InZoi’s Build Mode Is Like The Sims… Until It’s Not

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In the gaming world, InZoi – a pioneering effort aiming to challenge The Sims in the life-simulation genre – has arrived, debuting on Steam Early Access. It’s quite expected that players will initially spend their time customizing their characters and experimenting with build mode to explore various dollhouse creations they can construct. Diving into the simulation should wait until all other aspects are properly set up.

If you’re an avid Sims player excitedly anticipating what InZoi offers that The Sims lacks, be aware that InZoi’s build mode comes with some significant idiosyncrasies to familiarize yourself with before diving in, or else there’s a risk of accidentally tearing down your house walls while trying to expand it. Thankfully, our InZoi build mode tutorial is here to help you navigate smoothly.

How InZoi’s home-building gameplay differs from the Sims

As a fan transitioning from The Sims 4 to InZoi, you might be accustomed to a streamlined build mode where every action is just a click away. In this mode, clicking on an object allows you to pick it up, while clicking on a wall lets you move it to adjust the size of the room it’s enclosing. It’s all about pointing and clicking to manipulate your environment. However, be prepared for a learning curve with InZoi’s build mode as it offers more customization options, which introduces some differences compared to The Sims 4 that might initially confuse you.

The first of these big differences is that you need to choose the right selection mode. By default, your cursor is using the standard “Selection Tool,” which lets you click on and manipulate individual objects, like your couch. When you’re in the mode, moving a wall will move only the wall–the room the wall belonged to won’t change aside from no longer having a wall. If you want to change the size of a room, or make your house bigger, you’ll instead need to choose the Room Selection Tool, which you can find on the build mode options bar near the top of the UI, immediately to the right of the standard Selection Tool.

In the section of Build Mode dedicated to arranging household items like furniture and appliances, you’ll encounter another feature you should bear in mind: customization of furniture in InZoi is performed after an item has been placed within your virtual home. After selecting a piece of furniture from the build menu, place it in your home, then click on it to access the customization options. You’ll find various texture and color choices, with the ability to upload your personal images or generate one using InZoi’s built-in AI image creator. If you wish to decorate all your furniture with pictures of your beloved pet, you can easily do so!

Customizing items after they’ve been placed (like your refrigerator) doesn’t create any problems. However, there are instances where this can be problematic, such as when you want to install a 180-degree turning staircase midway up. In these cases, you must first place a full straight flight of stairs and then adjust it later. This issue arises because the purpose of a space-saving staircase is to minimize its horizontal footprint, but requiring room for a full normal staircase before bending it defeats this purpose. Dealing with this issue requires some creative thinking when it occurs.

After grasping these fundamental elements, most builders should feel equipped to dive into InZoi’s building phase. While the overall process may resemble that of The Sims and sport a revamped user interface, it’s essential to highlight an unusual characteristic in InZoi’s building mode, which doesn’t exist in The Sims.

Initially, when I established my Zoi family, I placed them in what appears to be the ground level of a compact apartment complex in Dowon. This structure features a common area with a gym on the lower floor, and three levels of residential space above it. My family occupied the initial floor, but upon further inspection, I discovered that there were no neighbors nearby, and no means of accessing the upper two floors.

Initially, our entire structure was under my family’s ownership, and I was tasked with constructing additional staircases for accessibility. To my astonishment, the area available for me to work exceeded my initial expectations by threefold. In an instant, what had been a modest dwelling transformed into a spacious abode. This sudden expansion was unexpected, as such expansions don’t typically occur in real-life buildings, especially structures like ours. The game hadn’t provided any indication that such modifications were possible either. This incident serves as a reminder when you start contemplating the need for more space within your family; it might already be at your disposal.

On March 27, InZoi begins its Early Access phase on Steam at a price of $40. Prior to the full game release, gamers can obtain the InZoi Creative Studio free of charge. Until the 22nd, access can be gained by viewing InZoi streams on Twitch or its Steam store page. From the 23rd onwards, the Creative Studio will be accessible for download on Steam without any prerequisites.

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2025-03-22 19:49