How to Make NPC Sims Age Up: The Definitive Guide

The question of how to age up Non-Player Character (NPC) Sims in The Sims series has plagued Simmers for years. The short answer is: it depends on the game and your playstyle! Generally, Sims only age when you’re actively playing their household. However, there are several methods, cheats, and game settings you can use to influence the aging of NPCs in your game world. Let’s dive into the specifics.

Understanding Sim Aging Mechanics

Before we explore the methods, it’s crucial to understand how aging works in The Sims, particularly for NPCs (also often referred to as Townies). In most Sims games, aging is tied to the active household. This means that only the Sims within the family you’re currently controlling will automatically progress through their lifespans.

The Sims 4’s Aging System

The Sims 4 offers a few ways to manage aging for both active and unplayed Sims:

• Active Household Aging: This setting determines whether the Sims in the household you’re actively playing will age.
• Unplayed Household Aging: This setting dictates whether Sims in households you aren’t currently playing will age. You can typically set this to “All Sims,” “Only Played Sims,” or turn it off entirely. This is the key to making NPCs age in The Sims 4 without directly controlling them.

Methods for Aging Up NPCs

Now, let’s break down the practical ways to influence NPC aging:

1. Enable Auto-Aging for Unplayed Sims: This is the simplest and most direct approach. In The Sims 4, go to Game Options > Gameplay and ensure that “Auto-Aging (Unplayed Sims)” is enabled. This will allow all Sims in your game world to age, regardless of whether you’re playing them or not. You can also set the lifespan length here (Short, Normal, or Long).

2. Using Birthday Cakes: You can invite an NPC Sim to your active household’s lot and then have your Sim bake a birthday cake. Click on the cake and select the “Add Birthday Candles” option. After placing the candles, you can choose the NPC you want to age up and select the “Help Blow Out Candles” interaction.

3. The “cas.fulleditmode” Cheat: This powerful cheat allows you to completely edit any Sim in Create-a-Sim (CAS), including their age. To use it:

   • Open the cheat console by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C.
   • Type “testingcheats on” and press Enter.
   • Type “cas.fulleditmode” and press Enter.
   • Shift-click on the NPC Sim you want to age up.
   • Select “Modify in CAS.”
   • In CAS, you can freely change the Sim’s age to the desired life stage.

4. Moving Sims into Your Household: You can temporarily move an NPC Sim into your active household. Once they are a part of your household, they will age according to your active household aging settings. After they reach the desired age, you can move them back out.

5. Game Packs and Expansion Packs: Some expansion packs, like The Sims 2: Freetime, have features that allow you to age up a limited number of NPCs when your active Sim ages. Check the features of your expansion packs, in case they offer additional aging mechanisms.

Consequences of NPC Aging

Keep in mind that aging NPCs can have consequences in your game world. Loved ones might die, relationships might change, and new generations of Sims will emerge. This is part of the dynamic world that makes The Sims games so compelling. Managing these changes carefully will enhance your overall gameplay experience.

The Importance of a Dynamic World

Ultimately, aging NPCs contribute to a more dynamic and realistic world. They contribute to the evolving story and can enhance the emotional depth of your gaming experience. By thoughtfully managing aging, you can create a world that feels truly alive and connected. You can learn more about game design and engaging gameplay at the Games Learning Society, at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are my townies not aging up in The Sims 4?

The most common reason is that “Auto-Aging (Unplayed Sims)” is disabled in your Game Options > Gameplay settings. Ensure this setting is turned on to allow NPCs to age.

2. Can I reverse the age of a Sim in The Sims 4?

Yes, using the “cas.fulleditmode” cheat, you can access the full CAS interface and change a Sim’s age back to a younger life stage.

3. How do I activate cheats in The Sims 4?

Press Ctrl + Shift + C to open the cheat console. Then, type “testingcheats on” and press Enter to enable cheats.

4. What is “cas.fulleditmode” and how does it help with aging?

“cas.fulleditmode” is a cheat that unlocks all editing options in Create-a-Sim (CAS). This allows you to modify a Sim’s age, appearance, traits, and more.

5. Do Sims babies age up automatically?

Yes, Newborns will automatically age into Infants after a short period (usually one Sim day). You can also manually age them up earlier by clicking on the bassinet.

6. Can Elder Sims get pregnant in The Sims 4?

Female Sims cannot get pregnant once they are Elders, but male Elder Sims can still impregnate adult female Sims.

7. Why did my Sims age up unexpectedly?

Sometimes, a bug or glitch can cause Sims to age prematurely. This is typically caused by entering and exiting CAS with the “long lifespan” feature turned on. Save frequently to avoid losing progress.

8. How do I change an NPC Sim’s traits in The Sims 4?

Use the “cas.fulleditmode” cheat (as described above) to access the full CAS interface, where you can modify a Sim’s traits.

9. Can I edit an NPC Sim’s appearance without moving them into my household?

Yes, the “cas.fulleditmode” cheat allows you to edit any Sim’s appearance directly in CAS.

10. How long does it take for a Sim to age in The Sims 4?

The duration of each life stage depends on the lifespan setting you choose (Short, Normal, or Long). Normal lifespan is the default and provides a balanced experience.

11. If I turn off aging, will my active household still age?

No. The aging settings are independent of the active household. Aging needs to be turned on independently for both Active and Unplayed Households.

12. Can I add NPCs to my family to manage their aging?

Yes, you can invite an NPC to live with your Sim, effectively adding them to your active household. Once they are part of your household, they will age according to your active household aging settings.

13. What happens to the family trees if I age up NPCs using cheats?

Aging up NPCs with cheats will influence their place in their family tree as intended. The game will recognize their new life stage.

14. Do vacation worlds or other expansion pack worlds have different aging rules for NPCs?

No, the aging rules are consistent across all worlds in The Sims 4. The auto-aging settings and CAS edits apply universally.

15. Can I control which specific NPCs age up, rather than all of them?

While you can’t directly select a subset of NPCs to age automatically, you can use the “cas.fulleditmode” cheat to manually age up specific Sims while leaving others untouched. This gives you precise control over the population’s age distribution in your game world.