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Though there are plenty of ways to help your Sim have fun inThe Sims 4, the Video Gaming skill is one that enables them to earn a little cash on the side in pursuit of their hobbies. With two different tournament levels paying out thousands of Simoleons, it pays to play!
Sims who build their Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4 can not only enter tournaments, but they’ll unlock a whole new catalog of games to play, a host of cool auxiliary gaming accessories, and plenty of Gaming-based social interactions so they can properly geek out with friends.

Video Gaming Skill Overview
One of the skills included in The Sims 4base game, your Sim can get started with the Video Gaming skill by simplyplaying a video gamefor the first time.
This can be done most easily onany computeron any lot, but games are also available in a few other ways:

Technically, you can read Video Gaming skill books, too, but with playing games a way to both build your skillandyour Sim’s Fun need, you’re better off just launching a game when it’s time to skill-build.
For the most part, the Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4 is all aboutthe Fun need, which is guaranteed to be fully boosted as you level your skill - gaming is one of the fastest ways to boost the Fun need.

But along the way, you’ll unlock a wealth ofgaming-related social interactionsto use with other Sims, as well as severalnew gamesfor your Sim to play as their skills improve.
Enter Tournaments For Extra Simoleons
Once your Sim has reachedLevel Threeof the Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4, they can begin toenter gaming tournamentsthat pay out in Simoleons when your Sim wins.
There are bothnovice and professional-level tournamentsavailable, withprofessional tournaments lockeduntil reachingLevel Sixin the skill.

Though bothoffer cash prizes, the professional one naturally offers a better payout for victory, so make the switch once your Sim is able!
Depending on which game you’re competing in, you may have anentrance feeto compete, which can range from10-100 Simoleonsper tournament.

Just about every game has a related tournament, but with some games not unlocking until later in the skill level, you may count ontougher competition when choosing harder gamesto compete in.
More difficult games that unlock at the higher levels of the Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4 offer better prize pool payouts for victory, withHillock II offering the highest prizesfor winning.

That said,competing in the same game makes your Sim better at that specific game, which makes themmore likely to winwhen competing in it.
Though not many of the novice tournaments have a prize pool worth mentioning,almost every professional-level tournament pays out for placing.

This means that Sims who have a high Video Gaming skill could easilymake a career out of competingin their strongest games.
High School Years Video Game Streamer Career
Added in the High School Years expansion pack, the Video Game Streamer career is apart-time work-from-home jobavailable to Teens and up.
There are only a scantthree levels to the career, as a part-time job, and your Sim will need tochoose a time windowto stream during, which lasttwo hourseach time.

Not only is the career tied to the Video Gaming skill, but the High School Years-exclusiveEntrepreneur skillis also necessary to advance.
It’s not the most lucrative option, but it’s a cool way toearn some cashwhile your Sim practices the Video Gaming skill!
Helpful Traits And Aspirations
As cliche as it may sound,the best traitfor Sims looking to build their Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4 is definitely theGeek trait.
Not only does the Geek trait help with providing a constant stream of nerdy wants forSatisfaction Points, but you’ll also receiveHappy moodlets from playing games.
Additionally, theGeniustraitis a good choice for keeping a Sim’sFocusstrong while they’re playing, which leads to steadier skill gains in the Video Gaming skill.
The Genius trait can also help with the Programming skill, which can allow your Sim to mod their games to add extra Fun or provide a variety of moodlets.
Finally, it’s farless prominentthan the Genius or Geek perks, but theLazy traitallows Sims to earn Happy moodlets from sitting still for so long.
Gaming is apretty sedentary skill, meaning Athletes wholove to be up and moving aroundmay want to steer clear of dedicating themselves to too much gaming.
When itcomes to aspirations, there’s not one related directly to the Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4, but theComputer Whiz aspirationcould be a good choice, especially if you are pairing this skill with the Programming skill.
Centered on all things computers, your Sim will need to enter theTech Guru careerfor this aspiration, but choosing the Gaming branch when the time comes to split the career path leads to sweet, gaming-centric rewards.
It’s not a necessity by any means, but if you’d like to double down on your Sim’s love for tech, thereward traitfor finishing it isWebmaster, which unlocks new upgrades for your Sim’s computers.
Every Level Of The Video Gaming Skill
In the table below, you’ll find information about each level of the Video Gaming skill in The Sims 4.
This includes the variousnew gamesthese gamers will unlock as they get better at their skills,unique socialsto use with other Sims, and evenpassive ways to build their skillby watching streams.
Unlocks and Perks
1
This Sim can playParty Frenzyon consoles. *
2
This Sim can playIncredible Sportson computers or consoles.
3
This Sim can playMySims Racingon consoles. *
4
5
This Sim can playDensity Effecton consoles. *
6
This Sim can playThe R.E.F.U.G.E.
7
Watch Gaming Livestreaminteraction on computers, which also builds the Video Gaming skill.
This Sim can playGenie’s Curseon consoles. *
8
9
10 (Max)
This Sim can playHillock IIon computers.
- Any perk marked with an asterisk in the table above isexclusive to the City Living expansion.