The Sims 4’s Life and Death Expansion: Embrace the Spookiness and Unleash Your Inner Tony Soprano

Sure thing, let me take you on a little journey through the world of The Sims 4. Now, it’s important to mention right off the bat—there’s a noticeable absence of ducks in my pool. Yep, not a quack to be heard. Truth be told, I never had ducks in my pool, though I do miss the ones I used to feed at my old place.

Now, you might be wondering why I bring this up. If you’re my therapist parked out there on my balcony, I get it—you love asking the ‘why’ questions. Yes, yes, I’m aware that’s why you’re here, taking up cozy quarters in that fancy coffin I got you. No need to remind me, and no, I haven’t had a breakdown recently.

Alright, I did lose my cool at a plush bunny that’s got a skeleton vibe and maybe stirred things up a bit at ghost AA. Look, life’s a balancing act, and work’s chugging along just fine. You know the drill—waste management, I always say. Don’t think of me as a criminal; think of us as an… organization. We handle things.

Family plays a big role, as it happens. The boss is old-school, a stickler for tradition. Maybe that’s why he likes me—I clean up the messes when someone checks out for good. Ask around; you won’t find a single witness claiming I’ve even touched a scythe. They’ll tell you I’m as innocent as they come.

It’s all very traditional, religious even, if you ignore that whole soul-feeding-into-the-nether thing that doesn’t quite ring any church bells. Carmella might know more about that. I’m no slouch in the belief department, though. Gotta make sure Meadow and Anthony Jr. stay on the straight and narrow too.

By the way, things have been a bit intense with my family up here in Ravenwood, far from New Jersey. Initially, I dreamt of setting up in Las Vegas or somewhere with endless sunshine, but the heat from the feds nudged us to a ghost-infested locale. Apparently, this is where we needed to plant our roots, amidst whispering trees and crypts.

Oh, and Dr. Melfi, you had to tag along, right? You weren’t exactly itching to head back to your last hideout. Plus, who wouldn’t want the chance to chat with the town’s oddballs? Layne Coffin comes to mind—quirky guy, one of those perpetually cheerful sorts we’ve talked about.

Yet, my biggest headache? You guessed it, my mom. Had to let her move in with us—not by choice, mind you. No, she didn’t kick the bucket because of me; I wasn’t even there! One night, she decided to swim in the pool to polish her exercise skills, and boom, some mysterious walls popped up, trapping her. We watched, helpless, as her needs plummeted, except for her bladder, oddly enough. Then, the Grim Reaper swooped in, took her spirit through those walls, and presto—she’s a ghost.

Ever since? Back in the house, as if she never left, pulling stunts like levitating furniture and jumping out at us. Paulie and Chris are completely rattled, and I’m not exactly thrilled either. Don’t get me started on her will—she’s turned some lamp into an heirloom. Janice will probably pop by soon enough, snooping for whatever papers she thinks mom left behind.

Speaking of Janice, she skipped the funeral. Couldn’t locate Ravenwood on a map, she claimed. How difficult is it? Click ‘worlds’ on the menu, and there you go.

We’ve all been wading through grief. Four stages, and I seem to land in the angriest, thanks to my hot-headed trait—thanks, Dad. The rest manage tears and pep talks in the mirror. Meanwhile, the house’s On Hallowed Grounds trait just heaps more gloom on us.

The funeral was low-key per her wishes: a quiet moment, no music, loads of food. A simple eulogy, then I did my part, creating a gravestone in the yard. After all, a house with a cemetery should fulfill its purpose.

But it’s Christopher I’m worried about. He peeked at Grim’s slablet and now fears an early departure, convinced of a fiery future—a whole Chased By Death thing’s got him spinning. Paulie sees doom too, turning to tarot cards, which he pairs with his Gabagool dinners.

Nevertheless, I’m alive, slowly ticking off my bucket list, striving for a bit of joy. Still working on critiquing the world; maybe that’s why those nagging moodlets keep me up at night. The fear of leaving behind unresolved issues lingers, no matter how many ghostly skills I rack up.

Ultimately, I’d love to see those ducks again. But for now, they remain absent, and I haven’t bought the Cottage Living pack yet. And so, folks, the pool remains duck-free.