Game Controls Guide
The Sims 4
The Sims 4 Guide
Game Controls Guide
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Welcome to our Sims 4 Game controls Guide. You might be wondering what keys you need to press when playing the game. The game offers a lot of things that you can do in terms of controls and gameplay interactions, these can range from creating your Sims, developing their homes in detail, assisting your Sims with their daily lives, and so much more. Learning about the Sims 4’s Controls can help you out with your gameplay since there are a lot of key shortcuts that you can use which are important.
In this guide we’ll provide you with the list of hotkeys available in the game’s different modes. In the Sims 4, you can play the game with camera controls that are similar to the Sims 3. This can be accessed by pressing Esc > Game Options > Controls and Camera > Sims 3 Camera. It would be good to use this, especially if you’re coming from the Sims 3.
This camera style angle also provides better controls in terms of camera navigation. Our following guide will cover this camera style. So our guide will follow the Sims 3 camera format.
The controls that are presented on this list are used to control your camera in 2 different modes. In Live mode, this lets you use the camera while your Sim is living their daily life. This can include choosing the actions that they take, managing your Sim's surroundings, and checking different locations. In Build Mode, this lets you move around your lot as you set up the house and all of its components. This can include building new structures, moving them, and even demolishing them.
This list will show you the different Live Mode hotkeys. These lets you have access to different functions that relate to your Sim’s life. Knowing these keys can let you gain access important information such as your Sim’s needs, aspirations, etc.
The First-Person Mode was added in a patch last November 13, 2018. This enables you to check the game through a First-Person perspective. It can be confusing at first, especially if you're not used to first person gameplay, therefore here's the controls that are available for this mode.
These are Hotkeys that you can use when you buy items for your home, and when using the game’s build mode. Knowing the different functions here can provide you with a better gameplay experience so you won’t fumble around at the menu trying to look for what you need.
So those are the controls for the different modes of the game, we hope that this guide will help you with getting familiarized onw how to control things in the Sims 4. These are handy if you plan to build houses and lots often since knowing the best shortcuts available will make your progression faster. Of course, you can freely use the menu in the game as well, but these hotkeys provide you with precision in terms of control. We hope this guide helps you with your game!
If you're just starting out in the Sims 4, perhaps you'll want to check our getting started guide. This is a good way for you to understand what the Sims 4 is about. You can check more information through our pages below:
Creating your first Sim
Giving your Sims Aspirations
Giving your Sims Traits
Learning about your Sim's Needs
Purchasing a Home for your Sims
In this guide we’ll provide you with the list of hotkeys available in the game’s different modes. In the Sims 4, you can play the game with camera controls that are similar to the Sims 3. This can be accessed by pressing Esc > Game Options > Controls and Camera > Sims 3 Camera. It would be good to use this, especially if you’re coming from the Sims 3.
This camera style angle also provides better controls in terms of camera navigation. Our following guide will cover this camera style. So our guide will follow the Sims 3 camera format.
Camera Controls: Live Mode / Build Mode
When controlling the Sims 4 game, there will be 2 areas that you will attend do often that will need your controls. Since you'll be swapping between the two, knowing some good shortcuts for the different game functions can come in handy instead of trying to open the game's menu or trying to guess.The controls that are presented on this list are used to control your camera in 2 different modes. In Live mode, this lets you use the camera while your Sim is living their daily life. This can include choosing the actions that they take, managing your Sim's surroundings, and checking different locations. In Build Mode, this lets you move around your lot as you set up the house and all of its components. This can include building new structures, moving them, and even demolishing them.
| Hotkey | Function |
|---|---|
| Hold Right-Click | Move Around the Neighborhood |
| W or Up Arrow | Move View Up |
| A or Left Arrow | Move View Left |
| S or Down Arrow | Move View Down |
| D or Right Arrow | Move View Right |
| Left-click Sim Pic | Select that Sim |
| Left-click Sim Pic | Move Camera to that Sim |
| Right-Click Sim Pic | Make Camera follow that Sim |
| Hold Mouse Wheel | Rotate View/Tilt Camera Up or Down |
| Z, X, or Scroll Mouse Wheel | Zoom In and Out |
| Home | Walls Up |
| End | Walls Down |
| Page Up | Go up a floor |
| Page Down | Go down a floor |
| Shift + Enter | Center on current lot |
| C | Take a Screenshot |
| V | Take a Video Recording |
Live Mode Hotkeys
Now that you know how to use your Camera on live mode, you might be wondering which keys are needed in order to access different menus in the game. You can simply click the icons that you see on the menu in your screen, but having shortcuts can be easier as well. Learning these shortcuts can then evolve to your muscle memory when opening the menus, which will make it faster for you.
Sims 4 Live Mode
This list will show you the different Live Mode hotkeys. These lets you have access to different functions that relate to your Sim’s life. Knowing these keys can let you gain access important information such as your Sim’s needs, aspirations, etc.
| Hotkey | Function |
|---|---|
| G | Show Aspiration Window. |
| I | Show Sim's Inventory |
| J | Show Career Tab |
| L | Show Skills List |
| R | Show Relationship Panel |
| Y | Show Simology |
| O | Show Sim's current Need Levels |
| M | Go to Map Mode |
| P | Pause |
| Esc | Brings up main menu or cancels something |
| Left Click Object or Sim | Interact with that Object or Sim |
| Left Click on Selected Sim | Choose different Sim actions |
| Left Click on Ground | Move Sim to location |
| Enter | Find Active Sim |
| Space or N | Select the next Sim in the Household |
| Left Click Sim Portrait | Select that Sim |
| Control + Shift + C | Access Cheat Console |
| ~ , 1, 2, 3 | Pause, Speed 1 (normal), Speed 2, Speed 3. |
First Person Mode Hotkeys
When playing the Sims, you usually think of playing the game and viewing what your Sims do in their daily lives right? But how about having the point of view of your Sim, have you wondered what that feels like? Well, an update was provided in the Sims 4 that lets you do this!
Sims 4 First Person Mode
The First-Person Mode was added in a patch last November 13, 2018. This enables you to check the game through a First-Person perspective. It can be confusing at first, especially if you're not used to first person gameplay, therefore here's the controls that are available for this mode.
| Hotkey | Function |
|---|---|
| Shift + Tab | Enter/Exit First Person View |
| Left Click | Interact with Sim/Object |
| Shift (Hold) | Lets you move the mouse for interacting without moving the camera |
| Right Click | Move Here' |
| Tab | Removes interace |
| Ctrl | Re-center Camera |
| Mouse Wheel | Adjust Field of View (FOV) |
Buy and Build Mode Hotkeys
One of the detailed tasks that you can do in the Sims 4 are creating homes for your Sims. Sure, you can choose preset options but there is more creative choices available if you start them from scratch. Building the house can be time consuming as well if you keep on using the menu and trying to find out which functions are needed.
Sims 4 Buy and Build Mode
These are Hotkeys that you can use when you buy items for your home, and when using the game’s build mode. Knowing the different functions here can provide you with a better gameplay experience so you won’t fumble around at the menu trying to look for what you need.
| Hotkey | Function |
|---|---|
| F1, F2, F3 | Live Mode, Buy Mode, Build Mode |
| H | Hand tool (grab objects) |
| B | Wall tool |
| Ctrl (Hold) | While using Wall tool, hold control to delete walls and rooms. |
| Shift (Hold) | While using Wall/Room tool, this will toggle between the two |
| E | Eyedropper (copy objects) |
| K | Sledgehammer (destroy objects) |
| Delete | Delete/Sell object |
| R | Design Tool (recolor objects) |
| + (Numpad) | Select an object before placing and press + (numpad) to see different color options. |
| Control + Z | Undo action |
| Control + Y | Redo action |
| G | Grid Toggle |
| T | Top Down View toggle |
| L | Change lighting |
| U | Relocate entire lot |
| Shift (Hold) | Hold while placing an object, this will place another of the same item |
| Backspace | Stores object that you are holding |
| , | Rotate selected object to the left |
| . | Rotate selected object to the right |
| Hold Alt w/ Object | Position object anywhere |
| F5 toggle | Position objects at the grid at 1/2, 1/4 increments. |
| Control + F | Place 1/4th of a Tile |
| Hold Alt while Painting | Fill straight Wall with selected Pattern |
| Hold Shift: Walls and Floors | Fill Floor/Wall with selected Pattern |
| [ | Brush Size Smaller / Circle and Square brush |
| ] | Bigger Size Brush / Circle and Square brush |
| ; | Makes brush softer |
| ' | Makes brush harder |
| Ctrl | Hold while painting terrain to return it to default |
So those are the controls for the different modes of the game, we hope that this guide will help you with getting familiarized onw how to control things in the Sims 4. These are handy if you plan to build houses and lots often since knowing the best shortcuts available will make your progression faster. Of course, you can freely use the menu in the game as well, but these hotkeys provide you with precision in terms of control. We hope this guide helps you with your game!
If you're just starting out in the Sims 4, perhaps you'll want to check our getting started guide. This is a good way for you to understand what the Sims 4 is about. You can check more information through our pages below:
Creating your first Sim
Giving your Sims Aspirations
Giving your Sims Traits
Learning about your Sim's Needs
Purchasing a Home for your Sims
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