Game itself doesn't have a lot to offer without DLC and the second problem is the DLCs itself too, the prices are ridiculous and it doesnt expand a lot of the game tho. Always try CC (creator content) and mods by the community if you play it via PC. Sometimes i get back in just because i like to create my ocs in the game, but isnt regular like maybe 4 year ago, is a fixation of 1 week and then have the game collecting dust in my hard disk for months.
I have a lot of fun with Sims 4 ( my 1000+ hour playtime is a testament to that ) but it is so objectively flawed and a downgrade compared to Sims 3. The base game didn't even have pools, the increasingly greedy DLC, and much of said DLC doesn't expand the gameplay but rather stack on top of it. I don't blame anyone who gives it a lower rating.