What is InZOI? What parents need to know

InZOI is a single-player life simulation game available in early access on Steam. It was created by South Korean video game publisher, Krafton, and shares similarities to The Sims. Many see it as a competitor to The Sims games.

InZOI uses a realistic style of art and gameplay. Users can create Zois (the name of the InZOI characters) and customise every feature in detail. They can build relationships with other Zois as a part of gameplay, build custom homes and choose what kind of life to give their Zois.

While Zois interact and communicate with one another, the game is singe-player. This means that the other Zois are not controlled by other players.

Because the game is created by a South Korean video game publisher, a lot of the world and clothing options reflect local places and styles.

Age requirements on InZOI

Because InZOI is only in early access, it does not yet have a PEGI rating. However, InZOI includes elements of sex and violence. This suggests it would have a PEGI rating of 12, which The Sims also has.

It’s also important to note that while The Sims’ graphics are more cartoonish, InZOI’s graphics are fairly realistic. As such, elements of sex and violence might feel more realistic as well.

If your child is interested in InZOI, it’s a good idea to play it first or along with them to check that content is suitable for their age and maturity.

You can purchase InZOI on Steam for £34.99. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the game on your PC, you can start exploring the game.

Building playable characters

Users start by creating their Zoi, which they can customise in great detail, including facial features, clothing patterns, hair colours and more. You can then choose their traits, which impact how the Zois respond to different situations. Trait categories include:

• Openness
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Agreeableness
• Neuroticism

Within each category, users can choose from multiple options.

As a part of the Zoi creation, users can also set relationships between multiple Zois. For example, if they have two characters, a user can say they are roommates or in a romantic relationship.

Customising homes

Once a user has created their Zois, they can choose a place to live. As the game develops, more worlds are likely to become available. Like in The Sims, these places are modelled on real cities and towns but have fictional names.

Users can move into existing homes or empty lots where they can build their own home or choose a pre-made home.

Just like with Zoi creation, users can customise furniture and other pieces in detail, choosing colours, styles and patterns.

InZOI also makes use of artificial intelligence where users can enter a few words into the generative AI tool and receive pictures related to those words. Like other AI features, this tool isn’t always successful and might take some trial and error.

Gameplay

InZOI uses an open world style of gameplay. This means that Zois can explore their neighbourhood freely without additional loading screens. However, users can quickly travel to places instead, which will require some loading.

The game is a life simulation, so players can do most things that people would do in real life. This includes working and building relationships. Users can create a story for their Zoi based on their individual interest.

Regardless of how users play, they also need to take care of their Zois’ basic needs such as hunger, sleep and finances.

Because the game is in early access, InZOI does not have an official PEGI rating yet. However, we can assume it would receive a PEGI 12 rating or higher.

Early access also means that the developers are still working on the game. This means that future features might be inappropriate for children.

Whether the game is right for your child depends on a number of factors, including children’s age, maturity and style of gameplay.

Just like with The Sims, some users enjoy the character and home creation more than the actual simulation. These aspects are less likely to include violence or sexual themes than regular gameplay.

InZOI is a single-player game though, which means there isn’t risk of inappropriate contact on the platform itself. However, just like with other video games, many users engage in communities off-platform.

If your child is interested in playing, we’d recommend exploring the game yourself first. This includes aspects such as relationships or violence to ensure it isn’t too graphic for your child. It’s also a good idea to stay up-to-date on InZOI’s latest developments and features while it’s in early access.

• Follow InZOI or Krafton on social media channels that you use. This will help you stay on top of the latest updates and developments, which could impact your child’s safety.
• Play together. It’s a single-player game, so ‘playing together’ might look like taking turns. It might also include your child playing while you work with them and watch them play.
• Read reviews. Other users might highlight issues that concern them, which might also concern you. This can help you stay on top of potential risks.
• Talk about InZOI. Discuss their gameplay, what they like about it, their current story and anything else you’re curious about. Open conversations can encourage them to come to you if they have any concerns.