The Sims 4: Growing Together Review (ITS HERE AHH) 

It's a shame there are no new careers in this pack. Like a retirement home nurse or a marriage counselor those are some ideas. ;w;

“Apart from being pretty, it doesn’t really serve a purpose”: the Sims 4

I’m so tired of empty worlds. These worlds are huge but barely have lots. I like the feeling of my sims living next to other sims and having neighbors. The base game hoods had that feeling but the new ones do not.

Why did they Nix the Grandpa like that?! If this was the sims 2 he’d be in the family tree, bio of his disappearance, and then he’d be a grave at a neighbor’s house!

Im so happy they brought back the rabbit hole cinema. I used to love setting my sims on dates to the cinema in ts3

I usually get aggravated at glitches but the infant stuck to her foot is HILARIOUS

The speed with which I clicked

sims team loves their pretty, empty, useless boxes

Calling it now. Next pack/kit/whatever will be all about elders and will be called "Golden Years"

"He's not on the family tree"... this told me everything I needed to know

You declining a creator code is why we love you, we can always trust your opinions ❤️ But no new traits in a family expansion?? What a robbery hen

Ever since the first trailer dropped for Growing Together, I thought "what's the catch?" And yep, there is a catch; an empty world with limited interactions. I am glad they finally added characteristics and more to relationships, but it took them 9 years to do 😐

as a sailor, i will say that having a fishing spot on the end of a pier would be very unsafe bc the lines could get caught in propellors or even just on the boats and people in said boats. i really doubt that was some intentional world building though.

Okay, the world ~looks~ amazing but it has the one aspect I hate THE MOST in The Sims 4: it's fucking empty. At 2:45 as I was seeing all those beautiful houses I got so angry and sad that maybe one or two will be playable. The expansion may be good, but Sims 4 worlds since Windenburg are a complete and absolute joke. Windeburg central modern location is what I EXPECT a Sim world to be. Everything there is playable and interactive. Why does EA create worlds that look so full but are actually completely empty? It doesn't make sense.

I really can't figure out how I feel about this pack, I want it because it looks like it enriches gameplay so much, but I also sort of resent that because some of the great gameplay features just don't feel like they should be locked behind a paywall, it just feels like paying for something which should already be part of the game

Clicked instantly because I KNOW Plumbella will keep it real and chaotic!

I would expect from the sims in 2023 that they would have a feature where you can call your mom and dad and it will randomly generate parents for you.

THANK YOU for pointing out how much of this should have been base game! I’m excited to buy this pack but it is ridiculous that things like milestones, changing tables, moles?? are locked behind a paywall.

I'm happy you mentioned funerals! I've been thinking this for a long time. Once a sim has died all the other sims seem to go about their lives way to fast and the deceased sim seems to just be forgotten. I wish mourning was a lot more fleshed out, and it would be nice to have funerals as a planned event. Death is an important part of life, and the Sims being a life simulator it should be a (bigger) part of it.

I think the stay over could be cool for gameplay if you do divorces sims having the other parent select the stay over as a shared custody.

That kinda sucks that all the prettiest places and buildings are unusable…

A retirement home or senior community would be pretty simple to make; they could make it a lot trait, like how Get Famous added the 'Celebrity Home' trait. There could be a 'Senior Living' lot trait where only elderly Sims could live. Also, I agree that we need funerals!

I think the thing that annoys me most is that something like this should have been implemented during the early days of the sims 4. Plus this should have been mashed together with parenthood and high school years, only then would I feel like it would be on par with the sims 3 generations.

i’m still pretty excited for this pack, although i think if they had ditched building the new world and focused on everything else (gameplay, cas, build/buy, venue types, events, etc) it could have been a home run. it’s kinda like seasons where yeah it didn’t get a world, but the gameplay in seasons impacts every single world. i think growing together could have been a good one for that same concept

Can't wait for this pack to be 50% off so it might actually be 'worth' the price

So that's what? Three worlds based on California now? And two based on San Francisco? Someone ought to buy the sims team a globe 😩

I said with Cottage living that the staged buildings should be shops that sell a specific item, like there should have been bread shops, fruit stands and grocery shops, etc.

loving how the whole world can be resumed into pretty but useless 💀

Years ago I saw a comment that said that if the sims 4 ever got a generations style pack, that an Italy inspired world would be great for them because of the Italian culture’s focus on family. That would’ve been so cool if that happened!!! The world would’ve been so beautiful too!!!

Not relative to the pack, but my cat is obsessed with Plumbella. Like, he's almost always absolutely feral, and hates cuddling, but when her videos come on, he'll just curl up on me and watch. I think it's actually her voice, because even when his view is blocked, he'll still just chill out and look over in the direction her voice is coming from. I think he might be in love with her.

I’m 99.9% sure that they chose this location because of the old sitcom Full House. 😂

there not being any toddler potties at 3:38 is so strange bc in kaylas build vid for the rec centre she puts them in and even mentions that it was to ensure that toddlers would have a place to go. I wonder why the sims team decided to take them out?

As someone from SF, the world is really disappointing to me and only a very few things shown here actually remind me of the city, but I'm really looking forward to the rest of the pack! Edit to add that I'm also tired of all the American suburbia worlds, but like...if you're gonna base it on a place...I would like it to actually resemble that place? This just looks like Willow Creek with a few very vague references to SF 😭

of course characteristics are locked behind a paywall 😍😍

So here's my thing on the walking stick. If we bring in the ability for canes only for elders and only in a pack, then we continue to push off their usefulness for disabled people. Same idea as the hearing aids, of which dropped base game and separate from the pack base game update, since both deaf and HoH people who were born that way or experienced and accident can use them as well as elderly people who make use of them in a larger proportion. They stated that more medical devices will be added over time, so I'd assume they'd end up there in another medical devices update.

Sims has a unique way of being the most disappointing and most exciting game. Like am I excited over DlC that should have been base game? Like it's so expensive for something that is so disappointing but at the same time it's so needed for gameplay. Like let's be honest, a game that relies on DLC for the gameplay to be good is not a good game. But still, I'm excited about each new DLC.

I’m so excited that there’s finally a reason to make a guest bedroom!!!

I’ve been waiting for the Plumbella review!!!! Everyone else is second. 1. She’s brutally honest 2. Some random hilarious bug always shows up in her game only

Personally my first thought when I hear san francisco is Full House so the family vibe really works for me lmao. The clothes were kind of giving that for me as well so big win for people who dress like they are in a 80s-90s US sitcom (me)

I’ve been wanting a San Francisco style world. Butttt I wanted it to have townhomes, the kind we had in sims 2 where you could build 4 homes on one lot and play families separately. Would’ve been nice so I could live out my Full House fantasy.

I really like all of the new systems they introduce, milestones, family dynamics etc but I really don't appreciate that they are exclusive to the pack... you could just add a few basic milestones to the base game..... also the conversation topics and compatibility being paywalled seems really unnecessary.....

i have been DYING for a stay over function so i can replicate my parents’ divorce lmaoooo

I really wish all of those unusable buildings were rabbit holes. I'm currently playing 3 rn, and the rabbit holes are okay bc even though you don't see everything, it's still stuff for your Sim to do. As a result the area feels more lively. Like some of those buildings could have been a restaurant or in door markets, malls, etc.

Thank you for sharing your fully honest review! I'm definitely disappointed by the missed opportunities like a more interactive world and more gameplay elements for elders. I personally think the inclusion of retirement homes would have been a nice touch for a sim's final chapter in life. One of my grandmothers lives in an assisted living community, and she enjoys activities like bingo night or movie nights, joining clubs, and having opportunities to make new friends. I don't know how much that would take to create for the game, but I think it would've been a fun addition.

This pack looks good but I’m really sad that changing tables aren’t base game, especially with some being matching swatches with base game kids furniture, because I won’t buy until it’s on sale 😵‍💫

I think what upsets me about this pack, and believe me I really love a lot of the additions to family gameplay, is why is everything behind a paywall? A lot of these additions like family dynamics, comparability, and specific family interactions should have just been base game. In a game like the sims, family gameplay should not be an addition it should be an expectation. This is especially notable given that parenthood exists. I already spent 20 dollars for parenthood, which was supposed to be a premier parenting and family pack for it’s time. Obviously they can only do things in hindsight, but I feel as if this should have been either a base game addition or a massive update to parenthood

I can’t say I’m that surprised with the state of the world itself, the sims 4 is just like that, pretty but not much to do (I’m not shitting on the entire pack I just can’t help but notice the pattern)

Did they say that the events at the rec center would be on different days? They definitely need water activities, its such a pretty area.

I can’t stand the worlds anymore, on top of being small already most of it s not usable and can’t be edited or customized because of all the shells around everything…

Jessie as Grim was the jumpscare I was not expecting

Thank you so much for mentioning autistic burnout. I am autistic and I didn't know this was A Thing, and it lead me to do some googling and realize that it was definitely at least 50% of my last "depressive episode" and is giving me ideas of what caused it (wildly unpredictable work schedule) and how to prevent it in the future. Autistic representation and discussion is so so important, you are doing the lord's work hen

even if there weren’t fishing spots (it’s a port so it makes sense that your sims cant fish off the pier-unsafe etc) it wouldve been nice if there was a boat rabbit hole that you could click on to fish out on the water. kind of like the rocket ship.

5:33 usually pier waters aren’t swimmable and tbh at least the ones i’ve been to dont even have fish, you have to go out in a boat to find them :)

would have been nice: if when you chose traits, they automatically selected complimentary characteristics, likes and dislikes. i’m never going to go thru and pick those out so i’d love if they were already selected then i could change what i wanted to. kind of like how sims 3 would suggest a zodiac sign based on selected traits

It’s SO frustrating having our hopes up every time and then being let down :(

the world looks a bit lackluster to me, idk why they insist on making new worlds for each expansion pack instead of focusing that energy on gameplay. also i feel like they could've done so much more with a san fran inspired world :/

I love how the generated subtitles called the pack "grunt together" at one point. I suppose that's how it begins 😂

I didn't even watch the show. But one of the most iconic American family sitcoms was Full House and it took place in San Fran, so it's not completely odd they chose it as a family city

i love watching your reviews because they really feel comprehensive and none of your enjoyment feels forced. I also appreciate that you give each pack the benefit of the doubt even tho it can be easy to just be negative when it concerns EA

They should make a bunch of the empty shells in the world rabbit holes, just like sims 3! It makes the world so interactive and interesting with such minimal effort

Okay I have to know, does Jessie know Trixie mentioned her in her most recent video???

I have to say I actually prefer those likes and dislikes, interests thing bc compared to traits it really adds more dimension and creates more difference and diversity in a sim. Even compared with the sims 3 I’d have rather had those things than traits. However since sims 3 traits were pretty good and there were soo many to choose 5 from, it’s not like we really missed out. :) Edit: I also freaking love the gameplay objects, especially the tree house! And random but why did the whole world seem like foreshadowing to houseboats? Like I know I’m delusional and the world is known for fishing and what not, but the amount of footbridges(? Don’t know the English word, googled it) - I’m just saying a houseboat would look good there 😉

Thanks for always giving fair reviews, comparing to features that were base game in previous sims games, and trying to consider what it's like for those of us who don't have all the packs (I don't have High School Years so the lack of teen gameplay is disappointing). I love that you gave a rating for value for money too!

whats interesting to me is that during lilsimsie's video i noticed that early in development the ep was going to be called "lifestyles & legacies" or something liek that and i find that very interesting... i guess they chose to focus on the dynamics of lifestyles instead of legacies perhaps

Just want to throw it out there that Robles is pronounced Rob-less and it's a Spanish surname. It's pretty cool that they have a Hispanic townie in the expansion pack!

2:38 "it's pretty but it doesn't serve a purpose" it's me, hi

Disappointed but not shocked. Thanks for this great review Plumbella❤. It’s the world for me. They made it feel like it would be something open like werewolves but it seems boring.

I live in the bay area (the area around San Francisco) and the world doesn't give me SF at all, where are all the Victorian homes, old buildings, Castro street, Pride flags everywhere, etc. SF does make sense to me for a family pack as its a very family friendly city, but this world is not San Francisco. I will say having the water not be swimmable is realistic as SF's water is NOT safe to swim in at all as there are very rough waves, cliff edges, and even sharks sometimes. I'm very happy for this pack but sad that they didn't do San Francisco justice, as it is such a beautiful and colorful city.

My sim was learning to ride their bike in the house! A prodigy child I tell you, riding their bike through walls at 7, unheard of xx

To be fair to the no simming in the water thing, San Francisco waters are like. INSANELY cold on top of having strong currents so its not exactly prime swimming material

I don't think 3.5/10 was a harsh rating to give this pack in terms of value. Most of the content is not bad at all, but it definitely keeps feeling like they slapped different things together just for the sake of releasing an EP priced pack. Milestones and compatibility definitely should have been BG updates. The world having even less usability without mods than initially shown during the stream is unacceptable in my opinion, even more so as it's a very generic world. And then there's the whole Parenthood Refresh aspect of it. Take away the world and the two core systems, and there is a GP left. Ultimately, I feel like Parenthood and Growing Together should have been one singular fleshed out pack together. The more packs we are getting, the more it is apparent how much they are lacking in terms of content... which is not a good look for a game now 8 years old and ever so closer to costing $1k - heck, it may even already cost that much in some currencies due to poor exchange rates... :'))

Plumbella the only simmer who will give the most honest feedback about everything TRUST. thank you SO much Jesse. This was awesome. I feel like the pack is fine but I am very very disappointed at how lacking base game infants are because of it. How can infant milestones be locked behind a pack?! its ridiculous to me, and it makes me feel like releasing infants as base game was just to entice people to buy the pack, and not actually to give everyone a fair shot with infants. It was greedy, and was a step backwards compared to toddler gameplay being almost entirely free to play. TLDR: In a life simulation game, everyday activities with each life state like growing, learning, being mobile (using a stroller) and becoming clean (diaper change) SHOULD BE BASE GAME.

"Apart from being pretty, it doesn't really serve a purpose" should be the Sims 4 motto

A little disappointed at no aspirations but I think the conversation topics etc. are worth not getting new traits. The world seems a bit lackluster but tbh I care more about gameplay especially with this type of pack so I'm still super excited!

Thank you for reviewing! I hate that they make these large, beautiful areas with nothing in them. Give Sims something to do! Why would I even go there if all there is to do is walk around and use one food stand. It's so weird.

I do prefer the movie theater be a rabbit hole but also the way they happen in stardew valley is pretty cute.

Lmaooo idk why I get my hopes up whenever they release new content, just for it to be a skeletal as previous packs. There’s definitely some stuff I’m liking about this pack, but you can feel how much they are holding back potential, especially in world building.

Man…. This is why I value your channel so much… your actually honest about the flaws and left out things… why is it so damn difficult for EA to make rabbit holes?!? It was the bread and butter of sims 3, why not do it in sims 4? Can’t swim or fish along the water?!? In a harbour themed world?!? Insanity. I hope they update that before release. All those shells could have option to buy groceries, go get dinner or coffee rabbit holes… the set design becomes pointless when there’s zero to do around it. Pure laziness Can’t carry toddler while baby wearing?!? Seriously?!? 😢😢😢 that was my life for a good year 😂

The funny thing is, there’s a stereotype about San Francisco culture that they like / value dogs more than kids! 😂 My bro lived in the Bay Area - Oakland - for years, and I think one of the devs even mentioned it was kind of a mashup of Bay Area locales, not just the city itself. So excited to hear your thoughts!!!

I don’t understand why we can’t have American centered worlds 😩. As an American PLEASE GIVE US SOME DIFFERENT WORLDS JESUS. I want a world like Mexico,France, or Ghana. Also why are expansion pack worlds coming with such small amount of lots, the worlds need to be expanded in terms of size

I feel okay with no new traits tbh. They added 18 infant quirks, 18 toddler quirks, and built a whole compatibility system based on the current traits, aspirations, and likes/dislikes of every pack including this new one. That’s just me tho

About San Francisco being for a family pack: didn't the TV series Full House take place in that city? Maybe that was the inspiration

To be fair, there is not a lot of water activity in San Francisco either lol. I mean there is beaches, but normal people are not doing water activities at the pier. I was surprised by the choice too because the city is not really a family friendly place. I literally left sf for that reason. But the surround suburbs in the bay are very much multigenerational families, so in that sense it does make sense. And the families that do live in the city are usually multigenerational as well.

I think out of all the expansion and game packs that have come out this is by far one of the better ones, but it’s gotten to a point where it could be absolutely incredible and I still couldn’t justify the price point for an expansion. £35 for this is insane. Also feel like there was there was a huge opportunity here to make the world alpine/Scandinavian and make use of the snow activities from Snowy Escape and the forest assets from Outdoor retreat. Together that would have added a whole new theme to build/buy. The San Francisco world is nice, but we already have a fishing neighbourhood with Brindleton Bay so that they opted for another fishing town (that you can’t even fish in) is a bit bizarre.

So excited to see your first impressions video. I've come to trust your opinion greatly. Disappointing that so much of the world gives us little reason to explore - I've been a little sad at new recent packs not including expansions of flora, as we have seen before. When will we get an evergreen to grow in our yards? Fortunately the game still succeeds due to my level of creativity and imagination. I confess, I'll buy this pack either way, because what is coming is definitely terrific (I didn't know S3, so I don't have the comparison), but your review has been delightful and helped distract me from counting down (for a little bit anyway) until tomorrow's release of Les Enfants. Thank you!!

The integrity in not accepting the code: 10/10.

The dust bunny as you called it while they make friendship bracelets has to just be a cop out for doing an animation but it looks SO WEIRD whyyyyy 😭

I live in the US and very tired of the US cities kinda wish they would give us like Spain or something different and I just hate that they won’t update the worlds to use any large body of water to go swimming I never understood that !

I also got frustrated that there are changing tables that are compatible with base game design wise but that are behind a paywall. It makes no sense for me, specially since the look fo the bg furniture is not the best or most refined, so that was disapointing. That and the for plants that are stuck together were a real let down for me. But I'm excited for other stuff so I'm staying positive overall

The sims team had an amazing opportunity to add in fairies with the tooth fairy gameplay and they really dropped the ball on that

I always love how thorough your reviews are and happy to see you to excited for this pack while still keeping it real! Can't wait to watch 😎

*fishing town* *Sees a non fishing sign* *Confuse simlish noise*

YESSSS time to base my entire opinion on this pack on what jesse thinks !!!

In terms of the conversation topics and sim personalities, I wonder if you did a poll, and people could only chose those or infants as something that should be base game, I wonder what would win? That extra personality feels much more like an essential feature, while the infants are a bonus to people who want that more fleshed out growth stage, but I could be alone in that. I get why at least one of those is locked behind an expansion pack though, there is some considerable development that goes on so those costs do need to be accounted for, I just feel like maybe they picked the wrong part to be base game.

The price as well i paid £40 for the base game back in the day - definitely waiting until it goes on sale

they should've brought back the daycare career omg

bless, this is the first video i've seen of an infant in the carriers 😭😭

me, casually listening to you go on about events: *looks away for .2 seconds* plumbella suddenly greenscreened behind the grim reaper: where. tf. are funerals

The big brother Tiffany pollard references took me out! 😂

The news of harder job promotions and decreased skill potential did worry me as I'm currently doing a super sim challenge hahaha