Adding a thirst need is honestly something that should’ve been in the game a long time ago. Sims have hunger, but somehow don’t need water? That makes no sense for a life simulation.

Introducing a Thirst Need would significantly improve realism and deepen everyday gameplay. While Sims already have a hunger system, the absence of a thirst mechanic makes daily routines feel incomplete. Adding thirst would give purpose to actions like “grab water,” turning them into meaningful survival behaviors rather than filler interactions.
This system could be expanded with new objects and gameplay features, such as water coolers, refillable bottles, fountains, and even beverage variety (tap water, juice, soda, etc.). Hydration levels could influence mood, energy, and performance. For example, mildly dehydrated Sims might become fatigued or unfocused, while severe dehydration could lead to fainting. If neglected for too long, this could introduce a new and immersive consequence: death by dehydration (parched). This adds stakes and encourages players to manage Sims more thoughtfully.
To further enhance realism and challenge, water should not be completely free. Even if basic tap water remains low-cost, introducing utility expenses or small charges for bottled or filtered water would make the economy feel more balanced. Currently, earning and maintaining money in the game is too easy, which reduces long-term engagement. Adding more consistent, unavoidable expenses—like water usage—would make financial management more meaningful and rewarding.

For Dine Out, it’s not even about bugs at this point—the system just feels slow and underdeveloped. Waiting forever for food completely ruins the experience. That should’ve been fixed ages ago.
Also, why do Sims get full so fast at restaurants? You can barely order anything before they’re done. Let us order multiple items like a normal meal—appetizers, mains, desserts, drinks. That’s basic. Add more ways to order too, like cashiers or menus instead of everything feeling the same.
Restaurants themselves need way more variety. Where are the fast food spots? Cheap diners? Proper high-end restaurants? Everything feels kind of the same when it shouldn’t. And add small details like sauces or sides—stuff that makes dining feel like an actual experience instead of a rushed interaction.
And one of the most annoying things: if my Sim gets invited out, WHY am I the one paying? That makes zero sense. If someone invites you, they should pay. It’s such a small detail but it completely breaks immersion every single time.
Going back to drinks—older Sims games had things like getting drunk, and somehow that’s just gone now. Why? This is supposed to be a life sim, but it feels way too sanitized.
Let Sims get drunk again. Let it affect how they act. Give them different socials, bad decisions, mood changes—just like before. That kind of unpredictability is what made the game fun. Now everything feels overly safe and kind of flat.
At this point, it just feels like the game is holding back when it really shouldn’t. These are basic features that would make gameplay deeper, more realistic, and actually challenging instead of everything feeling easy and toned down.