Highlights
- The Sims 4 has hidden mysteries involving aliens, ghosts, and missing wives, with one unsolved mystery being the "Honeymoon of Horror" at the Von Haunt Estate in Windenburg.
- Players can interact with plaques around the mansion to learn about its history, including the tragic deaths of Lord Shallot and Lady Alcorn, which may have occurred during their honeymoon.
- The plot of the real-world film "Honeymoon of Horror" from 1964 bears some similarities to The Sims 4 mystery, suggesting that Maxis may have taken inspiration from it when creating the Von Haunt Estate. Theories and speculations about the mystery continue, and players may finally get answers in future expansions or The Sims 5.
On the surface, the Sims franchise just seems like a regular life simulation game. But if one would look deeper, it has a rich lore that involves aliens, ghosts, and missing wives. In The Sims 4, players were able to unlock new Sims mysteries that are unsolved until now, like El Chupacabra in Oasis Springs.
Married couples are a common theme in these Sims mysteries. In the past, the iconic Goth family would always be the subject of these scary stories, especially after the alien abduction of matriarch Bella Goth sometime before the events of The Sims 2. One such mystery that's stumped players was the "Honeymoon of Horror" in The Sims 4.
What is The Sims 4's "Honeymoon of Horror"?
In The Sims 4: Get Together expansion pack, a new world called Windenburg featuring Gothic architecture was introduced. One of these Gothic structures is the historic Von Haunt Estate located in the uppermost area of Windenburg. It's been preserved as a museum and tourist attraction where Sims can learn about the history of the estate and explore its massive garden maze. However, the Von Haunt Estate is also known for having paranormal occurrences.
When players visit the Von Haunt Estate, they can interact with the plaques around the mansion to read about its history. It was owned by Lord Bernard Escargot Shallot IV and Lady Mimsy Alcorn Shallot, who died together in a fire that partially burned the mansion in 1898. A plaque in the Dining Room claimed that the blaze was caused by Lord Shallot, a struggling artist who often burned his paintings. Because of these incidents, some Sims claim to have seen ghosts in the area, which Von Haunt Estate Management repeatedly denied. In the Bedroom, the plaque said that it's no longer available for overnight stays due to the "Honeymoon of Horror" incident. It didn't specify what happened, but an insurance company warned Management that no person should spend the night in the mansion.
Sims 4 fans have several theories about what happened during the Honeymoon of Horror. It's possible that Lord and Lady Shallot's deaths happened while spending their honeymoon in the Von Haunt Estate. Another spooky theory could be that a newly-wed couple saw the Shallots' ghosts, or worse, were murdered when they stayed over at the mansion. This could explain why some visiting Sims experience paranormal incidents, especially at night.
As of now, The Sims 4 didn't provide a concrete explanation on what happened during the Honeymoon of Horror. Many players can only guess based on the plaques around the mansion. Notably, there's a real-world thriller film titled Honeymoon of Horror that came out in 1964. Directed by Irwin Meyer, it revolves around famous sculptor Emile Duvre and his new wife Lilli as they move into Emile's luxurious home. Lilli starts fearing for her safety when she gets phone calls from people threatening her life, and also experiences a series of near-death accidents. She later finds out that her husband's friends are plotting to murder her. In addition, the mystery of the film also revolves around Emile's collection of golden statues.
Apart from the similar name, the plot seems similar to The Sims 4's mystery. Both involves a strange artist living in a lavish home, and their wives who witnessed their artistry and possibly fell victim to their deadly actions. It's possible that Maxis took inspiration from Meyer's flick when it created the Von Haunt Estate in Windenburg. It's no secret that the studio had taken notes from other real-world elements and added them in The Sims, so this theory could hold up. With The Sims 4 still releasing expansion packs and The Sims 5 in development, longtime players might finally get some real answers about the Honeymoon of Horror.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.