The Sims 3 Death and Ghosts Guide

Written by: R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen • Edited by: M.S. Smith
Published Nov 8, 2009

This article is the ultimate guide to ghosts and death in the Sims 3.

Death and ghosts in the Sims 3 are incredibly popular components of the game. There are fewer ways to die in the Sims 3, but death seems to happen more often than it did in the Sims 2. This Sims 3 death guide will cover all of the important information regarding ghosts and death in the Sims 3.

Age

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Old age is a eventual cause of death in the Sims 3. This is the only natural cause of death. Players will determine their Sims' lifespan by using the options menu. Once a Sim reaches elder, they will not immediately die. They may remain an elder for weeks or days, but they will randomly die.

Drowning

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Sims can drown and die in swimming pools in the Sims 3. This cause of death is not very common, but will occur if a Sim decides to swim when their energy is extremely low.

Electrocution

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Sims like to think they are natural electricians, but most are not. Sims can die due to electrocution when the repairs they are trying to make on an electronic object fails. However, most Sims will not die the first time they are shocked, but if they get shocked a second time, there is a good chance they will die. If a Sim has a high handiness level, they are unlikely to be electrocuted. The more expensive the item, the better chance they will die from electrocution.

Fire

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Fire is a very common killer of Sims. It can strike without warning and kill more than one Sim at a time. Sims with a low cooking level are more likely to start a fire when cooking. Sims who decide to be heroic and put out fires have a chance of getting caught in the blaze and dying. To prevent Sims from dying in a fire, make sure their cooking level is high and call the fire department to put out a fire if one occurs.

Starvation

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Sims who do not eat will eventually die of starvation. This cause of death is rare and it typically takes a Sim 48 hours of starvation to die. Hungry Sims will naturally head to the fridge for a snack, so the only real way for them to die of starvation is if the player intends for them to starve.

The Grim Reaper

Sims 3 Death and Ghosts Guide Grim Reaper

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The Grim Reaper show up when a Sim dies on a lot to harvest their soul. When he comes, the Sims' spirit will leap into a gravestone or urn and their body will disappear. Sometimes the Grim Reaper won't leave right away and may do things such as use the virtual reality goggles.

Death Flower

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The death flower protects a Sim from death. If a Sim has a death flower in their inventory, the Grim Reaper will let the Sim live and take the death flower instead. The only death this will not prevent Sims from is old age. When the death flower is combined with ambrosia, a Sim can become immortal without having to disable aging.

Preventing Death

There are several different ways to prevent death in the Sims 3:

Eating a life fruit, when aging is enabled, to add an additional day of life.
Having the loser trait will make the Grim Reaper resurrect a Sim the first time they die.
Eating Ambrosia will reset a Sims days until aging.
Sims with the Hydrophobic trait are less likely to drown.
Keeping a death blossom in a Sim's inventory.
Sims with the Handy trait are less likely to be electrocuted.
Sims with the Brave trait are less likely to burn to death.
Sims with the Vegetarian trait will have some extra days added to their lifetime.
Sims with the Daredevil trait are less likely to burn to death.
Sims with the Natural Cook trait a less likely to burn to death.

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