The Sims 4: Every Ghost Type And Its Effects

The Sims 4 has now introduced playable ghosts. Sims who expire in the game can now choose to live on in a spectral form, although unlocking ghostly powers through a talent tree is limited to those with the Life & Death expansion pack.

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However, ghost Sims in the base game can still have some unique limited abilities relating to their deaths. Not all death types have these effects but many of them do. Here's what you can expect from your spectral housemates.

Ghost Death Effects Versus Ghost Powers

Ghost powers are exclusive to the Life & Death expansion. They are abilities which are accessible to any playable ghost and are unlocked using a talent tree system. The more you use your spectral powers, the more you unlock, in a similar way to Vampires and Werewolves.

Ghost powers are the same for every ghost, and as a player, you just need to decide if you want to unlock skills for good, or mischief. There are also a couple of neutral skills in the middle.

Ghost Effects vary depending on the way a ghost died. Even if you create a ghost in Create-A-Sim, you can choose the manner of their death and gain access to the effects of that ghost type.

Generally, a ghost type will have its own unique animation, usually relating to the manner of passing, and many also have a few little quirky effects. These effects work on any version of the game, so long as you have the pack which unlocks the corresponding death.

Here's what you can expect from each ghost type.

All Base Game Ghost Types And Their Effects

These ghost types can all be accessed just with the free base game. Here are all the types, their animations, and any unique effects or interactions they have.

Death Type

Unique Animation

Effects

Anger

Anger animation of steam rising in chest.

Prone to random bouts of anger.

Can make nearby Sims angry.

Cowplant

None

Is terrified of plants, yet does care for them.

Will try to kill any plants on your lot with decay interaction when in a bad mood.

Drowning

Sim appears wet with water dripping from them.

Leaves puddles everywhere.

Scared of baths and swimming.

Electrocution

Zaps of power periodically jump from the Sim.

Can shock Sims and loves to do this with hand buzzers.

Often breaks electronics and can do this deliberately through possession.

Embarrassment

None

Is often embarrassed, remembering their death.

Fire

Smoke rises from the Sim and there is a flame effect flicker.

May start random fires.

Can summon a fire when angry.

Hunger

None

Hunger need decays twice as fast as usual.

Frequently eats everything in the fridge.

Laughter

None

Often playful.

Can make nearby Sims playful.

Meteorite

A meteorite hovers in their chest.

Explodes in a re-enactment of their death at random moments.

Overexcertion/ Old Age

None

Sleeps a lot.

If you create a ghost Sim in Create-A-Sim, you can choose any of these ghost types from the Cause of Death menu, and get the appropriate effects.

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All DLC Ghost Types And Their Effects

For those with DLC packs, there are a large number of other death types unlocked. This list details their animations and effects as well as which pack they come from.

Death Type

DLC

Unique Animation

Effects

Consumed By Mother

Strangerville

Pink spores surround the Sim.

Needs are frozen at the point of death.

Needs do not decay but also cannot be fulfilled.

Can remove vines from plumbing in ghost form.

Beetles / Beetle Juice

Eco Lifestyle

None

Will never be scared of haunted houses.

Murphy Bed

Tiny Living

Z's rise from the Sim's chest.

Terrified of all beds, and cannot sleep in one.

Lectures Sims on the dangers of beds.

Their sleep need can be refreshed by possessing living Sims to steal their sleep.

Can only sleep by napping on anything which isn't a bed.

Swarmed by Flies

Eco Lifestyle

Flies buzz around the Sim.

Will bat at the flies surrounding them.

Broken Heart

Lovestruck

A heart icon breaks in two and tears come out.

Will frequently become sad.

Can make other Sims sad.

Falling From Heights

Snowy Escape

None

Will chalk their hands occasionally.

Freezing

Seasons

Condensation rises from the Sim.

Shiver and rub their arms a lot.

Can cool down warm Sims.

Will try to warm themselves up.

Killer Chicken

Cottage Living

A chicken icon floats around the Sim's chest.

Loves to scare chickens nearby.

Killer Rabbit

Cottage Living

A rabbit icon floats around the Sim's chest.

Scares any rabbits they see.

Lightning

Seasons

Zaps of lightning appear from the Sim at random.

Love to zap Sims with a buzzer.

Can break items at random but not on purpose.

Mold

For Rent

Green mold spores come off the Sim.

Can summon different types of mold.

Can spawn mushrooms.

Can spoil food

Can fertilise plants.

Murder Of Crows

Life & Death

A crow icon moves around the Sim's chest.

None

Overheating

Seasons

None

Fan themselves and wipe their brow.

Can warm up a cold Sim.

Will try to cool thermselves down.

Poison

Jungle Adventure

A green cloud surrounds the Sim.

Burps a lot.

Can cause Sims to pass out with their burps.

Pufferfish

City Living

A pufferfish icon is in the Sim's chest.

None

Rabid Rodent Fever

My First Pet Stuff

Wears a permanent giant ghostly rat costume.

Wears a giant rat costume at all times.

Foams at the mouth constantly.

Can spread fear of rodents, causing Sims to flee.

Spellcaster Overload

Realm of Magic

Overload effects and sparkles surround the Sim.

Remains a spellcaster, with spellcaster abilities.

Steam

Spa Day

Steam rising from the Sim.

Will try to cool themselves down by swimming or drinking.

Can sabotage a sauna so it will break when next used.

Stink Capsule

High School Years

Green stinky smog rises from the Sim.

Autonomously defuses pranks.

Sunlight

Vampires

A sun icon shows in the Sim's chest.

Can summon fires when angry.

Can go out in the sun without dying, but it will drain their energy.

Urban Myth

High School Years

Black fog surrounds the Sim.

Is scared of mirrors.

Can (and often will) defuse pranks.

Vending Machine

Snowy Escape

A can icon appears in the Sim's chest.

They will never be able to get an item out of the vending machine.

If you have Romantic Garden Stuff your Sim can make a wish for 'youthful vigor'. If it goes wrong, they will become a random ghost type. Drinking Ghost Goo, which can be made in Get To Work's Scientist career, will also turn your Sim into a random ghost.

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