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Bringing Spirits Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Adding Ghosts to Your Sims 4 Household

So, you want to add a ghost to your Sims 4 family? Excellent choice! Incorporating spectral Sims into your household adds a unique layer of gameplay, storytelling potential, and sometimes, hilarious chaos. There are a few different methods you can use, each with its own advantages. Here’s a breakdown:

The most direct way to add a ghost to your household in Sims 4 is to use the “Add to Family” interaction via cheats. Enable cheats by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C (or Cmd + Shift + C on Mac) and typing testingcheats true. Then, Shift-Click on the ghost Sim and select the ‘Add to Family’ option from the debug menu. Alternatively, developing a high relationship with a ghost while their urn or tombstone is on your lot can eventually unlock an in-game option to invite them to move in.

Methods for Welcoming Spectral Sims

Let’s explore these methods in more detail:

1. The Cheat Code Method: Quick and Easy

This is by far the fastest and most straightforward way to get a ghost Sim into your household. Here’s how:

Enable Cheats: Press Ctrl + Shift + C (Cmd + Shift + C on Mac) to open the cheat console. Type testingcheats true and press Enter. You should see a confirmation message that cheats are enabled.
Locate Your Ghost: Find the ghost you want to add. They need to be present on the lot you’re currently playing. If their urn or tombstone is on the lot, they will appear at night.
Shift-Click and Add: Hold down the Shift key and click on the ghost Sim. A debug menu will pop up with several options.
Select “Add to Family”: Choose the ‘Add to Family’ option from the menu. The ghost Sim will immediately become a member of your household, appearing in the household panel at the bottom of the screen.

Important Note: This method works on any ghost Sim, including pre-made NPC ghosts that roam the world. It’s a great way to quickly populate your household with spectral characters.

2. The Relationship Building Method: A More Immersive Approach

If you prefer a more organic and immersive gameplay experience, you can add a ghost Sim to your household by building a strong relationship with them. This method takes time and effort, but it can be more rewarding.

Locate the Ghost’s Urn or Tombstone: The urn or tombstone must be on your Sim’s lot for the ghost to regularly appear. If it’s not, move it from their inventory to the desired location.
Build a Relationship: Interact with the ghost whenever they appear. Use friendly interactions like chatting, joking, and offering compliments. The goal is to build a positive relationship. This can take several in-game days.
Wait for the Option: As your relationship with the ghost increases, new interaction options will become available. Eventually, you should see an option to “Invite to Move In.”
Accept the Invitation: Once the “Invite to Move In” option appears, select it. If the ghost accepts, they will become a permanent member of your household.

Pros and Cons: This method is more time-consuming, but it adds a narrative element to your gameplay. You’re not just adding a random ghost; you’re forming a connection and inviting them into your Sim’s life. However, it can be frustrating if the ghost takes a long time to appear or if they repeatedly reject your invitation.

3. Realm of Magic Spells: A Magical Approach

If you own the Realm of Magic game pack, you have access to spells that can summon ghosts and even bring them back to life.

Learn the Spells: Your Sim needs to learn the Necrocall spell (to summon ghosts) and the Dedeathify spell (to bring ghosts back to life). These spells can be learned from the Sages in the Magic Realm or by experimenting with magic.
Summon the Ghost: Use the Necrocall spell to summon the ghost you want to add to your household.
Befriend the Ghost (Optional): If you want to bring the ghost back to life, it’s helpful to have a good relationship with them.
Cast Dedeathify: Once you’re ready, cast the Dedeathify spell on the ghost. If successful, they will be resurrected as a living Sim.
Invite to Household (If Needed): If the resurrected Sim isn’t already part of your household, use the relationship-building method or the cheat code method to add them.

Important Note: The Dedeathify spell is powerful, but it can fail. It’s best to have a high magic skill and a good relationship with the ghost to increase your chances of success. This method allows for compelling storylines about resurrection and second chances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ghosts in Sims 4

Here are some common questions players have about interacting with ghosts in The Sims 4:

1. Can female ghosts get pregnant in Sims 4?

No, female ghosts cannot get pregnant, nor can male ghosts father a child with a living Sim through “Try for Baby”. This is a limitation within the game’s programming.

2. Can I bring a ghost back to life in Sims 4 without magic?

Yes, you can bring a ghost back to life without magic using Ambrosia. Your Sim needs to reach level 10 in Gourmet Cooking, learn the recipe for Ambrosia, and then prepare it. The ingredients include an Angelfish, a Death Flower, and Potion of Youth. Feeding Ambrosia to a ghost will restore them to life.

3. What are the different ways a Sim can die in Sims 4?

Sims can die from various causes, including old age, fire, drowning, starvation, electrocution, overheating, freezing, being crushed by a Murphy bed (if you have Tiny Living), being poisoned, hysteria, anger, embarrassment, and more. Each death type results in a unique ghost appearance and emotional state.

4. Can I control what traits a resurrected Sim has?

When a Sim is resurrected using Ambrosia, they retain their original traits, skills, and relationships. However, if you use the Dedeathify spell from the Realm of Magic pack, the game may randomly re-roll some of their traits. You can always use cheats to modify their traits after resurrection if desired.

5. Can ghost children be taken away by social services?

Yes, ghost children can be taken away by social services if their needs are not met. This applies just as it does to living children.

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

It can take up to 3 in-game days for a ghost to first appear after a Sim dies. Ensure their urn or tombstone is on the lot to encourage them to visit.

7. How do I get a Death Flower in Sims 4?

Obtaining a Death Flower requires some gardening skill and grafting. You need to:

Graft a Cherry to an Apple to make a Pomegranate.
Graft a Lily to a Snapdragon to make an Orchid.
Graft a Pomegranate to an Orchid to create a Death Flower.

8. What happens if my last Sim dies in Sims 4?

If all Sims in your household (who are teens or older) die, any younger Sims (children, toddlers, and babies) will be taken away by social services. The game will then return you to the neighborhood screen to choose or create a new household.

9. Can I have a baby with the Grim Reaper in Sims 4?

It’s not possible to directly “Try for Baby” with the Grim Reaper, but you can add him to your household using cheats ( testingcheats true followed by Shift-Clicking on the Grim Reaper and selecting ‘Add to Family’). Then, use the cheat traits.remove_trait IsGrimReaper to remove his Grim Reaper traits, allowing him to engage in normal interactions like WooHoo and “Try for Baby.”

10. What are the benefits of befriending the Grim Reaper?

Befriending the Grim Reaper unlocks the “Hello, Darkness, My Old Chum” achievement. While he doesn’t offer any practical in-game benefits, it’s a fun accomplishment and a unique storyline to pursue. You can interact with him through your Sim’s phone and computer once befriended.

11. How do I release a ghost to the Netherworld?

To release a ghost to the Netherworld, click on their urn or tombstone and select the “Release to Netherworld” option. This permanently removes the ghost from the game. Be careful, as this action is irreversible!

12. What does leaving a sugar skull offering do?

Leaving a sugar skull offering on a tombstone or urn (usually at night) during the Day of the Dead event will summon a special NPC “Celebrator” who can gift you a sugar skull. Collecting all nine sugar skulls unlocks a special interaction. This is available with the Seasons Expansion Pack.

13. How do I prevent ghosts from scaring my Sims?

Ghosts can sometimes scare living Sims, causing them to become tense or frightened. To minimize this, try the following:

Keep the lot well-lit. Ghosts are more likely to appear in dark areas.
Have Sims interact with the ghosts and build positive relationships. Friendlier ghosts are less likely to scare Sims.
Use the Brave trait on your Sims, which makes them less susceptible to fear.

14. Can I edit a ghost Sim in Create-a-Sim (CAS)?

Once a ghost Sim is part of your household, you can edit their appearance and clothing in CAS using a mirror or dresser. However, you cannot change their ghost-specific appearance (e.g., their ghostly glow or death type).

15. What kind of unique interactions can I have with ghosts?

Ghosts offer several unique interactions, including:

Possessing objects (causing them to float or shake).
Walking through walls.
Chilling living Sims (giving them a cold moodlet).
Repairing broken objects (if they died from electrocution).
Lamenting their death (causing nearby Sims to become sad).

Incorporating ghosts into your Sims 4 gameplay can add a new dimension to your stories and challenges. Whether you use cheats, build relationships, or wield magic, there are many ways to bring these spectral Sims into your household. Have fun experimenting and creating unique narratives with your ghostly companions! You can find further research on this topic at the Games Learning Society website.

How do you add a ghost to your household in Sims 4?