It’s a lot easier to make attractive, distinct faces with the TS4 presets and models. However, sometimes the game becomes a little too cartoonish—especially when they start talking. I get it; it’s a life simulation game. The facial expressions and gestures don’t need to be realistic, and embellished animations make watching the flow of conversation that much more amusing. But sometimes you just want subtlety. Sometimes a pained barely-there grimace photographs so much better than a pronounced scowl. A slightly fond smile speaks more words than a dazzling, toothy grin. I think this is why custom conversation poses were made. Because the vanilla Sims 4 talking animations are just so limited. And with that in mind, here are some of the better talking pose packs to widen your options.
1. Pool Side Chats Pose Pack by Banana-Sims
Check Out This Pose Pack Literally one of the chillest packs on this list, Banana-Sims’s Pool Side Chats poses perfectly captures the vibe of casual, lazy midsummer chitchat between two besties. There are four pair poses all in all, but they’re not a hundred percent dependent on the other. So you could, ideally, mix and match them if you need more variety. The Sim models in the preview photos are both Female, but I tried these poses out with both sexes and they came out fine. No awkwardness here, sir. The expressions and positions may be a bit on the sultry feminine side, but if that’s what you want for your Sim, then all’s good! For teleporter positions, check the preview photos on the original post link above.
2. Table Manners (Situational Talking Poses) by Something Wicked Sims
Check Out This Pose Pack Situational indeed! Something Wicked Sims is another one of my go-to’s for high-quality concept-specific TS4 pose packs, and they always deliver. This pack of 45 poses (yes you read that right) is the perfect pick for storytelling photos. Each pose is a different emotion, position, and gesture, so I highly doubt you’ll have trouble finding one to suit your narrative. They’re unisex, too—neither obviously feminine nor obviously masculine. Just casual, right-in-the-middle, run-of-the-mill expressions and motions that would work great for practically any storyline. You also have the option to use these for solo Sim-focused shots, one-on-one shots, or bigger group takes. Seriously, the versatility and quality of this pack are no joke. The creator also kindly included all-in-one animations for most categories, so you won’t have to queue up half a dozen poses multiple times. Some of the poses need accessories (mostly just cutlery and tableware stuff) to make sense, but don’t worry; the creator linked all their recommendations in the original post.
3. Sitting and Chatting by joannebernice
Check Out This Pose Pack There are a whole lot of emotions going on in this pack. And I, frankly, am pretty impressed. I never knew table talk could get this passionate, but joannebernice has proved me wrong. Smug, bored, defensive, apologetic, exasperated, accusing, confrontational… there are ten couple poses in this pack (for a grand total of twenty solo poses) and each one is drastically different from the other. Different expressions, different gestures, different positions, the whole works. Seriously, the attention to detail alone warrants a spot on this list. The quality of the poses (no awkward limbs, no wooden or exaggerated expressions) is just a sweet, sweet bonus.
4. Real Talk (Part 1 and 2) by cazmari
Real Talk Poses Part 1 Real Talk Poses Part 2 These packs hit right in the rom-com, falling-out-of-love-story feels. And how. Highly recommend if any of your Sims storylines have anguished romance twists or impending breakup plots. The expressions in this set are raw, real, and translate extremely well on in-game models. Don’t get me started on the quality of the poses, either. Unique, well-made, and so incredibly expressive. You can feel the heaviness of the character’s emotions in every pose – and the attention to detail is something else. It seriously gets to the point where you don’t even know which character you’re rooting for. You just know your heart is breaking along with them and you hope they’re gonna be okay. It also helps that literally every pose photographs so well. If you can turn off Laptop Mode and put all your Sims in the highest possible quality, do it. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Part 1 of Real Talk (and how accurate is that title, right?) has four couple poses, all meant to take place on a couch or loveseat. Part 2 has a total of nine couple poses that are a mix of standing and sitting.
5. Sad Conversation Pose Pack by mandarinsims
Check Out This Pose Pack I genuinely feel like I’ve already reviewed this pack before so, forgive me. The quality and concept just speak to me and I am, apparently, in that kind of mood. (Which would explain why we’ve got quite a bit of emotional packs on this list, actually). This one by mandarinsims is no different. The title pretty much tells you everything you need to know: it’s a conversation, it’s sad, and I have no idea who’s breaking up with who. But someone’s getting their heart broken – and it’s devastating to watch. What I love about the poses in this particular pack is the visible restraint. The character’s sadness and despondency aren’t portrayed in a way that’s campy, cartoony, or exaggerated. There’s a lot of visible tact and control in the way they hold themselves. They look like they’re walking on eggshells around each other; like they’re very carefully choosing their words. The expressions just hit different when they’re on your characters, you know?
6. Campus Chatter: A Conversation Posepack by Cement
Check Out This Pose Pack If you need a break from all the heartache and drama, here’s one of the more relaxed conversation pose packs. I mean, look at the models. They’re in varying degrees of leaning down, hunching over, or sprawled out. Plus the facial expressions combined with the utterly relaxed postures bring to mind casual, quiet moments between lectures, when you’re just bumming around with your friends on campus, talking nonsense and shooting the breeze. There’s something about these poses by creator Cement that perfectly captures the wholesome innocence of such moments. Which is why this set is a great download choice for sentimental saps (like me).
7. Little Talks Pose Pack by cazmari
Check Out This Pose Pack Here’s a soft sweet set of loveseat poses by cazmari to make you feel all warm, fuzzy, and hopeful about human interaction. The pack’s name, Little Talks, is a pretty spot-on description of its vibe. Small and seemingly inconsequential conversations that may or may not stick with us (or, in this case, our Sims) in the long run. An honest heart-to-heart with a loved one. A deep, engaging, semi-philosophical discussion with a close friend. A raw, emotional, vulnerable, dialog with someone your Sim just met—or may not see in a long time. These are just some scenarios that the poses in this pack suit to a T. There may just be eight of them, but they definitely fit more than three dozen narratives – and I think the quality and level of that versatility is something worth having in your mods folder.
8. Chatty Pose Pack by cazmari
Check Out This Pose Pack As someone who’s gone through their fair share of campus housing with fellow students from all walks of life, I can confidently say that people can (and will) strike up conversations in the most random of places. Laundry rooms, kitchens, rec areas, hallways, the corner storage cabinet on the third floor… it’s pretty amazing how any position becomes a comfortable position when one is genuinely enjoying the discourse they’re engaged in. From couch arms to kitchen countertops, this set by cazmari perfectly depicts the nuances of human eccentricity that can be seen in comfortable, everyday chatter. If you love slice-of-life shots for your Sims, I cannot recommend this pack enough.
9. Sitting & Talking Pose Collection by ratboysims
Check Out This Pose Pack You want customizable table chatter? You’ve got customizable table chatter. Forty options for it, in fact, thanks to ratboysims’ neat little pose package. And yes, I have to agree with the creator that there are never enough quality conversational poses (especially if you’re a story-based gameplay kind of Simmer). This creator was even kind enough to divide all of it into four major categories: neutral, angry, happy, sad. Each category has ten poses in it. Major props to be given here, because each pose in each category is distinctly unique. Sure, some gestures, positions, and general silhouettes are pretty similar. But considering there are forty different poses with forty different sets of emotions, expressions, and gesticulations, I think we can forgive some parallels. It’s a feat very few Sims 4 CC creators can boast of, after all. The dynamic of this pack is different, too. It doesn’t follow a particular theme or setting, and the poses aren’t at all dependent on the other. So you can definitely use it for both solo shoots and group pictures. I tried it with four different Sims at a time (one representing each category) and the result was a fairly chaotic family dinner scene that, while concerning, didn’t look awkward at all.
10. Let’s Talk Pose Pack by sim_plyreality
Check Out This Pose Pack Here’s a simple, standard, straight-to-the-point pose pack that works for a variety of situations. I know there are quite a few packs like this on the list already, but it’s always good to have options. Plus I really like how the facial expressions in this set translate in-game. They’re pretty similar to EA’s exaggerated, wide-eyed animations (just not as hyperbolic, thank goodness), which makes the models appear livelier. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for quiet, hushed, coffee shop conversations. But you’ve got to mix it up sometimes, right? So for the vibrant, lively, social butterfly Sims out there, this set by sim_plyreality is a great pick.
11. Talking Pose Pack by Esmerald_Universe
Check Out This Pose Pack This Talking Pose Pack by Esmerald_Universe is a pretty decent mix of emotional and chill. Although the creator doesn’t specify any sort of story or concept behind it, the expressions and poses in this pack definitely don’t resemble a regular everyday sort of conversation you’d have with just anybody. If I had to hazard a guess, it kind of looks like one of two things:
- Sim A kept Sim B waiting, or 2) Sim A didn’t tell Sim B where they were going, and Sim B had to track them down. Both scenarios seem plausible. And the fact that I was able to puzzle out a viable story from just five poses speaks of the pack’s overall quality. If you need to capture your Sims in this sort of “where have you been?” scenario (for whatever reason) I highly recommend this pack.
12. Take a Walk Pt. 2 by andromeda-sims
Check Out This Pose Pack Don’t you just hate it when a nice relaxing stroll through the park turns into a heated discussion? Andromeda-sims’ Take a Walk Pt. 2 pose pack sums up that journey quite nicely with a dozen thematic poses made for The Sims 4. The first several poses all carry that casual, happy, and positively contented vibe. Conversation seems pleasant and seems to flow easily. Towards the bottom of the list, though, we start seeing some unrest. A couple concerned looks. An eyebrow raised in confusion. The last two poses are, without a doubt, ones of disagreement. Not a full-blown argument for sure, but the two character models definitely aren’t seeing eye-to-eye. Overall a pretty great set of high-quality poses that illustrate a common enough occurrence when used all at once.
13. Conversationals: A Casual Talking Pose Set by stargirl-sims
Check Out This Pose Pack Getting to know someone new? Bumped into a vaguely familiar acquaintance at a party? Saw an old schoolmate at the grocery and decided to chat them up? These are casual conversational events that can definitely happen every day – and thankfully they don’t need much context. This pose set by stargirl-sims perfectly captures the unperturbed spontaneity of uninitiated (but still pretty lengthy) conversations. And let’s be real here: Sims 4 talking animations can be a bit much. I get that it’s supposed to be exaggerated to fit the semi-cartoonish look of TS4, but not everyone talks with their whole body. After years of watching Sims talk like they’re forming a tableau, the quiet understated gestures in this pack are like a breath of fresh air.
14. Talking & Walking Couple Poses by joannebernice
Check Out This Pose Pack Talking, walking, and just a tad bit of smooching to be exact. Just like stargirl-sims’ Conversationals pack, this set of twenty couples poses is good for casual everyday conversations that don’t need too much context. Just two partners engaging in lighthearted chit-chat as they navigate the streets of San Myshuno (or wherever you want to put them). It actually has the same vibe as andromeda-sims’s Take a Walk Pt. 2 pose pack. Biggest difference is that the models in Take a Walk Pt. 2 seem fairly quiet and subdued. The couple in joannebernice’s pack seem a lot brighter and more animated. Both are about the same quality (especially with how they turn out in-game), so picking one over the other is really just a matter of preference.
15. Situational Talking Poses Pt. Two by something-wicked-sims
Check Out This Pose Pack Let me just preface everything by saying that this pack has forty-four (44) individual poses. Forty. Four. I thought ratboysims’s Sitting & Talking pose set was a clear record-holder, but apparently not. I didn’t even know a pose pack could hold that many poses. I feel like the sheer number alone already justifies this set’s spot on this list, but let me point out a couple other merits. For one, the poses are unisex. Minimal clipping happens when you use a Male model for the Effeminate category and a Female model for the Masculine one. For another, the categories are very, very clear. Great variation between expressions and gestures. Third point? There’s an all-in-one option for each category. No queuing up dozens of poses at once just to find the one you need. It’s just a great pack, that’s what I’m trying to say, and I highly recommend you get it.
