How to Resurrect Sims in The Sims 3

Bring back Sims as ghosts and save them from the Grim Reaper

By
Scott Marriott
Scott Marriott
Writer
Former Lifewire writer Scott Alan Marriott covered simulation video games, and was also the senior editor for Allgame.com. His work has appeared in Classic Gamer Magazine and others.
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Updated on September 17, 2020

Are your Sims having trouble focusing due to the tragic loss of a loved one? If you know how to resurrect a Sim in Sims 3 as a ghost, you can bring them back to the land of the living with an Ambrosia.

Information in this article applies to The Sims 3 for all platforms, including PS3, Windows, and macOS. There's also a resurrection cheat for The Sims 4.

How to Resurrect Sims in The Sims 3

Sims can only be resurrected by other Sims with whom they shared a close relationship. If a Sim has recently departed (within the past few days), look for the opportunity Oh My Ghost to appear in their loved ones' opportunity lists and follow these steps:

  1. Select Oh My Ghost from the opportunities list.

    The opportunity is more likely to appear if you clear your Sims' opportunities lists.

  2. You'll receive a call from the lab. Take the departed's urn (or tombstone) to the lab.

  3. Choose to resurrect your Sim as a ghost.

    Don't throw away the departed Sim's urn or tombstone. If you throw it away, they will forever be stuck as ghosts and become unplayable.

  4. When your ghost Sim appears, put the Ambrosia in front of the ghost to get them to eat it. Your Sim is brought back to life and returns home.

If a Sim dies and you didn't want it to happen, quickly exit the game without saving. The Sim will still be alive when you restart.

Play Chess With the Grim Reaper

If one of your Sims dies and another Sim on the same lot has the Genius trait, they may get a chance to challenge the Grim Reaper to a game of Chess for the other Sim's life. Select the chess table that appears to start the game.

Playing Chess with the Grim Reaper in Sims 3
Electronic Arts

How to Make Ambrosia

First, you'll need to purchase the recipe, which requires saving up some Simoleons. You'll also need to nearly max out three different skills, so it's recommended that you use two or three Sims for gathering the ingredients:

  1. Plant special seeds until you get a Life Fruit (special seeds have a 25 percent chance of yielding Life Fruit). Use a Sim with Gardening skills level 7 or higher.

  2. Catch a Death Fish. Use a Sim with Fishing skills level 8 or higher.

  3. With the ingredients in your inventory, select the stove to make the Ambrosia. Use a Sim with level 10 Cooking skills.

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