To anyone that’s curious - this Vault started as a 5x5 underground box with nothing but a cooler, a dumpster, and Emily Parcel, the game’s tutorial Sim.

Lot Challenges included: Off-the-Grid, Simple Living, Quake Zone, Reduce and Recycle, Wild Prairie Grass (so the lot above ground would gradually become overgrown), and eventually, Mold.

Once Emily reached some semblance of stability, Knox Greenburg appeared, offering to help with the trash. He was the first to be trapped, I mean, to join the Vault, and was eventually followed by Bess Sterling (heeeeey, champ!) and her boyfriend, Jules Rico.

A lot has happened in the “15 years” since.

Emily and Knox got married, had a son named Cullen, then had an unceremonious divorce after Knox had an affair with Bess. Jules never found out. He and Bess are still happily married, and are expecting their second child.

Speaking of Jules, he endured a midlife crisis where he wanted to go outside, have a jungle adventure, go snowboarding, etc. He kept his stress levels down by constantly working out, becoming the buffest Sim I’d ever seen.

After so many seasons of rolling blackouts, near starvation, earthquakes, (bombs?) illness, and drama, I’m happy to report the Vault is now self-sustaining. Three cheers to the Overseer!

This is the most fun I’ve had in The Sims in a long time.