Yes, your Sims can absolutely find out about cheating within the game, and when they do, there are significant in-game consequences for relationships and the Sims involved.
How Sims Discover Infidelity
In The Sims, an affair or act of cheating is discovered when the betrayed lover is present and notices the infidelity occurring. This direct observation is crucial for triggering the subsequent in-game reactions and storyline developments. It's not a hidden secret indefinitely if the right conditions for discovery are met.
Consequences of Cheating in The Sims
Once a Sim discovers their partner's infidelity, several immediate and impactful consequences unfold, affecting their emotional state and the dynamics of the relationships involved:
- Emotional Outburst: The betrayed Sim will become angry, reflecting their deep emotional distress and the feeling of betrayal.
- Relationship Degradation: A significant amount of relationship points will be immediately lost between the cheated-on Sim and both the cheating Sim, and potentially the affair partner, severely damaging the existing bonds.
Navigating Affairs and Divorce
The narrative within The Sims doesn't necessarily conclude with the discovery of an affair. If the affair continues or is pursued, the Sim involved in the extramarital relationship can be influenced to take further action:
- Convincing for Separation: The Sim who is having the affair can be convinced to leave their current spouse. This mechanic provides a pathway for the affair to transition into a new primary relationship.
- Immediate Divorce: If successfully persuaded, this action results in an immediate divorce from their current spouse. This streamlined process reflects the abrupt and often final nature of a relationship ending due to infidelity.
- No Divorced Moodlet for Betrayed Sim: Interestingly, the Sim who was cheated on will not receive the "divorced" moodlet. This specific detail differentiates a divorce caused by infidelity from other forms of relationship dissolution in the game, sparing the betrayed Sim from an additional negative emotional state typically associated with the act of divorcing.
