Quick Links

For many, the various methods of killing Sims is a core part of the main series' enduring success. The Sims 4 includes numerous ways for Sims to die naturally or unnaturally, some of which are weird and undeniably hilarious. However, an unexpected death can throw a wrench in players' plans, preventing them from telling the stories they want to tell.

Death need not be a permanent thing in The Sims. Outside cheats, mods, or reloading an old save, there are in-game ways for players to bring Sims back to life, some of which have been available since the base game's launch. Here's how to bring a Sim back to life in Sims 4, including ways added in DLC packs.

Updated on February 7, 2024 by Katie Schutze: Ever since the Grim Reaper was introduced to the series in the expansion pack The Sims: Livin' Large, his presence in The Sims franchise has become nothing short of iconic. This article has been updated to include even more information on resurrection in The Sims 4, as well as to adhere with CBR's most recent style guidelines.

The Grim Reaper May Be Willing To Bargain

Related
The Simplicity Of Sim Titles Like Zoo Tycoon Need To Make A Return
Sim titles have gotten ever more complicated in their bid to craft realism, but this gaming trend has led to younger players missing out.

In Sims 4, bringing a Sim back to life can simply be done by having another Sim beg the Grim Reaper to spare their life. When the Grim Reaper appears upon the death of a Sim, select the option to plead on the Grim Reaper. There are slight variations to this interaction depending on the Sim's mood when pleading. For instance, a Sim who is feeling confident will be able to demand that the Grim Reaper spares the dying Sim’s life, which has a slightly higher success rate than Sims who feel fine or happy.

A potentially more amusing option for Sims feeling flirty is to attempt to seduce the Grim Reaper, though this has quite a low chance of succeeding. Alternatively, if a living Sim has a death flower, they can trade it with the Grim Reaper at this stage for the dead Sim's life. Unlike pleading, this is guaranteed to work.

To find a Death Flower in The Sims 4, the player can:

  • Reach Level 5 Gardening skill to get the ability to graft plants, and then graft the following:
    • A cherry onto an apple to make a pomegranate
    • A lily and a snapdragon to make an orchid
    • The orchid and the pomegranate to make the Death Flower
  • Buying one at the Potion Shop in Caster's Alley in the Realm of Magic DLC
  • Download a room from the Gallery that has a Death Flower in it

Authors Can Write A Book Of Life To Revive Dead Sims

Woman at computer in The Sims 4
Related
The Sims 4: How to Care for Infants
With new infants come challenges in ensuring they are properly cared for. This guide will show players how to have a happy infant in The Sims 4.

The next method of reviving a Sim in Sims 4 requires a lot more time and planning than pleading with the Grim Reaper. Players will need a Sim to have completed the Bestselling Author aspiration to unlock the option to write the Book of Life on the computer. Some of the best ways to level up a Sim's Writing skill to complete the Bestselling Author aspiration quickly are:

  • Make sure the Sim has traits that help them get into an "Inspired" state more easily, like "Creative" or "Art Lover"
  • Give the Sim the "Perfectionist," "Genius," "Bookworm," or "Creative" trait to help increase their average book quality and skill level-up speed
  • Use Satisfaction Points to buy the "Creative Visionary" trait in the Rewards store
  • Become "Inspired" by doing certain actions before writing, like "Take a Thoughtful Shower"

After the Sim has written the book, they can use it to "Capture Epic Saga" of a living Sim. When this Sim dies, the writer can use the book to summon them back to life. This is a surefire way of guaranteeing a resurrection, but the unpredictable nature of life and death in The Sims franchise means that the Book of Life might not be for everyone. Alternatively, if your main focus is on keeping a single Sim alive, this is an effective method as long as you plan in advance.

Ghost Sims Can Resurrect By Eating Ambrosia

A ghost Sim eating ambrosia in The Sims 4
Related
Which of The Sims 4's Worlds Is the Best for Gameplay?
Players should be sure to play one of these three worlds for the most varied and unique gameplay experiences in The Sims 4.

Veterans of The Sims 3 will remember Ambrosia, a food item that allows Ghosts to come back to life. However, it takes a little more work to resurrect Sims this way in The Sims 4. To make Ambrosia, players will need a Sim with level 10 Cooking and Gourmet Cooking skills. They will also need three ingredients: a Death Flower, an Angelfish, and a Potion of Youth. To find an Angelfish in The Sims 4, the player can:

  • Fish one up in Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, San Myshuno, Newcrest, Bridleton Bay, Sulani, Magic Realm, or Forgotten Grotto
    • Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, and San Myshuno will only spawn them in certain spots
  • Buying one at the Potion Shop in Caster's Alley in the Realm of Magic DLC
  • Download a room from the Gallery that has an Angelfish in it

The final ingredient for Ambrosia, the Potion of Youth, can be purchased from the Rewards Store for 1,500 points. Once a Sim has the necessary skills and ingredients, select Ambrosia from the Gourmet Cooking section on the fridge to prepare it. When the Ghost of a dead Sim eats the meal, they will return to life.

The Wishing Well Can Grant A Ghost's Wish For Life

Two sims visiting the Wishing Well in Sims 4
Related
10 Items Builders Want Added To The Sims
The Sims offers a vast array of building possibilities, and fans would like certain items to push their builds further.

Added in the Romantic Garden Stuff pack, the Wishing Well has the power to bring back a Ghost in the household. The deceased can make a wish which, if fully successful, will resurrect them and make them invincible to anything outside of old age and the Mother Plant for a while. There is a chance the Sim will not be resurrected at all, but the worst outcome merely resurrects the Sim only for them to die immediately again. If a Ghost wishes for life at the Wishing Well in The Sims 4, it can lead to these outcomes:

Overwhelmingly Positive

The Sim is resurrected and receives the "Miracle Revival" moodlet, and will instantly resurrect if they die while the moodlet is active (besides from Strangerville's Mother Plant or old age)

Positive

The Wishing Well gives the Sim Ambrosia or its ingredients

Neutral

The Sim gains the "Wish Not Granted" Sad moodlet

Negative

The "resurrection" animation plays but doesn't actually revive the Sim, giving them a "Just a Ghost" Sad moodlet and possibly changing the Sim's death trait

Overwhelmingly Negative

Gives the Sim the "Accepted Fate" Happy moodlet, which prevents them from being resurrected while it's active

Death

Doesn't actually trigger when Ghost Sims Wish for Life

To increase the odds of a successful outcome, the Sim should make monetary offerings to the Wishing Well (the higher the amount, the more pleased the well is likely to be). A quick look at the expression of the face on the well should be enough of an indication as to how the wish will be received.

Realm Of Magic Added Necromancy With The Dedeathify Spell

A Sim in The Sims 4 casting a spell on a ghost

The most recent method for reviving a Sim in Sims 4 was added in Realm of Magic. In addition to introducing a new way to die in Spellcaster Overload, it also added a way for spellcasters to revive dead Sims. Spellcasters who have mastered the Untamed school of magic can learn Dedeathify. To master Untamed magic, the player must:

  • Learn more spells and raise their Spellcaster rank by having their Sim read Tomes, perform the "Practice Magic" action, or "Duel for Knowledge" with other Spellcaster Sims
    • Rank can also be raised by asking for training from higher-level Spellcasters or by brewing Potions
  • After reaching Master rank, befriend one of the three Sages (L. Faba, Morgyn Ember, or Simeon Silversweater) and, when at least at mid-level friendship, ask them to teach the ultimate Untamed magic spell

This spell can be cast on a Ghost to bring them back to the land of the living. Plus, if the Sims also know Necrocall, they can summon a Ghost from their grave, meaning the Ghost doesn't need to be part of the household to be resurrected. This makes it one of the most convenient ways to bring back a Sim without much prior planning, unlike the Book of Life method.

The Sims 4 cover art
The Sims 4

The Sims 4 is the latest life simulation game in The Sims franchise, with multiple expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs and kits to help players' control their sims lives.

Franchise
The Sims
Platform(s)
Windows , OS X , PS4 , Xbox One
Released
September 2, 2014
Developer(s)
Maxis
Publisher(s)
EA Games
Genre(s)
Life Simulation