Digging

Digging is an interaction for The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3.

The Sims
When on vacation, a Sim can rent a Metal Detector from Rental Shack Zack and go looking for buried treasure. Once the Sim stops looking for treasure, the metal detector returns to the shack and must be rented again if if the player wants that Sim to keep digging. More often than not, the Sim will find small amounts of money that was presumably lost by other vacationers. However, Sims may find souvenirs while looking for treasure. If they're lucky, they may even find a bit of treasure. Of course, they may also find an old boot or two.

With The Sims: Unleashed, a bored dog may dig holes. Since vacationing families take their pets with them, there's a slight chance that a dog will dig something up while on Vacation Island, but it's not very likely.

The Sims 2
Digging was added in The Sims 2: Bon Voyage. Digging can yield unexpected treasures, maps to secret lots, rocks, bone, or bust the water main. Sims can dig on any uncovered terrain anywhere - on dorm, hotel, home, community lots.

There is a random chance that your Sim while digging can bust the water main; if this happens, the sim will run around and panic while the busted water main creates puddles and lower the environment score. The only way to stop the water from spraying is if the sim fills the hole in. If the puddles are left unmopped, soon they will spawn weeds.

The treasure chest can be sold for 5000$, and it can be put up for sale in player-owned businesses if The Sims 2: Open For Business is installed. The crate gains slightly in worth for each passing day.

Stray dogs or your sim's dog can also dig holes in the yard with the addition of The Sims 2: Pets. The holes will lower the environment score, and won't disappear until they are filled by a sim or a maid.

The Sims 3


Digging returned in The Sims 3: World Adventures. A Sim with a shovel can dig at a Dig Site and use it to find gemstones, metals, and other Items. Digging also comes in Ambitions in the form of the Miner, which a Sim can invent. The Digging Skill is a skill that can be obtained by dogs in The Sims 3: Pets. It is possible to take a class in the skill, or it can be taught by a Sim. At level 2 of digging, dogs will be able to "sniff out something", which gives their Sims the ability to dig there.