inZOI, or The New Sims: Is It Worth Playing? First Impressions of the Latest Life Simulator from the PUBG Publisher
Korean studio Krafton, renowned for unleashing the online sensation PUBG, has ventured into new territory with its own life simulator, inZOI. The Experiment team spent several hours immersed in this fresh release and sifted through early player feedback to determine whether inZOI truly stands as a "Sims killer"—or if such a comparison misses the mark entirely.
What Is inZOI?
From its inception, inZOI was crafted with an eye toward The Sims and its storied legacy. It’s undeniably a life simulator, complete with its own version of "Sims"—here called "Zois"—offering players full reign over every facet of their existence, from building homes to shaping sprawling family legacies.
Yet, its East Asian roots infuse it with distinct cultural flavors that set it apart from its Western predecessor. For instance, the game places a pronounced emphasis on character appearance, providing a wealth of options to craft truly unique looks. Visually, inZOI is a stunner—its graphics outshine even the latest installment, The Sims 4, a feat made more remarkable by its current early access status, hinting at further polish to come.
This Korean creation has sparked a wave of curiosity among The Sims faithful, especially as EA has only teased its forthcoming fifth chapter with scant details. Meanwhile, since late March, inZOI has been available for PC players willing to pay for early access.
But these aren’t mirror images of one another. Beyond the East-West cultural divide, the differences run deeper. Where The Sims often delights in the chaos and absurdity unfolding on-screen, inZOI seeks to captivate through visual splendor and contextual depth—boasting high-quality graphics and real-time generative AI for textures and dialogue.
As a result, the game has won over fresh admirers while leaving some long-time Sims enthusiasts feeling it doesn’t quite fit their mold.
Comparing inZOI and The Sims Gameplay
The crux of inZOI lies in this: it may resemble The Sims at a glance, but its essence diverges sharply from the Western life sim series. Not every player diving in with hopes of a "new Sims" will embrace this shift—and it’s not just about Korean aesthetics or the chance to craft prettier characters.
In The Sims, the world pauses while you tend to a single household. By contrast, inZOI lets you guide one family while the entire city hums with independent life. This aligns it more closely with titles like Second Life or PlayStation Home, where the environment perpetually buzzes with activity. Unlike those online ventures focused on a lone avatar, however, inZOI centers on a whole family unit.
This design ripples through the game’s mechanics: every "Zoi" ages and passes on in sync with your active family. A single game day equates to a year of life, unfolding over roughly 90 minutes of real time—assuming you resist fast-forwarding too much. Within 50 game days, the city evolves—new faces emerge, relationships shift, and events like job changes, family upheavals, or migrations reshape the broader landscape.
This approach suggests that sometimes it’s wiser to sit back and watch your "Zois" live rather than micromanage the entire populace. Yet, not all Sims fans will warm to this. Many prefer total control and chafe at a game so tethered to the relentless march of time.
Such city-wide simulation, juggling multiple families at once, risks overshadowing flashier features like trendy hairstyles, stylish outfits, picturesque screenshot spots, or playful pets. Developers might eventually pivot resources toward these eye-catching enhancements rather than refining the ambitious—but intricate—goal of making every "Zoi" feel vividly human.
System Requirements for inZOI
Minimum:
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10/11
- Processor: Intel i5 10400, AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: 12 GB
- Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2060 (6 GB VRAM), AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (6 GB VRAM)
- DirectX 12
- Internet connection required
- Storage: 40 GB available space
Recommended:
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10/11
- Processor: Intel i7 12700k, AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D
- RAM: 16 GB
- Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3070 (8 GB VRAM), AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB VRAM)
- DirectX 12
- Internet connection required
- Storage: 60 GB available space
Currently, inZOI is available on PC via Steam’s early access program for $39.99.
Player Feedback on inZOI
On Steam, inZOI has been met with a warm reception—boasting "Very Positive" reviews, with over 13,000 players sharing their thoughts within a week of its early access debut. Negative takes exist, but they’re vastly outnumbered by the praise.
Broadly, players see it as a work in progress, more akin to a beta than a finished product. Many argue it’s unfair to pit it directly against The Sims, given their fundamental differences—though similarities abound.
The ability to steer characters with WASD keys, like in a first-person game, has charmed some. Still, this feature, like many innovations, feels unpolished. "You can’t really interact with objects using that view anyway—you’ll either need to switch cameras or click with the mouse," one reviewer lamented.
Driving a car won over some players, though the animations for these jaunts remain rough around the edges. Building a home for your "Zoi" family proved trickier than in The Sims. The system, still unrefined, led to frustrations—like tiny pixel gaps between walls when rooms wouldn’t snugly align.
The loudest gripe? A lack of content and rough implementation—hardly surprising for an early access title. Homebound activities are scarce, pushing players into the city for any real engagement.
That said, inZOI’s economy feels simpler than reality—at least for now. One player noted their "Zoi" intern earns 280 meow daily. A meal delivery costs 8–12 meow, a sofa runs 150 meow, and even the cheapest car, at 2,000 meow, becomes attainable with surprising ease.
Players largely agree: inZOI has the makings of a strong contender, but it’s a diamond in the rough, with plenty of refinement still ahead.
