The Sims 4: How to Complete the Surviving the Holidays Scenario

The Sims 4 recently introduced a limited-time, rivalry-themed Scenario focused on making it through the holidays in a fraught living situation. The Scenario system in The Sims 4 has already had a few stories for players to try, such as the Making Money and Too Many Toddlers Scenarios. However, similar to the Finding Love After A Breakup Scenario, Surviving the Holidays is focused more on relationships than funds or family.

This Scenario is available until January 5, 2022. Players can start a Sims 4 Scenario using a new or existing save, though either one will require players to create a new household to play. To begin Surviving the Holidays, a household needs two unrelated Sims aged young adult or older. They will automatically have the Festering Grudge Sentiment, proclaimed Enemy status with each other, and a very negative friendship level as soon as gameplay starts.

Surviving the Holidays in The Sims 4 has two possible outcomes: “No Hard Feelings” and “Love to Hate You.” Either way, the goal is to find a way to make the holidays less unpleasant for these two stubborn Sims. The first outcome only requires that the housemates become Friends with one another. The second is a little trickier to achieve, as the two Sims must remain enemies but still engage in a romantic relationship as Enemies with Benefits.

How to Complete the Surviving the Holidays Scenario in The Sims 4

To achieve the “No Hard Feelings” outcome to the “Surviving the Holidays” Scenario in The Sims 4, the two enemy housemates need to become Friends with each other. This is already a challenge given how negative their friendship is at the start, but it’s especially difficult with the Festering Grudge sentiment still active. Negative sentiments give Sims Angry, Tense, or Sad moodlets simply by being around the other Sim. Positive interactions are more likely to go poorly with these emotions active.

There are several ways to have the Sims reconcile their differences. One is to keep interaction minimal until the Sims have cooled off, waiting for the negative sentiments to fade over time. Friendly interactions have a higher chance of being successful if the Festering Grudge is gone. Another strategy is to use the “Moodlet Solver” potion from the Rewards Store. For 500 Satisfaction Points, Sims can purchase the potion and eliminate any unpleasant moodlets created by their negative sentiments. Without the moodlets getting in the way, Friendly interactions can go more smoothly and quickly improve the friendship.

The “Love to Hate You” outcome results in the housemates becoming Enemies with Benefits. While The Sims 4 players are likely used to complex romances, this one can take a bit more effort than the usual romantic reconciliation. Such a relationship requires the Sims to maintain their Enemy status while still having a high romance bar. Some Mean interactions will also reduce the romantic relationship, so players will need to take a different approach than usual to achieve this particular dynamic.

It is possible for Romantic interactions to be successful even while Sims are Enemies, depending on the Sim. For example, Sims with the Romantic trait might have their advances accepted even by someone with a low friendship score. Putting Sims in a Flirty mood with a steamy shower, romantic music, or a trip to the Sims 4 City Living San Myshuno Romance Festival will also improve the chances of Romantic interactions being successful. Even so, many Sims will often reject a romantic proposition from their Enemy.

Another quick way around the moodlets from Sims’ negative Sentiments to allow for successful Romantic interactions is to purchase the Flirty potion from the Rewards Store. Having both Sims drink the potion will make Romantic interactions more successful without having a significant positive impact on their Friendship. Giving one or both Sims the Beguiling reward trait can also help improve the romance in spite of any Angry, Sad, or Tense moodlets from a Festering Grudge. With this trait, players can simply select the “Beguile” dialogue option from the Romantic interaction wheel to put the other Sim in a Flirty mood.

Balancing Enemy status with a high Romantic relationship level in The Sims 4 can still be difficult long-term since Romantic interactions may affect friendship and vice-versa. If it grows too tiresome and players want to wrap up the Scenario more quickly, it will still register as successfully completed even if cheats are used to change the Sims’ relationship. Once finished, players are free to continue with the household and use their rewarded Satisfaction Points for finishing the Scenario however they please.

The Sims 4 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

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