I like whatinZOIis trying to do. It’s stylish, realistic, and clearly meant to bring some new ideas to life sim games. Yet, as much as I enjoy what I’ve seen so far, I can’t help but feel like it’s taking one piece of advice a little too seriously. Ben Franklin famously wrote inPoor Richard’s Almanack, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” However, it doesn’t need to be the rule of life in a video game, too.
InZOIrewards players who go to bed between 10 PM and 6 AM with a significant time boost, with the clock jumping to 30x speed. On the other hand, if you try to play at night, the game slows down. Compared to other life sims, likeThe Sims, which offers nightclubs, the ability to get late-night jobs, and events after dark,inZOIfeels a little empty at night. A full life sim should cater to all kinds of lifestyles, not just morning people.InZOIhas so much potential. I hope it gives the night owls a little more love in future updates.
InZOI Isn’t Very Nice To Night Owls
InZOI’s Night Life Feels Uneventful & Empty
InZOIis a good-looking and detailed life sim, but it really favors people who follow an early schedule. If your character goes to bed between 10 PM and 6 AM,they get a big-time boost that helps speed up the night. It makes the game feel more focused on having a set daily routine. If you like staying up late, the game doesn’t offer much for you to do. Albeit, it’s still in early access, but it definitely has somework to do and things to fix.
Optimized Graphics Settings For InZOI On PC
InZOI is so much more fun when the settings are as perfect as they can be, resulting in both fewer visual issues and better performance.
After 10 PM, the world ininZOIis quiet. Most places are closed, there aren’t many fun things to do at night, and you can’t visit a bar, see a show, or hang out in a busy nighttime area. Your character can stay awake, but the game world feels empty. There’s nothing to explore, and not many people to meet. It feels like the game is quietly telling you to go to bed instead.
InZOIsold over one million copiesduring its first week in early access.
Not everyone plays the same way. Some people enjoy the peaceful feeling of being up late. Others want their character to work at night or just sleep in. A life sim should let players choose how they want to live. Right now,inZOIfeels like it wants everyone to follow the same early schedule. That takes away some of the freedom and fun.
The Sims Has Much Better Nighttime Options
You Can Go Clubbing & More In The Sims
The Simsdoes a much better job with nighttime activities thaninZOI. InThe Sims, players can make their characters early birds or night owls, and both feel just as fun. There are always things to do, no matter what time it is. However, ininZOI, the night feels quiet and somewhat empty.
InThe Sims, you may go to clubs, bars, or coffee shops that stay open late. You can have parties, hang out with friends, or go on dates. If your Sim is creative, they can stay up painting, writing, or playing music.There are also nighttime jobs, likebeing a DJ, bartender, or even a thief. The game supports many kinds of lives, and you never feel like you’re missing out because of staying up late.
InZOIdoesn’t do the same. It feels made for people who go to bed early. You only get the sleep time boost if your character sleeps between 10 PM and 6 AM. After 10 PM, most things shut down. Shops are closed, places are empty, and your character can’t really do much except sleep. WhileinZOIlooks great and has a lot of cool features, nighttime feels like wasted time.
How InZOI Could Make Nighttime More Fun
InZOI Should Add These Nighttime Activities
Currently,inZOIdoesn’t have much to do at night, but that could easily change. Just because it’s late doesn’t mean the game should slow down. There are a lot of fun and relaxing things the game could add to make nighttime more interesting.
For example, going out to a club could be a fun option. Characters could dance, sing karaoke, grab drinks, and hang out with others. A night out would give players something to enjoy after a busy day.Getting a job ininZOIcould include night shifts for those who like working late. Jobs like bartender, DJ, security guard, or baker could give players a way to earn money and do something useful while the rest of the town sleeps.
There could also be fun and relaxing activities. Bowling would be great for a casual night out with friends or a date. Camping could let characters build a fire, roast marshmallows, and tell stories. Night fishing might bring in special fish that don’t show up during the day. Even calm, quiet things would help make the night more fun. Stargazing with a telescope, lying in the grass to watch the stars, or catching fireflies could add a peaceful vibe to nighttime.
The game already has a cool look and vibe, so adding more things to do at night would make it feel even better. Some players want action, while others prefer something more chill. Giving them more choices after dark would makeinZOIfeel more fun, more complete, and closer to real life.
InZOI
Krafton’s latest venture into the life simulation genre introduces players to a richly detailed world where they can craft and oversee the lives of virtual characters known as “Zois.” Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game boasts photorealistic graphics, offering an immersive experience that rivals its contemporaries. Players have access to over 250 character customization options and a vast library of building assets, allowing for the creation of unique individuals and personalized homes. Each Zoi operates with a degree of autonomy, influenced by over 400 distinct mental attributes, leading to dynamic interactions and emergent storytelling.
