City Heartbeat
City Heartbeat is a DLC dedicated to the rhythm of civic life, where players embody essential public professions that uphold safety, health, and mobility. From paramedics and firefighters to police officers and fitness trainers, each role is playable, progression-based, and directly embedded into the city’s daily simulation.
Why This Matters:
This DLC expands life simulation with active, playable roles that shape public order, wellness, mobility, and infrastructure. Professions include fitness trainers and recovey guides, paramedics, hospital medics, firefighters, police officers, taxi drivers, delivery couriers — each contributes to the city’s rhythm through real-time actions, NPC feedback, and systemic consequences.
Your Zois can access all these services in everyday life outside of roleplay, as part of the base game. You can control the availability and necessity of these services through Control City Stability — adjusting how often they’re used, how quickly they respond, and how strongly they affect infrastructure and NPC behavior. (See: Enhanced Macro Simulation based on Karma System, City Stability, Shared Groups and Events (Cities Skylines inspired and optimized))
Healthcare
Base game
- Activate the Health App on your phone
- Track and fill three daily circles: calories, exerсises and sleep — just like your smartwatch.
- Build your own Exercise Chain using home, gym or studio activities, and launch them with one tap.
- Use nutritional supplements and functional blends to support recovery, boost energy, and maintain overall wellness — all tracked through your Health App.
- Need help? - Book a session with a Fitness Trainer (yoga instructor, pilates coach, HIIT trainer, recovery guide, or nutrition advisor) at any gym or studio, or request a home visit through the app.
A ton of excellent ideas on workout and fitness in this solid thread by the insightful and community-trusted Dattgal: Improvements on Working Out
- Call an Ambulance via the Emergency Calls for medical emergencies — vehicle arrive with sirens, transports you to the hospital, and hands off to medical staff for the planned procedure.
- Use Medical Assistance after traffic accidents — receive on-site treatment, and be transferred to hospital if needed.
- Schedule a Hospital Appointment for checkups, diagnostics, or childbirth
- Control City Stability settings such as Health Level to determine how often Zois get sick — or, conversely, go for runs and visit gyms. At low Health Level, ambulances flood the city and may become insufficient.
Fitness Trainer
Play as a yoga instructor, pilates coach, HIIT trainer, or recovery guide, or nutrition advisor.
- Design personalized programs: set goals, adjust difficulty, choose style
- Guide your clients: motivate, correct posture, encourage progress
- Master physical mechanics: stretching, breathing, technique
- Track results: maintain journals, monitor milestones, celebrate breakthroughs
- Manage your schedule: accept bookings, set availability, adjust pricing
- Use and upgrade studio equipment: mats, weights, resistance bands, treadmills, reformers and a boxing bag for cardio drills
- Unlock certifications: yoga, pilates, HIIT — each with unique perks
- Respond to client feedback: improve ratings, unlock premium tiers
Ambulance / Paramedic
Play as a mobile paramedic unit. Respond to emergency calls, stabilize patients, and coordinate with hospital.
- Use Medical App with triage and emergency alerts
- Build the Trauma Chain: accident → call → stabilization → hospital transfer* Monitor patient vitals: pulse, breathing, bleeding
- Operate professional gear: defibrillator, oxygen tank, splints, stretcher, medkit
- Interact with NPCs: medics, doctors, family members, dispatchers
Game References: Ambulance Life, 911 Operator, Rescue HQ, Flashing Lights
Medical Care
Play as a hospital-based medic
- Use Medical App with triage and emergency alerts
- Diagnose conditions: use X-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests
- Treat patients: feed, medicate, bandage, inject, apply splints
- Provide emotional support: talk, comfort, stay present
- Assist in childbirth: monitor contractions, deliver babies, manage complications*
- Unlock departments: ER, surgery, pediatrics, maternity, physiotherapy
- Manage hospital life: coordinate with doctors, families, and administrators
- Handle documentation, shift fatigue, and emotional burnout
- Plan your day: triage queue, scheduled procedures, rounds, emergencies
- Use medical devices: ECG, IV drips, surgical tools, rehab machines
- Progress through career levels: intern → nurse → GP → surgeon → chief
- Handle special cases: VIP patients, epidemics, malpractice claims
Game References: Sims 4: Get to Work, Project Hospital, Two Point Hospital
Safety
Base Game:
- Call Fire and Police Services via the Emergency Calls — vehicles arrive with sirens, deploy responders, and act according to the incident.
- Request Psychological Support via the Emergency Calls or on the incident site — crisis counselors arrive with responders or directly on the site, provide calming dialogue, reduce stress levels, and stabilize emotional state after accidents or conflicts
- Request Police Assistance for disturbances, investigations, or emergencies
- Control City Stability settings such as Crime Rate and Fire Rate to determine how often Zois commit crimes or cause fires — or, conversely, stay peaceful and maintain safe infrastructure. Adjust Crime Prevention Rate and Fire Prevention Rate to shape how quickly police and fire services respond, contain incidents, and restore order.
Firefighters / Rescue Operations
Command a fire brigade or act as a frontline rescuer.
- Use Fire Dispatch App with call queue and loadou
- Suppress fires: control pressure, identify sources, contain spread
- Rescue NPCs: evacuate buildings, deploy ladders, use breathing gear
- Handle hazards: electrical fires, structural collapses, natural disasters
- Coordinate with other services: police, medics, engineers
- Plan your shift: assign crew, select vehicle, prep gear, monitor weather
- Use station equipment: hose calibrators, gear lockers, training dummies
- Unlock call types: house fires, car crashes, false alarms
- Investigate fire causes: inspect debris, interview witnesses, file reports
- Progress through ranks: recruit → operator → rescue lead → investigator → chief
Game References: Sims 3: Ambitions, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, Squad
Police / Law Enforcement
Serve as a patrol officer, detective, or precinct commander.
- Use Police App with dispatch alerts and case file
- Operate across zones: street patrol, crime scenes, precinct office
- Patrol the streets: stop people and vehicles, check IDs, respond to calls
- Enforce the law: pursue suspects, make arrests, conduct interrogations
- Process evidence: collect, photograph, log into database
- Engage with the public: civilians, suspects, media, internal affairs
- Plan your shift: choose patrol zone, vehicle, gear, and mission type
- Use precinct tools: fingerprint scanner, interrogation room, case board
- Unlock case types: theft, assault, fraud, missing persons, gang activity
- Progress through ranks: cadet → patrol → detective → SWAT → commander
- Handle special events: press conferences, internal audits, hostage crises
Game References: Sims 4: Get to Work, This Is the Police, Flashing Lights, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers
Services
Taxi
Base game: Taxi service available.
- Access the Go App on your phone.
- Order rides, track arrival time, choose comfort level, and rate drivers.
DLC: Play as a taxi driver. Passengers rate your driving style after each ride — affecting your reputation, tips, and future requests.
- Use the Go App: accept ride requests, grow your reputation, earn bonuses
- Interact with passengers: hold conversations, read moods, earn tips
- Maintain your vehicle: refuel, repair, clean, upgrade
- Track performance: review ratings, income, and route history
Game References: Watch Dogs 2 (DriverSF), Crazy Taxi, Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator, CityDriver
Car Fueling
Base Game: Fueling service available
- Choose fuel type: standard, premium, or electric charge
Car Wash
Base Game: Car wash service available
- Choose wash type: exterior, interior, or full-service
Car Repair
Base Game: Vehicle repair service available
- Choose repair type: engine, bodywork, tires, or full-service
Delivery / Food Truck (WIP)
Base Game: Delivery service available
- Access the Go App on your phone.
- Order food, documents, or packages from NPC vendors.
- Track arrival time, courier rating, and delivery status in real time.
DLC: Play as a courier delivering packages, food, or documents.
- Use Go App: accept orders, adjust pricing, manage feedback
- Choose your transport: bike, motorcycle, car, van, or truck
- Build your Delivery Chain: link orders, earn ratings, grow your reputation, earn bonuses
- Track logistics: manage time, weight, route efficiency
- Maintain your gear: fuel, repairs, cargo upgrades
Game References: Death Stranding, Food Truck Simulator, Parcel Simulator
Garbage Collection
Base Game: Garbage truck service operates in the city.
- Control City Stability settings such as City Sanitation to adjust how often garbage trucks arrive, how quickly trash is removed, and how visibly waste accumulates in public areas. Lower settings may lead to overflow and NPC complaints; higher settings ensure cleaner streets.
Notes
- This thread is a work in progress and will be updated and refined based on ongoing comments.
Links
- Enhanced Macro Simulation based on Karma System, City Stability, Shared Groups and Events (Cities Skylines inspired and optimized)
- Improvements on Working Out by Dattgal
- Other DLC Concepts:
Rhythm & Glory DLC (From Streets to Arenas: Bands, DJ Lineups, Nightlife, Motors; K‑Pop, Dance, Idol Industry; URBZ-inspired)
Showtime, Storytime DLC (Broadcasting, Blogging, Film/Show Production, Theaters/Cinemas; Scripts, Scene Director Tools, The Movies-inspired)
Overture DLC (Belle Époque, Opera, Ballet, Imaginarium Park, Carnival, Circus, Puppets, Greenhouse, Vineyard, Tram, Pony, Dreams; It/Fr)
