Info about The Sims™ 4 High School Years Expansion Pack:

Official game description:
What's included in this pack
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About the Game
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Be a good (or bad) student, join a club, start a trend, and make the most of being a teenager with The Sims 4 High School Years Expansion Pack. Navigate iconic teenage experiences like attending prom, pulling pranks, experimenting with identity and trends, and forming friendships and rivalries at extracurricular events. There’s a lot to do before graduation: teen Sims can attend class, interact with teachers, and even earn money as style influencers or streamers.  
**KEY FEATURES:**  
*   **Experience high school** — Experience all the ups and downs of high school. Attend classes in person, get to know your teachers, hang out in the cafeteria, and even decorate your locker. Your most treasured moments might happen while loitering around with your friends after school.  
*   **Iconic teen moments** — Dance the night away at prom and celebrate your graduation ceremony with family and friends (if you keep up with your schoolwork). In addition to those big moments, participate in after-school activities and teams, and experience the rollercoaster ride of puberty.  
*   **Shake things up** — High school is a time of self-discovery. Find the confidence to ask out your crush or the guts to skip class (don’t let the principal catch you). Teen Sims will explore their own likes and dislikes and have new opportunities to cause mischief. Pranks and sneaking out after dark can have consequences, so be careful you don’t get caught.  
*   **Explore your style** — Make your bedroom your own, plan outfits with clothes designed by Depop sellers, and become a Simfluencer. Teen Sims can earn money by selling outfits and hyping up looks they design on Trendi right from their bedrooms, which are now more interactive than ever. Use a tablet, read a book in bed, or even have a pillow fight!

Release date: Jul 28, 2022

Categories: Life Simulation, High School Setting, Social Simulation, Character Customization, Teen Life Simulation, Building, Dating Sim Elements, Social Media Mechanics

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Fair / Traditional DLC Pricing Concerns; summary: The feedback concerns a paid Sims 4 expansion/DLC, not in-game microtransactions. Reviews focus on the upfront DLC price, perceived low value relative to a free mod, launch bugs, and refund frustration. There is no direct evidence of real-money gacha, loot boxes, paid power, currency obfuscation, battle passes, or an in-game shop. Under the audit rules, traditional DLC and base-price complaints cannot by themselves exceed the low-risk range.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews repeatedly reject the $40 full price for Sims content, state that even discounted prices are not justified, and advise waiting for sales. One reviewer values a major pack at about $5. This strong price sensitivity suggests the community would consider a fair base-game price to be very low, likely free to no more than $20. However, because the evidence concerns an expansion pack rather than the base game, confidence is limited.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 0.1h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The only directly supported playtime metric is sessionLength: one reviewer reports an average of 3 minutes of play before crashes, which converts to 0.05 hours. The 2-hour mention describes content exhaustion rather than confirmed game completion. The 20-hour mention is total time in a lost save, not completion time. There is no reliable evidence for story completion or endgame duration, so those metrics are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report brief initial appeal from features like the chat Rabbit or the add-on's novelty, but boredom, repetition, and low-effort school activities quickly set in. Some players describe the content as boring from the start, so the profile is best captured as fun then drops rather than a delayed unlock.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Repetitive chat dialogue quickly becomes boring; Gameplay is very limited and extremely repetitive; School has too few students and teachers; Following Sims to school and prom is boring; Broken script mods after Whims were replaced by Wants and Fears; Map and high school content feel low effort
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Initial enjoyment of new features may last only until the first day; Boredom arrives quickly after the novelty of chat and other additions; Reaching max money removes challenge and makes the game boring; More students and teachers could make school less boring; Wanting to make friends affects willingness to join the Sim; Other DLCs may enhance the game but boredom comes quickly
- Player Archetypes:
  - Teen Life Storyteller (buy)
    - Motivation: Acting out teenage and family life stories in their save files
    - Playstyle: Family- and teen-centered storytelling with a focus on everyday school and social moments
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value-Conscious Sale Waiter (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting fair value for money and avoiding regret over an expensive, buggy purchase
    - Playstyle: Evaluates content against price and technical stability before integrating it into long-term saves
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Mod-Using Franchise Veteran (sale)
    - Motivation: Expanding an already extensive collection with something new to explore
    - Playstyle: Deep, modded long-term play across the full catalog of owned packs
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - CAS and Build Collector (buy)
    - Motivation: Collecting new items, clothing, and world content to customize their game
    - Playstyle: Creative building, decorating, and styling-driven play using new assets and shops
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- CAS and build/buy items (weight 0.39): The pack adds a wide variety of stylish clothes, hairstyles, furniture, and build mode items tailored for teen Sims. These items are frequently praised as cute, useful, and essential for teen bedrooms.
- Teen-focused gameplay content (weight 0.3): The pack provides extensive gameplay specifically for teen Sims, including school days, part-time jobs, free time activities, social media, and prom. Many reviewers appreciate that teens now have ample distinct content compared to the base game.
- Playable high school experience (weight 0.3): Players can accompany their teen Sims to high school, attend classes, join extracurricular activities like soccer and chess teams, and participate in scripted events. This feature is widely praised for making the high school experience immersive and interactive.
- Copperdale world and attractions (weight 0.29): The new world Copperdale includes an amusement park, thrift store, recreation center, and bubble tea shop. Reviewers describe it as charming, cozy, and one of the best parts of the pack.
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.28): Many reviewers describe the pack as a fun experience with a good amount of cool activities, funny interactions, and new possibilities. It diversifies the game and adds much more personality.
- Social Bunny and social media (weight 0.22): The Social Bunny app and other social media features allow Sims to build friendships and romance through messages, make posts, and gain followers. Reviewers find it a fun and humanizing addition.
- Bugs fixed and smooth performance (weight 0.2): Many previously reported bugs, such as prom scheduling, infinite loading, save corruption, and rapid aging, have been fixed as of August 2026. Reviewers report smooth gameplay and no bugs, even with mods.
- Teen life details and realism (weight 0.19): Features like acne, body hair, exams, crushes, growing pains, and fashion preferences make teens feel more distinct and realistic. These details add personality and depth to teen Sims.
- Thrift store and Trendi app (weight 0.18): The thrift store and Trendi app allow players to make, buy, and sell outfits for followers and money, giving teen Sims a way to earn income. The bubble tea shop and hanging out with classmates are also enjoyed.
- New teen aspirations and traits (weight 0.17): The pack introduces teen-specific aspirations with rewards that serve into adulthood, as well as new traits like party animal, overachiever, and socially awkward. These additions are considered cool and meaningful.
- Prom and graduation events (weight 0.17): Playable prom with poster-making, afterparties at the boardwalk, and high school graduation are highlighted as fun and interesting events. Some players enjoy the event even when not following their Sim to school.
- School editing and customization (weight 0.13): Players can edit the existing school or build a custom school from scratch, giving them control over the high school environment. This feature is appreciated by builders.
- New careers and skills (weight 0.13): Teens can gain skill during class, become a streamer, and pursue part-time jobs. These additions give teen Sims more to do and work toward.
- Early graduation option (weight 0.11): Teen Sims can graduate early if they are brilliant students, which is valued as a positive feature and a good way to move teens forward in life.
- Sneaking out and window escapes (weight 0.11): Teens can sneak out through a window to attend parties or run away from home, adding story-telling potential and fun crossover gameplay with Parenthood.
- Chat with friends and make posts (weight 0.1): Players can chat with their Sim's friends and make posts, simulating modern teenage communication. This feature is considered realistic and fun.
- Pillow fights activity returns (weight 0.07): The pillow fight activity is back, allowing Sims to sit on a bed and hit each other with pillows while laughing and bonding. Reviewers find it a fun social interaction.
- Sleepovers and parties (weight 0.07): The pack enables sleepovers and parties, giving teen Sims more social events to participate in and enjoy with friends.
- Multiple Sims sent together (weight 0.04): If multiple teens from the same family go to school, they can be sent together and the player can control multiple characters at once, making the experience more efficient and engaging.
- Locker and prank interactions (weight 0.04): Players can design their Sim's school locker or put prank items in other lockers, adding a mischievous and customizable element to school life.

Common complaints:
- Buggy and unplayable (weight 0.62): The game is described as buggy, glitchy, and broken, with many game-breaking bugs that make it impossible to play. Players report frequent crashes, freezes, and severe lag.
- DLC content missing or blank (weight 0.58): After purchase, DLC items do not appear in the game, or all text related to the pack is blank, including furniture names, traits, and aspirations. This makes the content unusable and the game unplayable in some languages.
- Boring high school experience (weight 0.55): The high school gameplay quickly becomes boring and repetitive, with passive classes and little to do. Following sims to school is less fun than sending them alone.
- Prom issues (weight 0.4): Prom occurs too frequently, often every weekend, and is short and lackluster, with sims just standing around. Some players cannot attend prom at all due to bugs or missing notifications.
- Lack of content (weight 0.39): The pack adds very little gameplay and feels empty, with few activities and repetitive school days. Many features seem half-baked, and the free update provides most of the content.
- Lost saves and mods (weight 0.34): Installing the pack has caused save files to become corrupted or disappear, and mods to vanish or break. This has led to significant loss of progress and frustration.
- Overpriced and not worth it (weight 0.33): Numerous reviews state that the pack is not worth the money, especially at full price, and is considered an overpriced cash grab with little content. Even with discounts, many feel it doesn't justify the cost.
- Class gameplay lacks depth (weight 0.3): Classes are passive with little interaction; players can only watch and cannot control sims in class. There are no meaningful activities or events during the school day.
- Empty and dull school (weight 0.3): Many players report that the high school feels empty, sparsely furnished, and deserted due to a lack of students and teachers. This makes the school environment boring and lifeless.
- Sims freeze and don't move (weight 0.28): Many players experience sims freezing in place, not following commands, and getting stuck in T-poses. This severely impacts gameplay and makes the game unplayable at times.
- Social Bunny underdeveloped (weight 0.27): The Social Bunny app is buggy, repetitive, and lacks depth, with limited interactions and scripted messages. It often causes negative moodlets and can break the game world.
- Town and world disappointing (weight 0.26): The new town Copperdale is criticized for being gloomy, empty, and lacking character, with limited activities and rabbit hole attractions. The map feels like a mix of other worlds and is not enjoyable to explore.
- Graduation and diploma bugs (weight 0.24): A common bug prevents sims from receiving their diploma and causes graduation ceremonies to occur every weekend. This issue was reported as fixed but persists, and some sims never graduate despite meeting requirements.
- Wants and Fears issues (weight 0.24): The Wants and Fears system is poorly designed, with sims having inappropriate wants and fears overwhelming them. This replaced the Whims system with something more aggravating.
- School days too short (weight 0.2): The school day feels very short, with only two classes and a long lunch break, leaving little time for skills or socializing. Each school year lasts only one in-game week, making it feel rushed.
- Cheerleading and football broken (weight 0.2): Cheerleading and football activities are broken, with competitions not working and sims behaving erratically. These features are incomplete and frustrating.
- Trendi/Thrifting exploit (weight 0.16): Selling outfits on Trendi for high prices feels like cheating, as even cheap outfits sell quickly and for large profits. This makes the game too easy and removes challenge.
- Aging and time bugs (weight 0.16): Sims age up rapidly after loading screens or entering CAS, and time loops occur when the game fails to save correctly. This disrupts gameplay and can ruin saves.
- Acne bugs (weight 0.1): Acne is bugged and can last for life or leave scars into adulthood unless cheats are used or the feature is turned off. This is an annoying and persistent issue.
- Infinite money breaks game (weight 0.09): Reaching the maximum money amount makes the game boring, as there is no challenge and aspirations are automatically completed. This removes the need for gameplay goals.

Gameplay feedback:
- Teen High School Attendance (weight 0.5): The pack focuses on teen sims attending high school, allowing players to follow their teens to school. This is a core feature of the expansion.
- Prom Event (weight 0.27): Prom is a scheduled event that occurs every Saturday and can be attended with a date. It is a key social feature of the pack.
- CAS and Build Items (weight 0.18): The pack includes new clothes, hairstyles, furniture, and build/buy items. These additions expand customization options for players.
- Social Bunny Feature (weight 0.17): The pack includes a social media platform called Social Bunny where sims can chat, make posts, and build friendships or romance. It is a notable addition.
- Copperdale World (weight 0.13): The pack introduces a new town called Copperdale, which includes a pier and a bubble tea shop. The world serves as the setting for high school activities.
- Teen Activities and Social Media (weight 0.13): Teen sims can participate in free time activities and use social media. These features enhance the teen life simulation.
- Editable School (weight 0.08): Players can edit the school, allowing customization of the lot. This gives flexibility in how the high school experience is presented.
- Teen Part-Time Jobs (weight 0.08): Teen sims can take on part-time jobs, adding a layer of gameplay beyond school. This feature is included in the expansion.
- Exams on Friday (weight 0.08): Exams are held every Friday, with different subjects each day. This adds a structured schedule to the school experience.
- Trendi Selling Outfits (weight 0.07): Trendi is a feature that allows selling outfits for followers and money. It adds a fashion-focused activity for teens.
- Graduation Ceremony (weight 0.07): The pack includes a graduation ceremony as part of the high school years gameplay. This marks the completion of the school experience.

Performance notes:
- Frequent Game Crashes (weight 0.18): Players report that the game crashes after an average of 3 minutes and often freezes or crashes completely. These crashes may also cause disconnections or kick players out of the game.
- Simulation Lag at High School (weight 0.05): When attending high school, the simulation experiences lag, causing Sims to idle and not perform actions properly.
- Acne Persists into Adulthood (weight 0.05): A bug causes acne to persist into adulthood, which is not intended and affects gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.46): Many reviewers advise against buying at full price and suggest waiting for a discount. The pack is considered not worth the full price but a good addition on sale.
- Do not buy (weight 0.24): Multiple reviewers explicitly say do not buy the pack. They recommend against purchasing and suggest saving money.
- Wait for bug fixes (weight 0.22): Reviewers recommend waiting for patches and bug fixes before buying. The pack has severe bugs and is not playable in its current state.
- Good for teen gameplay (weight 0.19): The pack is recommended for players who frequently play with teens or families. It adds value for those who enjoy teen-focused gameplay.
- Positive overall recommendation (weight 0.19): Some reviewers highly recommend the pack, especially for those who want to feel like a true teenager. It is recommended overall, especially with a discount.
- Wait for updates (weight 0.14): Reviewers advise waiting for weeks or months after release to see bug reports and how the developers repair them. Some requested refunds and may repurchase if reviews improve.
- Bland and underwhelming high school (weight 0.11): The high school is described as very bland and underwhelming. Reviewers suggest creating a custom school or using mods to improve it.
- Better with University pack (weight 0.11): Some reviewers say the pack is worth it when combined with the College Experience pack. However, standalone it is not recommended compared to University.
- Refund and avoid (weight 0.11): Some players requested a refund and advise avoiding the pack. They may try again if reviews improve with future updates.
- Recommended with reservations (weight 0.1): The pack is recommended but not as much as some other packs. It is recommended for specific playstyles and with discounts.
- Recommended for building (weight 0.08): Players who enjoy building recommend the pack due to new items. It is worth getting at a discount for build/buy content.
- Not essential but adds value (weight 0.08): The pack is not essential but makes a big difference for players who play with families. It is recommended for those who want more teen gameplay.
- Avoid Thrift Tea and Trendi (weight 0.08): Some reviewers warn that using Thrift Tea and Trendi feels like cheating and ruins playthroughs. They recommend against using these features.
- Not recommended as first expansion (weight 0.08): The pack is not recommended as one of your first ever expansion packs. It is better suited for players who already own many DLCs.
- Won't buy next pack (weight 0.08): Some players are so disappointed that they will not buy the next pack. They recommend saving money and avoiding.
- Low expectations required (weight 0.07): Reviewers advise buying only if you have the lowest expectations. Do not expect more than the price.
- Not recommended without mods (weight 0.05): The pack is not recommended without the MCCC mod. Mods are needed to enhance the experience and add more students.
- Not for old fans (weight 0.05): Old fans of the series are advised not to set high expectations. The pack may not meet the expectations of long-time players.
- Not worth even on sale (weight 0.04): A few reviewers say the pack is not worth it even on sale. It is described as meh and not recommended.

Other player notes:
- Trailer versus actual game (weight 0.2): The released game differs significantly from the promotional trailer, with missing content and a downgraded school lot. Reviewers feel the marketing overpromised and the final product is unfinished.
- Compared to University pack (weight 0.19): Reviewers frequently compare this pack to the University expansion, noting it has fewer opportunities and less control over classes, and that it is what University should have been. Some expected it to improve on University but were disappointed.
- EA and Steam DLC issues (weight 0.18): Steam DLC only works on Steam, not EA, and mixing the two can cause installation and font display problems. Reviewers provide workarounds such as reinstalling the game with Steam DLC included or separating installs on Windows.
- Limited active gameplay activities (weight 0.17): The school day offers fewer activities than other active careers like Get to Work or University. The pack lacks depth in daily teen activities, making gameplay feel shallow.
- Mods and custom content (weight 0.16): Many suggest that mods can provide similar or better activities and perks, and some recommend downloading custom content instead of buying the pack. The free Go To School mod is often cited as offering comparable value.
- Features from previous Sims games (weight 0.14): Pillow fight was present in The Sims 2, snowball fights in Seasons, duets in City Living, and romantic slow dancing in My Wedding Stories. Using these packs together may enrich sims' lives, but the new pack lacks original activities.
- Early access and unfinished (weight 0.11): The game feels like an unfinished half-product and is described as an early access game. Much of the content has not been tested and trailer features are missing.
- EA support and modding policy (weight 0.1): EA suggests mods or custom content could be to blame for issues and provides no help or fixes. A TOS change and vague communication about acceptable modding have divided the community.
- High price and no refunds (weight 0.1): The expansion pack costs $40, and reviewers note you cannot refund this DLC. This adds to the perception that the pack is a risky purchase.
- Great idea, clunky mechanics (weight 0.08): High School Years is seen as a great concept hindered by clunky mechanics and poor execution. Many feel it could have been the best Sims expansion if it worked properly.
- Worse than other packs (weight 0.08): Reviewers consider this expansion worse than Dine Out and similarly problematic to the Tartosa (Weddings) DLC. It is also compared unfavorably to Werewolves DLC.
- Controversial and divided community (weight 0.08): The pack has been controversial due to bugs and community division, with some saying it threw the Sims 4 into chaos. Community splits have widened due to EA's response.
- Social Bunny and object issues (weight 0.07): Social Bunny can be deactivated anytime if annoying, but the 'Czaj modę' object is a feature that can cause game issues. These features are minor but noteworthy.
- Base game exploit with pop-ups (weight 0.05): An exploit in base game content triggers constant pop-ups pushing players to visit Thrift Tea and make an outfit to list. This is seen as an intrusive money-making scheme unrelated to the expansion.
- Inventory money cap issue (weight 0.05): The game is not equipped to handle more than the maximum inventory money amount, requiring a mod to continue getting richer. This limits long-term progression for players aiming for wealth.
- Free update is most content (weight 0.05): A significant portion of the pack's content was actually included in a free update, making the paid DLC feel light on value. Reviewers note that the free update is most of this pack's content.
- Missing CAS and build items (weight 0.04): Compared to other packs, the Create-a-Sim and build items are minimal, offering little variety for builders and fashion enthusiasts.
- School lot can be downloaded (weight 0.04): The high school lot can be downloaded from the gallery as an alternative to the default one. This gives players some flexibility if they dislike the default lot.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.27): Players expected a rich high school experience but found the pack empty, repetitive, and buggy. The new town and school feel lifeless, prom is too short, and promised trailer features are missing. The pack is considered not worth the price due to lack of content and broken mechanics.
- Frustration (weight 0.26): Numerous bugs, including broken prom, graduation, and attendance, make the game unplayable. Sims freeze, time loops, and features like cheerleading and football are broken. The removal of the Whims system and introduction of Wants and Fears broke script mods, adding to the aggravation.
- Anger (weight 0.09): Players feel cheated by EA for releasing a buggy, unfinished pack at full price. Severe issues like incestuous wants, save errors, and blank text are unacceptable. The repeated pattern of broken releases and lack of fixes fuels anger.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Some players enjoy the CAS items, aspirations, and realistic teen features. The active high school and build/buy mode are fun, and the pack adds activities for teens. After bug fixes, the pack becomes worth buying.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): The pack becomes boring after attending school a few times due to repetitive tasks and lack of interesting activities. Too few students and teachers make the school feel empty. Having max money removes challenge, and school days consist of doing three tasks then going home.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players enjoy the CAS and build items, sending teens to school for socializing, and new content like the pier and bubble tea shop. The pack adds much to teens and their activities, with fun interactions and high school experiences. Elements outside school, like the thrift store, are also fun.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Life events like prom occur too frequently, making them annoying. The pack adds many annoying moodlets, and sims enter buildings without permission. The pier cannot be edited and lacks a public toilet, adding to the annoyance.
- Regret (weight 0.03): Players regret buying the pack at full price, finding it not worth the money. They wish they had expected bugginess and ignored warnings about permanent household deletion. The DLC wasted their time and money.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the expansion for giving teen sims more character and interesting events. The clothes and decorative items are appreciated. The gameplay concept of school, teens, classes, studying, prom, cheer meets, and football competitions is loved.
- Fun (weight 0.02): The pack provides a fun experience with roleplaying and storytelling potential for teen characters. The playable school allows sims to meet peers. Despite bugs, playing the expansion overall is enjoyable.
- Relief (weight 0.02): Some players experienced no bugs despite worries, and the game worked well. The game loaded fine the next day and bugs disappeared. The pack's buggy state even reassured one reviewer about their own indie game development ambitions.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): The pack feels empty and shallow, and parents randomly wanting romantic relationships with their children is disgusting. The state of the DLC is revolting.
- Emptiness (weight 0.01): After doing club groups and professions for a while, the content felt empty. Players felt like there was nothing to do after playing.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in a sim always stuck in a T-pose. Hilarious deaths and the T-pose bug provide entertainment.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Attending high school and prom is not fun, and classes lack depth. The overall experience is unsatisfactory.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope EA will add more students to make the game more fun. They also hope the developers will fix the bugs.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Players fear buying the pack might break the game or lead to an incest situation. The possibility of corrupting the save file is frightening.
- Concern (weight 0.01): There is concern about potential unpredictable results with mixed EA and Steam DLC if installed incorrectly.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.01): Players have difficulty finding how to get to the pier, and homework is forgettable. Limited activities at school cause mild frustration.
- Feeling scammed (weight 0.01): The school in the trailer is not the same as the one in the game, making players feel scammed.}