Summary
The Sims 4is a game that puts all the necessary tools for unique character building directly into their players' hands. The problem is, however, that these players often find themselves creating Sims with similar facial features and personalities. This is commonly referred to as Same Face Syndrome in the community.
Same Face Syndrome makes for dull-looking Sims with a lack of unique qualities and diversities. It is crucial that Simmers diversify their Sims to add depth and variety to their game. Fear not, for this disorder is highly treatable. Whether it’s by using different skin tones or randomizing options, players can follow these definitive methods for curing Same Face Syndrome inThe Sims 4.
1The Power Of Presets
Upon entering Create-A-Sim, players are given a pre-made Sim with options from the game’s presets to begin working with. These presets can be a powerful tool for creating unique Sims. Presets can also save players a lot of time and effort when they’re creating Sims, simplifying the often arduous task. Under the different categories, players will find presets in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and styles.
Start with the facial presets and experiment with the eyes, nose, and lips that the game offers. With the facial foundation set, customize the Sim with unique hairstyles, clothing, and makeup. Try branching out from the go-to options normally used and discover new colors and patterns. This will give players a Sim with different facial features andunderrated CAS itemsthat they may not have discovered before.
2Experiment With Randomizers
Many players don’t find what they’re looking for in the presets. That’s okay! Before going in and selecting the same hair, forming the same jawline, and pulling the same clothing items, try experimenting with the randomizer function. Click the dice on the bottom of the CAS screen to randomize the entire Sim.
Certain aspects of a Sim can be randomized if players like some, but not all, aspects of their Sim. Press the arrow next to the dice and leave green check marks next to the options to randomize body shape, face, skin tone, hair, facial hair, voice, clothing, or makeup. These categories can also be randomized by clicking the desired area to change and pressing the dice button in the right corner of the screen.
3Use Different Skin Tones
TheSimsteam decided tooverhaul the skin tone systemin 2020, giving players over a hundred new skin tones to choose from. Each skin tone comes with a slider to make the original tone lighter or darker. There is plenty of authentic cultural content for players to pair with the different tones.
Players should try incorporating different skin tones to create diverse Sims and reflect the multitude of ethnicities and cultures within the world of the Sims. Adding diversity to a Sim and their story not only makes the game more realistic but also promotes inclusiveness and representation.
4Play With Proportions
Those suffering from same-face syndrome should embrace unconventional beauty by varying the proportions of a Sim’s features. Although many players have been asking for more slider options in CAS toedit features like height, many allow players to adjust proportions. Click and drag to move eyes, ears, mouths, and noses to create distinctive looks.
Deliberately exaggerate or minimize the sizes of certain features to challenge beauty standards. A more prominent nose or smaller eyes could make a big difference. Take advantage of Detail Edit Mode options, where players can edit their Sim more precisely.
5Use Face Details
Face details like freckles, acne, and moles can further customize Sims and make them more unique than pre-made townies.Growing Togethercame with lots of new CAS optionsfor freckles, stretch marks, and birthmarks to enhance storytelling and realism in Create-A-Sim. TheParenthoodgame pack introduced acne, which is a great detail to add to hormonal teenage Sims.
There are several other details players can play with on their Sims' brows, cheeks, and mouth.TheGet Famousexpansionprovided a variety of facial scars for actors and actresses to use on movie sets, but they could be re-purposed to create hardened Sims with traumatic backstories or spooky Sims for Halloween.
6Mirror Real-Life Faces
Try mirroring the faces of family members, friends, or celebrities to beat bouts of the same-face syndrome. This way, it is impossible to run out of inspiration. Choose any human with intriguing facial features that could be replicated withThe Sims 4content. Customize their personality, traits, andbackstory to make them distinctfrom other Sims in the save file.
7Leave It To Chance
Change up a Sim’s appearance by using tools like an online wheel. Assign physical aspects of the Sim to the wheel, such as eye or hair color, and let fate decide what the Sim will look like. The wheel can also be beneficial for players in their gameplay. Have the wheel decide how many children the Sim will have or which world they will live in.
Similarly, manySims 4players on TikTok have beenusing filters to create their Sims. Simmers have to work with the results they get, no matter how unnatural it might seem. Creating Sims by these methods ensures that each Sim has a unique combination of attributes and brings extra layers of excitement and unpredictability back to the game.
If players are not finding exactly what they’re looking for in the game’s content library, there are a myriad of options available in the form of custom content. Downloading different skin overlays, eyelashes, hairstyles, and accessories can help players differentiate from their previous Sims.
Although the development team is working on making the game more inclusiveby adding pronouns, sexual orientation options, stretch marks, and hearing aids, there is still a long way to go. Different mods allow players to create more representation inThe Sims 4. Create more realistic Sims of different backgrounds by using more culturally appropriate content made by those in the community. Mods and custom content can also make for the creation ofSims with disabilitiesor skin pigmentation conditions to break patterns of Same Face Syndrome.
9Experiment With Genetics
If players still find that they are creating Sims who all look the same, try experimenting with genetics in the game. In Create-A-Sim, click to add a new Sim and select “Play With Genetics.” This will spawn a random Sim to the household in relation to the Sim(s) chosen, whether it’s their parent, child, or sibling.
This feature was introduced for theCats & Dogsexpansion tocreate mixed-breed household pets. Now, players can use it on their human Sims as well. Select the desired age and gender and randomize the appearance until inspiration strikes. Players may be surprised at how inherited physical attributes and personality traits can make for the perfect Sim they had in mind.
One final failsafe for players suffering from extreme cases of Same Face Syndrome is downloading Sims from the Gallery. The Gallery is an online hub filled with different lots, rooms, and Sims that other players have created which has been proven to be a valuable resource to the uninspired. These Simmers likely have different ways of creating their Sims and could inspire new and different techniques.
Players can use the downloaded Sim’s face as a blank canvas, stripping them of their hair, clothing, and accessories to recreate the Sim into something new. Once they are satisfied with their new creations, they can be re-uploaded to the Gallery for other players to experiment with. Just be sure to give credit to the original creator.
