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Cemeteries were introduced in The Sims 4: Life & Death. They serve an essential role when a Sim passes away, whether unexpectedly or through your own narrative choices. These lots aren’t just for the deceased; the living can visit them at any time. You can even designate them as club hangouts or celebrity spots from previous expansions. It’s crucial to maintain these cemeteries to keep them inviting, or else they may be forgotten over time.
Typically, cemetery lots host funeral services in The Sims 4. You’ll need the basic essentials for celebrating a Sim’s life and providing a proper burial. The game includes one pre-made cemetery, Eternal Hollow, in The Sims 4: Life & Death, but it may not fit all your needs. Past expansions like The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs and The Sims 4: Snowy Escape also feature graveyard-like areas, although they don’t function exactly like a cemetery lot.
How to Create a Cemetery Lot
Going Beyond Required Objects
You can establish cemeteries on any empty lot, even in worlds outside of Ravenwood. However, accessing vacation worlds like Batuu or Granite Falls might be more challenging. Ideally, use the largest lot size of 64 x 64, though such lots are rare and may require removing a pre-existing structure. Just be careful not to destroy any buildings with significant game functions, such as Copperdale High from TS4: High School Years.
A cemetery can be crafted in Build Mode within TS4. This can be accessed through either Manage Worlds or while in Live Mode. Simply select “cemetery” from the drop-down list located in the upper left corner. As a public lot, you won’t need to worry about spending any Simoleons.
At a minimum, a cemetery should have:
- One headstone or urn
- One bench
- One trash can
- One toilet
Adding more objects can enhance the cemetery’s appeal. The game suggests including gravesites, crypts, and caskets to create a more complete setting.
However, just having the basics might feel dull for attendees at funerals. Think about including items that help meet a Sim’s basic needs in TS4. This could involve adding a chess set for entertainment, hygiene facilities like a sink or shower, or beds and coffee makers for energy. If guests get hungry, vending machines or a fridge for quick recipes can be practical. For example, the cemetery I designed in Del Sol Valley featured celebrity-themed amenities, such as a video station and exotic water garden.
Maintaining a Crowded Cemetery
As more Sims pass away, you might find yourself short on space in The Sims 4: Life & Death. Gravesites take up a significant amount of space, each occupying a full 4×4 grid. While you could create additional cemetery lots to accommodate more graves, this solution is limited.
Instead, consider building multi-level cemeteries. You can create upward structures and also make use of basement spaces. Each lot allows for up to three levels above ground and four below, resulting in a total of eight floors. To take full advantage of this, you might use cheat codes to stack multiple objects together.
Switching to Urns
One effective way to save space is to convert headstones into urns. This transition typically occurs automatically if you bring an occupied headstone indoors. However, you’ll need to delete and replace empty headstones in Build Mode. Urns offer the benefit of being placed on surfaces such as desks or shelves. Build items from The Sims 4: Jungle Adventure are excellent for displaying collections, including the remains of deceased Sims.
Another strategy to combat overcrowding is to avoid keeping every dead Sim in a cemetery. Some families might wish to have their loved ones nearby, allowing for urns and headstones to be placed on their residential properties. Alternatively, you can take a darker approach in The Sims 4 by leaving a Sim where they died. This can serve as a cautionary reminder at risky locations, like pools where drowning has occurred or gardens infested with cowplants, and ultimately help you avoid creating an over-crowded cemetery in The Sims 4.
With these tips, you can create and maintain a striking cemetery lot in The Sims 4 that pays proper tribute to your Sims. Whether you’re following the basic layout or adding personal touches, your cemetery can become a meaningful space for both memory and strategy in the game.
