The Sims 4 Brings Back Imaginary Friends in Adventure Awaits, And They’re Creepier Than Ever

For years, fans of The Sims 4 have been asking EA to bring back some of the franchise’s most beloved features from The Sims 3 – things like the color wheel, texture selectors, and other customization tools. Now, more than a decade after launch, players are finally getting one long-awaited return: Imaginary Friends. But there’s a catch… these new versions look like they walked straight out of a horror game.

Adventure Awaits: What’s Coming

Imaginary Friends are making their comeback in The Sims 4’s next expansion, Adventure Awaits, launching October 2. Alongside the creepy companions, the pack will introduce:

• Summer Camp for kids – where your Sim children can explore activities and adventures.
• Customizable playgrounds – build and design outdoor fun zones.
• New gym equipment – more interactive workout options in Build/Buy mode.
• Getaway vacations – a fresh type of trip for Sims families to enjoy.

But the feature stealing the spotlight is, without a doubt, the chilling redesign of the Imaginary Friend.

From Whimsical to Weird: The Sims 3 vs. The Sims 4

Imaginary Friends first appeared in The Sims 3. Back then, they were strange but charming – part stuffed toy, part robot – and arrived as a mysterious “gift from Grandma” for newborn or adopted children. Kids who played with them could form bonds, leading to bizarre moments like finding the doll silently relocated to different rooms.

If the friendship grew strong enough, the doll would eventually transform into a walking, talking child-sized version, visible only to its Sim-kid. With the help of the Imaginary Friend Metamorphium Potion, players could even turn these companions into fully-fledged Sims, who went on to live, grow, and sometimes even marry into the family.

While a little uncanny, The Sims 3’s version was still relatively harmless compared to what’s coming next.

Nightmare Fuel in The Sims 4

In Adventure Awaits, the Imaginary Friend starts as a doll once again, but with a twist: once a child Sim builds a strong relationship, they unlock the “Turn into Imaginary Friend” interaction. That’s when things get spooky.

The doll transforms into a larger, animated companion that only the child can see. And instead of whimsical toys, the new design resembles something closer to an animatronic mascot — think Five Nights at Freddy’s rather than Saturday morning cartoons. With their wide-eyed stare and uncanny presence, these new Imaginary Friends are nightmare fuel for anyone outside of the Sim’s imagination.

Can They Become Real Again?

Fans are hoping that, just like in The Sims 3, there will be a way to transform these eerie mascots into human Sims via potions or gameplay progression. So far, EA hasn’t confirmed this, but more details could drop with the official Adventure Awaits gameplay trailer on Wednesday, September 10.

Until then, players will just have to brace themselves for the creepiest addition yet when The Sims 4 Adventure Awaits launches on Mac, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X this October.