inZOI - A life simulation without life?

Impressive graphics, strong creative tools – but the heart of the game, the simulated life, remains shallow.

• InZoi – System Requirements
  
  

At first glance, inZOI has everything it needs to be a serious contender in the life simulation genre: a detailed character editor, modern visuals, and a user-friendly build mode. Stylish and ambitious it seems – until you dive deeper. Because what the game currently lacks is exactly what it promises: real life.

A shiny shell without substance

A spot-on Steam review puts it this way: “Reading every text in this game feels like getting an email from HR written by ChatGPT.” This sense of artificial distance runs through the entire game. inZOI fails to find its own tone and instead conveys a sterile, bureaucratic atmosphere – nicely wrapped, but empty in content.

Even more disappointing is that many core mechanics feel underdeveloped. Skills are largely meaningless, activities are often just a facade. Want to improve your gardening? You can water the same tomato plant for hours. Cooking? Only plate by plate – including washing each dish afterwards. Everything feels sluggish, mechanical, and strangely detached from the actual game flow.

Social interactions also leave much to be desired. There’s a lack of opportunities for casual togetherness. Instead, actions are hidden in rigid menus. Romantic events are superficial, emotionally flat – and relationships develop at an absurd pace. Even faster than in The Sims, but with less meaning. Much of it feels like placeholder systems meant to be replaced eventually.

A game for builders, not for storytellers

Still, inZOI has clear strengths – especially in the creative area. If you enjoy building and designing, you’ll find a considerable toolkit: the latest patch added 175 new objects, additional furniture categories, and improved camera tools. Those who focus on aesthetics rather than gameplay depth will be rewarded.

But this is exactly where the conflict lies: inZOI clearly targets The Sims audience – and they expect more. Deeper systems for storytelling, authentic relationships, tangible progression, and emotional bonding. All of that is missing so far – at least for now.

An update with potential

On June 13, a major update was released that could serve as a turning point. In addition to many quality-of-life improvements and new relationship features, modding support was introduced – a significant step.

With the new inZOI ModKit, players can create their own outfits, furniture, and even game rules. The interface is beginner-friendly, supports Blender and Maya, and offers integrated sharing via CurseForge. For a game still searching for its identity, this could be the crucial push.

Content-wise, things are also moving: adoption, teen romances, out-of-wedlock births, emotional messages, unexpected visits – the world feels more alive. Gender identity and romantic preferences are more flexible, relationships develop more naturally. Not a full restart, but a step in the right direction.

A game in transition

inZOI is still in Early Access – and it shows. The foundations of the simulation are underdeveloped, and real storytelling is largely absent. But the new update shows: the developers are listening, responding, and improving. On Steam, the rating currently stands at around 3.5 stars – a realistic mid-point.

• GAMING PC | AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 8x3.40GHz | 16GB DDR4 | RTX 5060 8GB DLSS 4 | 1TB M.2 SSD
  
  
  

But: The latest patch gives hope. If Krafton continues down this path, deepens the gameplay systems, and actively supports the modding community, inZOI could still become what it aims to be – a vibrant, profound life simulation.

 (Image source: Krafton)