Basic rules and how to start
The challenge comes from lilsimsie's Tumblr post of February 2017, written with alwaysimming. Its basic rules:
- Each heir shows the generation's color in hair, makeup or clothes. Colored skin isn't needed, and the color theme itself is optional.
- Spouses have no color and no restrictions unless a generation says so.
- Money cheats are allowed in moderation. The suggestion is
freerealestate onfor the first home and nothing after that. - Live anywhere unless a generation names a place.
- Every heir completes their career and aspiration unless their generation says otherwise.
- Lifespan stays on Normal.
To start, create the Mint founder with the traits and aspiration from the table below and move in. The post sets no heir law, so any child can carry the next color. There is no scoring: you are done when all ten heirs have met their goals. Share your family with #notsoberry.
All 10 Not So Berry generations
Set traits, aspiration and career for each heir:
| Gen and traits | Aspiration | Career |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mint: Vegetarian, Jealous, Materialistic | Chief of Mischief | Scientist |
| 2 Rose: Hot-Headed, Snob, Romantic | Serial Romantic | Politician |
| 3 Yellow: Clumsy, Ambitious, Loner | Nerd Brain | Astronaut |
| 4 Grey: Active, Slob, Music Lover | Bodybuilder | Athlete |
| 5 Plum: Genius, Noncommittal, Dance Machine | Renaissance Sim | Fast Food, Doctor, then Entertainer |
| 6 Orange: Evil, Self-Assured, Glutton | Public Enemy | Criminal |
| 7 Pink: Neat, Unflirty, Creative | Bestselling Author | Business |
| 8 Peach: Foodie, Lazy, Goofball | Joke Star | Detective |
| 9 Green: Squeamish, Geek, Cheerful | Computer Whiz | Tech Guru |
| 10 Blue: Gloomy, Perfectionist, Family-Oriented | Super Parent | Critic |
Goals for each generation
- Mint: max Mischief and Logic; complete the Elements collection.
- Rose: only one child; max Charisma; leave someone at the altar; marry for the first time as an elder.
- Yellow: max Rocket Science and Handiness; build a rocket and visit Sixam; enter the secret lot in Oasis Springs; no close friends or partners while the Mint grandparent is alive, except that grandparent.
- Grey: max Singing, Parenting and Fitness; three failed relationships, then marry a Neat Sim; good friends with every child; family movie night every Sunday.
- Plum: max Dancing and two other skills; level 8 in six skills; divorce, then remarry the same Sim; live in at least three worlds.
- Orange: max Baking and Charisma; live in a "Needs TLC" apartment for all of young adulthood; have twins and no other children (cheating is allowed here).
- Pink: complete the Postcards collection; max Writing and Wellness; keep a well-tended garden; quit the day job as an adult to write.
- Peach: marry a coworker; play an instrument; max Gourmet Cooking and Comedy; live in a different world from the one you grew up in.
- Green: max Mixology, Video Gaming and Programming; accept every invitation to a party or outing; five good friends and five enemies.
- Blue: adopt at least one child; max Photography, Cooking and Parenting; marry your high school sweetheart and stay together for life; one secret affair.
Plum is the odd one out: the post lists three careers and none to finish. In its story the heir works as a doctor, then switches to Entertainer as an adult to dance. Orange also insists on being a criminal mastermind that nobody believes in, which is story rather than a goal you can tick off.
Packs Not So Berry needs
The post names no packs, but these careers, skills and places come from them:
| Pack | Needed for |
|---|---|
| Get to Work | Scientist career (gen 1), Sixam (gen 3), Doctor career (gen 5), Baking skill (gen 6), Detective career (gen 8) |
| City Living | Politician career (gen 2), Singing skill (gen 4), apartments (gen 6), Critic career (gen 10) |
| Get Together | Dancing skill and the Dance Machine trait (gen 5) |
| Parenthood | Parenting skill (gens 4 and 10) |
| Spa Day | Wellness skill (gen 7) |
Traits can be pack content too, as Dance Machine shows. If a trait, career or skill isn't in your game, swap in the closest thing you own and keep going.
Free · no download · LifeSim
Start your Mint generation in a real city
Type a name. LifeSim draws your mint-haired founder and starts their life on a real map, with AI neighbors who remember them. Free, no packs.
Other versions, the follow-up and tracking
There is one original ruleset, and lilsimsie has said she doesn't intend to change it much. In the notes to her newer challenge she writes that Not So Berry belongs to the community now, and that other players have already written extended editions and base game versions. Those are fan rules, so check who wrote the copy you follow.
Her own follow-up is the Very Veggie Legacy Challenge: ten vegetable-themed generations, a §0 start and a base game version she wrote herself.
The tracker at the top of this page saves your progress in your browser. To compare formats, see the generational challenges list; for runs without packs, see base game challenges.
FAQ
What are the Not So Berry colors in order?
Mint, Rose, Yellow, Grey, Plum, Orange, Pink, Peach, Green and Blue.
Can you play Not So Berry with only the base game?
Not as written. Generation 1 already needs the Scientist career from Get to Work, and later generations use City Living, Get Together, Parenthood and Spa Day content. Fans have written base game versions, and lilsimsie's Very Veggie follow-up comes with a base game table of her own.
Are cheats allowed in Not So Berry?
Yes, lightly. The rules allow money cheats in moderation and suggest free real estate for the first home only. The Orange generation may also cheat to get its twins.
Who created the Not So Berry Challenge?
lilsimsie and alwaysimming. lilsimsie posted the rules on her Tumblr in February 2017.