As much as I love The Sims 3 (and will forever hold it near and dear to my heart), their mermaids – concept and visuals – weren’t the best in the series.
I enjoyed them to a degree, but I can confidently say I’m enjoying TS4 mermaids even more.
Even though they can’t really do much outside of Sulani, they’re still lovely to have in any household.
Ergo, if you feel like sprucing up your own merSim, here are some Maxis matched fishy finds!
When your merSim feels like a (literal) fish out of water, why not have them rock their scales instead of hiding them away?
This recolor of nenpy’s Fish Scales Tattoo makes the original CC Maxis match and ultra-colorful, with 56 beautiful swatches to play around with.
You don’t need the original .package file from Nenps for this to work, but you do need to download the recolor’s Tattoo Version for all other versions to work.
7. Leg Scales for Mermaids + Chest Scales for Male by Karine78
These look more like colorful patterned leggings than the remnants of a tail-to-legs transformation, but the overall visuals are still gorgeous. Especially since the tops match the hues of the leggings and have the same scaled, scalloped effect.
If the name didn’t tell you enough, then I’m sure the preview photo speaks volumes.
These are 10 new beautifully-colored tails for your merSims to splash around in. And they’re all patterned after the artfully splotchy scales of the koi fish (which are always so deceptively spellbinding to look at).
On regular human Sims, these colorful, candy-hued ear-fins would definitely look strange.
But on majestic mermaid Sims? They make sense.
Much like the side fins on most fish, they’re big, frilly, and probably look a right treat underwater. You can get them in two solid versions and one hauntingly transparent one.
Would you look at that. You can recreate Ariel in TS4.
Teal tail? Check.
Bouncy, bright red hair? Check.
Purple seashell bra? Yup.
Thanks to nolan-sims’s edit of the original TS4: Island Living mesh, these shells are subtle, strapless, and totally capable of withstanding intense swimming.
When I tell you that this tail is stunning in-game, you’d better believe it.
Even in Laptop Mode, all the details looked great.
The gentle gradient, the wisps, the fins, the tendrils, the scales… I could wax poetic forever about how these tails look like they came straight out of the best fantasy movies, but I won’t.
I’ll just leave them here for you to enjoy.
18. Mermaid Gradient Tails Scales and Seashells Set by tashamaria
Here’s part 2: the symmetrical tops—or, in this case, scales.
They can be worn separately since they’re in a different category but they should, ideally, match your merSim’s tail type and color. That way, the scales look seamlessly merged all over.
Try it out on your Sim in CAS and see; the full body effect is honestly so satisfying.
And here’s the third and final part of CMYKAYLEENA’s full-coverage scales endeavor.
Version 3 contains the asymmetrical version of V2’s scaled tops. Much like V2, they’re meant to merge seamlessly with your merSim’s tail, so mix swatches responsibly!
The creator also mentions needing some form of nude top (for the Female Sims only) to wear so that the scales look as natural and as close to the preview photos as possible. Any custom nude top will do, but there’s one available for download in the description if you don’t have a particular preference.
You can have literally a whole family of merSims swimming around in the bright blue waters of Sulani. It’s so precious and so perfect.
Note: Don’t forget to download the No Foot mod for the tails to work (this is linked in the description). Otherwise your perfect little mermaid Toddler will have human feet overlapping their adorably fishy tail.
23. Tropical Island Living Mermaid Tail Recolor by Radea
The creator describes this as a “tropical recolor” of the vanilla tails that came with TS4’s Island Living pack.
They’re bright, they’re colorful, and they’ve got a bit of sparkle for magic.
A comment on the download page describes one of the tails (with the pink-and-yellow hues) as reminiscent of a fizzy pineapple pink slushie, and I think that’s exactly what the creator was going for.
When I tell you that these eyes are the most hauntingly beautiful and dangerously mesmerizing eyes I have ever seen on a merSim, you better believe me.
It’s not just the size of the iris or the blend of colors (although the combinations and gradients are painfully gorgeous).
It’s the constant, ever-present reflection of what looks like the ocean shining from the iris. It’s downright poetic.
Male merSims deserve some snazzy new threads (scales?) too.
These custom creations by redearcat make it look like the scales of your merMale’s tails extend up their torso and arms in really cool symmetrical-slash-geometrical patterns.
There are 21 possible variations and they work for Teens to Elders.
This CC could work so well for a narrative where your Sim can’t let anyone know they’re a mermaid.
Imagine them refusing to wear crop tops no matter the weather or wearing scarves even in summer because the neck gills are just so prominent. I’ll leave you storytellers to it!
29. Mermaid Tails & Tops in @berrygameplay’s Candy Shoppe Palette by cosmicamos
Some subtle neck gills and tri-tipped custom ears for your water-dwelling Occult Sim, by pyxis—one of my favorite TS4 CC creators for Maxis match supernatural and fantasy CAS stuff.
They’re very good at creating custom content that blends and/or overlays seamlessly with base game features.
These mermaid-flavored add-ons? No exception!
31. Interstellar – A Butt-Ton of Alien Stuff by pyxis
These are, and I quote, “big, spiny, pierced fish ears for your mermaids.”
The description doesn’t do justice for how majestic these ears really look.
They’re sea-creature-themed in, like, the best possible way! Plus, they match whatever skin color they’re laid over pretty closely, so mad kudos to the creator for that!
Here’s a great one-stop-shop for creating fishy Sim friends with CC.
This custom stuff pack by petaliko contains creepy (but still pretty!) mermaid eyes, some face scales, and dotted mermaid brows.
These slightly more extreme features do make merSims more “creature” than Sim. But if that’s something right up your alley, then this download’s for you!
