Life-simulation fans have been eagerly watchingInZOIcarve out its identity in a genre long dominated byThe Sims. WhileInZOIalready boasts stunning visuals and a more dynamic take on daily life, the fact that the game is still in Early Access means that it has a long way to go before it can market itself as a finished product.
With upcoming updates forInZOI, the game is slowly shaping itself to deliver hot-commodity features that will make it stand out as the life-sim game to beat in the genre. However, there’s one major frontier it could claim to truly stand apart from other life-sims. By embracing a fresh, imaginative concept that other titles have barely scratched the surface of,InZOIcould carve out a space all its own and captivate players in entirely new ways—in a spookier manner, even.
InZOI Should Embrace The Supernatural and Paranormal
The Simsintroducing occult and supernatural lifeforms changed how players manipulate stories and households. As the true monarch of imaginative supernatural sims,The Simsremains undefeated in this category due to the sheer breadth of content available for players leaning towards the otherworldly. Nevertheless,InZOIhas the opportunity to stand out. By introducing the supernatural,InZOIcould get up to speed with thedifferent occult life forms available inThe Sims 4. But rather than treading familiar ground with vampires, aliens, or werewolves,InZOIhas the perfect opportunity to tap into lesser-explored territory by introducing cryptids, urban legends, and mythological oddities to spice up gameplay.
Cryptids are the Perfect Choice for InZOI
Instead of the same familiar creatures that could offer predictable gameplay features,InZOIcould embrace cryptids: creatures from folklore, local superstition, and conspiracy theories that are full of mystery and intrigue.Cryptids are popular in horror games, butInZOIcould introduce them to the life-sim genre to make them less scary. From the Mothman and Chupacabra to new, game-original legends, cryptids would offer a different kind of supernatural flavor. They’re tied to regional myths, bringing a rich cultural texture that could vary by in-game neighborhood or even player choices.
Players could have encounters ranging fromfull-blown abductions likeThe Sims 4to blessings, depending on how they interact with these mysterious beings. Befriending a cryptid might unlock secret traits, hidden locations, or rare objects, giving players even more control over their stories. It would also open the door for light horror or cozy mystery aesthetics, two storytelling angles that are highly popular but frankly underutilized in life-sims likeThe Sims.
Why the Supernatural Matters in Life-Sims
For a game genre that is characterized by playing at life, supernatural gameplay is surprisingly some of the most requested and sought-after features and playthrough routes for sims. In fact,The Sims’ supernatural-leaning DLChas been some of its most popular. Players love breaking free from everyday realism to explore darker or more fantastical storylines. However,The Simstends to revisit the same creatures over and over. And inThe Sims 4, Maxis has trimmed the supernatural gameplay options into individualized DLC instead of one huge expansion likeThe Sims 3 Supernaturalexpansion pack. Vampires and aliens, for example, have become almost expected additions rather than exciting surprises.
Players yearning for a fresh twist could find it in a game likeInZOI, where the rules of the world are still being defined. Adding a supernatural layer would also provide players with new systems to interact with, beyond career ladders or social relationships. Imagine a character tracking mysterious footprints around their neighborhood, or accidentally stumbling into a ritual that alters the gameplay. It would encourage exploration, experimentation, and storytelling in a way that feels fresh even in alife-sim genre stacked with great games.
Taking a Different Path Than The Sims
By focusing on cryptids and folklore,InZOIwould avoid direct comparisons toThe Sims' usual supernatural content while still offering the fantasy layer players love. It would also allow developers to tap into fan theories, user-generated myths, and even live-service-style updates, where new legends appear over time. Instead of just being another game with vampires and zombies,InZOIcould become a life sim where anything could be lurking just out of sight. It would deepen the game’s personality and give players endless new mysteries to solve and stories to tell.
InZOI
WHERE TO PLAY
inZOI is a life simulation game where the player can alter any aspect of their world to create unique stories and experiences. Just like in the real world, you can find jobs to make a living while forming deep relationships through interactions. With a complete community simulation of every character acting on their free will, you can experience unexpected events to feel the various emotions life has to offer. With inZOI, we hope to share the message that “life itself is the true gift, and every journey has its own meaning.“inZOI provides a variety of creative tools, so that players can visualize the life they’ve always dreamed of. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game’s realistic graphics allows the players to let their imagination run free, with easy creation of different resources. Customize your character’s appearance and outfit and build your custom home using a wide selection of freely-movable furniture and structures. You can also adjust different parts of your property and surrounding roads as well as aspects of your residing city for a fully customizable experience.
