InZOIis out in early access and comes with a list of features and fixes that are needed right now. After playing, I can sayThe Sims 4looks better than ever in comparison, and my gripes withThe Simsin the past don’t overwhelm its impressive accomplishments overall. Those who haven’t played are likely to wonder how muchThe Sims 4does better thanInZOI, and I imagine many fans would be surprised by how big that list is.
While it has some strong points, anyone who thoughtInZOIwas too good to be truewas completely right. This isn’t a scenario likeCities: Skylinesout-competingSim City (2013), but a game that, despite trying its best, doesn’t have as many things going for it as it should. The competition is certainly welcome, butThe Sims 4still does a lot of things better thanInZOI.
10Character Behavior Is More Varied In The Sims
Zois Are Total Robots Compared To Sims
I really wishInZOIsharedThe Sims 4’s approach to traits, which makes NPCs feel distinct inThe Sims.Zois tend to act like robots, only doing things that follow their pre-set personalities and values. It makes them overly predictable, and they will follow their schedules no matter how they feel. They’re not bad, but when compared to Sims, it’s like watching a character that looks alive act in a scripted manner versus watching something that looks cartoonish act in a realistic manner.
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The Sims 4feels alive thanks to how the robust system of traits and behaviors affects how Sims act. They will play out their lives without the player, whileZois will often do exactly what they’re supposed to do, regardless of how they feel. While there are many features andmechanics that are better inInZOIthan in TheSims 4, the characters are not among them.
9The Sims Has A Lot More Content Than InZOI
InZOI Doesn’t Have Anywhere Near Enough To Do
One area whereThe Sims 4significantly surpassesInZOIis the content volume.The Sims 4has been out for a decade, so it has a vast library of expansions, game packs, and stuff packs. This translates to an enormous number of gameplay options, items, and features that far exceed whatInZOIcurrently offers in its early access state. Unfortunately, the game really feels like it’s still in an early build.
InZOI’scurrent offering feels comparatively shallow, and whileInZOIpromises future additions, there’s no guarantee.The Sims 4has the perk of its established library with building materials, clothing styles, life events, careers, and everything else.The Sims 4benefits from being the fourth game in a series and has been out for over a decade, so I don’t think anyone expected as much content. However, it feels likeInZOIreally relies on players to make their own fun rather than use what’s there.
8More Towns For Sims To Play In
The Offering Is Modest Compared To The Sims 4
The Sims 4really outdoesInZOIin the number of towns available.InZOIoffers two towns for people to play in, whileThe Sims 4has up to 28 townswith expansions, mostly because EA’s game has been out for longer. Keep in mind thatThe Sims 4 was alsoreleased with two towns but quickly added in Newcrest. Comparing them today really hurtsInZOI, asThe Sims 4has had much more time to develop worlds.
Dowon and Bliss Bay are the two towns inInZOI, and they are very different. Dowon is a Korean-inspired metropolis reminiscent of Seoul, and Bliss Bay is a coastal American city with the vibe of Los Angeles. The cities are very impressive and feature more open exploration thanThe Sims, but unless more towns are added soon, the replayability will be non-existent.InZOIneeds to have content updates over time, which is how it will likely earn money.
7Build Mode Is A Lot More Intuitive In The Sims
I Miss The Squares That Dictated Everything
One area whereThe Sims 4outshinesInZOIis the build mode.InZOIdefinitely has a robust set of tools and customization options, butthe build mode falls short compared toThe Sims. I admit that I have playedThe Simsseries since the first game and had some preconceived notions. Still, The Sims 4 build is easier to use and more intuitive, whileInZOI’sfeels like it’s trying to be different when it should have been nearly the same. EvenThe Sims 4’sbase game builds available in the gallerybeatInZOI’scurrent offering.
Simple things like putting down rugs under furniture are not possible, and for some reason, the game wouldn’t let me put furniture everywhere. This may have been a bug, but there’s also the organization:everything is sorted by room, not category, which is a lot less organized. Also, I see whyThe Simsdoes everything with boxes and set rotation, as the freedom to rotate inInZOImakes it much harder to get the perfect rotation.
6A Much More Open-Ended Narrative Sandbox
Most Conversations Are The Same
InZOIis aiming for realism and detailed character interaction, but it falls short of the open-ended storytelling thatThe Sims 4has. The interactions inInzoiaren’t anywhere near as varied, and this might be a cultural difference, buteveryone is trying to be polite all the time.The Simshas a real range of relationships, butInZOI’srelationships don’t feel more than the surface level of friendliness. It’s the kind of thing that quickly starts to feel fake.
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The Sims 4feel more like dolls that can hate or love in unique ways, whileZois just do what they’re programmed to do. The best way to explain this is that a Zoi will happily tell another Zoi that they had a horrible experience, while a Sim will vent and cry about that same experience to another sim.The Sims 4feels more realistic in that way, making it easier to form a believable narrative.
5Sims 4 Doesn’t Have Nearly As Many Bugs
New Games Come With A Lot of Bugs
Comparing bugs feels cheaper, but unfortunately, it’s a particularly relevant contrast.The Sims 4has benefited from being out for so long, and while some bugs exist, it’s not the amount of bugs that come with a new game.InZOIhas just released into early access, which is a lot like a beta but promises more features in a full release. The developers want players toreport bugs so they can be fixed over time, and there are a lot of bugs.
I don’t think anyone should go intoInZOIexpecting a perfect experience, but if we’re comparingThe Sims 4toInZOI, it’s pretty apparent. I want to believe the game not letting me put furniture anywhere I want is a glitch or a bug, because I’ve seen Zoiscrash cars and just walk away without any fuss.I really do think that these bugs will be fixed over time, so it’s not that big of a deal right now. The game ischeaper than a full-priced product, so that makes bugs feel a lot more acceptable.
4The Sims Has More Manageable Time Flow Than InZOI
It Is So Slow In InZOI Land
Every game that’s likeInZOIorThe Simsneeds good time management. I understand thatInZOIis supposed to be an experience, but that experience lasts way too long each day. I often feel likeThe Simsdon’t have enough time in their days because it’s more of a dollhouse and living a life is part of it. However,InZOIfeels like it’s slowing time down on purposeto let players live the life of a singleInZOI.
I think this is something I just need to get used to, as I am used to rushing through tasks inThe Simsand not appreciating everything around it. Nonetheless,The Simssimply feels like it has better pacing, andInZOIcan feel like it drags, especially when doing monotonous tasks. It’s a tradeoff overall, butInZOIcould stand to be a little faster.
3Much More Diverse Communication Dynamics
It Reminds Me of The Original Sims
The Sims 4has many more ways to interact with others thanInZOIdoes. While some of those are kind of cheap, like “angrily talk to,“interactions inThe Sims 4are still more varied than whatInZOIcurrently offers. Sims can act jealous, angry, playful, happy, and so many other interactions with Sims they know. That feels so more in-depth than whatInZOIhas, which is currently an array of simplistic options.
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Anyone who has played the originalThe Simswill remember how simple all the interactions were. However, as a relationship built over time, more interactions popped up.Basic interactions are allInZOIhas right now; the game doesn’t have the depth to allow players to do more than the same interactions they have with every other Zoi.
2Core Gameplay Mechanics Are More Developed
InZOI Needed More Time In Development
One area where TheSims 4surpassesInZOIis the depth and functionality of the core gameplay mechanics. A good example is cooking, which is nowhere near ready for a release. A Zoi can make a meal for themselves, but not for a whole family, and players can’t do more than just pick the meal. InThe Sims, the steps involved allow Sims to change the meal as it gets made, and it’s also possible to make a meal for a family.
It’s not just cooking: there are plenty of pain points, like not being able to end a phone call quickly or being unable to invite other Zois over. Outside of making a Zoi and building a home, many core elements feel like they are overlooked and not fully developed. The game feels like itstill needs more time in the oven, andThe Sims 4currently outdoesInZOIin features in a big way.
1InZOI Lacks An Established Modding Community
Modders Can’t Do Much Just Yet
The Sims 4has one of the best modding communities in the gaming industry, andInZOIwill need years to catch up to whereThe Sims 4is right now. Unfortunately,InZOIdoesn’t feel modder-friendly because of how few options and features it has compared toThe Sims 4. In my opinion,InZOIwas not ready for early access, and that hurts the ability to mod it because there’s so little to do. Thebest mods for realistic gameplay inThe Sims 4push the game far pastInZOI, and that hurts its competitive edge.
There’s no doubt in my mind thatThe Sims 4hasInZOIbeat in its current state. I can’t imagineInZOIbeing at the level of EA’s offering without a few more years of development. Right now,The Sims 4still does simulation games better thanInZOI, and while it makes for an interesting competitor, it’s not ready for anyone expecting a full experience.
