The dating game is an exciting and sometimes excruciatingly painful game. The Sims creators, Maxis and Electronic Arts know entirely well that the safest place for us gamers to engage in romantic relationships without the crippling fear or rejection, or pressure to go all out to impress someone is in the virtual world. The Sims 4 Lovestruck Expansion takes the life sim’s sense of romance to another plane, falling much more into the exciting category thanks to a bunch of new content to set hearts ablaze, and so far, I’m loving it.

The sheer amount of content of the Lovestruck Expansion is incredibly appealing. The Mexican-inspired Ciudad Enamorada has an undeniable romantic vibe, with three districts and a few dating locations; it’s perfect for Sims looking for love, with beautifully adorned, colourful locales. The overhead view of the region was visually a bit blurry for me, but it was refreshing to see a more dense area, which felt more like a city than previous maps. Despite the slightly fuzzy overhead view, there’s a heap to see.

Not only are there some lovely residential lots, but there are also some gorgeous romantic spots, from a humble park to snazzy penthouse apartments or, if you’re feeling lucky, a 24/7 motel. Better yet, bonus interactions, from a romantic night gazing at the stars to an innocent picnic in the park, swooning lovers with flowers or a not-so-innocent WooHoo in a public space. There’s a scenario for everyone: to make sweet, spicy, and steamy moments, whether flirting up a storm in the nightclub, getting sweaty in the gym, or taking a stroll in the park.

I have not been lucky with dating apps in the real world, but the new Cupid’s Corner Dating App provides the perfect tailor-made experience for Sims looking for love. Each Sim has its profile on the app, with the new attraction system emphasising the importance of Sim’s turn-ons and turn-offs and the romantic satisfaction levels. Take a selfie, set up the profile and get to swiping. Like real dating, I did a lot of swiping to find someone my Sim would be keen on, of course, one of the ones the ladies would recognise, the guy holding the fish was one of the first I saw, art imitating life, they do set a time limit on swiping, with 12 hours (in Sims time) after several swipes which forced me to meet people the old-fashioned way, out on the town.

I wish I had a few more swipes per timeframe. Matching in the app works like the typical dating app. With customisable bios and the ability to set up dates, there are plenty of ways to play the dating game. For the brave, there’s the option to go on blind dates as well; I found this to up the ante, and it forced me to be more open-minded in exploring Sim relationships, where chemistry feels much more meaningful than before.

Relationship dynamics fall into a few categories: Unpredictable, Steamy, Strained, and Wholesome; while this isn’t necessarily the full spectrum of relationship dynamics, it covers a fair amount of ground in the romance department. The importance of love in a Sim’s life is much more emphasised now, with new aspirations, including Romantic Explorer and Paragon Partner. It provides opportunities to explore all facets of dating, whether monogamous, poly or just out for fun. It’s very inclusive in understanding the various dynamics of relationships.

With my main squeeze, dating was too easy; with all the new flirty interactions, traits, and aspirations, she had a little too easy a time seducing a nightclub packed with Sims. While it was super empowering, the thrill of the chase could feel slightly too easy, being too much of a catch. That said, playing with romantic cliches and recreating some all-too-real dating do’s and don’ts was interesting. I’m keen to test out making a less desirable, more picky Sim to see how lucky in love they are in comparison.

The new traits, Lovebug and Romantically Reserved add more depth to the lives of both emotional and introverted lovers. With the positive love vibes comes the risk of heartbreak, bad dates, and red flags. Fears rear their ugly heads for some Sims, too, including the Fear of Being Alone and Fear of Intimacy, a real challenge for the brave of heart after a challenge. I tried my hand at the Romance Consultant Career.

I enjoyed the idea that my Sim’s out there bringing others together. Playing cupid with a career path was an exciting addition to job prospects, perfect for idealistic, romantic Sims. I spent less time fast-forwarding my Sims interactions and more time out of the house and in town. With the high stakes, high-reward notions of love, lust and loss, I felt more involved than ever in The Sims, and I found myself squealing in joy when I got a perfect match and had a much less enthusiastic response when a date went poorly. The massive overhaul of relationship mechanics made me much more invested in my Sims.

There are 152 new Create-a-Sim items, including hairstyles, basic tops and bottoms, and glorious new hairdos. The collection shines in the more “love-themed” items: a few suggestive aprons, some lingerie, fishnets, harnesses, wrestling outfits, maid outfits, sexy firefighters, and the most to-the-point but glorious date night outfit: the eggplant costume—something for every fantasy.

The new fashionable feel is versatile enough that it doesn’t feel too locked into the “lovestruck” theme. I think using this pack alone is the best my Sims have ever looked, and I spent a lot of time just checking out all my options. I felt much more inclined to change between outfits to suit the mood.

The build mode catalogue also receives a huge boost, with 188 new furnishings and decorations. Some fit the romantic theme, while some are more modern or classical: excellent light fittings, decor and plants, new windows and doors, new entertainment objects, and unexpected gems like glorious Mexican-inspired graffiti and wall art. It’s an eclectic mix perfect for all types. There’s a nice balance of items: gym equipment for the gym bros, cute critter items like a random axolotl statue, and lusty staples for the more lavish households.

I entirely decorated the interior and exterior of my house. However, I still had to supplement with the base game collections and my pre-owned expansions when it came to practical items, like appliances and bathroom items. While this was a smidge disappointing trying to coordinate a consistent look, items are versatile enough to find a consistent aesthetic. Between the create-a-sim and build-mode items, I adored so many items that I couldn’t wait to be into every character and their wardrobe and household repertoire.

I’m falling in love with The Sims 4 Lovestruck Expansion. Something was missing in my Sim’s life, and more emphasis on love might be the remedy. The new outfits, build items, app system, locations, and relationship dynamics add something I didn’t know I needed. Time will tell if I stay in love with the additions, but so far, it’s looking promising. It brings more meaning to relationships, something that, while always a part of The Sims, finally feels like it’s been given more heart to each Sim.

I guarantee I’m going to make all my fangirl dreams come true. The Sims 4 Lovestruck expansion is perfect for anyone looking to dip their toes back into the dating game without leaving the house or talking to people, and that’s the dream.

Written by: Yasmin Noble