After 25 years of dominating the life sim genre, can South Korean developer Krafton’s new game, InZoi, steal the crown? Based on a half-dozen hours of playtime, it seems unlikely.
On paper, InZoi ticks all the right boxes. It boasts seamless worlds, glossy visuals, and extensive customization options that feel like a direct successor to Maxis’ The Sims 3 rather than its official sequel series. The game’s granular customisation features are particularly impressive, allowing players to reimagined every item with player-defined colours, patterns, and materials.
InZoi is undoubtedly a looker, with Unreal Engine 5-powered photorealism that creates a grounded mood, setting it apart from its peers. However, the game’s aesthetic is unlikely to withstand technological advancements in the same way The Sims 4’s more stylised approach has.
The gameplay experience is similarly unremarkable, relying on simple interactions and superficial systems to create the illusion of life. While InZoi’s base offering is substantial, it lacks personality and fails to mask a fundamental lack of virtual humanity. Zois, the game’s creations, feel like emotionally impenetrable marionettes, lacking the expressiveness and unpredictability that makes The Sims so beloved.
Despite its shortcomings, InZoi does show promise. Its solid systemic foundation feels ready to be tuned and finessed into a more interesting game. Early access provides an opportunity for Krafton to address questions such as monetisation and modding, which could make or break the game’s legacy. For now, it remains a disappointing start that fails to capture the essence of what makes The Sims so endearing.
Source: https://www.eurogamer.net/after-25-years-of-the-sims-could-inzoi-be-about-to-steal-its-crown