The Sims 4 has now included the ability to play as ghosts. When Sims die in the game, they can opt to continue existing as a ghostly figure. However, to unlock special ghost powers through a talent tree, players will need the Life & Death expansion pack.
Even if you don’t have the expansion, ghost Sims in the base game still come with some unique, although limited, abilities tied to their specific deaths. Not all types of deaths grant these powers, but many do. Here’s a look at what your ghostly residents can do.
### Ghost Death Effects vs. Ghost Powers
In The Sims 4, ghost powers can only be accessed through the Life & Death expansion and are available to any ghost that is playable. Players can unlock these abilities using a talent tree system. The more these ghostly powers are used, the more will be unlocked, similar to the progression systems for vampires and werewolves.
Every ghost type has the same powers, leaving the choice to the player on whether to favor good or mischievous abilities. There are also some neutral skills to choose from.
Ghost effects, however, differ based on how each ghost passed away. Even if you create a ghost in Create-A-Sim, you can select the cause of death to gain the specific effects of that ghost type. Each ghost type features its own unique animations, often reflecting the circumstances of their death, and may have quirky effects that are available regardless of which version of the game you are playing—provided you have the corresponding pack that unlocks the respective death.
Here’s what to expect from the different ghost types in the base game.
### All Base Game Ghost Types and Their Effects
The following ghost types can be accessed with the free base game. Below is a summary of their animations and unique effects:
| Death Type | Unique Animation | Effects |
|——————–|—————————————————|—————————————————|
| Anger | Steam rises from their chest. | Prone to random anger fits; can make nearby Sims angry. |
| Cowplant | None | Terrified of plants but tends to care for them; may cause plant decay when upset. |
| Drowning | Appears wet with water dripping off them. | Leaves puddles behind; fearful of baths and swimming. |
| Electrocution | Sparks occasionally jump from the Sim. | Can shock others and love using hand buzzers; randomly breaks electronics. |
| Embarrassment | None | Frequently feels embarrassed, recalling their death. |
| Fire | Smokes and flickering flames emerge intermittently.| May randomly start fires; can summon fire when angry. |
| Hunger | None | Hunger meter declines at double the usual rate; likely to consume everything in the fridge. |
| Laughter | None | Regularly playful; can induce playful feelings in nearby Sims. |
| Meteorite | A hovering meteorite icon appears on the chest. | May spontaneously reenact their death. |
| Overexertion/Aging | None | Tends to take frequent naps. |
If you create a ghost Sim using the Create-A-Sim tool, you can pick any of these ghost types from the Cause of Death menu to acquire the appropriate effects.
### All DLC Ghost Types and Their Effects
For players with DLC packs, a wider variety of death types is available. Each brings distinct animations and effects as detailed below:
| Death Type | DLC | Unique Animation | Effects |
|——————————–|——————-|—————————————————|—————————————————|
| Consumed By Mother | Strangerville | Surrounded by pink spores. | Needs are frozen at the moment of death and can’t decay or be fulfilled; can remove vines while a ghost. |
| Beetles / Beetle Juice | Eco Lifestyle | None | Never scared by haunted houses. |
| Murphy Bed | Tiny Living | Z’s rise from their chest. | Terrified of all beds; can lecture others on bed-related dangers. |
| Swarmed by Flies | Eco Lifestyle | Flies buzz around them. | Swats at the flies near them. |
| Broken Heart | Lovestruck | A heart icon breaks and tears appear. | Tends to feel sad often; can make other Sims sad too. |
| Falling From Heights | Snowy Escape | None | Occasionally chalks their hands. |
| Freezing | Seasons | Condensation rises from them. | Frequently shivers and tries to warm themselves up. |
| Killer Chicken | Cottage Living | A chicken icon hovers above their chest. | Loves to scare nearby chickens. |
| Killer Rabbit | Cottage Living | A rabbit icon floats around their chest. | Scares any rabbits they come across. |
| Lightning | Seasons | Random zaps of lightning appear. | Enjoys zapping Sims; may break things randomly. |
| Mold | For Rent | Green mold spores surround the Sim. | Can summon various molds, spawn mushrooms, spoil food, or fertilize plants. |
| Murder Of Crows | Life & Death | A crow icon hovers over them. | No specific effects. |
| Overheating | Seasons | None | Fan themselves and wipes brow; can warm a chilled Sim. |
| Poison | Jungle Adventure | A green cloud surrounds them. | Burps frequently; can make other Sims faint with their burps. |
| Pufferfish | City Living | A pufferfish icon hovers in their chest. | No effects. |
| Rabid Rodent Fever | My First Pet Stuff | Wears a giant ghostly rat outfit. | Constantly foams at the mouth and spreads fear of rodents. |
| Spellcaster Overload | Realm of Magic | Strange sparkles surround them. | Retains spellcaster abilities. |
| Steam | Spa Day | Steam rises from their body. | Tries to cool off by swimming or drinking; can sabotage saunas. |
| Stink Capsule | High School Years | Green smog emanates from them. | Autonomously defuses pranks. |
| Sunlight | Vampires | A sun icon appears over their chest. | Can start fires when angry; can be outside without dying, but it drains energy. |
| Urban Myth | High School Years | Black fog surrounds the Sim. | Feels anxious around mirrors; often defuses pranks. |
| Vending Machine | Snowy Escape | A can icon hovers above them. | Cannot retrieve anything from vending machines. |
If you have the Romantic Garden Stuff pack, your Sim can make a wish for ‘youthful vigor.’ If the wish fails, they will become a randomly chosen ghost. Additionally, consuming Ghost Goo from the Get To Work Scientist career can also transform your Sim into a random ghost.