inZOI’s Vision: Life Sim Gameplay and Meta Elements Explored
InZOI made a strong impression at Gamescom 2024, where we attended a hands-off preview that highlighted Krafton’s ambitious vision for its first life simulation game. Director Hyungjun Kim laid out the key principles: “playing your way, living by your own rules, and sharing digital memories with friends.”
If you’re familiar with life sims, InZOI will feel right at home. Your primary goal is to ensure the happiness and well-being of your characters, or Zois, by managing their basic needs like hunger and hygiene. But, much like The Sims, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The game boasts a vast open world filled with homes, workplaces, and interesting locations, offering far more than just character creation.
The InZOI gameplay trailer reveals many everyday life features familiar to Sims fans. Residents sweep up broken glass, water their plants, and sometimes set their ovens on fire. They can also enjoy hobbies like playing instruments, painting, or dancing.
Work is also part of life in InZOI. Zois can choose careers ranging from office jobs in high-rises to dishwashing in restaurants or even mopping floors at the local store. There’s even a sneak peek of military training, where a Zoi is seen doing push-ups under a superior’s watchful eye.
The emotional and mood system in InZOI plays a big role, with NPCs affected by over 300 personal values, preferences, and traits, which shape their behavior and response to tasks.
In an interview with Korean streamer Memolkim, producer Hyungjun Kim elaborated on InZOI’s meta elements, explaining that players assume a god-like role in the game’s world, which is depicted as sitting on a desk where the player works. Initially, the game’s map was too large, so it was scaled down for better playability, though there’s still plenty to explore, with three cities available in early access, including Bliss Bay, inspired by the sunny boardwalks of Santa Monica.
InZOI includes city-building elements reminiscent of SimCity, such as controlling the City Safety Level, which affects crime rates and social trust, directly impacting relationships and societal harmony. You can even tweak fun settings like the cat population or add zebras, offering whimsical customization options.
A new developer interview on InZOI’s official YouTube channel confirmed that fan-requested features from the official Discord wishlist are being added, including drivable cars. While not like Grand Theft Auto, these cars will let you drive around sensibly and deal with the occasional accident.
For a deeper look at InZOI’s upcoming features, check out the game’s roadmap, which details everything from cars to a karma system that will influence your choices.
