How I Play The Sims 4 Rotationally (2024 Updated Edition!)

In today's video, I'm sharing my method for playing The Sims 4 rotationally. This means I play all the families in a world one at a time - in rotation. I play in a style similar to The Sims 2 (thanks to the help of several amazing mods that make this possible). I hope I can give you some inspiration for your own gameplay. Thank you so much for watching!
▶ Streams on Twitch - / pleasantsims
▶ How I Play The Sims 4 Rotationally Guide - pleasantsims.com/play-the-sim...
▶ Download The Sims 4 Pleasantview Save File - pleasantsims.com/sims-4-pleas...
▶ Blank Sims 4 Tracker Spreadsheet - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
▶ Sims 4 Base Game Families Tracker Spreadsheet - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
▶ Sims 4 Pleasantview Tracker Spreadsheet - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
▶ NPC Control Mod by Paulson - / public-npcc-v-1-88986040
▶ MC Command Center - deaderpool-mccc.com/downloads...
▶ My MC Command Center Settings for Rotational Gameplay - pleasantsims.com/sims-4-mccc/
▶ SNB Bills Mod - simrealist.itch.io/snb-bills
▶ SNB Banking Mod - simrealist.itch.io/snbank
▶ Career Overhaul Mod - kuttoe.itch.io/career-overhau...
▶ Sims 4 Personality Mod - sims4dailyplumbob.game.blog/m...
▶ Sims 4 Hobby Mod - sims4dailyplumbob.game.blog/m...
▶ Lifetime Aspirations Mod - / lifetime-89276756
🔷 PLEASANT SIMS LINKS 🔷
▶ Sims 4 Recommended Mods List - pleasantsims.com/sims-4-recom...
▶ Sims 4 Gameplay Rules - pleasantsims.com/sims-4-gamep...
▶ Sims 4 Gameplay Guides - pleasantsims.com/sims-4-guides/
🔷 CONNECT WITH ME 🔷
▶ Website - pleasantsims.com/
▶ Origin ID - PleasantSims (Add me as a friend!)
▶ Twitch - / pleasantsims
▶ Twitter - / pleasantsims
▶ Instagram - / pleasantsims_cindy
▶ Facebook - / pleasantsims

[@nkita7363]

Aw you look so pretty and I like your sim rules and your dedication to them

[@PleasantSims]

Thank you!

[@luciaveraaraujo4872]

Yea 0:15

[@Rebel1972x]

🤢

[@jmac6350]

Recommending listening to a true crime podcast while deleting npc characters was so cute! Made me lol.😂

[@shyhistorian]

Gotta love that notification that Cindy’s uploaded a new video!

[@PleasantSims]

Thank so much for watching!💙

[@BridgeportDumpster]

For real, I don't even play TS4 but her videos are just so cozy, can listen to her all day.

[@concernedmartian6430]

I like having a "hobbies" column each of my sims have their own hobbies and things going on in their lives nina caliente's hobby was "slaggin about" which was beautiful when explaining it all to my friends

[@Merjacevi]

"slagging about" AHAHAHAHAH that's hilarious

[@PleasantSims]

Yes, I have added a Hobby column to mine as well. Once I started playing, I realized I needed one. The "slaggin' about" hobby is hilarious! LOL

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

As a Sims 2 girly, Rotational play is my jam. Kuttoe’s Home Regions is a blessing to me because I can keep people restricted to their home zone and that has helped a lot. After I got past a certain pack count, managing my unplayed sims got to be a bit much. Right now I have a bunch of Sims 4 families that are my creation…I’ve also intergrated the Calientes and Goths but otherwise am playing new families. I found I couldn’t fully replicate the smoothness of Sims 2 rotational play in Sims 4. So much like Sims 3, I just invented a new rotational style that I do manage A LOT through mods. I do a have an ‘aging round’ much like you. But I want neighborhood stories to go for them during ‘aging round’ so that new sims are born. My ‘played sims’ tab is basically my protected class, families I invented and care about and who are in my rotation. Now I have a goal to have families in every world with lives that cross and stories that overlap over time. So I only apply a light hand to unplayed townies for the most part. I will do a gallery pull to keep them from being atrocious.

[@bloubird]

You can use MCCC to bulk delete townies. I believe you can delete all at once, and by occult and possibly other factors as well. Never used it myself, but I’m sure it’ll come in handy for making your own save files and such! ☺️ Very happy to see you back, by the way! 😁💙

[@jesaea]

omg I did that once but then neighborhood ameties and festivals never had someone who worked in the food/shop stands so it was pointless to even go there 😢

[@Irish7girl13]

Just came here to add this and that there's an option to fill with sims from your library as well if you'd like your game to still generate new sims but want some control over who

[@PhDSimmer]

Been playing 1 week rotations off screen and just doing update videos on my channel when I finish a round. I change households at 3-4am so I don't miss them going to work/school. I have neighbourhood stories on for non playables. I use a mod to reduce University to 4 classes to graduate so I can play it in 1 week. I set a custom lifespan with MC command centre. I also use miss hissys mods.

[@amandaplaysthesims]

I like switching in the middle of the night. I have never thought about doing that, but it's so much better because when I was switching some people would be missing work. I'm going to switch to middle of the night! :)

[@PhDSimmer]

@@amandaplaysthesims yes it works really well!!

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

I also shoot for around 5am with my rotations as it’s around the time if sims are ‘up early’ it makes sense for them to be up and about since the game likes to reset sims in off ways when you change familes. So in addition to wanting to not miss school/wirk it makes jumping into needs management slightly more of a clean swap.

[@thekailashow7687]

✍🏾✍🏾

[@eggzuki]

as someone who has no access to sims 2, your videos like this really help me make the most out of this game. thanks cindy!

[@Sharie_mabari]

Why no access? It's abandonware now, so you can get it super easily. Look up Osab's installer.

[@call_me_chaotic]

This went WAY deeper than I thought it would only 24 seconds in haha damn, impressed!

[@shygirl0559]

i started this idea i wanted to do a legacy but i get bored with just one household so i started with 4 siblings that started in 1 house but each moved out so i play them rotationally and every sim thats born in that family so i still do rotation but legacy as well. its been really fun.

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

Legacy and rotation have overlap as they both tend to be generational, just rotational means you don’t commit to one Sim being ‘the one’ you follow next. Rotations allow you to stay with multiple folks.

[@sashaflip7450]

I saw your other videos on how to play rotationally not too long ago and you’ve changed the way I play the sims. Now it’s the only way I can play. It’s so fun. Thanks for the videos!

[@siluor]

I'm so happy you're back with sims content! You are a very important part of the sims community Cindy!!

[@HtotheMK1]

I started playing this way last year and it really makes a difference!

[@PleasantSims]

I agree! I find it much more enjoyable!

[@soapchick87]

I have missed you girl!!!! So glad to see you back and you look wonderful and the save file looks amazing.

[@raychill0483]

Omg I cannot wait to watch you play this save!

[@jacko07yt_]

Oh I am excited to watch this. I was watching your previous video on how you play rotationally like 3 hours ago and had already started setting it up! It feels like a sign aha

[@danielleaquino4548]

Absolutely adore your rotation system! It’s so detailed, and the spreadsheet…! Omggg, amazinggg! Your Sims 4 Pleasant View save file is looking perfect 🤩

[@SilverHairedGirl]

Ahhh so excited! I love setting up neighborhoods, but sticking to them is always so hard for me 😅. I suggest checking out mods by Lot51, Lumpinou, and Kuttoe (Kuttoe has the Home Regions mod that lets you assign townies/homeless sims to worlds). I haven't gotten NPC Control to work for me, but I found that Zero's Assign NPC Jobs does the same thing, stopping random spawning included!

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

I might try Zero’s npc job assignment mod. I discovered a shocking bonus to using Lot 51’s Simlink, random Sims CAN’T use your computer because they don’t have the password. 😂😂 Lot 51’s mods are awesome.

[@CarolinaNaiade]

I'm so happy you updated your rotational guide! 🥰🥰 I'll try this again sometime!

[@Kimberly-cx9uv]

You look lovely! so excited to see you finally uploading regularly again, with such a new vibe x

[@simonacolaprisca1773]

I started playing rotationally since I watched your Sims 2 video and loved it. I played Sims 4 so I made my own rules but listening to your own ideas for your rotational gameplay on Sims 4 will definetely make a change to how I play, lol.

[@spacecase7504]

Cindy, I must say... after watching your videos for a few years, you're such an inspiration. I see all the hard work you've put into yourself and its paid off. Anyway, love the sims videos! Keep em comin! ❤

[@mr.alpaca382]

what great timing!!! I just started playing sims 4 rotationally! I had been following your blog post but this is super fun and helpful 💞

[@manatime1653]

Nice! Your old video has been a favorite of mine forever. So happy for an update! Yay!

[@midnightcas9995]

You really made these games so fun for me. Thanks for introducing me to rotational gameplay both in 2 and 4.

[@ilanafreeman4725]

Love this video! Also as a data analyst by trade tour spread sheet gave me so much joy!!

[@unapologetic2992]

I love your dedication to your Sims play style. I can not wait to see the stories

[@alevtina977]

I’m so glad you’re back to sims content ❤❤❤

[@kadircanyapar]

I actually love the new Sims 4 era you started, never thought we’d see this much S4 videos 😅 Definitely downloading those tracking spreadsheets too!

[@autumnkallner81]

Your hair is gorgeous! Thank you for this video, I’ve been considering doing something like this and I always turn to your videos 🫶🏻

[@DotFatal]

Well this is awesome. I have been watching your videos recently and using your website to set up my playthrough. Awesome to see you have an update now!

[@Mandy16August]

i love everything about it! i have to play sims 4 again thanks to you! cant wait to see it on twitch 🎊💜

[@eternalbookwyrm9481]

You inspired me to play Sims 4 rotationally!! I'm excited for the first time in awhile!!

[@stacyreid2638]

So happy to see your back!! Sims just ain’t the same without your let’s play videos.

[@BarbieBooBoo]

I am so glad to see you looking so happy.. and fantabulous!

[@abaliagoob]

Thank you for sharing your gameplay rules and tips for Sims 4, I'm excited to apply these and see how much it enhances the game!

[@shaylin3515]

Thank you for linking the mods! You always have the best mods!

[@SimmingWithSkeeter]

Awesome!!! I'm so trying this out!!!

[@crowntulip]

was already a fan but youre in so in your element and i love to see it

[@Wingedshadowwolf]

I like how organized you are. I also like your holiday setup! Most of my gameplay is mod testing chaos as I bounce around and see if everything is working.

[@jonathanb1579]

You look stunning and is great to have you back xx

[@ShuGal88]

Hay seen your original rotational video years back! I play vanilla and have been playing rotationally (1 week per household) with ALL premade family's for ALL WORLDS now for over 2 years. (Onto 6th rotation), theme to your video! I keep track using a spreadsheet heavily inspired by yours with a few added columns (sexuality, gender, occult). Mainly came here to say THANK YOU! you competely changed how play the Sims 4! (Used to be a legacy type player and restart after a couple of generations). So thank again! Dag Dag!😊

[@KiaraWyBradford]

Omg yes! I found you because of your first rotational game play! ❤❤

[@ahhgeez]

i'm following every instruction to a T i can't wait to play!! thank you so much for this!!

[@JanelleMac]

Thank you so much for these tips! I'm preparing to do the Ultimate Decades Challenge, so there is a lot of set up and customizing that i have to do to make my world more immersive for the 1300s. I'm doing many of the things you mentioned here, and you taught me a few more! ❤

[@gian3008]

Looking very pretty today Cind 🙂❤ thanks for the vid! Also, always been envious of that Sims 2 poster 😅

[@akhirahughes]

I absolutely love your rules, Cindy! I really need to play rotationally. I just always get so stuck on one family! ❤

[@Crimzeyyy]

wow it feels like so long since ive seen you last, so glad i found this video :))

[@LaniBrasi]

Wow I haven't seen one of your vids in a long time you look great! 😍

[@margaretestangco4911]

This is actually a very fun way of playing. 😁I think I'll try this out next time I play!

[@melanie_luv2_sew]

📝listening intently. thank you for who you are. appreciate that you always share with your community.

[@cay8821]

You’re channels are my comfort channels ❤ love u!

[@CelestialSims333]

Mine too🩷 I love rewatching her sims livestreams

[@acryliq]

I just started to play rotationally yesterday using your guide (both old video and guide on your site). And the gameplay already got more interesting! Thank you very much for all those ideas and tips to improve our TS4 gameplay. I too love keeping track of every sim's data, I even added several new columns: occult, reputation, fame.

[@PleasantSims]

Oh that's awesome! I also added a Hobby column that I'm going to include in an update!

[@madmuffin4484]

Love this! This may be the key to actually enjoying playing the sims 4 lol

[@murderbeanstv6732]

Cindy this came at the PERFECT time! My sims 2 started crashing as soon as I get into the load screen( I troubleshoot every way possible and the only fix I can think of is uninstall and reinstall but mentally I can’t do that) I’m so excited to play this save!!! Ngl I cried happy tears 😅

[@Aleals7777]

You’re amazing Cindy ❤

[@Lyana_of_Silarys]

Dear Cindy, I'm usally a silent viewer of your videos but I really love your content and I'm so happy that you are back. Since I also love Sims 2 and absolutely hate Sims 4's base mechanics in the vanilla game I searched really heavily for mods that imrpove the gameplay in Sims 4. Because I actually found some really really good ones I wanted to recommend you one in particular I didn't see yet in any of your videos: The Relationship & Pregnancy Overhaul by Lumpinou. It is the most amazing mod I ever had in my game and it really helps to get those lifeless Sims 4 Sims more alive. Maybe you know this mod already but I absolutely wanted it to show you just in case you don't. I'm looking forward to see more videos from you! Stay happy! 🥰

[@PleasantSims]

Yes, I use this mod and cannot play without it now either!

[@PerStepheri]

I just wanna say Thank You Cindy. I started playing your file and it is fun and nostalgic with the sims and mods. So far Nina and Don are always together and I’m trying to keep my eyes 👀 on the road when I am playing Nina and Dina to try and catch Benjamin Long as I’ll sometimes pair Nina with him.

[@virtualvivi]

omg now I wanna play rotationally!! I usually only play rotationally in sims 2 but this looks so fun!!

[@RealSellaSuSimmer]

thanks Cindy I'm going to get everything in order this weekend and play Sims 4 it's been a long time but with your save I want to try again and I'll watch Twitch to see how you play! you look happy and beautiful, I wish you and Limbz the best of luck and also your dogs! lots of love and thumbs up 💐🤗👍🏻

[@luciazaviacicova3594]

Hello Cindy I love that you are back to playing Sims. I wish you would do more Sims 3 content though. I love your Sims 3 stories they are by far the most interesting ones:)

[@kayleigh1991]

I personally leave aging on for everyone when I play rotationally, I just change the age spans to much longer using MCCC. Townies/sims I don’t play not aging in the background bothers me so that’s why I do that.

[@radio_obscura]

Omg you're back! You're the best. I made an insane Notion template for my families, neighborhoods, and Sims. :) I think you would love it.

[@babajayne]

Looks like such fun!! I also play rotationally, for 2 weeks at each family, aligning the seasons so nothing is repeated or missed. I have my 12 main families, plus their extended families as Played Households. I let everyone else exist and use Neighborhood stories. I don’t use MCCC but I use a few other mods like Bienchen has a Less Relationship Culling mod 😁

[@lyxDD]

last time i saw you was before the piercing and omg it fits you perfectly!!! you look great (-:

[@rebeccadodds1011]

I love your play style Cindy, you are an expert Simmer 😀

[@minoukske]

Really wanna try this in the S4! You made me curious to play this way, haha. 😂

[@jackkolero]

Queen, you are so smart ❤

[@natalieeforsyth]

I’ve been watching you slate TS4 for years (and have totally agreed with you) but now here you are convincing me to give TS4 another shot…. 👀 TS2 will always be my favourite though 💕

[@kingxxlibra]

Finally, someone who gets me 😌✨

[@Chachae122]

Love your sims video! Can you please do let's play series for this? You set up everything perfectly! It seems so fun! Please share your game play with us.

[@sandalaris]

I love this so much. I used it to set up two of my worlds but I'm seriously considering using it to set up all the worlds in the save file and play rotationally from there. It's a lot of households, but I'd rather none of my premades be doing anything until I get there.

[@Rekowcski]

I love rotational play in the Sims 2, but in the Sims 4 the game generates too many things in the background. I think the one thing the Sims 4 should have is an option to CLOSE OFF A WORLD. My goodness I would love to play in willow creek without judith ward showing up

[@Rekowcski]

Also i JUST saw the part with the disable NPC generator mod, if i ever open the Sims 4 again, it will be with this mod installed

[@Kviten7]

I used to play just 1 family, but it got super boring! They get rich, I have literally nowhere to spend the money they excel at their careers and that's it. I started playing TS4 rotationally after watching your TS2 videos. So you are totally my inspiration for that! ❤

[@kerenverna]

Hello, thanks for the ideas. I play in this ways thanks to you old vieos. I am really like it and it is too much fun. Sorry my english!

[@annaskalova2391]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does things like this 😂

[@SolPaulino05]

hey Cindy I am loving your makeup today. Wishing a tutorial hahaha

[@sandalaris]

I'm going to have to check out your site and get these mods and such. I quit playing sims 4 in part because I'm a rotational player and just didn't enjoy having my sims do things while I wasn't there. (Also because of the lack or depth to the game compared to previous games) I have some time off today, I'll see if I can set up my game to play it in a way I'll actually like

[@brentparsons221]

Ok who wouldn’t mind a sims 4 Pleasantview series lol

[@CelestialSims333]

You look beautiful cindy🩷 Love that you are back to simming

[@SimsfanCrystal]

I enjoy rotational play also. I do turn off aging for non-active households, but I leave story progression on. I enjoy coming back around to the family and seeing the changes that happened while I was gone. Rotational and legacy are my favorite play styles.

[@simmymom]

CINDY!!! You might actually make The Sims 4 fun again!!!! ❤🎉❤

[@drew12]

Recently got back into TS3 after watching your Agnes Crumplebottom snapshots and was wondering if you'd consider making/updating more guides for TS3 like mods, how to play rotationally, etc too!

[@jessicanagy8129]

I’d watch you talking about the sims for hours

[@krystalskys4054]

girl you seem happier i see change i like it

[@marllram]

Congrats for finishing the website update! It must've been so tedious! Anyway, what I need is a simple notification mod if I had passed certain number of days / time to remind me it's time to move household - I can't count the time I missed the time to change household, and it messed my rotation so much!

[@PleasantSims]

What I do is keep a little note pad next to me while I play. Every night when my Sims go to bed, I mark off one day on the notepad. And as backup, I will also calculate which day I need to move on before I start playing - and write that down too. Another option would be to make it a "holiday" on the calendar with no traditions or anything. You can then cancel the "holiday" once it pops up to let you know it's time to move on.

[@SashaRicky]

Look how far you've come. Incredible self work you should be so proud. It's giving me strong hope in my difficult time. 💖💖💖

[@iamsuzerain3987]

I like to rotate between households but I'm on console so no MCC or other mods for me. I hope you'll upload videos from your twitch streams to yt. I know lots of folks like twitch but I'm just not a fan of the platform. Great video, enjoyed watching👍

[@gwynplainshirley238]

Thanks for the tutorial, I was just looking for something like this! Curious if you’ve played with growing together yet and specifically with all the modded milestones people have added, it’s a total game changer for me as a mostly Sims 2 player. It adds a memory like system and an attraction system I really like even if it’s not like the sims 2 exactly lol also relationship bits are more fun than I expected. Glad to see another video from you :)

[@PleasantSims]

I have not yet. But I am purchasing the pack today! So I'll be adding new rules and mods to work with it soon!

[@sarah-lg9gn]

THE GLOWUP IS GLOWUPING 💖💖💖

[@debradavis3935]

You can manage population using MC control center. You can set it up so that the game only populate Sims from your own library or that it doesn’t populate any Sims at all. Then it’s up to you to add enough Sims to your unplayed to fill all those slots.

[@traitorade4650]

You can use MCCC to automatically import player-generated townies for NPC jobs such as bartender etc using "Import Tray Settings" if you don't want to spend time creating them but would still like them to have detailed backgrounds and outfits. I typically use this in my legacy rotational save, where I'll start with one household and expand the family normally but move everyone out to start their own households that I can rotate between

[@SolPaulino05]

saving this video for future reference

[@JonahSMoonRiver]

i don’t even play rotationally or really have interest in doing that because i don’t have the patience for generational gameplay but i will absolutely watch a long video of cindy giving a tutorial on it anyway!

[@ollievoice3922]

Love from the uk 🇬🇧

[@Satrina777]

Side note. Your skin is glowing

[@oougahersharr]

I play rotationally, as well. Interestingly, I use many of the same categories in my spreadsheet. However, I also play (at the same time) a decades legacy, or historical legacy. I tend to keep all aging off, and age each Sim as they reach the next birthday on my chart (yes, I keep track of all that). For me, 4 Sims days equals one year for aging purposes. I play each household from Sunday at 2 Am to the next Sunday at 2 AM. This is because Holidays end at 2 AM, and this would be the change of season if that comes up. I've started playing with 14 days per season just this past week and find I enjoy the longer seasons, but usually I don't care which household is during which season or holiday, as I see each day played as just a snap shot of time, not as strictly linear. This also helps when I play university, as I will use the University household until they graduate, then put them at the bottom of the list, marking them for the extra time it took for them. For example, if University is four years, and I am playing each household a total of 1 3/4 year (7 Sim days), then I will mark the University Household as having run about 3.5 years. That's two rotations. Which means I don't play them again until the second rotation after their play through (I ski them once in the rotation). But, while Playing them, I will play the entire University time from start to graduation, since Sim University doesn't run the same as my aging preference. As aging is off, I don't have to worry about awkward aging problems for any of the families while this happens. And, since I am really nuts, I will make each Sim in university do a four class workload per semester for three semesters (thus keeping in time with the 'two rotation' I've set. the biggest drawback is when I have so many Sims spreading out and marrying and having families. Thus, the reason I have the decade's style legacy play. I use the "Ultimate Decades Legacy" rules for disease and historical events, like wars. So, starting in 1300 (without much in the way of CC), I will be able to 'cull' the excess Sims through world events. I use these rules, even if not playing historical, so if I notice my save getting a few too many Sims for my comfort, I declare a Sim World Emergency (earthquake, war, pandemic, whatever). I can pick and choose who dies, but I tend to prefer to use a random selector for these events to make it more interesting. Cindy, how do you handle an excess of playable Sims?

[@Nardaprada]

Cindy there is a new method or a way for you to pre-save your own townies for savefile so you wont have to delete unwanted tonwies each time.

[@Lientjes]

I also play them in rotation. Every two days 😍

[@ingrid9635]

I always play rotationally, with a focus on genetics. I like to mix every single sim in the neighborhood until there's only one sim, who has everyone's genes lol it's super fun on the sims 3 because there's so many families