Sims 4 from CDKeys.com - A question from an idiot

JamesBP

Hi,

I have what is probably a very silly question regarding the CDKeys.com site, which I'm hoping someone can help with.

My daughter would like to buy Sims 4 for the PC through this site, however I can't quite figure out what they're selling! It's listed as 'The Sims 4 - Standard Edition PC/Mac - Instant Delivery (Download)' (it's the first result in Google Shopping if you search 'Sims 4'). Does this mean they're selling just the unique key for the game, or a downloadable copy of the game itself too? i.e. if I pay the £24.99, does that include everything, or just the key, meaning I'd then have to buy/find the game elsewhere separately?

I can't find the answer on the site, and haven't had much luck with their support, probably because it's such an obvious question that nobody can quite believe they'd need to answer it! (I come from the generation of gaming when they came on huge great blocks of grey plastic that you'd shove into a bigger block of grey plastic. You knew where you were with Duck Hunt...) I'm hoping that someone here can pat me on the head and point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Angry_Bear

I've never used CDKeys.com before so I'm not 100%, but I think they just give you the key, and you use this to log in to a site (Steam or EA Games or similar - it would be EA Games/Origin for Sims4) and you download the game from there.
You could bu direct from Origin (which is EA Games' online game store): https://www.origin.com/en-gb/store/buy/sims-4/mac-pc-download/base-game/digital-deluxe-edition
It's £40 so depends on what's cheapest :money:

PenguinJim

You'll need to use EA's Origin for The Sims 4 - here is their website.

This client is necessary to play some EA games, as it confirms that they are legitimate copies. (Most games today use "Steam", while some use "Uplay". Some games are available on two or three services, while some are completely exclusive to one. The Sims 4 is exclusive to Origin.)

So, when you buy most download games today, you'll be given a key (and the site should tell you which client the key is for (Steam, Origin, Uplay or another). You'll need to download and install the correct client first (they're free), and set up an account (also free). Then you log into your account and will have the option to add a key.

Make sure that you use a valid email when creating the account.

You can skip the key stuff by buying directly through the client, but this is not usually the cheapest option.

I did see on another forum about the digital key being in a weekend promo here for under £20, if that's any help?

It might be worth double-checking with your daughter that The Sims 4 is definitely what she wants, as The Sims 3 is considered to be the better Sims game, being the most feature-complete and smoothest experience. It's also quite a bit cheaper - although there are a few paid expansions that can push up the price, too!

JamesBP

Thank you PenguinJim and Angry Bear for your assistance! It all makes sense now I bought the key, and it was emailed to me along with pretty much the same instructions you gave, i.e. downloading Origin, creating an EA account, registering the key and then downloading the game. I really appreciate your help - It was much more reassuring buying the key having read your experiences and advice, and so knowing what to expect. Game downloaded, daughter delighted (that's probably the last we'll see of her for a couple of months now...)

Thanks again! I might have another look later to see if they've got Horace Goes Skiing...