A while back, while casually tearing-down the newest trailer of Sims 4 Island Living and trying to guess what we were getting (which included mermaids) on TheEnglishSimmer’s discord channel, a username by the name of “Tazzykiki” said: “Imagine the chaos if we had hybrids. Imagine an alien-vampire-mermaid-ghost-sim who turned into a PlantSim.” An idea was born: Why doesn’t Sims 4 have hybrid life states?
Both Sims 2 and Sims 3 had hybrid life states. Sims 2 had the perfect balance and was an important hidden feature to a point where if you turned a Servo into a Vampire (don’t ask how that works), it would have a unique appearance designed specifically for that hybrid. Sims 3 was as far as I know bit more unpredictable, with mostly UI issues, but otherwise fully functional, and we had NRaas come to save us with one of his mods fixing hybrid life states, which in all honestly just meant it was fully possible to do so.
On paper, the first thing that popped to my mind to the why is that it’s just an engine limitation. That it’s just not in the engine’s nature to function properly. I expected that the game would just glitch to the max, break the game entirely, get errors, and eventually crash.
The first important thing of note is to understand how Maxis seemed to have designed life states in Sims 4; the game runs entirely on the moodlet and trait system to influence the sims behaviours. Things like a walk-bys “random mood” is nothing but a powerful random moodlet, and things like a pet’s “quirks” are traits. The difference here is only that these are usually hidden. Heck, even most of the Reward Store options are just traits and many traits assign hidden moodlets.

The unsuspecting test subjects in an experiment I like to call “Hybrids”
Occults are no different. They are in fact, traits. While these don’t show up on the traits panel, they can be seen in the Club’s Trait Requirements menu, and show up as Alien, Mermaid and Vampire traits. I didn’t bother testing Ghosts and PlantSims because Ghosts are a natural hybrid (I mean, I doubt you couldn’t have an Alien-Ghost or a Mermaid-Ghost), and PlantSim isn’t a complex enough life state (not to mention it’s temporary).
My general idea for this experiment was to push the game’s limits, in hopes of breaking it, but to my surprise… nothing really did. These hybrids seem to work, and this infuriated me a little bit, which I will explain in the conclusion.
The basic interactions, worked fine, an alien could absorb another sim’s emotional state. A Mermaid could call on a weather change, and a Vampire could move about as a bat, run fast, and I’m positive Vampire weaknesses worked fine (I didn’t play long enough to see their effects).

The interaction menu displaying the sub-menus for Mermaids, Aliens and Vampires perfectly.
However, I fully expected these to work, since after all, they are just basic interactions and aren’t anything complex. It’s their unique characteristics that I was curious to see how they would work. Mermaid’s surprised me the most, as the tail would show up just as expected. Aliens also seemed to have worked, since once I equipped the Alien occult trait, the game would automatically assume we were in our disguise. When it came to Mermaid/Alien is where things got interesting, but only in the bath. If we are to remove our disguise and get in the bath-tub as an alien well… the legs just don’t work like they used to.

That’s not a tail my dear Watson.
But I was pleasantly surprised to see how this affected a mermaid’s ability to swim in the ocean. The Alien simply turns into a regular Sim, and swims like a regular Sim, simply omitting the mermaid tail. This was a pleasant surprise, since I expected the mermaid to just break with having human legs but on a mermaid rig Vampires did however break when turning into their dark forms for the most part. As far as I recall, I managed to get an Alien looking like a Vampire (with the dark form features/make-up), and for the most part, the game did get confused as to what was what. From the point of the User Interface, Mermaids break Vampire Panel, and that’s about it. It’s surprising to see that the Vampire Needs Panel has a perfectly working “hydration” motive. Aliens don’t have any changes in needs. The only issue I encountered is realizing that a Mermaid/Vampire loses access to the Vampire Power and Rank section of the Need Panel. But that was the extent of it. You could still access it, and it still functioned properly. Which, again, was to my pleasant surprise since I genuinely expected the game to just not even open the panel.
I didn’t even encounter any major issues in the Create A Sim, although a sim did magically disappear from the screen at one point but seemed to return even if I edited his name once I left CAS. I remember in my first test run with Alien/Vampire that the forms eventually got confused when I tried editing, but honestly, as far as I can tell, the game just keeps generating new forms if it seems to lose access to one (now I obviously don’t know if the others are lost or purged or if they linger around a sim).

The UI displays “Hydration” meter but neither the Vampire Power Button or the Vampire Rank, making it impossible to adopt weaknesses or Vampire Powers.
But honestly? The Hybrids seem to work? They’re not even THAT glitchy enough to not warrant some work. In my opinion, the game is fully capable of handling hybrids without major issues. Forms is the only thing that needs to be fixed and that’s pretty much it.
After all we have so much customization options that it would be up to the player to determine how a sim looks, and even so, you could survive on four unique appearances, a Dark Form, a Mermaid, a Normal Sim, and an Alien Form. You have easy access to Vampire details as a Mermaid already anyway, and I’m sure you could mix and match various effects between forms. I am geniunely disappointed that hybrids are not a thing in The Sims 4. The game didn’t outright break. None of the issues I encountered felt like they were game-breaking and could be easily fixed by the team.

Mermaid mixed with PlantSim and a Ghost
Quite frankly I’m infuriated because this feels like a massive missed opportunity, and another step-back from the features we were used to in previous games. I understand that this is “a new game” and that the rules are different, but lately it’s become quite apparent that numerous corners are being cut with Sims 4 and I simply can’t understand why such capable team of developers keep making these decisions. The engine is not a limit here. I get that Sims is in general a complex game, but this feature is more than capable of existing.
I also feel if the team managed to get unisex gender and clothing options, there’s nothing stopping them from literally unlocking the Alien features across the board, including on the normal Sim form, they could merely disable it being used in “randomizing” Sims at townie creation, but why not let Simmers use Alien eyes on a normal Sim? Or a Mermaid? Or a Vampire? I also think that one thing that infuriates me is that it’s not just a simple oversight on the developer’s side, but that they outright said that “hybrids are not possible”. Or that they are difficult, or something along those lines.
I hope you found this article interesting, because it was quite fun experimenting and I do hope that we eventually see a change and see hybrids at some point down the line in the game’s future, among other things.

After a successful experiment, the boys relax by a bonfire.
Excactly my thoughts you wrote down, but the most important thing is. Why dont want the developers let us experiment? Sims 4 is such a good Game and i want this experience to have in my Game. Or if not, then i hope one day a modder makes this come true. ;o)
The devs have enabled you to experiment, but there’s no graphic interface. You’ll need to reverse it all, and do the work yourself. You’ll be surprised by how functional the engine is, and how much more you can do with it than the previous version, which was hideous, and doesn’t thread well, even on extreme hardware. It might help to view the official feature set as a coding tutorial, rather than a final product.
I believe Hybrids are a planned system the Sims Team will look into once we have a more substantial list of Occults. After all, we only have three True Occults (Aliens, Vampires, and Mermaids) currently with the fourth coming this Autumn…
unless magic is closer to Makin’ Magic and doesn’t rely on a Witch Life-State.
I hope when they dothe magic expansion that it isn’t a life state so we can have vampire witches and mermaids casting magic spells.
The answer to this is extremely simple. It would take time (aka money) to correct all of the UI and gameplay issues, and they decided to invest their limited time in adding more visible content. The developers have made it clear that with TS4 they prefer to work on features that most players will use. Sadly, this means that cute, fun little details are often left out.
I also think this team has done a terrible job in general with integrating new packs with other packs. Oh well, this is the way things have been for a while now.
I really dislike the excuse of “it’s a new game, new rules.” This franchise is 19 years old. It’s supposed to be getting better, not staying the same. The Sims 2 had better gameplay than this game does sometimes, and quite frankly, that’s sad. We deserve better than what’s been put out.
I always felt the sims 2 overall was the best except for the graphics and I’m hoping TS5 combines that gameplay with the customizing, more in depth life states like vampires and graphics of TS4. I’m not a fan of open worlds in that it’s not a dealbreaker to me. I honestly feel if EA had just let them start fresh with TS4 when the mobile situation didn’t work out instead of leaving them and us a limited engine. I think that makes creativity and gameplay suffer especially with the lack of resources (funding) compared to other popular games. I honestly feel EA is taking advantage of fans as they have a history of doing so and it’s unfortunate because this game has so much potential. I think because of the limitations things will take longer to flourish compared to past games.
I just told my sister this a few days ago!! Not gonna lie watching Monster High is what made me think why don’t we have hybrids. It would be freaking amazing if they could be an update or something.
I’m actually surprised that hybrids kinda work, the team really should add in true hybrid features since this would be great for story telling and fun gameplay. Hybrids were always fun in Sims 3 it would be great to have that added in.
Why is it only that guy in an slightly popular discord that gets credit when I and the sims community have been asking since the first sims 4 occult states.
Strongly agree !!!
I really want to be able to make supernatural eyes, teeth, skin, ears for normal sims or another supernatural!
Why do ghosts have ALL human needs but cannot have babies ghosts?!
We demand to unlock everything for everyone!
Freedom for hybrids!
I see no point in getting angry when the power is in the gamer’s hands to mold games to their liking. I’ve never been held back by officially set limitations in games, so why should anyone else. Computers are meant to be tools, so use them. I have been working on creating plausible vampire/werewolves vampire/superheroes vampire/immortals, vampire/wizards /vampire/elves with advanced gameplay strategy, light modification, thorough character building, and storytelling so I’m making hybrids possible using vampires as a base to create other creatures. Anything is possible with creativity.
For the 3-hybrid, you added all 3 to a sim via cheats?
How made the alien-vampire-mermaid?
Add all 3 at a normal sim using cheats?
Speaking about the imagee of needs panel
If make a vampire-mermaid adding mermaid trait to a vampire CAS-made, also will hide vampire powers?
Yes, you just equip the three traits for Occults (Occult_Alien, Occult_Vampire, and Occult_Mermaid).
There seems to be a conflict with Vampires and Mermaids, so it hides access to the Vampire Powers Menu and Window if you also have a mermaid.
La verdad lo que sí es decepcionante, es cómo han desperdiciado muchos estados de vida. Pudieron darle una tienda de poderes a los aliens y a las sirenas pero sólo desperdiciaron la oportunidad (como siempre) es tan aburrido ser un alien ya que casi no tiene poderes al igual que la sirena, pero pues, es lo que hay. Otro desperdicio fueron los simagrestes, pudieron ser una buena criatura y lo único que hicieron fue agarrar a un sim normal y hacerlo verde y ya, y lo mismo me decepciona de los esqueletos. Los esqueletos son una unidad de vida que ni siquiera se puede invitar a fiestas o tener relaciones románticas. No pueden tener hijo esqueletos y no tienen ni una sola habilidad. Es decepcionante. Al igual que es decepcionante no poder tener bebés fantasmas. Esto apesta!
You can have more than hybrids you can have super hybrids in Sims 4. They’ll function right like regular Sims. You can have hybrid babies they’ll have different looks then there parents and only have one trait. With cheats codes you can make babies super hybrids. They won’t have any powers until their Teenagers. You can have a Alien, Mermaid, Vampire, Witch. You can have a Alien, Ghost, Mermaid, Vampire, Witch. You can have a Alien, Ghost, Mermaid, Skeleton, Vampire and Witch. You have to have the Packs for the cheat codes to work.
I have a hybrid on My Sims 4 account for PS4. I’m not sure how since it’s supposed to be impossible, but I have a spellcaster/mermaid sim. He does everything both types do.
To make a a powerful successful vampire witch hybrid, you first need to to place the vampire occult cheat on a sim. Then after maxing out all the vampire powers and abilities you want, then place the witch occult cheat on the same sim. You might want to edit the sims in CAS while still a vampire before putting the witch trait on a sim. After this max out the witch powers and abilities and you would have created a sim who can utilizes both vampire and witch powers to their fullest.
I just told my sister this a few days ago!! Not gonna lie watching Monster High is what made me think why don’t we have hybrids. It would be freaking amazing if they could be an update or something.
How made the alien-vampire-mermaid?
Add all 3 at a normal sim using cheats?
Speaking about the imagee of needs panel
If make a vampire-mermaid adding mermaid trait to a vampire CAS-made, also will hide vampire powers?
Yes, you just equip the three traits for Occults (Occult_Alien, Occult_Vampire, and Occult_Mermaid).
There seems to be a conflict with Vampires and Mermaids, so it hides access to the Vampire Powers Menu and Window if you also have a mermaid.
Excactly my thoughts you wrote down, but the most important thing is. Why dont want the developers let us experiment? Sims 4 is such a good Game and i want this experience to have in my Game. Or if not, then i hope one day a modder makes this come true. ;o)
The devs have enabled you to experiment, but there’s no graphic interface. You’ll need to reverse it all, and do the work yourself. You’ll be surprised by how functional the engine is, and how much more you can do with it than the previous version, which was hideous, and doesn’t thread well, even on extreme hardware. It might help to view the official feature set as a coding tutorial, rather than a final product.
I see no point in getting angry when the power is in the gamer’s hands to mold games to their liking. I’ve never been held back by officially set limitations in games, so why should anyone else. Computers are meant to be tools, so use them. I have been working on creating plausible vampire/werewolves vampire/superheroes vampire/immortals, vampire/wizards /vampire/elves with advanced gameplay strategy, light modification, thorough character building, and storytelling so I’m making hybrids possible using vampires as a base to create other creatures. Anything is possible with creativity.
I’m actually surprised that hybrids kinda work, the team really should add in true hybrid features since this would be great for story telling and fun gameplay. Hybrids were always fun in Sims 3 it would be great to have that added in.
Strongly agree !!!
I really want to be able to make supernatural eyes, teeth, skin, ears for normal sims or another supernatural!
Why do ghosts have ALL human needs but cannot have babies ghosts?!
We demand to unlock everything for everyone!
Freedom for hybrids!
I believe Hybrids are a planned system the Sims Team will look into once we have a more substantial list of Occults. After all, we only have three True Occults (Aliens, Vampires, and Mermaids) currently with the fourth coming this Autumn…
unless magic is closer to Makin’ Magic and doesn’t rely on a Witch Life-State.
I hope when they dothe magic expansion that it isn’t a life state so we can have vampire witches and mermaids casting magic spells.
You can have more than hybrids you can have super hybrids in Sims 4. They’ll function right like regular Sims. You can have hybrid babies they’ll have different looks then there parents and only have one trait. With cheats codes you can make babies super hybrids. They won’t have any powers until their Teenagers. You can have a Alien, Mermaid, Vampire, Witch. You can have a Alien, Ghost, Mermaid, Vampire, Witch. You can have a Alien, Ghost, Mermaid, Skeleton, Vampire and Witch. You have to have the Packs for the cheat codes to work.
The answer to this is extremely simple. It would take time (aka money) to correct all of the UI and gameplay issues, and they decided to invest their limited time in adding more visible content. The developers have made it clear that with TS4 they prefer to work on features that most players will use. Sadly, this means that cute, fun little details are often left out.
I also think this team has done a terrible job in general with integrating new packs with other packs. Oh well, this is the way things have been for a while now.
I really dislike the excuse of “it’s a new game, new rules.” This franchise is 19 years old. It’s supposed to be getting better, not staying the same. The Sims 2 had better gameplay than this game does sometimes, and quite frankly, that’s sad. We deserve better than what’s been put out.
I always felt the sims 2 overall was the best except for the graphics and I’m hoping TS5 combines that gameplay with the customizing, more in depth life states like vampires and graphics of TS4. I’m not a fan of open worlds in that it’s not a dealbreaker to me. I honestly feel if EA had just let them start fresh with TS4 when the mobile situation didn’t work out instead of leaving them and us a limited engine. I think that makes creativity and gameplay suffer especially with the lack of resources (funding) compared to other popular games. I honestly feel EA is taking advantage of fans as they have a history of doing so and it’s unfortunate because this game has so much potential. I think because of the limitations things will take longer to flourish compared to past games.
I have a hybrid on My Sims 4 account for PS4. I’m not sure how since it’s supposed to be impossible, but I have a spellcaster/mermaid sim. He does everything both types do.
Why is it only that guy in an slightly popular discord that gets credit when I and the sims community have been asking since the first sims 4 occult states.
La verdad lo que sí es decepcionante, es cómo han desperdiciado muchos estados de vida. Pudieron darle una tienda de poderes a los aliens y a las sirenas pero sólo desperdiciaron la oportunidad (como siempre) es tan aburrido ser un alien ya que casi no tiene poderes al igual que la sirena, pero pues, es lo que hay. Otro desperdicio fueron los simagrestes, pudieron ser una buena criatura y lo único que hicieron fue agarrar a un sim normal y hacerlo verde y ya, y lo mismo me decepciona de los esqueletos. Los esqueletos son una unidad de vida que ni siquiera se puede invitar a fiestas o tener relaciones románticas. No pueden tener hijo esqueletos y no tienen ni una sola habilidad. Es decepcionante. Al igual que es decepcionante no poder tener bebés fantasmas. Esto apesta!
For the 3-hybrid, you added all 3 to a sim via cheats?
To make a a powerful successful vampire witch hybrid, you first need to to place the vampire occult cheat on a sim. Then after maxing out all the vampire powers and abilities you want, then place the witch occult cheat on the same sim. You might want to edit the sims in CAS while still a vampire before putting the witch trait on a sim. After this max out the witch powers and abilities and you would have created a sim who can utilizes both vampire and witch powers to their fullest.