The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies

The Sims 4 Business & Hobbies feels like another oversized expansion that should've been a smaller pack or an update to Get to Work. It brings nothing innovative and primarily acts as an add-on for the sake of having an add-on. New skills, a Nordic-inspired city, mentorship, tattoo creation, and family recipes are nice touches, but the world is small and largely just set dressing. Some features, like recipes, don’t really fit the expansion’s theme.

The Sims 4 From Hobby to Business has some strengths, but also a few weaknesses. The new objects and skills as well as the extensive tattoo design are definitely a big plus of the set, just like the beautiful and atmospheric neighborhood and the almost limitless freedom when it comes to your own small business. On the other hand, you have to make sacrifices elsewhere. The terminals with which the Sims pay for entry to a store didn't really convince me, as they take away the individuality of the stores. The old weaknesses also remain. For example, there are once again far too few plots of land available for building and the Nordhaven neighborhood remains scenic despite its great design. On the other hand, the furniture, clothing and accessories, which are very well done with their details, impressed me across the board. It's also nice that our Sims can teach and give lectures themselves.

Though it feels lacking in some areas, and is very much a release that’s dependent on players making their own fun, The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies still offers a lot of potential.

Businesses & Hobbies' disjointed nature ultimately means it doesn't realise its full potential – though this can be somewhat mitigated if you have invested a fair bit into The Sims 4. Having a decent range of packs helps to take full advantage of the customisable side of business gameplay and make up for some of the expansion's flaws.