My Brutally Honest Review Of The Sims 4 Outdoor Retreat 

This pack needs a refresh. It was the very first pack, so didn't have a lot to offer with the existing code. Now, I wish they'd add features that have been since added with newer packs: sleeping bags, canoeing, bonfires, lake swimming, rock climbing, hiking/nature walks, deadlier bugs/snakes, injuries from hiking, herbalism which can help with illnesses from GTW, dogs helping with hunting of game, herbalism with spellcasters, foxes in the woods, special werewolf interactions with the environment....

Outdoor retreat needs a refresh desperately. However, I give the sims team a little grace because it was the first Gamepack (a completely new concept). But the problem is that they didn't update it for cross-pack compatibility

Not including archery or axe throwing was a massive over site.

It has nothing on Sims 3 World's Adventures. Just saying lol

This pack could definitely use a refresh. I love the bigfoot idea. It would be so cool if they added a bigfoot mystery similar to the Strangerville mystery. That would be worth buying the pack, or even playing with it. Also, I agree - the cooler is handy indeed.

I think a lot of the bug/performance issues are more recent as I don't recall any of them in my past gameplay. That is pretty standard for TS4 though - new content always introduces new bugs/issues. I totally agree with your assessment of this pack actually though I'd never thought of it in terms of mostly re-skinned basegame mechanics. Love your ideas on how they could have improved or refreshed this pack. Unfortunately I think you're right that it's unlikely.

This is one of the packs that i think would be perfect if they had just put in a few more activities. I always feel weird not being able to go swimming in the game. Plus like you said theres no tents or really other campers at what is obviously the type of park that people would be camping at. Its got a public bathroom.. how are there not RVS everywhere LOL. Tbh it just doesnt seem like its fully fleshed out. I really like this one and have a lot of nostalgia for it since it was the first pack (and one i happened to enjoy). I enjoy playing outside so i would give this one a solid 3/5 if i had to rate it.

I've tried to make a lot of "log cabin" type builds and Sims 4 build mode is just too square, if that makes sense? Log cabins are bumpy on the outside, and having textured exteriors to make then LOOK like they've been made of logs would have been better. Great video, I agree with your ratings of it!

This and dine out really need a refresh!

more brutally honest dragging of sims 4 plss 💋✨

Definitely needs a refresh. It was the first pack so there wasn’t swimming or toddlers yet.

would be nice to have outdoor retreat cross-pack work well with werewolves so i can create "the quarry" scenario there :(

The rental lots are weirdly accurate to a lot of eastern US “cabin” rentals, but that’s the last thing they should’ve been modeling the designs after. I do get some good mileage out of the build/buy and that one center parted long hair in cas, but damn, if only this pack had the energy and imagination of Jungle Adventure…

I think it's really silly that they wouldn't refresh Outdoor Retreat just because a lot of people have already bought it? I mean when you think about it, refreshing a pack is a lot easier than having to come up with the concept and design and mechanics of a whole new pack. From a development perspective it's cheap to do a refresh, and it will get new people to buy the pack, whereas currently no one in their right mind would buy this pack now. So why not? I really don't get it! It's like EA is doing this stuff on purpose, it's like they're doing everything they can to not give us what we want or what would make us happy. Smh.

Has anyone else noticed that hiking is broken in Snowy Escape? My sims will refuse to hike together. Yesterday, I tried to have four sims hike to the shrine together, and, instead, they gathered at the trail sign and just stood there. I then sent the four of them on four individual hikes to the shrine. They each took separate routes. Three of them reached the shrine. One quit in the middle. Then, on the way home, only two of them walked home. One walked back and forth and back and forth from the trail head sign to the shrine. The other just continued hiking. Very very very frustrating when even the simplest of gameplay activities are broken. Has anyone noticed this?

i'd love if they did a pack refresh for this, like they did for spa day

Also, everytime i try to use the firepit in my game, something catches on fire. Every time i put chairs around it LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE the chairs catch on fire. Its actually so annoying i stopped using the object. Never fails

This seemed a painfully obvious pack to have the kids use their scouting skills ... but that probably would have been recycled animation too.

So… since I have the tent and hiking from Snowy Escape, the campfire from Little Campers, and potions from Realm of Magic… all this would give me is cloud gazing and the ability to eat bugs? 🤔 🤣

The reason there is nothing for toddlers in that gamepack is because toddlers where not available whne that pack came out ;)

Male Shanice Shanice doesn't exist. He can't hurt me. ;w; EDIT: Oh god, did you make child Shanices too??! lol 😂😂😂

The resetting of the sim after each herbalism potion is a bug since at least mid-2020 (spinningplumbobs has a mod fix for that at least). You did just destroyed my hopes of seeing this pack refreshed. OR is one of my fav and was my top choice for a refresh, but I never thought about the fact that most people have that pack, so less likely. But my dream refresh for this would be (in addition to what you already mentionned): - Insects available as spawners in build mode (like cottage living) after catching them the first time; - Having at least one residential lot with a swimmable place; - Having the Hermit's lot appear on the World Selection page once you befriended them or once the aspiration is completed (so that you could turn it into a regular residential lot); - The bear to leave my sim alone; - Bunch of bug fixes (herbalism potion, being able to harvest all 10 new plants during spring and fall, not just summer, the fishing spot at the hermit being buggy as demonstrated in your vid, plus the other bugs you already mentionned (like the tent or rain); and maybe a new ''like/dislike vacation'' so my sim does not get homesick all the time.

I only ever use this pack for Rags To Riches because the tent and cooler is perfect for that

This was really useful to understanding the pack's problems. I was thinking of buying it as my next Sims purchase... now it's not on the list any more.

Handy sims can get a new sculpture pattern from the statue that will earn them the most simoleons from the woodworking table.

I really wish they would make a way to collect bugs and herbs in other worlds. I don't want my sims to HAVE to go on vacation to work on herbalism. It would also make some of the worlds that feel boring and lifeless a little bit more interesting. It seems like it might be difficult to implement, though. I'd take bug fixes (especially for that firepit!) over new features anyday.

At least the build items mix very well with the Horseranch. So many people rediscover the contents of this pack.

Honestly my complaints about Outdoor retreat is other simmer's complaints about it. lol. I mean sure I agree, I'm not faulting your video either I have eyes to see how it is lackluster compared to other packs, but also it comes with things you can take with you. Has some of the most useful, fitting, outdoor wallpapers and flooring. I have used those showers a *lot* as "I can't fit a shower in this house but my sim is poor anyways so..." gameplay. I honestly think people are so used to later packs and avoiding these things because they don't fit their theme they miss how handy a lot of these are. Have I camped? No. But this kit pairs sooo nicely with the Werewolves. I play with werewolves and in the werewolf world a lot. I use it more than most of the nifty knitting build kit stuff. That might just be a mileage may vary but hey you might find it interesting there is someone who actually praises outdoor retreat.

I hate that it's a vacation only world, and never go to it, but I use the CAS and build/buy quite a lot. Star and cloud gazing is nice to have. The rest, refresh. Editing to add.. I didn't realize this until I disabled all DLC, but it did come with a couple reward traits I get almost every save.. incredibly friendly, and great storyteller. There are some other ones too, but those two are especially important now that they'll be "fixing" the camera trick. So it's a fantastic pack for building friendships, between the traits and the stargazing.

That pack is just sad, I only use it for my sims to go there for a day during the weekend every now and then. I even made a holiday once so I don't forget about it. They really need to update it but as it is, it's really not worth buying. I never had any performance issues with it though, but last time I played it was before the infant and other latest updates. Side note, but I still can't believe that they added sleeping bags for their new EP but not for Outdoor Retreat lmao, ok.

the balms just dropping on the floor is so annoying. i always have people showing up randomly and just brewing some balm on my grill. my sim wasn't going out much but when i looked at the grilling space after a while it was full of those balms laying on the floor, around 30 of them. it took minutes to pick them all up and the circle started again.

Thanks for this! Super review. I've bought a load of DLC and now I'm limiting what I buy until I know for sure I want it. Putting off this and Dine Out, if they fix/update them I might consider it.

So glad you're reviewing alllll of these packs. I love your humour and your reviews and I can't wait until you've done them all

One thing I noticed early on about the Outdoor Retreat fire pit and campfire is that if you place benches all around one of them, they can no longer be used for roasting things. I do admit that I may not have been understanding how it works, but it seemed simple enough that there should've been no problem with seating. Hopefully this bug doesn't happen when the fire is surrounded by chairs as well. It is nice however that seating is optional with these objects... and they're great for rags to riches because your sims don't have to pay for the food they roast, but... this may just be an oversight... x.x

In theory I love this pack... however, I agree with you it needs a overhaul!! They basically should re-do everything in this pack, I agreed with all your suggestion changes, I hope they decide to update this pack, because I would love to actually use and enjoy this pack in game.

I don’t think we’re ever gonna get any more pack refreshes.

I hate the herbalism skill only because any home I have a grill placed on, random sims will turn up and use it for HOURS and surround the ground next to the grill with the little jars of crap. Gets real old real fast, almost as annoying as the constant random townies that show up ask to be my sims new BFF.

Dude seriously when you have your natural hair colour and moustache you are honestly hot as hell itself

I bought this pack after I bought seasons (or perhaps in a bundle with it) and had such a confusing time with the gameplay as I couldn't find any of the plants as I went on vacation during winter. I figured it out but yes Seasons ruins the gameplay and I'm glad you mentioned it. I do love the kitschy vibe of the dining chairs in Outdoor retreat but it's not reason enough to recommend it! Alongside the unswimmable lake not being able to hike together is so disappointing (the same as jogging together or BIKING together what has the Sims 4 team got against sims doing things together?!? Toddlers so obviously came out after the pack that there isn't even a toddlers bed among any of the accommodation let alone anything to do for them. You'd think they'd be able to play in leaves since they can play in sand and snow but nope. My other criticism is the wallpaper for the log cabins looks like really wide siding instead of even remotely like logs. A little visual curve on the texture would have given a slight illusion even though it would still be flat.

ahh, finally another brutally honest review, been waiting for those

Honestly the next pack that the Sims wants to give us should literally just ask us what they should add. Fairy pack? Add a secret world, some nature decorations, small fairy houses you can explore or just as decor. They should ask us what we would add to the packs ourselves so we aren't wasting our money.

I have a trauma from this junk pack! When I played it, I had checked the "Laptop Graphics" box in the graphics settings. But a few insects are not rendered with this setting activated. They are just invisible. I wasted hours of my life looking for insects that were just invisible. EA ... it doesn't get any dumber. And I think they still didn't fixed this and never will. And I was soo disappointed, back when I've played this pack I was so naive and thought there must be a secret about "the Hermit" but it turned out to be just a random stupid townie and the whole area had no secrets at all. At that day I learned EA puts absolutely no efforts, no gameplay and nothing fun in their packs. Only new bugs, objects, collectibles and animations. That's it.

The fact that the bear is a costume… damn

Sorry, I'm catching up. Ok, so the problem with Outdoor Retreat, besides all that you said, is that they didn't update the herbology when other packs came out. So when other packs or updates had things happen, like that stupid "nature's revenge" on certain lot types, or when sims get a "tummy ache" the herbology potions don't work on it. The insect repellent doesn't work for Jungle Adventure, for example. If they had updated the herbology for these events or things in other packs and updated then the skill could have been pretty cool, but it was like they forgot the pack and skill existed a week after it was released. The only cross pack integration I am aware of is that you can get the plants when dumpster diving, that's it.

This could have been a perfect world for scouts camp. But yeah...

this is one of my favourite packs, i dont know why i just really enjoy it

satch i watch your videos everyday after school while i’m revising for my gcses thank you for being funny and congrats on 120k

Hey Satch I’d love to see you do a review of the Sims FreePlay - the graphics are awful but did you know that they had playable babies years before the Sims 4?

Oh shit im early ilysm satch!!! Came across ur channel on accident but glad i did! Thanks for giving me laughs on the days i felt sad!

I totally agree to you review. I liked this pack until they released seasons. I wish they would do a refresh but I think it will never come. The cross-pack-compability is so bad in Sims 4.

I probably should have watched this BEFORE buying it today 😂 at least it was on sale...

It’s a shame I love the trees and environment, the world is beautiful.

SECOND!Amazing as allways!❤❤❤

It's the first so we can cut some slack there but there needs to be a refresh

I would love pack refresh for this one honestly I Love outdoor retreat I like having my sim families do a camping night

Speaking of herbalism remedy, I had a grill in my winter garden and all sims coming to my house were making them and I ended up with like 20 remedies on the ground ?? 😞

Jungle adventure bout to be free with 2 other dlc packs to and I’m stoaked 😂

My first pack, i really like

I seen the title and I was like he’s gon pop off on this one lol

You are so right. This is the only pack I trully regret buying. What a shame...

“We could even call it Granny Falls~”

I wish they added bears aswell that would be really cool

Pretty accurate review

I changed the interiors of the rentals. It’s was sooooo bad. Much better now. Lol

LOL I often forgot this pack exists.

This pack makes me miss Sims 2 Bon Voyage

My sim has a similar problem with painting. When I tell them to paint they cancel to play basketball 🏀 I have to pick them in a room and make them finish a painting

Don't forget this pack came out before any other packs. So yea it needs a refresh but of course the weather and all the other stuff like no items for toddlers wasn't a thing then. Also, it wasn't bugger like that until more packs and updates were released. I loved this pack when it came out. I love the idea of camping and really enjoy the items to this day. It does need an overhaul and some new items added but I still would give this an overall 6/10 for my score.

I enjoy playing the Sims 4

Is there a brutally honest review of Jungle Adventure? I cant find it! x

I search for new vids from you daily! I just bought Jungle Adventure, and then the EA app crapped the bed for most of the day, and then i find out Epic is releasing it for FREE along with a bundle of 2 others. grrr.

Outdoor retreat should get a free update. This pack wasn't great to begin with and it was absolutely BRUTALIZED by Seasons. Anyone who purchased this pack should get a proper (much better) version of this pack as compensation. Not that it's going to happen. That would require a company whose management cares about their customers and wants to see them satisfied with their purchases.

i bet they made the bear a costume so it's just another harmless person who won't actually rip your sims apart with claws and teeth 😍 would be fine by me if it was some goofy character who lives in (AND IS LOCKED TO) granite falls and likes pulling pranks on people with the costume, but they let the damn bears loose and now they're one of the most annoying npcs alongside celebrities. yes looking at you bear night at the bar i hate you with all my heart

Not adding some wildlife to a camping pack is rather silly as well.

Beautiful music just like you

Losing it at cloudgazing under water 😅

There's no toddler cas because this came out two years before they introduced toddlers into the game.

It lacks content. There’s nothing to do. Like what??? Where is the exploration of the forest?

Early!!

Tbh this is the only pack I regret buying, even for the sale, it just sucks tbh. Need overhaul

Great ✨✨ 🍒😃

BEARly anything 🐻

I wish this had a park ranger career

there's nothing for toddlers bc there weren't any in the game when this pack came out lololol

I love this pack except I wish you could go swimming.

I rate this pack P for Pathetic 😬

i mean toddlers got nothing because they didn't exist then lmfao it took them three damn years to add a staple life stage

666 likes and 67 comments lemme fix that

Why should they give us what we want? Swimmable lakes, no. Here take fishing