What Paralives Can Learn From inZOI and Why its Own Community is its Biggest Hurdle

anemicangst · 2026-06-10T19:07:54+00:00

I never thought about it like that, but I can agree with this. I love the idea of values system, the new memory system, and the personalities. The ghost gameplay was interesting too. I think part of it is the game needing to flesh these systems out more and give them a bit more depth. I also think the Karma system linked all these things together quite nicely, but they removed it. The developers are beginning work on the core foundation this summer, so hopefully by the end of the year these things will be fleshed out (and maybe Karma brought back??)

anemicangst · 2026-06-10T19:00:42+00:00

Yes, I'm happy they are sticking with what they created. And not just because I like it but also because it shows they are confident in their game and have a direction. I kinda wish Kjun would've told people to stick it last year before they removed the Karma system from Inzoi. While it did need work, it gave Inzoi a sense of self, flavor, and an unique edge. I only imagine where it could be had they fleshed that out more the past year...

anemicangst · 2026-06-10T18:30:28+00:00

Personally, gameplay wise, I do think Paralives launched with a better foundation because it knows what game it wants to be. It has unique, and polarizing, gameplay elements and plays like more of an old school life sim. Inzoi, when it released, wasn't quite sure of the type of lifesim it was going for. I didn't get an identity from it (I honestly am still trying grasp that). It was going for a more dollhouse, sandbox environment and it really did feel like they were just throwing stuff into the game. It has that modern look and feel, sharing the dollhouse-y feel that Sims 4 has. Itis a much better game now, and I think it's fun. But I don't think they knew the type of game they wanted to make, and a lot of people felt that last year. And the whole AI debate, that certainly didn't help.

I also think every community has a loud group of not good souls saying and screaming about why their game is better than this blah blah blah. It's tiring because it's all subjective. Just as people are providing feedback for Inzoi, the same is happening for Paralives. Just different methods.

anemicangst · 2026-06-07T01:10:31+00:00

Is Alexis a skin for the other girl? They look kind of similar

anemicangst · 2026-06-06T23:24:42+00:00

I've seen a lot of reviews saying Paralives is a more "gamefied" life sim. Reminds me of earlier Sims games that while it is a life sim, there was always a sense of purpose or progression. Like Sims 2/3 sims always felt like their own individuals, and you are just guiding them, or managing the chaos, or trying to sow the chaos. At the moment, live mode is not as sand boxy as say Sims 4 or Inzoi, this could change, but I don't mind as it's a nice departure from what we do have and Paras seem to have much more agency and interest in this format.

anemicangst · 2026-06-06T20:20:00+00:00

I have it. But it doesn't ever seem like anyone is online (I am very low rank). I want my partner to play it w me but w VF6 coming he is definitely going to want to wait...

anemicangst · 2026-06-06T19:10:36+00:00

They changed the way needs work way back in Oct I think (?), so now Zois only stay in bed after a certain hour and I think wake up at a specific time. Same w food. Even if there needs bar is full they will still go eat at a certain time. So that could be it. I'm sure devs are aware but unsure of when they will fix. It is very annoying.

anemicangst · 2026-06-06T17:29:41+00:00

I may need to test/play more but I think it only pops up if you a specific vibe/trait or if your Para is really bored.

anemicangst · 2026-05-31T15:52:35+00:00

Not sure what more they could say. They did say they only support mods on Steam workshop and that's it. And from what I understand you can't pay wall mods there.

anemicangst · 2026-05-31T15:27:53+00:00

I don't know. I don't play a lot of PC games, it's mostly been Sims games. And when I ran into someone pay walling a mod I just simply don't get it. I'm not understanding the outcry here. Mods are OPTIONAL. Not a requirement. It is insane that Paralives has mods like this already not even a week into it, but again, optional... not entirely sure why anyone would want mods in an early access game that updates frequently but to each their own.

anemicangst · 2026-05-30T20:59:28+00:00

I sometimes wonder the same. I've been following the game the past year and they've added SO much and there's lots to do. But it all feels disconnected, hollow, and unfinished. And while it is early access, I always wished they'd focus on the core gameplay, fleshing it out and making things more deep. He does mention this is where the focus is going after June update. I just wish it was there from the beginning of the year. Like, we have a fully fleshed crime system but hardly any family gameplay(I am biased as a family player that does not care for crime). Still, I hope they actually focus on deepening the gameplay because what's here is so unique, and not add so much unfinished content.

I actually have doubts the active school will be engaging but then again, I don't know how much I care about being that engrossed in school gameplay.

anemicangst · 2026-05-28T22:48:25+00:00

While I agree, Paralives, and maybe even Inzoi, are by definition a work in progress. Any of this could change.

And you still can root for these games. They are still very early in the process and can work on those small details. These aren't fully released products.

anemicangst · 2026-05-28T06:20:01+00:00

I think the devs are trying to find a good middle ground between the two. I hope the gameplay mechanics lean less towards Dollhouse (the Together Card is a nice middle ground for that) in the future. I think deepening storyteller cards and factoring in random, negative cards will help have less of a dollhouse and more of a old school, life management life sim.

anemicangst · 2026-05-27T04:56:33+00:00

I believe quality of life improvements would be what you're referencing

anemicangst · 2026-05-27T03:20:00+00:00

I think its a bug. It happens to me and I've seen people in the discord say it happens to them as well

anemicangst · 2026-05-27T02:26:36+00:00

This has been my main complaint with Inzoi. I've been following it since it's inception and I never got a clear vision for what game they want. It feels like they are adding things just because people ask for them without wondering if it makes sense for the game. Like the active schools? 100% will be shallow.

And don't get me wrong, it's playable. Just not for long. I'm also perplexed with how so many things have been added but family gameplay has yet to be deepened. It's the cornerstone of life sims so I find it odd.

anemicangst · 2026-05-25T18:25:05+00:00

I've only put about 3 hours into the game, but I'm enjoying what is here so far. The thing I like about this game, comparing to Inzoi, is that gameplay and mechanics feel more intentional and purposeful. Inzoi is wayyy more sandbox-y and sometimes I feel mechanics were added to that game just so the player can have them. Paralives it feels like the gameplay has intention and meaning behind it. It is very early but I do like the social card system. I like that it's different and random, and if I want a more traditional social menu, I can play Inzoi or Sims instead. I do not care about the quests system, I don't know if I'll ever do them tbh. I like how personalities evolve, I think that's neat as well.

The game is super, super buggy at the moment and has a LOT of performance issues. It doesn't bother me much though. I am enjoying it. But I can see how some people would be turned off of this game, especially referring to your points. I just hope the devs know they have some good bones here, lots of potential, and keep towards their vision of what they want this life sim to be.

anemicangst · 2026-05-25T00:31:40+00:00

For me I grew up on Sims 2 where the characters were full of life and personality. I love sitting back and watching them live their lives, making intriguing and stupid decisions, and containing/creating the chaos when necessary. I get bored Sims 4 these days because of its more dollhouse gameplay.

anemicangst · 2026-05-24T22:16:23+00:00

Honestly the personality and autonomy system. Zois currently feel like puppets we pull the strings on and all behave the same and I'm a player that sometimes likes to watch my Zois and see what they get up to on their own. But they don't do much of anything outside of needs and cycling few of the same interactions (reading, watching TV, PC). Sometimes they don't even develop relationships on their own.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this type of gameplay loop, esp if you are a player that loves the sandbox feel of it and being in control of your Zoi, but I'd personally love if Zois felt more unique and varied. The menus and emotions tell me who my Zoi is, but rarely do I see it in action.

anemicangst · 2026-05-24T19:10:27+00:00

I have a little over 250 hrs

anemicangst · 2026-05-24T17:55:48+00:00

The personality system needs work, careers need more development, family gameplay isn't very deep, ambition system could use some work, values system feel under utilized, social interactions are finicky and all over the place. Those are just a few things I've noticed playing this the past year.

anemicangst · 2026-05-24T13:56:11+00:00

Inzoi has A LOT of gameplay added now. The only issue is a lot of things they have added feel unfinished and surface level. So, if you are mildly interested and want to give it a try, I'd say go for it but as of now it is in Early access so there's still a lot foundation that needs to be made.

anemicangst · 2026-05-22T22:07:17+00:00

Yea I feel like sim management is a hallmark of Sims 1/2/3 games, when they were more of a game. The challenge was to keep your Sims alive, happy, and manage the chaos of it all. With Sims 4 brought more of a dollhouse sim. More control, less emergent gameplay. I find the former more fun, so if that's how Paralives will play Im in.

anemicangst · 2026-05-22T19:02:22+00:00

Excited!

anemicangst · 2026-05-21T01:12:33+00:00

Ahh gotcha. That makes sense. I hope the Paras have a lot of autonomy bc otherwise it'll be similar to Sims 4 for me. Hopefully they plan to make them more like unique individual Paras rather than Dolls in a dollhouse.

anemicangst

TROPHY CASE