A backroom lot – a place usually found at the back of a building or office block, a place for administrative work. For me, I hear ‘backroom” and I think of the places described in gaming where there is endless space, with yellow walls and no end in sight. Another description? It is a private space. Somewhere for secretive meetings, influential planning and ‘backroom’ deals. But with this game? The Sims 4 Backroom Lots are a new lot type introduced in the latest Royalty & Legacy expansion pack.

So what is a ‘Backroom Lot’?

A Sims 4 backroom lot is two lots in one really, if I had to simplify it. By day, they act like the traditional community spaces that we have all come to know. As long as you use the required items you could build whatever fits your narrative to have as the main cover of your hidden nightclub. The Sims team have designed it that you could have either a library, a museum or gym by day so your sims could read or study, exercise, socialize or hang out. Then by night, they transform into a whole new lively space for Sims to let loose, dance and party the night away.

These new community lots are tied into the new storytelling systems introduced with the new The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy expansion pack. From secrets and dynasties to scandals – these new backrooms could open up a whole new world of storytelling.

Your prestigious Sims could meet at the neighborhood library during the day for important meetings and formal reading, and sip on fizzy drinks and socialize all night in an underground club when the sun sets – all on the same lot! No need for a separate bar or club!

Why are they so special?

These lots have a dual function, by day your Sims will treat it as one lot and by night a whole new one. Two distinct personalities dwelling on the same lot at the same time. Sounds perfect for avoiding loading screens and having some interesting twists with your storytelling. The correct Sims for certain activities, like bartending, will appear for the evening shift of your Backroom lot.

Visual example

We get our first look at what these Sims 4 backroom lot types are all about with a 20×20 lot in the region of Dambele, in the world of Ondarion. Designed and built by Studio Gabri, the Hardcover Backroom is a slow, calm and collaborative space for studying and reading during the day and for high life partying after dark.

What kind of options do we have?

One could think up all kinds of possibilities when it comes to the options of night and day and the opposite ends of the spectrum that could create. Your imagination is once again the limit here, and if you can’t think up anything that excites you too much you can always turn to the community to see what others have conjured up because we know how talented this community is.

You could build a loud, sweaty, adrenaline induced gym space by day which can then transform into a rowdy werewolf bar by night. A royal bathhouse by day and secret society gathering when night falls. Even having unique and ancient artwork adorning walls and statues towering in hallways, but hidden beneath it all could be a vampire nightclub! Or a whole occult centered spot for all occults to gather… not saying it would work well but you could build it!

Backrooms are perfect for storytelling opportunities like secret meetings, backroom negotiations, scandalous rendezvous and nightlife gossip hubs. Have a hidden romance up your sleeve? Or perhaps a secretive alliance with an opposing royal family? There are options to encourage players to explore their creativity here.

How do they work?

Now we know the where, when and why all we need to know is the how. In your building menu when setting the lot type, “Backroom” is now an option. And as you will see, backrooms come with set requirements for you to have on your lot as well as optional ones. Important to note is the inclusion of essential bar items as well as having the option of a variety of ‘everyday’ objects.

These objects include a bookshelf, art or gym equipment, three of any of these to be exact. This means as long as you have, for example, 3 workout machines or 3 bookshelves or 3 pieces of art, you could make a really cool underground/rooftop/secret backroom for your Sims nightlife to come alive.

Final thoughts

This new lot type is perfect for both builders and players who love narrative and dual-purpose design. Those who want to mix and match an unassuming build with a hidden night life scene, with an eye for design and the mysterious and secretive. Does it work as intended? Sometimes… sometimes Sims just wander around the whole lot not really participating in any one particular activity at a specific time. Bartenders do show up, the lots are functional as both things presented, more Sims do arrive throughout the day… it’s functional. But does it require more imagination and storytelling than what is presented? Possibly, but this is The Sims and this is a life sim game.

In terms of some of the new features, you could have a Sims 4 Backroom lot accessible via a secret passageway, or secret bookshelf. Connect backroom lots or rather just the nightclub section of your build to other nightclubs or Sims 4 backroom lots in your world using secret passageways. Playing more into the expansion pack you could use backrooms for scandalous royal plots, hidden heir locations or secret meet up spots for the elite.

Now the final thing to do is jump in game and start playing! Have you built, seen or played in a specific ‘backroom’ lot that you have loved and can’t imagine your game without? Let us know in the comments down below so we can check it out! Also, what creative spaces are you thinking up for your next backroom?

For more information about The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy expansion pack have read through our other articles, such as a list of all the possible scandals, and how the scandal system works.