One step forward, $4.99 steps back. The Sims 4 is the update that The Sims 3 needed, with the Sims and artstyle getting a well-needed graphical modernization. Unfortunately, after all of the gameplay features introduced and mastered throughout the series, The Sims 4 has eagerly taken them away to sell them back to you one more time. The game is incredibly barebones without DLC, but if you decide to go down that route, there is usually at least one DLC that will interest you as a Sims player. If you've gotten sick of the aged graphics of The Sims 3 and want a more modern take on the series, the base game is currently free-to-play, but your experience will be limited until you open up the wallet.