swim outside is imperative for our survival – especially in winter and the mass mermaidcore collab on The Sims Resource delivers the goods.
There's everything from mermaid ears, outfits, shell baths and more. Life’s A Beach is perfect for those besotted with The Little Mermaid Remake and its beautiful nautical vistas.
With over 500 unique items in the pack, there's sure to be something you'll love.
Download it on The Sims Resource.
Winter Weather
Stepping as far away from the Life's a Beach pack as possible, this one embraces the colder seasons. And at the time of writing it's pretty chilly outside, so the Winter Weather Sims 4 Custom Content Pack seems pretty apt.
There are 13 items in total that celebrate the the cosy thick fashion of winter.
From creator Serenity, you can take a look at the Patreon page here.
Glitch
If you want to be as far away from mermaidcore as possible, the Matrix-inspired CC pack “The Glitch Collection” from The Senate and Arethabee brings some Y2K couture to Maxis’ life simulator which when you think about it – is really ironic.
The description read “A collection of effortlessly cool leather and glossy pvc looks that are versatile and wearable for all sims; whether they pick the blue or the red pill!”.
They’re not lying, as the Maxis Match Matrix garments look suitably sleek without being out of place.
Download it on Maxis Match CC World.
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Authors
Cole Luke is a freelance journalist and video producer who contributes to RadioTimes.com's Gaming section. He also has bylines for Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, Network N and more.
