Parents' Guide to The Sims 4: Get Famous

Some Sims expansions just add a few new items and a change of scenery and call it a day, but this one provides new mechanics that could substantially alter the entire experience. The addition of the fame meter -- which you can switch on or off (your Sims don't need to be saddled with a thirst to become celebrities if you don't want them to) -- adds an interesting new dimension to almost everything your Sims do, whether its cooking or sitting on the couch playing games. Just like the real world, people can become famous for doing just about anything, no matter how mundane it might seem. And the new acting career delivers some memorable moments -- you'll be tasked to travel to the set, get into makeup, don a costume, and perform a role -- as you and your Sim learn about what it takes to succeed in a Hollywood-like showbiz environment. The often silly personality quirks that come along with celebrity just add a bit of spice and humor.

But perhaps the most interesting part of Get Famous is how it makes us think about what fame is and why we crave it. The beautiful house filled with outrageously lavish furniture and trinkets located in an insanely ritzy neighborhood that hosts glamorous and exclusive parties is part of it, of course, but is that all? What about the satisfaction of knowing that other people in the world are aware of what you're doing? And do you care if they approve or disapprove? Is it simply a matter of taking comfort in the knowledge that people know you exist? Or is there something more to it? If nothing else, The Sims 4: Get Famous could end up making players consider why our culture is obsessed with fame. That it's plenty of fun to boot is a handy bonus.