Everything you need to know about The Sims 4's Adventure Awaits expansion pack

For the first time in a while, The Sims 4 team are firing out expansion packs within months of each other. We covered the Enchanted by Nature expansion pack back in July of this year, and suddenly we need to hit a soft reset and get ready for Adventure Awaits coming this October. What's even stranger is that this new pack seems to be summer camp/getaway themed, perfect for the... Fall?

GamingTrend was very fortunate to be invited to an early preview of the pack and some questions that fans may have, so in this article we will be covering the ins and outs of the Adventure Awaits expansion pack.

Three thrilling new neighborhoods await you in Gibbi Point: Wanderwood Wilds is a leafy haven laced with forest trails, erupting geysers and a whisper of mystery; Crystal Valley is where sparkling rock formations ignite the imagination; and Jellyfish Junction is a waterfront wonderland with a glistening lagoon and locals who adore their jellyfish.

Every adventure-brimming neighborhood in Gibbi Point is anchored by its own unforgettable Getaway. Sims can fish in mountain streams and swap campfire stories at Camp Gibbi Gibbi in Wanderwood Wilds, recharge body and mind at Revive & Thrive in Jellyfish Junction, or spark romance at the cozy retreat of Love Highland in Crystal Valley. It’ll be hard to choose your Getaway, and even harder to leave.

With the new Scheduling Getaway feature, your Sims can plan long weekends, summer breaks, or refreshing retreats, and even schedule recurring Getaways (who doesn’t want to spend weekends at Grandma’s house?!) Thanks to Custom Venue Rules, every trip is yours to shape. 

The world of Gibbi Point looks nothing short of stunning, the Sims team ahs really been hitting it out of the park with worlds lately.

Sims can also unwind at boardwalk festivals, grab the controller of a retro gaming console, catch butterflies, and accept quests from a curious local who may actually be the last surviving Large Plumbird to roam Gibbi Point.

The magic of play begins in childhood! In Adventure Awaits, Child Sims can shape their personality and skills through Formative Moments, new Traits and evolving Childhood Sentiments that influence experiences well into adulthood. 

Let young Sims explore Papercraft, Archery, Diving and even Entomology, or build sprawling Modular Playgrounds to make adventure time even more thrilling. They can also enjoy classic games like Hide-and-Seek or Rock, Paper, Scissors, and take on challenges that build both confidence and connections.

If your Child Sim isn’t the Cool Kid on the Block–a new kid-focused aspiration in the pack– and they’re having trouble making friends, try an imaginary one. That’s right, chat, Imaginary Friends are here! Choose from four distinct dolls and four unique, interchangeable personalities, including Goofball, Creative, Competitive, and Evil. Each one will interact and bond with their Sim in their own special and possibly chaotic way. Caution: Evil friends do not come with extra smoke detectors.

Child Sims are sure to have more ways to play than ever: Modular Playgrounds and Slides bring the jungle gym home to keep them busy for hours, Archery sharpens their focus and the return of Imaginary Friends means every child’s adventure is truly their own.

Thankfully, it seems The Sims 4 team are taking notes on what Simmers are looking for, and for a while it's been more activities for kids to do. We have had the likes of High School Years to flesh out Teen sims, but now it seems the kids are taking the spotlight.

For Adult Sims in Gibbi Point, wrinkles and grey hair may be optional, playtime, however, is not. And this place is full of adventures, thrills and new activities, like Kayaking, watersliding, and working out at the Revive and Thrive Fitness Center. For the truly outdoorsy, the new Park Worker career offers two paths—Camp Counselor and Park Ranger—perfect for keeping adventure alive year-round.  

And for even MORE grown-up adventurers, new activities like Spin Class bring the energy, while the Competitive Trait raises the stakes. Looking for love? Sneak off to Love Highland for romance (and entertainment),  or test your survival chops in player-designed Elimination Challenges.

If the three established Getaways don’t fill your adventure cup, you can design your own and play by your own rules! With the new features Custom Venues and Getaway System, you can craft unique escapes for your Sims and their friends. Getaways can last a day or more and be anything from restful to challenging. Schedule activities that’ll help your Sims recharge, and maybe meet new friends. You can even apply rules to your Getaway. For example, for those who love reality dating shows, Elimination Rules will have Sims competing to outlast each other. 

Build and decorate your unique Custom Venues however you want, decide what kinds of activities are available there, and share it to the Gallery for others to enjoy.

Imagine a beachfront lot that serves smoothies by day—yes, this pack has Blenders!—and transforms into a stand-up comedy juice bar by night. Need some more inspiration for your perfect getaway? Check out the builds made by Simmers below in You Make The Sims!

After Businesses and Hobbies gave us the ability to create our own business spaces, Simmers still felt a bit lacking in freedom in what they can do with business spaces. One of these desires was a hotel-type lot and it seems Getaways are the closest we will get for a while. Despite it looking promising, we may need to anticipate some limitations.

And what’s a Getaway without an itinerary? With the Getaway Planner, you can mix and match activities, or test your Sims’ mettle with fitness challenges using the new Spin Bikes and Free Weights. Win or lose, the new Competitive trait will determine just how gracious, or salty, they are about the outcome.

Unfortunately, my first impression of a planner brought me a slight bit of dread as we know how 'planned' events go in the Sims - RIP Wedding Stories. But, it seems like planners are more of a guideline instead of a strict schedule with no targets to meet like in other major events like birthdays or weddings.

For more on the gameplay of this pack, please check out the gameplay trailer below!

Q&A

When children turn their imaginary friends into real ones, do they become part of the family?

Yes! They will turn into real Sims when they age up to Teens. The proposed player flow is that you make them real, and so they don't go start making their own life. You can CAS them and do anything with their physicality.

Can Adult Sims do archery?

Yeah, of course. At the camp, we have a new activity for adult sims to mentor archery for the children and do archery themselves.

Will you be able to customize custom venues to include activities from other expansion packs, such as baking, pottery, etc.?

Of course! The cross pack potential is where this pack shines. - They elaborate on this in the dev blog on The Sims website.

Will the new custom venues (like summer camp) include actual NPCs who cook, clean, give advice, etc.?

Through the role assignments, you can define any of those things you want. If you want a chef to show up at your Bed and Breakfast, you can make a chef that shows up at a 3pm slot that can be assigned to cook between 3-7pm.

Our role Sims will be preceded to do clean up and helping behavior.

Despite my hesitation in an expansion pack coming out so soon after Enchanted by Nature being a bit of a miss, after pouring over the details of trailers and news posts, I can confidently say I'm excited for Adventure Awaits. There seems to be a lot to play around with, with both kids and adults, and the presence of creating your own getaways hopefully means that this pack will be a mainstay instead of a fleeting holiday.

The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits expansion pack releases on October 2nd.

For all The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits news, stay tuned to GamingTrend!