The Natural Living Skill in Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature is changing the fabric of The Sims as we know it.

The concept of The Sims as a whole started as a mere home-building and decorating simulator. It wasn’t until later in the design process that it became the life simulation that we know and love. Ever since its release, the ideology and gameplay loop throughout the entire series of The Sims has been creating a family, building a house, and either improving on that home or moving to a larger one as they reach success in their lives.

Enchanted by Nature turns that entire philosophy on its head by introducing the concept of the nomadic life. No longer does a sim need four walls and a roof to thrive and live their best life. They don’t even need furniture to fulfil their needs. The phrase “this house is a home” is no longer relevant because Sims can do just fine, truly living off the land.

But how does the Natural Living Skill in Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature work? Here is your one-stop guide for wilderness living.

Natural Living Skill in Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature Guide

Hunger

It’s always been possible to fulfil a Sim’s hunger need without a kitchen, but with the Natural Living Skill in The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature, it has become easier than ever. The concept of foraging has essentially been in the game previously by way of growing or collecting different fruits, vegetables, and the like.

Enchanted by Nature takes this to new heights by allowing your sim to eat a more varied diet, such as frogs and fish; no cooking required. Yes, your Sims can now eat raw fish. And I’m not talking about the sushi variety.

Energy

If a sim is tired, they should sleep. Anywhere. It doesn’t matter. They can now sleep on the floor, no sleeping bag required. They can sleep on the ground outside without any kind of protection or comfort. Anywhere a sim can fit, they can sleep.

As expected, it takes a lot longer for a sim’s energy needs to increase while sleeping on the ground. Their hygiene need will also steadily drop throughout their slumber. Luckily, as they improve their Natural Living Skill, the speed at which their energy rises will increase, and the speed at which their hygiene drops will decrease. Eventually, they will be perfectly content with sleeping on the ground outside as if it were the most comfortable mattress in existence.

Bladder

Please, don’t try this at home. There is potential for legal action to be taken against you for urinating or defecating outside. That said, your Sims are now free to go wherever, whenever. Sims could relieve themselves in bushes for a while now, but the Natural Living Skill changes the game. Once you reach level 2 of the skill, your Sims can summon a bush to use. I don’t know where it comes from. I don’t know where it goes. I also don’t think I want to know.

But wow, is it convenient.

As I’m sure everyone can imagine, using a bush for such intimate reasons will lead to a loss of hygiene. This drop decreases as your Natural Living Skill increases.

Hygiene

If you see water, you can bathe. That’s essentially how it feels living naturally in The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature, thanks to the Natural Living Skill. If water is shallow enough for a sim to wade into, they can use that water to bathe. Rivers, oceans, ponds, and lakes. Any water is clean enough water.

For those more interested in using indoor plumbing without owning it themselves, Sims are now able to take sponge baths in public restrooms. Not my cup of tea, but I’m sure some will appreciate it. Maybe not the onlookers, though.

Note: When it says public restrooms, it means the rabbithole versions found throughout the worlds, not bathrooms on public lots, sadly.

Bathing in these ways starts out with a slow rate of hygiene increase as well as the occasional uncomfortable moodlet, but this will be second nature (no pun intended) to Sims as they increase their Natural Living Skill, making it a nicer experience overall.

Living naturally in Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature might feel like a solitary experience for some. But it doesn’t have to be. There are friends to be found around every corner. If a sim is feeling lonely and in need of some socialization they can start socializing with nature. This ability does not unlock until level 5 of the Natural Living Skill, so it will take some time to develop.

As with every other need, this starts out with a low rate of increase, but it improves over time as the skill is developed.

Fun

There are plenty of ways to have fun in nature, even without living naturally in Sims 4. Enchanted by Nature essentially makes everything you do outdoors increase the fun need. As soon as you start developing the Natural Living Skill, your Sims will gain fun need by eating harvestables, no matter if they grew them or foraged for them. Eventually, they will increase their fun need by bathing outdoors.

One of the best ways to increase the fun need is unlocked later in the skill. At level 7, Sims are able to meditate in nature. This not only increases their fun need, but it also helps with their natural balance as well. If your Sims are feeling the negative side of life’s balance, be sure to meditate. That will put you on the up and up.

Natural Living Skill Levels

Skill Level	Benefits Unlocked
1	Can sleep on the ground indoors and outdoors but will gain Energy slowly and lose Hygiene until they grow more skillful. Can also bathe in any outdoor water that’s shallow enough to wade in, including ponds, rivers, and ocean shorelines. In addition, they can also take a sponge bath in a public restroom and the Fairy Hub located in Everdew. Eating harvestable foods will help them gain a small amount of fun.
2	Sim can now directly summon a Privy Bush outdoors for Bladder Relief, and gain Hunger by gulping down any fish they have acquired–no cooking involved! They can also now intentionally Forage for Food.
3	Sim can now intentionally Forage for Plants! Eating harvestable foods will also better satisfy their Hunger. Sleeping on the ground, outdoors and indoors, is a little more restful and won’t reduce their Hygiene as quickly.
4	When using the Privy Bush, sim stays cleaner and loses less Hygiene. Sim finds bathing in natural water kind of fun, even if a bit uncomfortable at times. Napping on benches is also a little nicer than before!
5	Sim can now eat frogs caught in the wild and intentionally Forage for Collectibles. They can Talk to Nature itself to slowly recover their Social Needs outdoors. They have also overcome the discomfort of bathing in natural water (and public restroom sponge baths!) They’ll get cleaner faster and feel better in the process.
6	Sim is no longer affected by extreme heat or cold, and has no problem sleeping or bathing outdoors in rain or snow. Sleeping on the ground may even give a boost to sim’s balance! They will also fill more Hunger when gulping down raw fish, with less chance of getting the Raw Rumble Moodlet.
7	Using a Privy Bush no longer affects their Hygiene at all, and feasting on harvestable foods is Fun! Sim can now also Meditate in Nature. It’s kind of fun but will take a bit more skill to get the hang of.
8	Sim will satisfy much more Hunger from eating raw Fish as well as Harvestable foods (whether gained by Foraging, Gardening, or otherwise.)
9	Frogs satisfy extra Hunger, while Talking to Nature fills much greater Social Need. Sim has also figured out Meditating in Nature, finding it not only enjoyable but also restorative to her Balance.
10	Sim can clean up very quickly in wadable waters, sleeping on the ground has even greater chance to restore some Balance, and eating harvestable foods now satisfies a large amount of Hunger. Sim now has dramatically lowered chances of getting Fear of the Dark simply from being outdoors at night, and Fear of Swimming from minor swimming incidents.