Summary
InZOIplayers have pointed out that Zois being unable to look after themselves is a major gameplay setback. Since its early access launch, the Korean life simulator has faced multiple rounds of backlash from the community, feedback that has largely helped developer Krafton improve its ambitious game. However, some issues raised by players, such as the one involving Zois' behaviors, appear to require a more fundamental reconsideration ofInZOI’s mechanics.
Marketed asThe Sims 4’s competitor,InZOIhad a surprisingly strong early-access launch, peaking at over 80,000 players. However, that number quickly dropped. The game now averages around 7,000 players, reflecting a roughly 90% decline. Many fans attribute this downswing to two main reasons. First,InZOIfailed to live up to the initial hype that drew in many players out of curiosity and led to strong day-one sales. Second, the game’s technical issues and gameplay flaws have likely turned many players away.
One gameplay issue that seems to have contributed toInZOI’s declining player countis the irrational behavior of Zois. Reddit user Bravozuluzero shared a post on the game’s subreddit describing how they were traumatized after discovering that Zois won’t care for themselves without player intervention. They recounted multiple families nearing mental breakdowns and others who reportedly died from sleep deprivation or starvation. Other players echoed these frustrations, urging the developer to address the game’s broken autonomy system.
InZOI NPCs Seemingly Have a Flawed Autonomy System
This isn’t the first time Zois have sparked backlash from the community. Recently, players discovered thatInZOI’s NPCs can be kidnappedwith little to no consequences. For example, one video showed a player prompting a child NPC near a school to get into their car, and the child simply hopped in without hesitation or questions. Some even attempted to steal other Zois' babies, only to find that the parents wouldn’t react at all.
Players are now calling on Krafton to overhaul the NPC autonomy andhow the Karma system works inInZOI. Many believe a system more in line withThe Simswould make much more sense, specifically, how Sims follow routines and care for themselves while still being susceptible to accidents and RNG-driven events. WhileInZOI’s current setup, especially with the Smart Zoi function, has the potential to create more detailed scenarios, players argue that it mostly results in negative, traumatic, and tragic outcomes. For now, one thing that gives some hope is thatInZOIis still in early access, and the developer may address these issues before the game’s global launch.
