InZOI vs The Sims – Five main differences and similarities

For years, Electronic Arts’ The Sims franchise has been the undisputed king of life simulation games. However, a new contender has entered the scene that could give The Sims a run for its money: InZOI. Developed by Krafton, this South Korean title brings gameplay elements and features that cater to a slightly different audience compared to Maxis’ iconic series. Let’s take a closer look at the main differences and similarities between InZOI and The Sims to help you decide which one might be your new favourite life sim.

InZOI vs The Sims: Top 5 differences 

1. Graphics: realism vs cartoon style

One of the most obvious differences between InZOI and The Sims is the style of graphics. InZOI takes it a step further when it comes to visuals and realistic character design. While The Sims 4 is now over a decade old, its cartoonish aesthetic has its charm, but it’s no match for the near-photorealistic models and environments in InZOI.

However, InZOI does venture into the uncanny valley at times, where some characters might feel a bit too lifelike or, conversely, a little unnatural. We could easily see this evoking a slightly eerie vibe for some players. On the flip side, The Sims still holds its unique, playful charm, appealing to those who enjoy a more stylized look. Ultimately, the choice between these two depends on whether you prefer a more lifelike approach or a colourful, whimsical style.

2. Fully functional vehicles and open-world exploration

One of the standout features of InZOI is its integration of fully functional vehicles, something that The Sims has notably lacked since The Sims 3 when cars were last a part of the game. Meanwhile, The Sims 4 has only recently introduced bicycles. In InZOI, vehicles are not just for show, they are an integral part of the gameplay, allowing players to drive around the game’s open cityscape.

This brings us to another important difference – the open-world design of InZOI. Unlike the isolated, neighbourhood-based layout of The Sims 4, InZOI offers a sprawling, interconnected world which you can explore without loading screens. You can hop into your car, drive to different locations, and even customize entire cities, adjusting everything from tree types to billboards and the time of day. This level of customization and freedom is something that The Sims has yet to offer in its entirety.

3. More gameplay interactions

When it comes to gameplay interactions, InZOI raises the bar. While The Sims has been known for its quirky, sometimes unrealistic interactions (such as the classic cartoon-style fights), InZOI aims to introduce more realistic interactions. For example, fights between characters are portrayed more aggressively, offering a more intense and dynamic experience. Additionally, your Zois (as the characters in InZOI are called) can engage in a wide range of activities, such as practising yoga anywhere or interacting with objects in a more realistic manner.

Another fun feature? In InZOI, you can even take a photo of your own face and use it to create a character that looks just like you. While this may sound a little futuristic and perhaps even a bit uncanny, it’s an innovative option for players looking to bring themselves into the game world.

4. AI-generated customization

InZOI goes beyond traditional customization by introducing AI-generated textures. Want a sofa with a tiger print? Simply ask the AI, and it will generate one for you. While this may raise some eyebrows, especially given the potential for copyright issues, the devs, Krafton, have stated that all AI-generated content is sourced from the public domain with artist consent, avoiding any legal pitfalls.

This feature gives players unprecedented flexibility in designing their homes without the need to purchase expensive add-ons or rely on mods, as is often the case with The Sims. So whether you’re looking for custom furniture or unique decor, InZOI will offer far more creative freedom than The Sims currently does out of the box.

5. Regular updates and community input

While The Sims has a long history of expansions and updates through downloadable content (DLC), InZOI has already set the stage for ongoing support. InZOI is set to release in Early Access, and Krafton has expressed a strong commitment to listening to player feedback and improving the game based on that input. This ongoing development contrasts (though in some ways mirrors) how The Sims continues to receive expansions, packs, and new features over time.

Krafton has made it clear that InZOI is not meant to replace The Sims, but rather coexist alongside it. With the upcoming Early Access release on Steam, InZOI will continue to evolve based on player feedback, adding more features and content over time. While it may not have the same 25 years of development and content that The Sims boasts, InZOI is shaping up to be an important new addition to the life-sim genre.

InZOI vs The Sims: Top 5 similarities

1. Core life-sim gameplay

At their core, both The Sims and InZOI are life simulation games, offering players the opportunity to create and control characters, manage their daily lives, and build relationships. Whether you’re looking to start a family, build a career, or simply explore your characters’ personalities, both games provide a sandbox experience that allows for endless creativity and experimentation. This core similarity means that Sims players will likely feel right at home in InZOI, as the basic gameplay mechanics will be familiar to anyone who’s enjoyed managing virtual lives before.

2. Character creation and customization

Both The Sims and InZOI prioritize intricate character customization. In The Sims, players have always had the ability to shape their Sims’ appearance, personality, and even their aspirations. InZOI takes this to the next level with even more detailed options for creating characters, such as the ability to scan your own face to create a Zoi that mirrors your real-life appearance. However, just like The Sims, you can also customize your character’s physical features, clothing, and accessories to make them truly your own.

Whether you’re adjusting facial features, choosing outfits, or fine-tuning your character’s personality traits, both games excel in providing tools to create and express your virtual persona. This extensive character creation process is one of the most appealing aspects for players who love building specific personalities and playing out different lifestyles within a simulation.

3. Building and decorating homes

Another big similarity between The Sims and InZOI is the emphasis on designing and decorating homes. In both games, you can build a house from the ground up or remodel existing structures to fit your vision. This includes customizing the layout, selecting furniture, and creating rooms that suit your character’s needs and desires.

While InZOI takes customization a step further with its AI-generated textures and photorealistic objects, The Sims also offers a robust building system, especially with the addition of DLCs and mods. In both games, the freedom to create personalized spaces is a major draw for fans, allowing them to showcase their design skills and craft dream homes in any style they choose.

4. Social interactions and relationships

Both The Sims and InZOI allow you to manage relationships between characters, whether it’s friendly, romantic, or familial. In The Sims, you can foster friendships, start romantic relationships, and even build entire family trees. Similarly, in InZOI, you can create connections between characters, develop friendships, fall in love, or even engage in conflict – whether through casual conversations or more intense interactions like fights. These social mechanics are at the heart of both games, and they allow players to simulate human relationships in a virtual world. 

5. Storytelling

Both games emphasize storytelling, allowing players to create and control their characters’ narratives. You can guide your Sims through a career in medicine, fashion, or business, or help your Zoi achieve their dreams in a bustling city – both games put the power in your hands to shape the lives of your virtual characters. You can play as a traditional “life simulator,” where you guide characters through daily routines or take a more experimental approach by creating unusual scenarios and seeing how they unfold (we’ve seen plenty of whacky escapades achieved in The Sims over the years).

In both The Sims and InZOI, the ultimate goal is to create and play in an immersive and dynamic world where your decisions impact your character’s journey. This shared emphasis on storytelling means that players can create unique adventures by pursuing career goals, starting families, or simply experiencing life in their own way.

In conclusion

While InZOI and The Sims differ in many ways, both games emphasize creativity, social interactions, and customization, offering players the ability to craft unique stories and experiences. Whether you prefer InZOI’s photorealism or The Sims’s whimsical charm, both games offer rich and dynamic worlds where your characters’ lives are in your hands.

In the end, the appeal of both games lies in the freedom they offer players to experiment with life, relationships, and creativity in ways that feel personal and engaging. Whether you’re already a fan of The Sims or looking to try something new, there’s no wrong way to experience life in a simulation game.