20 Things I’m Shocked Have Not Returned as Sims 4 Items

There are a lot of things that we want to see in Sims 4 from large-scale concepts like hotels to smaller concepts like spiral staircases. I mean… seriously, where are the spiral staircases? The Sims 4 has been evolving and growing for over a decade now, so here are some things from past games that I’m shocked have not yet returned as Sims 4 items.

I won’t be covering larger concepts like the aforementioned hotels or other bigger concepts like cars or color wheels or things of that nature. This list is going to be for smaller, mostly everyday items.

1. Pool Table

First Appeared: Sims 1

This is one of the most shocking exclusions as far as Sims 4 items go. If you ask players what items they think are still missing from Sims 4, this is definitely going to be one of the most mentioned. They’ve been a staple in the series and have been featured in every mainline series and almost all of the spin-off and console versions. It’s a mystery as to why pool tables still have yet to become an item in Sims 4.

2. Spiral/Curved Staircase

First Appeared: Sims 2

Spiral staircases and by association curved staircases are another of the most requested future Sims 4 items. I was actually really surprised when we got ladders years before we got either of these stair varieties. Spiral staircases would be a great addition for cabins in Granite Falls from the Outdoor Retreat game pack and curved staircases would be wonderful for celebrity mansions in Del Sol Valley from the Get Famous expansion pack.

3. Diving Board

First Appeared: Sims 1

If there were a trifecta of Sims 4 items that are missing, this along with the two previous items would make up that designation. All the way back in Get Together– the second expansion pack–we got diving platforms, but we still have yet to receive a standard diving board. The diving platforms certainly don’t fit the aesthetic of every family pool, so diving boards would still be a welcome addition to the game.

4. Pool Slide

First Appeared: Sims 1

Not nearly as popular of a request as diving boards in terms of pool related items, but still a popular one. This is another item that has appeared in every mainline Sims game, so its exclusion is definitely noticed. It feels like they’re saving everything to release in a pool related pack or something like a hotel pack that includes a lot of pool activities like the swim-up pool bar from Sims 3.

5. Volleyball Net

First Appeared: Sims 1

Surprisingly, this is an item that has only appeared once in the mainline games, the very first series. Sims Vacation introduced it and it was never seen since. There aren’t enough sports related Sims 4 items, so this would be a great inclusion to the game. I’d much rather watch my sims play a legitimate game of volleyball versus other sports related activities we have such as tossing a football back and forth. Volleyball would have been a great beach activity in Sulani as well, so hopefully one day it’ll arrive and we can add it to that world.

6. Stationary Bike

First Appeared: Sims 2

Let’s face it, just like sports activities, gym equipment is lacking in Sims 4. In the base game we had weight machines, treadmills, and punching bags. The only gym items we’ve received since are the climbing wall in Fitness Stuff Pack and the training dummy sparring machine in StrangerVille.

There are so many different Sims 4 items that could be added for gyms. Bench presses, pull-up bars, and stationary bikes have all been in past games, but I feel the stationary bike is the best for variety. With the Businesses and Hobbies expansion pack our gyms could have spin classes, which makes the item even cooler.

7. Arcade Game Variety

First Appeared: Sims 1

I don’t know about you, but I want to build arcades in Sims 4 but it’s just not possible. The only arcade machine we currently have is the gigantic one from the Get Together expansion pack. There have been so many different arcade games in the past games that I couldn’t choose just one.

Some examples of previous arcade machines we have had are: claw machines, whack-a-mole, solo arcade machines, 2-player arcade tables, skee-ball, and a strength tester. Sims Vacation had a pier full of different carnival games for sims to play as well. It’s time we had some arcade variety in our Sims 4 items.

8. Drum Set

First Appeared: Sims 2

This item is a bit different in the list because not only is it a singular item, but it’s part of a larger concept as well. I’ve seen so many people request drums in the Sims 4 not just because they want drums, but because they want to be able to create bands like in the Sims 3 Late Night expansion pack. I, along with plenty of others, was surprised when bands weren’t included in the Sims 4 Get Famous expansion pack, so at this point I think many of us are expecting a band related game pack at some point.

9. Hammock

First Appeared: Sims 2

I had to double and triple check this one when making my list because I’m just so incredibly shocked that hammocks did not arrive in the Sims 4 Island Living expansion pack. I thought for sure they were added to the game, but I was having a Mandela Effect moment. I was actually confusing the games and was really thinking of the hammocks from the Sims 2 Bon Voyage expansion pack.

Hammocks would be welcome Sims 4 items to relax on the beach, at a cabin in the woods, or just in the backyard on a warm summer day.

10. Sewing Machine

First Appeared: Sims 2

Not going to lie, I really thought these were coming to the game as a surprise return of gameplay kits. During the Motherlode Season road map they had different signage to hint at what was coming in the upcoming packs. There was an image of an elderly woman accompanied by a large spool of thread and sewing needle. In the end, the Golden Years kit is just a CAS kit and sewing will not be returning to the game. At least not yet.

The sewing machine in Sims 2 FreeTime was such a great concept because it allowed sims to create outfits that couldn’t otherwise be bought or unlocked. This is a concept I would love to see return in Sims 4 items.

11. Trampoline

First Appeared: Sims 3

There have been so many times I’ve wanted to put a trampoline in the backyard for my sim children to play on only to realize they were Sims 3 items, not Sims 4 items. I’m a huge realism player, so I love replicating vibes from my past in the game. So many of my friends had trampolines growing up and we spent so much time playing on them, so I’d love to see them return to Sims 4.

I will say, sims really don’t need to bounce quite so high.

12. Mini Golf

First Appeared: Sims 1

The Sims Team has included a different type of golf in all three different mainline games. In Sims 1 Makin’ Magic we had true mini golf courses. In Sims 2 base game we had a singular mini putt object. Then in Sims 3 Showtime we had a driving range item. I much prefer the fully designed mini golf courses and really hope to see them make a return as Sims 4 items some day. I would love to have my aforementioned arcade lot also include a mini golf course.

13. Frisbee

First Appeared: Sims 3

I love any outdoor activity that I can have multiple sims do together. Give me all the outdoor Sims 4 items. There’s only so many times I can have sims toss a football back and forth before I crave more variety. Reintroducing frisbees would be a fun activity that could also involve a new activity for sims to do with their dogs. Who wouldn’t want to go to the dog park and play frisbee?

14. Doorbell

First Appeared: Sims 1

This is something that was sorely missed when the Sims 4 base game first came out. There were endless questions and complaints about why there were no doorbells. Instead, visiting sims just knock on the door, which is quite difficult for players to hear and they would frequently miss that anyone was even trying to visit. They’ve rectified this by having sims announce their visit with a popup, but I’d love to see doorbells be reintroduced.

I don’t know of a single person that doesn’t have a doorbell, so their exclusion is quite odd. I’d also love the ability to change the doorbell sound to multiple different ones as so many people can do nowadays.

15. Landline Phone

First Appeared: Sims 1

Players have been asking for landline phones since the base game launched. The Sims Team has stated they don’t see the purpose of them because every sim has a cellphone now. They also said that in real life most people don’t even have landline phones anymore so they’re just making the game feel current. I disagree with this sentiment and believe they should still be an item in the game. A lot of other players agree. Just because a lot of people in real life don’t have landline phones doesn’t mean we don’t want them for our sims.

They finally added a landline phone in the most recent anniversary event, but it’s non-functional. This upset a lot of people that thought we were finally getting something that’s been requested for over a decade now.

16. Newspaper/Magazines

First Appeared: Sims 1

Just like the previous item, newspapers and magazines were not included as Sims 4 items because the team felt they’re too antiquated of a concept. Most people in real life don’t read newspapers or magazines, so they haven’t introduced them in Sims 4 to make the game reflect real life. So many people still read newspapers and magazines in real life.

There are so many gameplay features that could be added with newspapers and magazines too. Imagine your sim reading the employment section and seeing a job hiring for a position that isn’t the base level. They’d still need the required skill levels and such, but being able to jump into a slightly higher career would be great for already developed sims. Sims could also clip coupons for discounts on different things. Reading magazines of different types could change the interests of sims as they discover new ideas. These are just a few cool concepts to warrant their reintroduction.

17. Seesaw

First Appeared: Sims 3

I need new playground equipment. Swing sets and jungle gyms can only take a playground so far. I couldn’t really decide between the springy bouncy rides from every previous game, but ultimately decided to include seesaws on this list because it’s a group activity. Although, the adult sims helping kids ride the bouncy spring rides was a cute interaction as well.

18. Recliner

First Appeared: Sims 2

I’m not sure which surprises me more, the fact that recliners are not Sims 4 items, or that recliners have only ever been in Sims 2. They’re a staple item in so many people’s homes, yet they’ve only ever been in the game once. That’s crazy to me. Seeing a sim come home from work, kick their feet up, and take a nap on the recliner was such a realistic moment in the game. I want that back for Sims 4.

19. Slot Machine

First Appeared: Sims 1

Whenever I mention wanting slot machines in the game someone usually pipes up saying they can’t add gambling to the game. I want to say right now that this is emphatically untrue. Slot machines were in the original Sims as well as Sims 3 Lucky Palms. The ones in Sims 3 were also accompanied by casinos and poker tables as the world was based on Las Vegas. We also already have gambling in Sims 4 with the card table in the Journey to Batuu game pack. Gambling is perfectly fine in Sims 4 and slot machines should definitely return, especially with how much they have exploded in popularity these days. They’re in grocery stores, laundromats, gas stations, everywhere.

20. Stroller

First Appeared: Sims 3

I love the backpack infant carrier they added in Growing Together, but I’d still really enjoy strollers as well. It’s another part of real life that is super common and used all of the time that has yet to return as Sims 4 items. I want me sims to be able to go on walks with their kids without having them strapped to their back.

Honorary Mention: Bike Rack

First Appeared: Sims 3

We have bikes as Sims 4 items, but we have nowhere to park them. There are decorative bike racks in different worlds, but I’d love functional ones. It would just make the world feel more alive and real as sims get to a lot and park their bike.

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What’s on Your Wishlist of Sims 4 Items?

Now that you’ve seen my list, what are some of your most desired and requested Sims 4 items? Comment below!

The above listed items are featured in The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3.