The Sims 4 Outdoor Retreat is the first Game Pack in the franchise. It sets a precedent that minor add-ons for the game will include gameplay features, as opposed to objects and clothing via Stuff Packs. That's not to say this GP doesn't compete with The Sims 3's Stuff Packs in terms of 'stuff'. There is actually more here than in a typical Stuff Pack, with gameplay to make it more appealing to players deciding to buy it. I am eager for the game to be expanded upon in this way, as most of us could get free decorative content from the many CC sites without needing to fork over any dough. Maxis-designed Skills and interactive objects are simply more appealing to purchase. Even as a Guide author, I never bought more than 2 Stuff Packs for TS3 and had Twinmum (a Moderator of our Forum) cover those for me. Comparing TS3 Stuff Pack Content to Sims 4's Game PacksTo help you understand why Outdoor Retreat is a value at its $20 launch price, we can compare the first Stuff Pack for Sims 3: High End Loft Stuff.
Game Packs will not be the only additions to The Sims 4. We will still get Expansion Packs for TS4 that add major gameplay, but these Game Packs will be released at times in between EPs. Vacationing in Granite FallsIn order to explore the new Neighborhood of Granite Falls National Park, you need to use your Sim's phone. From there, you can select Travel, and Go on Vacation With... You will need to select one of five Lots to rent, which cost the following amounts per day: You can elect to stay up to 7 days, and will pay ahead of time. At any time while on Vacation, you can go home or Extend Vacation through the phone to pay for more time there. If your Sim has a job, know that their Career's Vacation days will be used while visiting Granite Falls, and continuing to stay beyond the allowed Vacation time could cause a performance hit - so stay on top of the Careers Tab ('J' Hotkey) and be sure you are not about to lose your Job! With Vacation Days available, your Sim will earn money equivalent to a normal day's pay when the shift ends.
Two Main Areas & One Secret AreaThere are two main areas (Neighborhoods) in Granite Falls, and one secret area. First is the area you are automatically taken to when visiting - the Campgrounds. There, you will find the five lodgings you can rent, along with plenty of visiting Sims. Park Rangers are available, and can be asked about the new Game Pack's features, as well as giving you some minor advice. A Sim in a bear costume lingers here, waiting to make tourists Tense. You can don the costume yourself in Create-a-Sim. There is a Ranger's Station you can visit to purchase supplies near the Mascot Statue (which can be examined to get a Woodworking Schematic). You are able to buy tents, food, campfires, tables, and chairs there, which can help you to drop everything and relax anywhere in the Forest. There are, of course, collectibles and fishing spots in this area but the best new fish, insects, and herbs are found elsewhere. The other area is the Forest where you will not find a Bigfoot because they aren't in the game (yet?).
As noted by Nutella on our Forum, there is a huge lot you can build on here, so you can make your own retreat if you like. The whole thing can be bulldozed and customized to your own specifications. It comes with a nice public cabin that can be used for a night's sleep and cooking a meal, if tents are not for your Sim. This is a massive forest with waterfalls and great scenery where you can find most of the new collectibles. You'll see scurrying wildlife (birds, squirrels) and be able to search for the third area, which is secret yet not-so-secret, the Deep Woods where the Hermit resides. Overall, the areas are beautifully crafted by the Game Pack's designers. There is a sense that you are actually exploring the woods thanks to the little touches they put in - the sound effects, animals, and sea of trees with rocks and logs all come together nicely to make the world itself worth a purchase, gameplay aside. New Skill: HerbalismOutdoor Retreat's Herbalism Skill relies on 10 new Herbs and some of the new insects that can be collected.
The Skill allows your Sim to make potions and salves that heal ailments like bug bites and calm emotions like anger, while also producing excellent Fertilizer for your Garden and weed repellent. Visit the linked Guide to see more about this Skill, which is as fully featured as others, just difficult to use heavily because of the ingredient requirements. You can take Herbs you collect back home to grow and use in practicing it, but will sometimes need insects in order to complete a recipe. New Aspiration: Outdoor EnthusiastThe game pack's new Aspiration is tied in with the new content. You'll have to harvest Herbs, catch fish, level Herbalism, collect Insects, sleep 5 nights in a tent, and befriend the Hermit of Granite Falls, who resides in the Deep Woods. Its Reward Trait is Survivalist, which makes Sims happier when camping (even at home) and enjoying the great outdoors. New Collectibles: Fish, Insects, and HerbsThe Game Pack comes with a number of new Collectibles for Sims to search for, including 5 Fish, 10 Herbs, and 21 Insect types - both flying and crawling.
Completing these will require a keen eye, because it is hard to spot things in the Forest. You'll get them all over time as you vacation in Granite Falls, so long as you keep your eyes open for movement and unidentified plants. Within the secret area, you may catch the Mountain Lionfish or spot a rare insect, the Will-o-the-Wisp which comes out only at night. New ActivitiesThere is now the option to roast insects and weenies over the campfire, and invite other Sims to join you there. You can even plan a Weenie Roast Social Event, so long as you have a fire pit to roast them. Adding a log will keep the fire going for everyone to enjoy. Sims will warm their hands at the fire, and the new Tell Group Story option will let you select one of a few types of Stories. Picking a Ghost Story at night may cause an apparition to appear near the listeners, scaring them and bringing GREAT effect to the story if you want everyone terrified! On the fun side, there are Horseshoes that Sims can play together, and a portable activity table for playing cards out in the woods.
Many of the items your Sims can use are portable, so you can drop down a Tent to Woohoo in it or even read a magazine to learn a bit about Granite Falls' features. Sims who play Guitar can pluck one at the Fire and let other Sims join in to sing Campfire Songs. There is a new ability that can help creative types - Stargaze or Cloudgaze, depending on the time of day. This gives a +1 Inspired Moodlet that lasts 6 hours - yes, 6. Unlike most Moodlets, which last 4. This is super useful for a Painter, Writer, Mixologist, or Chef. Misc Additions: Recipes, Traits, and RewardsWithin the Game Pack, there are also some outdoors-y Cooking Recipes like Franks and Beans, Camper's Stew, and Walleye Surprise. You'll also find Baked Potatoes and Gumbo (with Crawdads as an ingredient). There is a new Trait - Squeamish, which makes Sims get upset around anything dirty and, of course, bugs! Several new Woodworking Schematics are available to help your Sim earn cash with that Skill, and three new Rewards you can purchase:
New ObjectsAs mentioned, there are over 60 new Objects for use in building and not all of them are only suited to building a lodge. Many will fit into your Sim's home back in Oasis Springs or Willow Creek, particularly thanks to the many coloring options available. The expected are here - camp fires, tents, inflatable mattresses, and wood paneling for lodges, but you will also find furniture (couches, chairs, beds etc.), lighting, a new Bearly Gnome, and a horseshoe pit you can place anywhere. For Build Mode, there are new types of trees and shrubs, wildflowers, and some nice wood paneling and flooring for your homes. Click on the picture below to see some of the objects, placed on an empty lot so that you can get an idea of what is available: Our Sims Forum is the place to go for faster answers to questions and discussions about the game. Use the form below to share your own experiences and provide helpful tips to other readers. We are not affiliated with EA and cannot make changes to the game, nor fix bugs.