InThe Sims 4, customization is at the heart of the player experience. Whether designing a dream home, planning a storyline, or creating the perfect Sim, players enjoy a high degree of creative freedom. One of the most detailed and appreciated features is the ability to shape a Sim’s body using sliders and presets. Body presets are essential tools that allow players to choose from a range of pre-designed body shapes, making the process of character creation faster, more diverse, and more inclusive. These presets, both in the base game and custom content, greatly influence how Sims look, interact, and represent various body types across the simulated world.
What Are Body Presets in The Sims 4?
Body presets inThe Sims 4are pre-configured templates that define a Sim’s overall body shape. These presets are accessible in Create-a-Sim (CAS) mode, where players design their Sims’ appearance. Instead of adjusting each slider individually such as waist size, hip width, or shoulder shape players can select a preset to start with a complete body type and make further tweaks from there.
Presets exist for different age groups and genders, and are often paired with facial presets. Each preset reflects a specific physical structure, offering a quick way to generate diverse-looking Sims. While the base game offers several presets, many players choose to enhance their options through custom content (CC) mods.
Base Game Body Presets
Out of the box,The Sims 4includes a limited number of body presets for male and female Sims. These cover a basic range of body types, including slim, curvy, muscular, and plus-size forms. Players can further adjust these with muscle and weight sliders, allowing for even more personalized results.
However, many in the community have expressed that the default presets don’t offer enough variety in terms of realistic proportions or culturally diverse body types. This is where custom content becomes particularly valuable.
Custom Body Presets and Their Popularity
The modding community forThe Sims 4has created a wide array of custom body presets that enhance realism, representation, and creative possibilities. These custom presets are downloadable files created by other players and modders. When installed correctly, they appear alongside default body presets in CAS.
Why Players Use Custom Body Presets
There are several reasons players opt for custom body presets:
- Representation: Custom presets often depict body types that aren’t well-represented in the base game, such as pear-shaped bodies, short torsos, or thicker legs.
- Realism: Many players want their Sims to reflect realistic or unique physiques that match people in the real world.
- Artistic Style: Some presets are designed to work with specific visual styles, whether hyper-realistic or more stylized and fantasy-based.
- Convenience: Presets save time and effort, especially for players who want consistent body types across multiple Sims.
Custom presets can be used for all Sim categories: toddlers, children, teens, adults, and elders. This makes it easier to create entire families with consistent genetics and distinctive features.
How to Use Body Presets in The Sims 4
Using body presets is simple, especially once players are familiar with CAS. Here’s a basic guide:
Step-by-Step Guide
- Open Create-a-Sim either from the main menu or in-game mirror interactions.
- Select or create a new Sim.
- Navigate to the body section by clicking on the torso or the Body tab in the top panel.
- Choose a preset from the available options. This will instantly change the Sim’s body shape.
- Use the weight and muscle sliders to fine-tune the preset.
- Manually adjust specific body parts by clicking and dragging on the Sim’s body for precise shaping.
For custom content, players must first download and install the body presets into their Mods folder. Once installed and enabled, they appear in CAS and function just like base game options.
Installing Custom Body Presets
Here are the steps to properly install custom body presets:
- Download the preset file (usually in.package format).
- Place the file into the Mods folder, typically found in:
Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods. - Make sure script mods and custom content are enabled in the game settings.
- Restart the game and go into CAS to see the new body presets.
Popular Custom Body Preset Creators
Several creators are well-known in the community for producing high-quality and inclusive body presets. These creators often focus on realism, diversity, and style consistency with other CC elements like skin details or clothing. Some of the most respected names include:
- Luumia
- Obscurus
- Vitus
- Simkoos
- PlayersWonderland
Each of these creators brings a unique vision, offering everything from fitness-oriented bodies to ultra-curvy silhouettes. Many presets are compatible with popular skin overlays and sliders, making them ideal for detailed Sim creation.
Compatibility With Clothing and Animations
One concern with custom body presets is compatibility with clothing and animations. Most presets are designed to work with standard Maxis clothing, but some may cause slight clipping or stretching depending on the body shape. It’s recommended to test new presets with various outfits and poses to ensure a seamless visual experience.
Well-designed presets typically maintain smooth animations and transitions in gameplay. However, users should always read creator notes and user feedback when downloading new content to avoid bugs or issues.
Using Presets for Storytelling and Diversity
In storytelling and legacy challenges, body presets can add depth and personality to characters. By using different body types, players can create characters with distinct backgrounds, occupations, and lifestyle traits. For example, a Sim with a muscular build might be a personal trainer, while a heavier-set Sim might be portrayed as a skilled chef or a cozy bookworm. The possibilities are endless.
Diversity in body shapes also adds realism to in-game families. Genetic inheritance inThe Sims 4allows children to inherit body traits from parents, and using unique presets gives families a natural and varied appearance across generations.
Body Positivity and Inclusivity
The presence of more inclusive body presets both in official content and mods has helped support a more body-positive experience. Players from all walks of life can see themselves represented in-game, whether through a Sim’s build, posture, or unique proportions.
This inclusivity is a vital aspect of the game’s modern appeal and has led to growing demand for better body diversity tools in future updates and expansions.
Body presets inThe Sims 4are more than just a cosmetic feature they are a vital part of character creation, self-expression, and storytelling. Whether using base game options or diving into the world of custom content, players can craft unique, realistic, and inclusive Sims that reflect the full spectrum of humanity. As the community continues to push for better tools and broader representation, body presets remain a central part of what makes the game deeply personal and creatively rewarding.