The new Lovestruck expansion pack for The Sims 4 gives the decade-old sequel a shot of life by turning it into a full-fledged dating sim -- including non-monogamous WooHoo-ing for the first time. In addition to polyamory, the 40 DLC adds an in-game dating app, an encounter-planning system, turn-ons and turn-offs and a swanky singles club where Leisure Suit Larry (apologies for the dated reference) would feel right at home. The expansion pack takes your Sim to Ciudad Enamorada, "a gorgeous city in love and the perfect place for all of your romantic encounters." It includes three neighborhoods for all the dangerous (if you're into that) liaisons your Sim's gibberish-speaking heart can handle. Your Sim can meet, flirt, spark romance or even rent a room at "Beso Rápido" for a quickie WooHoo.

A fantastic game to play for a little escape from reality after a rough day, The Sims 4 has splendid gardening mechanics in the base game. If you've ever fantasized about owning a nice house with the perfect backyard for gardening, try The Sims 4. In her roundup of the best game additions available for purchase, product writer and reviewer Louryn Strampe recommends Seasons ($40). She writes, "If you're only getting one expansion, this is the one you want." In addition to dynamic weather, the Season pack unlocks a gardener career path, which lets you role-play as a botanist or floral designer. Devoted players searching for even more plant experiences may appreciate crafting homestead fantasies with the Cottage Living Expansion Pack ($40) or designing the ideal outdoor space for making out with the Romantic Garden Stuff ($10).

In "Create-A-Sim," "The Sims 4′s" character creation tool, players can now choose from preset pronouns -- she/her, he/him or they/them -- or input custom ones for their Sims. Given the intricacies of English grammar, that last option requires a bit of extra work. Players that create custom pronouns will have to input different forms, including subjective, objective, possessive dependent, possessive independent and reflexive. If that triggered some long-forgotten, school age conjugation lessons, don't worry: The game includes example sentences for reference. It then automatically updates to use the correct pronouns where applicable.

With each séance, things got spookier. The ghosts became angrier, soon transforming from green to red blobs that spewed fire from their mouths; they can set fire to homes and sims, making hauntings potentially lethal. My sims quickly became total wrecks, often exhausted from lack of sleep due to strange sounds and flickering lights, reminiscent of the terrors in "Phasmophobia." They weren't eating properly or showering, because all they could think about was fear. While scared, sims hide under covers, take "a panicked poop" in the bathroom and scream incoherently to one another.

Looking for video games that don't involve shooting enemies or require too much brain power? If so, you're in luck because there are many relaxing options to choose from, most of which can be played at your own pace and with family members. From creating your dream house in The Sims 4 to exploring the breathtaking depths of the ocean in ABZU, here are ten ultra-chill video games to play. For those who grew up playing The Sims in the noughties, now might be the perfect time to once again wile away the hours creating and controlling characters, building and decorating houses and exploring vibrant worlds. And, if in need of some extra simoleons, don't forget to use the money cheat'motherlode'.

I never got around to playing Nier: Automata. Yes, I know it was on a bunch of GOTY lists, and I know that it combines solid gameplay with some genuinely intriguing ruminations on artificial intelligence and humanity. But it was a busy year, and nobody can play all the games that come out, not even all the big ones: Divinity Original Sin 2 nearly sucked an entire two weeks out of my life, after all, and Destiny 2 chewed up a huge chunk of playtime before running thin. So where was I supposed to find the time to play Nier: Automata? Yes, alright, I guess I have more free time than I thought.

The creators of "The Sims" are opening up gender customization options for the first time in the history of the popular life simulation video game. "The Sims" publisher Electronic Arts and developer Maxis says a free update available Thursday for "The Sims 4" will remove gender boundaries and allow players to create Sims with any type of physique, walk style or voice. "The Sims 4" and earlier installments in the 16-year-old series previously restricted specific clothing, hair styles and other aesthetic options to either male or female characters. EA and Maxis say over 700 pieces of content previously available to only male or female Sims will now be accessible regardless of their gender in "The Sims 4" and its expansion packs. The gaming medium rarely depicts or allows players to create transgender characters.