Realm of Magic Is Another Welcome, but Thin, Expansion for The Sims 4

The Sims and magic have a long history dating back to the first game. Makin’ Magic, an expansion released as part of the original Sims back in 2003, added charms and spells and familiars, introducing the idea of Sims using special powers to improve their daily lives through various relationship and mood boosters. Making a minor appearance in The Sims 2: Apartment Life, magic would come back in a big way for The Sims 3: Supernatural, which included several life states and expanded on the potions and spells system, albeit only through its magic-focused Sim type, the Witch. And now, with Realm of Magic, it makes an expected but celebrated return with a more formal approach to alchemy and spellcasting.

Realm of Magic, as a game pack and not an expansion, is not as big as Supernatural. But it does add dimension. Its new life state, Spellcaster, allows Sims to learn potions and cast spells (each of which can be honed and refined through training with trainers in their respective schools of magic), but most importantly, battle it out in magic duels with their wands. These abilities are supplemented by new Aspirations, as well as bloodline Traits, and a host of lightly fantasy-themed furniture items and household objects outfit your Glimmerbrook cottage with appropriate decor like a stained glass canopy bed and glowing orb lanterns. It’s not a terribly robust piece of content, but its Magic Realm, with its wildflowers, fiery motes and bright crystals, is one of the prettiest environments I’ve ever seen in a Sims game, and the spellcasting aspects add both ease to their daily routine and drama to their social interactions. I’ve never been a hostile Sims player (or a fan of Harry Potter, from which this pack undoubtedly takes some cues), but after getting my ass handed to me in a magic duel, I was so invested, I was ready to make a few enemies, even at the cost of my Sims’ burgeoning celebrity.