Banish Those Bogies: A Simmer’s Guide to Ghost Removal in Sims 4 (Tombstone Optional!)

So, you’ve got a spectral squatter problem in your Sims 4 household, but the pesky poltergeist didn’t leave a conveniently clickable tombstone? Fear not, fellow Simmer! While having an urn or gravestone makes ghost management a breeze, it’s not the only way to send those spirits packing. This guide will walk you through the various methods for getting rid of ghosts in Sims 4, even when their earthly remains are MIA.

The straightforward answer to how to get rid of ghosts in Sims 4 without a tombstone is trickier than you might think. Without a physical anchor, direct interactions like “Release to the Netherworld” are off the table. However, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a haunted house forever. Here’s your spectral strategy:

1. Household Management: If the ghost is a member of your active household, that’s your primary challenge. Ghosts within your household will NOT despawn naturally, regardless of whether you have an urn or not. You must take action.
2. The “Move Out” Maneuver: This is the simplest solution. Split the household, moving the ghost (and any Sims you want to go with them) to a new, empty lot. Then, evict the ghost household. The ghost will effectively be removed from the game. They will not return, unless you play as their household again.
3. Ignore Them (Eventually): This is more of a long-term strategy. If the ghost isn’t part of your household, simply ignore them. Eventually, after a few in-game days of no interaction, the game should cull the ghost from the lot. This isn’t a guaranteed method and can take a while. Adding the Spooky lot trait to your lot will increase the number of ghosts that visit and they will visit more often.
4. Cheats, of Course!: Ah, the Simmer’s best friend. Open the cheat console (Ctrl + Shift + C) and type testingcheats true, then press Enter. Next, type sims.remove_all_buffs, then traits.remove_trait trait_ghost. This should remove the ghost trait from the Sim. If the ghost is still part of your household they are now a normal Sim and you may now remove them from the household as you normally would.
5. Get the Realm of Magic Pack: With this pack, you can use a spell to bring a ghost back to life. Cast the spell, Dedeathify. The ghost will be restored to a regular living Sim. You may now remove them from the household as you normally would.
6. Ambrosia Resurrection: Resurrecting a ghost with Ambrosia, even without a tombstone, removes their ghost status permanently. This allows them to live as normal Sims and eventually pass on, triggering the Reaper’s visit as expected.

Dealing with Troublesome Tenants: A Deeper Dive

Let’s expand on those strategies with some practical tips and considerations.

Household Management: The Key to Control

Remember, a ghost within your active household is essentially immortal until you take action. You can still interact with them, assign them tasks, and even fulfill their aspirations (though some may be a bit… morbid). However, the haunting will continue indefinitely unless you intervene.

The Beauty of the “Move Out” Option

Moving the ghost to a new lot is the most reliable way to remove them without a tombstone. After moving the ghost to a new lot, you could move them into a completely new, empty lot and let them die again. This will result in an urn being left behind.

Patience and Ignoring: A Test of Will

Ignoring ghosts works best for non-household members who spontaneously appear on your lot (especially if you have the “Spooky” lot trait). The game engine eventually cleans up these unattached spirits if they’re not actively engaged.

Cheat Codes: The Simmer’s Divine Intervention

Cheats are your quickest route to spectral serenity. Here’s a breakdown of the commands:

• testingcheats true: Enables cheat codes (you only need to enter this once per game session).
• sims.remove_all_buffs: Clears any active moodlets or buffs that might be interfering with the ghost removal process.
• traits.remove_trait trait_ghost: This is the magic bullet! This command forcibly removes the ghost trait from the specified Sim. Once they are no longer a ghost, you can manage them as any other Sim.

Resurrection: A Second Chance at Life (and Death)

If you’re feeling less like a ghostbuster and more like a benevolent deity, resurrecting the ghost is an option.

• Ambrosia: Requires Level 10 Cooking and Gourmet Cooking skills, plus a Death Flower, Angelfish, and Potion of Youth. After the ghost is resurrected and added to your family, you can let them live their life and die again to leave behind an urn.
• Realm of Magic Pack: The “Dedeathify” spell offers a simpler, magic-based resurrection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ghost Management in Sims 4

Here are some common questions about dealing with ghosts in The Sims 4, to give you a more robust understanding of the supernatural side of Sim life.

1. How do I find my dead Sim’s ghost if I didn’t see where they died?

Check the household inventory first. Sometimes the urn appears there. If not, and they died on your lot, search around the house and yard, especially near where they last were.

2. Can ghosts die again?

Yes! Once a ghost has been resurrected (via Ambrosia or magic), they become a regular Sim and are susceptible to the usual causes of death.

3. What happens if I release a ghost to the Netherworld?

Releasing a ghost permanently removes them from the game. They will no longer appear, and you cannot interact with them again.

4. How do I get a ghost to join my household?

You need to build a strong relationship with the ghost. Once the relationship is high enough, an option to “Ask to Join Household” will appear.

5. Can ghost Sims have babies?

Yes, ghost Sims can have babies with living Sims or other ghosts. The resulting child may or may not inherit the ghost trait, with a chance of being a normal Sim. The only way to get a ghost child is to create one in CAS through ghost parents or getting the “death” outcome when wishing for a child at the wishing well.

6. Why are ghosts always breaking my stuff?

Ghosts sometimes have mischievous tendencies and might interact negatively with objects. This is especially true if they died in a bad mood or had negative traits.

7. How do I get rid of a ghost’s emotional aura?

Ghosts have auras based on how they died. Clear them from the lot by banishing them to the netherworld. If you cannot do so, you can reset the sim using the cheat code resetSim FirstName LastName. Hit the Enter key. This will automatically reset the Sim.

8. What’s the deal with the “Spooky” lot trait and ghosts?

The “Spooky” lot trait increases the frequency of ghost appearances on that lot. This can be fun for a haunted house experience but annoying if you’re trying to get rid of ghosts.

9. Can I control what color my ghost is?

The color of a ghost reflects their cause of death. You can’t directly change it, but resurrecting them will turn them back to their normal Sim appearance.

10. Where do ghosts typically appear?

They usually materialize near their urn/tombstone or the location where they died. If no marker exists, they tend to wander around the lot.

11. Is there a way to prevent Sims from becoming ghosts in the first place?

Not entirely. You can influence their mood and environment to prevent accidents, but death is a part of The Sims 4. You can prepare ambrosia ahead of time, to instantly bring them back to life.

12. How long does it take for a ghost to appear after a Sim dies?

It can take up to 3 days for them to appear.

13. What is the debug cheat in The Sims 4?

bb. showHiddenObjects activates the ‘Buy Debug Mode’ meaning players can access hidden, playable objects like collectibles, rocks, trees, bushes and more. While bb. showLiveEditObjects allows players to access an even wider range of objects totaling over 1200 and including items such as decor, trees, and even cars.

14. Can you have a baby with Grim Reaper Sims 4?

Yes, by removing the ‘IsGrimReaper’ trait and using a cheat code, you can romance the Grim Reaper in the game.

15. What is the purpose of Games Learning Society?

The Games Learning Society is dedicated to researching and promoting the use of games for educational purposes. To learn more, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.

Hopefully, this guide has equipped you with the knowledge and tools to manage your spectral situation in The Sims 4. Whether you choose banishment, resurrection, or simply eviction, you now have the power to reclaim your Sim’s living space from those pesky ghosts, even without a tombstone in sight! Happy Simming!