inZOI First Look: Stunningly Crafted, but Lacking Depth
In inZOI, Krafton’s ambitious life simulator, you’re not playing God, but rather an all-powerful office worker managing HR for tiny worlds, under the guidance of a super-cute cat overlord, no less. Instead of just managing the everyday lives and relationships of customizable avatars called Zois, you’re also tasked with building entire cities, complete with homes, businesses, and parks. There’s plenty to juggle, too, with challenges like city-wide mood swings, changing weather, and wild animals adding layers of unpredictability. It all creates a rich simulation that’s brimming with energy but, right now, still feels a bit empty at its core.
Before diving into my new role, inZOI introduced me to its hyper-realistic character creation studio, a slick tool that could easily have sucked up my entire preview time if I’d let it. The freedom to tweak and reshape my avatar’s facial features was impressive, like crafting a detailed Play-Doh figure. But any serious attempt at making a cool, stylish version of myself quickly fell apart when I discovered the wild Zoi presets from other players, think Shrek and Handsome Squidward. “We want to give players as much creative freedom as possible,” says Hyungjun Kim, the game’s director and producer. “I grew up making custom content for The Sims, so I know exactly what players want. I wanted to give them the same level of control.”
When creating a Zoi, you’ll pick their gender expression, age (ranging from child to senior), and personality before jumping into the highly flexible character editor. “At first, we considered a stylized look, similar to The Sims, but decided on realism to help players feel more connected,” Kim explains. “My goal is for people to reflect on life and live it more meaningfully through the game.”
