Review: The Sims 4 Lovestruck

Any time an expansion pack releases, it goes one of two ways: yet another Sims 4 binge, or a measly one-day playthrough. So, when Sims 4 Lovestruck made its debut, I was curious to see where it would fall on this spectrum. 

I had my initial doubts about it, given that past DLCs haven’t exactly hit the mark. But after spending around a week with it, any uncertainty I had was thrown out the door. 

The minute I stepped into this new pack, I immediately noticed a change in romantic relationships. It refreshes the Sims 4’s age-old mechanics and instills a much more realistic concept. Simply put, it makes the dating world exceptionally entertaining, with a sprinkle of mature content. Sorry, kids, you’ll have to sit this one out. 

The Sims 4: Lovestruck (PC [Reviewed], PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Maxis Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: July 25, 2024
MSRP: $39.99

Lovestruck’s biggest selling point is, of course, romance. It broadens the scope of what the game already has with relationships and dials it up a notch. In the past, Sims 4‘s romance department was a breeze; talk for a few hours, and viola, you’re now married, with a kid already on the way. But with Lovestruck, it’s much more complex than that, with the expansion’s integration of dating activities, Attraction, Turn-Ons/Turn-Offs, and so much more.

Attraction and Turn-On/Turn-Offs tie in together, determining how Sims react to one another. In Create a Sim, you’ll see a new section that allows you to select romantic dislikes/likes. It can be major themes, such as certain career goals and distinct personality types. There are also a few minor things, from outfits to hair colors. So, if your Sim walks past someone with, let’s say, blue hair, don’t be surprised at them for wanting to profess their love right then and there if their likes line up.

The more another Sim encompasses your character’s favorite Turn-Ons, the more likely they are to fall in love. But just like in real life, not everyone you meet will be compatible with them. I had one Sim wholly head-over-heels for someone until they got the ick from the other being unemployed. It’s a harsh world (even in the Sims), yet I find content like this utterly relatable and realistic. I’ve heard and lived through similar occurrences in the real world, so to see it come to life in The Sims 4 makes the game much more inviting.

It does raise a question, though, of why this necessary feature isn’t in the base game. It’s a common inquiry that seems to appear every time a Sims 4 DLC drops. For Lovestruck, I would say the Attraction level should have been a part of the vanilla version. I know we can’t win them all, but at least base game users have gotten some handy tools with the recent CAS apply all and eyelashes update.  

On the other hand, I understand why these exclusive features are only available as an add-on, considering the amount of work that went into them. The dating activities and Cupid’s Corner, specifically, open up a whole new world to the romance scene.

The online dating app Cupid’s Corner is, without a doubt, the best mechanic in Lovestruck. Instead of going out into the world to find the love of your virtual life, you can open up your phone and hop on the date with the click of a button. Those who have participated in the 100 Baby challenge will undoubtedly see its advantages. Thanks to Lovestruck’s accessible dating app, your baby daddy supply won’t ever run out, and depending on the Attraction level, you might not have much of a problem with the challenge.

What makes Cupid’s Corner even better is the fact that other players’ Sims can show up on the app. I found this out when a Simmer-made Shrek slid into my DMs. That’s definitely a sentence I never thought I would write, but The Sims 4 is always full of surprises.

Dates, in general, have been entirely improved upon, including options such as Get to Know You, Romantic, and Romantic Repair Dates. Previously, outings catered to the simple stuff, whether it be sitting and talking to your date or having your very first kiss. The Sims 4 Lovestruck, however, widens this concept through various dating activities.

You’ll have more control over dating by choosing interactions specifically for stargazing, music, exercising, and other categories. I like having this freedom to decide how the outings turn out rather than solely relying on romantic interactions. Sometimes, I want to keep things platonic, at least in the early stages, and the new dating features help make that happen.

Then, things take a naughty turn when Lovestruck’s costume collection comes into play — or, should I say, foreplay? This new pack offers several interesting choices in Create a Sim, bringing some of the wildest outfits I’ve seen by far. To spice up the relationship, your Sim can now dress up and seductively dance in front of their special someone. The sexual innuendos are pretty apparent, with the likes of eggplant and peach costumes. Hence, why Sims 4 was never really family-friendly.

Beyond the costumes, the CAS and Build Mode content isn’t too abundant. There are a few good choices here and there, yet they are less significant than some of the other iterations. You could say the same for Lovestruck’s new world, Ciudad Enamorada, which doesn’t have many points of interest to make it stand out. In comparison, Get Together offers 27 accessible lots, while Lovestruck only features 10. Not to mention the fact that the Beso Rapido motel is merely a rabbit hole activity. (Please make hotel customization a thing, Maxis Studios.)

Although the customizable content is somewhat abysmal, the gameplay is the main attraction of The Sims 4 Lovestruck pack. As someone who has played the title since its inception, I’ve noticed a massive difference to normal playthroughs with the EP’s unique scenarios and romantic ambience. One unique feature, in particular, is the 7 Wild Dates challenge, where you must have seven perfect dates for a reality show. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a challenge like this in The Sims, and it’s made the experience all the more thrilling. And, even if dating isn’t really your thing, there’s a new Romance Consultant career that has you play the role of Cupid. Though it’s not as game-changing as the Get to Work careers, I still enjoy finding new ways to make money.

NPCs have also become more lovey-dovey since Lovestruck arrived. Couples often cuddle up on the bench and talk to each other, making them feel more a part of the world. It’s a simple touch that is much appreciated, unlike the traditional Sims who independently go about their day.

Considering all these elements, I’m amazed at how much the Lovestruck pack contains. It could’ve just improved romantic interactions and let that be the end of it. But fortunately, it’s an expansion pack that I can’t seem to play without. Plus, an add-on with new Woohoo spots, like motels and venue closets, is always good in my book.

Despite being out for nearly a decade, The Sims 4: Lovestruck has rung me back in again, even after all these years. It’s refreshing to see the characters become more lifelike, in which gameplay takes a unique turn. So, I suppose I am going to do my Sims 4 binge. Maybe it’s high time for me to finally get that 100 Baby challenge done.