On Wednesday, February 4, several members of The Sims Creator Program began uploading their reviews of the upcoming The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack, set to release on February 12. Thanks to these early Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy gameplay previews, we now know more about the pack’s gameplay features, new Build Mode items, hidden lore and dynasties, as well as the new Create-a-Sim content.
We have compiled some of the new features you might not know about to give you a clearer picture of what The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy brings to the table ahead of its release.
The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Gameplay Previews from Creators
Beyond Its Visuals, the New World Is Full of New Things to Do
Before diving into the gameplay preview systems, dynasties, or royal intrigue, The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy makes a strong first impression through its world design. Each of the three neighborhoods has a distinct visual identity, drawing inspiration from different real-world cultures and architectural traditions. Together, they create a cohesive world that feels rich and carefully detailed from the very first look.
Thanks to create4sims for these stunning visuals!
Verdemar serves as the ceremonial and cultural core of the world with Portuguese-inspired architecture. Bellacorde leans into elegance and refinement, with formal gardens, pastel façades, and architectural cues inspired by French Riviera. Dambele stands out with its sunlit stone buildings, palm-lined streets, and dense urban layout inspired by West African. Together, these neighborhoods add depth and value to the expansion, reinforcing its themes of power, lineage, and dynastic influence through their distinct and stunning visual identities.
New Recipes!
Across all three neighborhoods, Sims can grab a bite at new street food stalls offering recipes inspired by different parts of the world.
Besides the Backroom Lot Type, there is ONE MORE!
Thanks to early gameplay preview videos from creators, we know that a new Community Market lot type is being introduced, allowing Sims to shop for Base Game and Expansion Pack items, as well as objects added with Royalty & Legacy, including swords.
Rabbit Holes and Other Secrets!
At these early gameplay previews, we are seeing that exploration is encouraged through some new rabbit holes scattered across the neighborhoods. In Verdemar, Sims can interact with the Blacksmith to have a sword forged, while other environmental details, such as rocks marked with an “X”, invite players to search for hidden secrets and discover what pirates might have hidden. Have you heard about the Simcalibur legend? Your Sim can attempt to pull the sword from the stone and, if successful, earn the legitimate right to claim the throne!
The Ancestors’ Tree in Dambele
At the heart of Dambele stands the Ancestors’ Tree, a monumental and sacred location tied to the world’s spiritual identity. Sims can visit this ancient tree to ask for their ancestors’ blessing, choosing from several options that grant different effects.
Swordsmanship Tournaments Across All Neighborhoods
Each of the three neighborhoods features a dedicated location where Sims can take part in swordsmanship tournaments, each tied to the cultural identity of its world. In Verdemar, tournaments are held around a ceremonial chafariz, a Portuguese-inspired civic fountain. Dambele hosts its tournaments in an ancestral pavilion, while Bellacorde offers a refined garden pavilion.
Technical View from the World Manager
From the World Manager, players can access the Kingdom Manager, a dedicated panel that provides an overview of the kingdom’s current state. From here, it’s possible to check the Kingdom Tax Level, see which Noble Decrees are currently active, view all Sims holding noble positions, and customize their titles. These titles are not limited to traditional roles like kings or queens, and can be adapted to better reflect each Sim’s gender identity or their specific role within the dynasty.
Being a Noble Comes with Its Own Set of Perks
Nobility gameplay received its own Gameplay Trailer with plenty of reveals, but there are always some secrets that only come to light once we see real gameplay in action.
Private School with Unique Uniforms!
In gameplay previews, we have seen how noble families also come with exclusive social advantages. Children born into nobility attend elite schools and wear special uniforms, reinforcing their elevated status from an early age.
Curious Interactions Exclusive to Nobles
Noble Sims gain access to unique activities known as Noble Ventures, including interactions such as Visit Kingdom Heritage Sites, Visit and Present at Local School, and Give Interview for Local Newspaper. These ventures help expand a dynasty’s influence beyond the household.
Forge A Connection to Gain Power
Forge a Connection is a brand-new feature that is tied exclusively to the scandals system. While many players have long asked for expanded CAS relationship options, this functionality is instead locked behind a gameplay mechanic that revolves around secrets. As a result, what could have been a flexible relationship tool becomes situational, raising questions about why such a highly requested system is restricted to scandals rather than being available as a broader family management feature.
Nobles Doesn’t Do Repairs Works
The expansion also adds a new phone service that lets Sims hire a technician to upgrade household objects for them. After all, nobles don’t get their hands dirty improving fridges or toilets; that kind of work is clearly beneath them and best left to someone “more qualified.” And yes, that’s probably why this feature didn’t arrive in a Base Game update.
More Dynasties Features!
Just like Nobility, Dynasties received another Gameplay Trailer. Dynasties sit at the very core of The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy, introducing a system that places family lineage, control, and long-term influence at the center of gameplay. Rather than focusing solely on individual Sims, the expansion encourages players to think in terms of bloodlines, succession, and generational power, with dynastic ideals acting as inherited traits that help define each family’s identity and values across generations.
You are (NOT) the Father!
When a baby is born, players can choose the father, directly shaping the family’s lineage. Hiding the baby’s true parent from a spouse can create a new relationship status: Secret Child.
Control Your Dynasty
The Dynasty Management menu provides a detailed overview of each family member, offering specific information tied to their role within the dynasty. Within this panel, players can view a custom portrait, a Sim’s traits, current career, and overall status.
Keep Your Allies Close — and Your Enemies Even Closer
As the head of a dynasty, Sims gain access to special dialogue events designed to manage relationships between allied and rival dynasties. These interactions allow players to negotiate disputes, resolve tensions, or escalate conflicts, reinforcing the idea that dynastic power is maintained not just through titles but through diplomacy and influence.
Together, these systems transform family gameplay into a long-term strategy, where every decision, from parenthood to political alliances, can have lasting consequences for the dynasty’s future and your Sims’ storytelling!
Secrets and Scandals Can Make, or Break, a Dynasty
Power in The Sims 4: Royalty & Dynasty isn’t built on titles alone. Secrets, rumors, and scandals play a crucial role in shaping relationships between Sims, families, and entire dynasties. Information becomes a valuable currency, and using the right scandal at the right time can cost rivals their careers, destroy their reputation, or even strip them of the crown!
What’s your darkest secret?
Players can actively seek out secrets by questioning other Sims, uncovering hidden truths that can later be used to gain leverage, manipulate outcomes, or protect their own dynasty from public disgrace. At the same time, Sims may approach your household searching for information of their own, turning every conversation into a potential risk.
More unconventional methods are also available. Players can hack systems to dig up secrets or consult the Magic Mirror, which offers insight into hidden truths.
Control your DRAMA!
All the major gameplay systems introduced with The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy come with dedicated toggles in the game settings, allowing players to customize their experience. The Sims team has clearly learned from community feedback during the Enchanted by Nature era, where gameplay systems like ailments, the luck system, and stability mechanics could feel frustrating for some players.
There’s Space for Fantasy Gameplay, Too!
Fantasy elements play an important role in The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy, blending mysticism with the expansion’s political and social systems. As previously mentioned, the Magic Mirror is a powerful tool for uncovering secrets, but it can also be used to peer into what lies ahead.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
When Sims choose the Gaze into the Future interaction, they may receive insight into what awaits them. However, this knowledge comes at a price: the mirror can curse the Sim, preventing them from advancing in their career and hindering their ability to craft objects.
And They Lived Happily Ever After…?
Fantasy gameplay also introduces fairytale-inspired elements, such as the iconic glass slippers. However, one of the most surprising additions is the Noble Frog. Sims can interact with this mysterious creature by kissing it, triggering a transformation into a human Sim who may react positively or with clear disappointment.
These whimsical mechanics strongly recall the magical tone and playful unpredictability of The Sims: Makin’ Magic Expansion Pass, bringing that classic fantasy feeling back into the franchise.
Some interesting additions to Build Mode!
Build Mode in The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy brings several surprising additions to the game. Early gameplay previews has allow us to see new builds made by new, surprising features.
Opened Variations of Doors!
This new pack introduces a wide selection of door variants that are permanently open, allowing builders to create more natural transitions between spaces without relying on cheats. Hopefully, this system will become a standard option for most doors in future updates.
DIY Family Shields
Just like the customizable signs introduced for rental businesses in The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack, Royalty & Legacy adds custom shields that allow players to decorate their Sims’ castles with their family’s emblem.
For the First Time in Forever…
The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy FINALLY introduces MODULAR sofas again! This time, they come with designs inspired by African textures and patterns, as far as we’ve seen in gameplay previews.
Based on what has been shown so far through early access gameplay preview and official videos, The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy introduces a wide range of systems centered on dynasties, noble roles, social power, and new hidden features.
The expansion combines new worlds, fantasy-inspired mechanics, and quality-of-life improvements to support long-term, story-driven, and large families gameplay. These early previews offer a clearer picture of how The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy approaches themes of lineage, influence, and status, giving players a better idea of what to expect when the pack releases.
What are your thoughts on The Sims 4: Royalty & Dynasty Expansion Pack, based on what content creators have shared in their gameplay previews? Let us know in the comments!
