5 Ways to Bring a Sim Back to Life in The Sims 4

Sims, just like real people, aren’t immune to sudden death or old age. But passing away doesn’t mean they’re gone forever after a visit from Grim Reaper. The Sims 4 base game and its DLCs offer various ways to bring your beloved characters back to life - all without relying on cheat codes.

Whether your Sim passed away a long time ago or just recently transitioned into the afterlife, the game provides several methods to resurrect them. Some require time, effort, and ingredient gathering, while others rely purely on a bit of good luck.

1. Ambrosia (Gourmet Meal)

Cooking Ambrosia is no easy feat, mostly because its ingredients are hard to come by. However, once prepared, it is guaranteed to bring a dead Sim back to life as soon as they eat it. To cook this legendary dish, your Sim must max out both the Cooking and Gourmet Cooking skills (Level 10).

Ambrosia Ingredients:

Death Flower: Reaching Level 10 in Gardening unlocks Rare Seed Packets, which have a chance of containing a Death Flower. Alternatively, once you hit Level 5 Gardening, you can craft one yourself by grafting an Orchid onto a Pomegranate plant.

Angelfish: A rare fish that can usually be caught in any river in Oasis Springs or Willow Creek. Keep in mind that you won't find it in vacation worlds or Glimmerbrook. Set your Sims to fish for an extended period until they finally catch one. Finding the right bait takes trial and error, but small fish and frogs usually work best.

Potion of Youth: Can be purchased for 1,500 Satisfaction Points in the Rewards Store. Earn points by completing your Sim's Whims and Aspirations.

Once you’ve gathered all three ingredients, click on a stove or fridge, select Cook Gourmet Meal, and choose Ambrosia. Then, simply serve it to a Ghost Sim to resurrect them instantly.

2. Nectar of Life

The Horse Ranch Expansion Pack introduced plenty of exciting content, including horses, farm livestock, and Nectar making. Similar to real-world wine, Sims can brew, age, and store Nectar using the Fruit Press. While different Nectars offer various moodlets and effects, Nectar of Life has a unique ability: it can extend a living Sim's lifespan or completely resurrect a ghost when consumed.

To make this miraculous drink, you first need to unlock its recipe. The best way to get it is by becoming friends with Roberto Crinklebottom, a resident of Chestnut Ridge. Once your relationship with him is high enough, he will share the recipe for Nectar of Life and even gift you a bottle to get started.

To craft Nectar of Life, you’ll need a Death Flower and Spinach. Give the finished bottle to a Ghost Sim, and they will immediately return to their mortal body. Extra bottles can also be aged and sold for a massive profit!

3. The Book of Life

Writers can also play god in The Sims 4. The Book of Life is exclusive to Sims who have maxed out the Writing skill (Level 10) and completed the Bestselling Author Aspiration. (To level up Writing quickly, keep practicing on a computer and publishing books).

When writing a Book of Life, the author captures the essence of another Sim's soul. Crucial note: the target Sim must still be alive when you write it; you cannot write a book for a Sim who has already passed away. Once that Sim dies, simply have their ghost read their designated Book of Life to return to the world of the living. If you want to keep multiple Sims safe, you will need to craft an individual book for each family member.

4. The Dedeconfigurate (Untamed Magic) Spell

If you own the Realm of Magic Game Pack, Spellcasters can use their arcane abilities to restore a deceased Sim to life using the Dedeconfigurate spell (Note: in English game version, this is the "Dedeconfigurate" / "Untamed Magic" spell or "Dedeconstruct" depending on context, officially known as the Untamed Magic: Dedeconfigurate spell).

Any Spellcaster can learn this spell once they reach the rank of Master in Untamed Magic. You can level up your rank quickly by spending time in the Magic Realm, studying books in the library, or receiving training from the Magic Sages.

Once learned, cast the spell on a Ghost Sim to resurrect them. Be careful, though—there is a chance the spell can backfire, temporarily turning the caster into a ghost instead!

5. The Wishing Well

If you have the Romantic Garden Stuff pack, you can purchase the Whispering Wishing Well from Build Mode. Just like in real life, Sims can toss a few Simoleons into the well and make a wish. Ghost Sims are no exception - they can wish for Life, though success is never guaranteed.

You can choose how much money to offer, but larger offerings generally yield better odds. When a Ghost Sim wishes for life, the Wishing Well might get angry and reject them, or it might grant their wish and resurrect them on the spot. As a side bonus, there's also a small chance the well will award you a random Ambrosia ingredient instead.

Final Thoughts

Which resurrection method is your favorite? We recommend trying each one out to build compelling, dramatic storylines for your Sims as they miraculously return from beyond the grave. Get creative - with these tools, every story can have a happy ending!