Sliders

To customize sim's appearances, there are sliders to change their facial appearance. There are also sliders to adjust their weight, muscles, and muscle definition.

Outfits

There are 5 categories of outfits. They are Everyday, Formal, Sleep, Athletic, and Swim. There is an Outerwear category if the "Seasons" expansion pack is installed.

Traits

There are 63 traits that come with the base game, meaning the game with no expansions. With all the expansions, there are a total of 99 traits. You have to choose 5 traits per Young Adult sim.

Customizing Sims

Sims can be customized by dragging on their body parts. There is a detail edit mode for the face. Weight and muscles are done with sliders.

Outfits

There are 8 categories of clothing: Everyday, Formal, Athletic, Sleep, Party, Swim, Hot Weather and Cold Weather.

Traits

There are a total of 40 base game traits. If all the expansions are involved, there are a total of 74 traits. Young adult sims have 3 traits they must choose.

Open World

One of the main difference from Sims 4 is that the Sims 3 has an open world. This means you can freely go around the map and choose specific areas your sim can go to.

Amount of Worlds

The base game comes with only one world, Sunset Valley. There is a total of 23 worlds through expansion packs, worlds where your sim can travel to but cannot live, and from the Sims 3 Store. Scattered throughout the expansions, there are 7 worlds. There are 5 worlds where your sim can travel to, and 11 worlds to buy on the store.

Neighborhoods

The Sims 4 has worlds, but they differ from the Sims 3 by them having closed neighborhoods where the player cannot roam freely around the map. There is a loading screen even between different houses (lots). This is something that people who play the Sims dislike. This cannot be changed due to the coding of the game.

Amount of Worlds

The base game has two worlds, Willow Creek and Oasis Springs. With all the expansions, there are 21 worlds.

Categories

The two modes, build mode and buy mode, are in two separate categories. Building is where the house is built, along with doors and windows. Stairs, wallpaper, and flooring is also here. Buy mode is where you buy furniture.

Stairs, Elevators, and More

The Sims 3 has regular staircases and also spiral staircases. There are also ladders. Elevators are also in Build mode, but only if "Late Night" or "Into the Future" are installed.

Categories

The main difference is that Build/Buy mode is the same, unlike where they are different modes in The Sims 3.

Searchability

Unlike The Sims 3, players are able to search for an item. This is easier because there are so many items to go through.

Stairs

The Sims 4 only has regular stairs and ladders in Build/Buy mode. There are elevators in the game, but they are only for decoration and they are not even in the Build/Buy category.

Lifetime Wish

Chosen in Create-a-Sim, Lifetime Wishes are goals that your sim wants to complete before their death. Nothing bad happens if they are not fulfilled, but if players do complete them, they get Lifetime Reward Points. Lifetime Reward Points can buy different things, from not needing to making things cheaper to not freezing to death in the winter, plus many others. Certain traits trigger the choice of the specific wish, but players can choose any one they want. The base game has a total of 32 Lifetime Wishes. There are a total of 86 with all expansion packs.

Wishes

Wishes are things that sims want to fulfill. They can range from learning a skill to having a child. The wishes are based on the sim's traits and lifetime wish. Fulfilling wishes gives sims Lifetime Reward Points.

Careers

There are a total of 11 career tracks in the Base Game, with a total of 33 careers with all expansions. There are also self-employment as a career option.

Starting a Family

Young Adult and older sims are allowed to adopt. Male and Female sims that have a romantic relationship can also "Try for Baby". Aliens are also part of the "Seasons" expansion. If male sims are abducted, there is a chance they can come back pregnant. If you do not wish to raise the baby, there is an option to send the baby to the home planet after it is born.

Aspirations

Chosen in Create-a-Sim, Aspirations are goals that your sim wants to complete. Unlike the Sims 3 Lifetime Wishes, certain traits do not trigger certain aspirations. There are a total of 14 categories with different aspirations in each. The base game contains 30 aspirations and 62 aspirations with all content installed. Completing a sim's aspiration gives them points to buy different things with Aspiration Rewards. They range from potions to change your sim's mood to buying a seed that will grow a money tree, where your sim can get money from selling its fruits.

Whims

Whims are somethings that your sim wants to do, similar to wishes in The Sims 3. Sims can have up to three whims at a time. Completing whims gives sims satisfaction points, which can be used with getting Aspiration Rewards.

Careers

There are 12 Base Game careers, with a total of 23 with all expansions installed. Self employment is also a career option.

Starting a Family

Young adult and older sims can adopt. Male and Female Young Adult sims can "Try for Baby". One main difference from The Sims 3 is that there is an option to have a Science Baby, which needs two sims with at least a friendship relationship. However, the two sims can be the same gender (either male or female).