What's the Goal?
Ever wondered what it takes to be the absolute worst parent in The Sims 4? Well, get ready, because we're diving deep into a speedrun that’s as bizarre as it is compelling: the race to get Child Protective Services (CPS) to take your baby away. This isn't your typical speedrun aiming for the fastest completion time of a game's story. Instead, it’s a test of how quickly you can achieve a specific, albeit dark, in-game outcome. The intention here is clear: push the boundaries of the game's mechanics to achieve a negative result in the shortest time possible. It’s a unique challenge that speaks to a segment of the
gamer community fascinated by the extreme and the unconventional.
Becoming the Worst Parent Ever
The core of this speedrun is simple, yet incredibly effective: you need to embody the worst mother (or father!) imaginable. This means neglecting your Sim's parental duties to an extreme degree. Forget feeding, changing diapers, or providing any semblance of care. The Sims 4's AI is designed to react to extreme neglect, and this speedrun exploits that fact. My own attempts at this challenge often involved setting alarms to ensure I was actively *not* parenting, which sounds counterintuitive for a speedrun but is essential for this particular goal. The faster you neglect, the faster you progress towards the dreaded visit from CPS.
"It's surprisingly easy to trigger the game's neglect mechanics if you actively try to ignore your Sim's needs."
Mastering Sims 4 Neglect Strategies
Achieving the fastest time requires a strategic approach to neglect. You can't just leave the baby alone and hope for the best; you need to actively make terrible parenting decisions. This includes things like:
- Ignoring Needs: Let the hunger, bladder, and hygiene meters plummet. Don't even think about fulfilling them.
- Aggressive Social Media Use: Spend all your Sim’s time on their phone or computer, completely oblivious to the crying baby. This is a classic move from many speedrunning communities where you focus on external objectives to the detriment of in-game responsibilities.
- Absence: Have your Sim leave the house for extended periods, especially when the baby is in critical need of attention.
- Low-Quality Environment: Don't bother cleaning up messes or ensuring a safe environment. The uglier and dirtier, the better.
The goal is to rack up those "bad parenting" moodlets and notifications as quickly as possible. The game is designed to eventually intervene when a Sim’s well-being is severely compromised.
Quick Wins and Potential Pitfalls
The "quick wins" in this speedrun are the immediate negative consequences that signal you're on the right track. Seeing those red notifications pop up, indicating the baby’s needs are critical, is a sign of progress. However, pitfalls are abundant. The most common mistake is accidentally fulfilling a need out of habit. You might find yourself instinctively clicking to feed the baby or change its diaper. You have to actively fight your gamer instincts here! Another pitfall is the RNG (Random Number Generator) of The Sims 4. Sometimes, CPS might arrive faster than expected, or slower. Mastering this requires understanding the game's internal timers and triggers for neglect.
"The biggest challenge is fighting your own ingrained Sims habits. It's a mind game as much as a game of execution."
The Ultimate Goal: CPS Arrival
The timer stops when Child Protective Services arrives and successfully takes the baby away. This is the ultimate victory condition for this specific
speedrun category. It signifies that you have successfully demonstrated, in the shortest possible time, the most extreme form of parental neglect within the game's simulation. Watching the social worker walk in and take the baby is the visual confirmation of your success. It’s a dark victory, but a victory nonetheless in the world of niche
gaming challenges.
Conclusion and Community
This Sims 4 speedrun is a perfect example of how the
gaming community finds unique and sometimes controversial ways to engage with games. It pushes the boundaries of what a "speedrun" can be, focusing on achieving negative outcomes with maximum efficiency. If you're interested in exploring the stranger corners of
speedrunning or just want to see some truly terrible virtual parenting, this challenge is for you. What are your thoughts on this kind of speedrun? Have you ever attempted something similar in other games? Let us know in the comments below, or join our
Discord server to discuss your own gaming experiences and discover more
PB and
WR attempts!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of this Sims 4 speedrun?
The main objective is to get Child Protective Services (CPS) to take your Sim's baby away in the shortest possible in-game time.
How do I make CPS take the baby away?
You need to severely neglect the baby's needs (hunger, hygiene, fun, social, etc.) and actively avoid caring for it. The game will eventually intervene if neglect is extreme enough.
Is this a common type of speedrun?
While not as common as traditional completion speedruns, niche challenges like this exist within the speedrunning community, exploring unusual objectives and game mechanics.
What are the key strategies for success?
Key strategies include actively ignoring the baby's needs, spending time away from the baby, and utilizing game mechanics that prevent immediate care (like being stuck in an animation or traveling).
Can I speedrun this on any platform?
Yes, this speedrun is achievable on any platform where The Sims 4 is available, including
PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
