inZOI Beta Release - Thoughts/Rants (Pt1: Build/Buy Mode)

This post will be my positives & negatives about Build/Buy, with a quick bit about the Zoi Creator at the end. Pt2 will cover Live Mode.

Buy/Build Creator

Ok, so I admit that I didn't watch the tutorial video, and I really should've. Cuz the controls drove me effing crazy. I wish there was a keybinding option, so we can change the WASD controls and just let the game feel less clunky to control. I feel like there's way too many button clicks to do things EA managed far easier in TS3 and ESPECIALLY in TS4.

After playing around in BB for 2 days straight I think I've gotten used to the controls & category layout. All in all I've had a great time building my first inZOI lot! ❤️

BUT! I deducted 3 points, cuz of what I effing HATE the most:

1: Materials/Textures/Patterns

It's hard AF to use their super-limited Eye-Dropper/Copy-Paste ability. We can't use the same pattern on whatever we want. Instead, it's only for "identical pieces of furniture" [read: the EXACT SAME furniture], which is THE dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life, esp. when there's variables like Gloss/Specular/Vertical/Scale/etc that I really hate having to do over & over & over & over. Whatchu mean I can't copy the texture from a right curtain to a left curtain!? Whatchu mean the rugs can't match the drapes!?

I like that there's a slider and manual text box, but I would also like a +/- button that I could click, for when I want to change the values with a click. Esp, since I'm playing in Windows Mode, and it's hard to finagle the slider with the huge cursor in the way.

It's just REALLY annoying having to manually line up all of these wallpapers so they have the same tiling & vertical values & gloss/specular values & colors; it's driving me up a literal wall.

It's easier when the walls are all connected, cuz then you can use the Paint Room feature so all the connected walls in a room are edited together. But that only works on individual floors, and is MUCH harder to finagle cuz of the way the wall meshes are split into portions based on if there's an interconnecting wall attached to it. It turns 1 wall mesh into 2+ separate meshes if there's an intersecting wall or not.

It's hard to explain, but like--I was only able to make that blue Feature-Wall segment on the wall by literally building two walls on either side of the section I wanted to be blue, and then sledgehammering the intersecting walls when I was done. You can't just color wall tiles individually--let alone copy/paste from one wall to another in a totally different room--which was a problem for me cuz my lot has several Feature-Walls.

Yes, you can select a wall or fence or something, and click the Copy button to copy that wall wholesale, but I really just want an eyedropper/save/click-drag-drop ability to just duplicate a favorite texture on a wall to use on a rug or a car or a shirt, etc. I don't want to have to demolish a whole wall mesh, just to Copy/Paste a wall's texture.

What's amazing is that it really will copy/paste EVERYTHING that's on that wall--including the decor, doors, windows, etc; AND how long the wall mesh is.

It's really cool, but jfc, I just wanna copy/paste the wallpapers. 😭

I also really really LOVE the ability to add Gloss/Specular and import our own textures to everything, it might be my fave Build/Buy feature (that and the search box ofc); but I almost feel like it's somewhere between TS2/TS4's retexture mods and TSRW's Pattern tool, just much smoother & more innovative cuz it's in-game. I've been abusing it like crazy, but Sims 3 CASt is still FAR superior.

Having the ability to at least manually add sims pizazz to the textures is delicious; the Import ability really is the best alternative to TS3's Create a Style feature. Krafton occasionally includes some nice premade pattern/texture variations, but nowhere near enough. Esp. when you have situations like THIS:

That is the ONLY workbench in the game, and not only is it non-recolorable, but it also only had ONE (1) color variation. 🤦DO NOT effing do this, Krafton. Decor's one thing, but functional items should have as much variation as possible, so we can use it more!

(Also, PLEASE more Maximalist/Bohemian/cultural content--I need Persian rugs & runners and lace doilies & tablecloths & faux fur like NOW. 🙏)

2: MoveObjectsOn

And Krafton, whatchu mean there's no Move Objects On cheat, just some [ALT] button that doesn't even work half the time?!

Doors & stairs are OBVS the worst offenders, but there's plenty of other instances I noticed, too. This game is WAY too finicky--ALT sometimes works fine, but I've been holding my breath in suspense the whole time, not knowing when it'll work or not.

BTW, spiral stairs and elevators need to happen ASAP. This is an ultra-modern world; ain't no way we shouldn't have elevators, when they're in the freaking trailer.

It KILLS me that we can't put curtains over a door; not even the shimmery Silver Part Curtain. You're killing my hippie-beaded + sheer curtain dreams, Krafton, istg.

And why can't we put chairs on either side of a dining table? (Why are there no long 3-tile dining tables?) And why can't I rotate cushions on my sofas?

Why can't I put a 3x3 rug on top of a 3x3 wood panel deck?

Scratch that--you can't put ANY rugs on the panel decks.

Why do I have to FIGHT this game to place everything?! 😩

I also dislike how the push/pull effect on walls actually DUPLICATES an extra wall, rather than just MOVING the wall to the new location. Making you have to sledgehammer the old wall, which again, just makes us have to use extra clicks for no reason.

It's also hard to see WHERE the new wall will be, with the light blue hologram/x-ray-like wall effect they use. I liked how EA had the bright neon green, cuz it just stands out better, rather than blending into the already light-blueish surroundings.

Ofc I'll get used to it the more I use it, but I just don't like it; it feels like guesswork/trial & error; and it wastes time I REALLY don't have.

I LOVE this push/pull effect though:

Apparently it only works for stairs though--it's not available for doors/arches, platforms, chairs, tables, etc, which sucks, cuz Paralives can do it on darn near everything, and I'm so jealous.

GOD I can't wait for Paralives. I still think it'll be the improvement to TS4's Build/Buy mode that I really want. This ain't it, chief. I was far too frustrated tryna make the home I wanted--which is a big no-no for me as a builder.

3: Object Variety/Variations

Krafton. Why in the HELL is there a JAIL CELL door? 🤨

There are ONLY 4 double doors available ffs (and only ONE 1-tile arch what is going on), and in your infinite wisdom, your devs were like aaahhhhh yes, in this really cutesy game full of kitty cats and glitter-butterflies, the one thing they'll need is CARCERAL architecture~! Genius. 🤦

I have no idea why they put trees in Outdoors (Buy Mode) and not in Exterior (Build Mode). I assumed we just didn't have trees yet. Thank god for the Search box, cuz this was Where's Waldo for sure. And we have GROWING Plants that grow over time too!?

Trust and believe I immediately selected the Bonsai plant, LOL.

But there are nowhere near enough tall potted plants--I hate that the tallest plant barely reaches door-height, and it's sparse AF, when I just want lush bursts of greenery in those lonely corners:

And FAR more potted plants for surfaces--why can't I put these tiny AF plants on a table surface? Why would I ever want a bouquet of roses on the floor? 🤨 Again, MOO > ALT every time.

Also, we DEFINITELY need a Collection file ability, or a Favorites ability, or something to tag items we want to save and remember to use. And the Household Items storage feature TS3 has, where we can store away objects we own, but don't want to place on our lot. Right now I'm just cramming the extra objects on an empty floor. (Speaking of--basements & attics: we need that ASAP.)

I am NOT a fan of the modern minimalist style of the Build/Buy objects. Esp. esp. when there's so few options.

And then Krafton SWIFTLY told me to STFU & hold their beer.

The Craft/Create Custom Furniture tool is cool! It's pretty limited though--I really wanted wall lights but it seems you can only make floor/table ones; and they REALLY need more options for the beds cuz there really isn't anything there. But I made a handful of pretty custom objects that look amazing, this feature is just wow, modular furniture taken to a whole new level, EA could never.

Functional vacuums & brooms & mops in the basegame without wasting money on broken Bust the Dust Kits, EA would NEVER!

There's also other cute things, like rail guards on windows.

You can actually draw curtains open & closed, which is incredible...but I'd like to be able to SEE the curtains, and color them and stuff, not just see the frikkin curtain rod.

4: Random AF Extra Bits

I like that we can actually toggle the Night/Day setting for Build/Buy, to see exactly what our lots will look like at different times of the day.

I also love that with lighting/lamps, changing the lightbulb color is what changes the color of the light itself; which is much easier than in TS3's pie menu. The only issue is that it's harder to tell that the lightbulb does anything unless you toggle the Night setting, to see the colors better; I gasped out loud when I changed the time and realized that lightbulb colors actually MATTER at night.

Apparently there's no terrain tools in the Beta--no ponds, pools, etc--but we DO see the icons for them, so obvs it must be a feature coming eventually.

I wish it was possible to change the Setting Options in Build Mode. I didn't realize that the "Background Noise" sound setting was actually the in-game music, like wtf? So I was stuck playing the game with inZOI's music looping in my ear for HOURS before I just Googled how to shut it off. Annoying, but small enough to be super irritating.

TL;DR: Build Buy 7/10

So yeah, this is just all of my initial impressions just mucking around in Build/Buy Mode; I haven't even PLAYED the frikkin game yet or tested anything in Live Mode. 🤦That'll be Part 2.

But so far I'm...satisfied. 7/10!

I managed to recreate Magnus Bane's Penthouse pretty darn close to how I got it in TS3 (with all the EPs & Store Content, and an effton of 3rd Party CC & mods). So inZOI's base game Beta being able to get me most of the way there all on its own is actually REALLY commendable, they definitely impressed me. 👏👍

But there's just far too much Krafton really skimmed on, that irritates the absolute mess out of me.

But I also have a gut feeling that Live Mode is gonna be CRAZY--I can't wait to play with the functional items.

Zoi Creator

The Zoi creator is pretty much the same from the Demo (x x), which is actually frustrating. Where are the improvements? 🤔 There are obvs more options, and I like the clothes categories (School, Party, etc), but I already said that I wasn't a fan of the super modern aesthetic for the clothes, and it just feels like more of the same. The shoes are still my least favorite, hella boring. And we still can't layer accessories & makeup, or have tattoos (the limited face/neck options are hidden away why?). Why can zois only wear 1 ring on 1 hand? This is 2025, and you're still making the same mistakes TS3 made 16 years ago, when TS4 at least lets you wear accs on both hands. I want my zois BLINGED UP. 😩

(Yes, my graphics settings are all on Low; I can't afford anther new pc if inZOI makes this one internally combust, stfu.)

I was going to write a build mode review, but @murfeelee totally beat me to it 😉 It basically already includes my thoughts on it, except for one tiny point:

When I see them sleep, the bed looks gigantic!

Regarding the couch, ZOIs won't actually lean back onto the couch like most people would. Probably because they're often so big.

My InZOI Review - Part 1: Create your ZOI

Hey everyone! I wrote a little review of my findings on the character creator over at Simblr.cc.

I'm hoping to do some other reviews on aspects of the game and hoping to make it a little clearer if this is going to be your next life simming game, or a hard pass depending on your play style.

I'm hoping to make 3 parts:

Read it here (warning, it's long lol)

I also managed to release part 3: Gameplay!

This is probably the part most people are curious about—where I dive deep into InZOI’s gameplay systems, how they work (and where they don’t), what still needs polish, and where I see real potential. I’ve spent a good amount of time exploring nearly every feature, from character creation to autonomy, family dynamics, careers, and more.

Along the way, I also tried to keep in mind what kind of Sims players might enjoy InZOI in its current state, and who might be better off waiting a few months for updates and improvements before jumping in. Whether you're here for the chaos, the storytelling, or just curious about what this new life sim has to offer—I've tried my best to answer all those questions!

Read It Here (Part 3: Gameplay)

My InZOI Review - Part 1: Create your ZOI

Hey everyone! I wrote a little review of my findings on the character creator over at Simblr.cc.

I'm hoping to do some other reviews on aspects of the game and hoping to make it a little clearer if this is going to be your next life simming game, or a hard pass depending on your play style.

I'm hoping to make 3 parts:

Read it here (warning, it's long lol)

Yay! I finally got around to releasing part 2, which is about the world and what I thought of it.

Spoiler alert... I was hoping for more.

Read it Here

Event: Spring Event

It’s spring time! And that means, another event on simblr.cc! The event is from 2nd of April till 31st of May!

Posts will be released the day after (1st of June).

What can I submit?

For all Games: The event isn’t locked for only CC creators. Instead, you can now participate in the event by posting any of these posts:

Plus! This can be a cool moment to share some cool InZOI spring pictures if you like! I heard Dowan in spring is really beautiful.

What Do I Get in Return?

Your post will have a nice border around your content and you'll also get a cool sticker!

How Do I upload to an Event?

I wrote a guide on that right over here: Events & How They Work