With life-sim fans constantly comparing InZOI and The Sims 4, the competition between the two games runs deeper than just aesthetics and expansion packs. The Sims 4 is known for its massive catalog of DLC and mod support, while InZOI is quickly earning a reputation as a bold, modern take on the genre. But one key feature already gives InZOI a notable edge—something The Sims franchise hasn’t fully explored in over a decade.
From day one, InZOI launched with fully functional, player-controlled vehicles. In contrast, The Sims 4 has reduced transportation to background decoration and cutscene transitions. If InZOI leans further into its driving mechanics, it could claim a lasting lead in realism and gameplay depth, one that even future The Sims titles might struggle to catch up with.
One The Sims 4 Feature Could Breathe New Life into InZOI
One longstanding gameplay feature from The Sims 4 could help to breathe life back into InZOI's dwindling player base, literally.
Vehicles Add Immersion to Life Simulators like InZOI, And Stakes
The presence of vehicles in InZOI isn't just aesthetic. It's a mechanic that deepens realism, impacts daily routines, and opens the door to unexpected gameplay scenarios. Driving to work, carpooling with other Zois, managing traffic, or even running into deadly scenarios all mimic real-life challenges that can shake up the typical life-sim loop. And with InZOI already featuring death by car accident, the game has proven that it isn’t afraid to link everyday realism to actual consequences.
The Sims franchise, on the other hand, hasn't allowed players to drive their Sims around since The Sims 3. In The Sims 4, transportation is a background detail, simulated off-screen and lacking any real player input. If a Sim wants to travel, they have to head to The Sims 4's world map menu or use their cellphones.
InZOI has already stepped over that line, and embracing it further could become one of its standout mechanics. InZOI’s driving system has the potential to evolve far beyond basic car ownership. Developer Krafton could add features like:
- Different vehicle types: Motorcycles, bikes, scooters, public transit, and luxury vehicles with unique perks, social status implications, or InZOI's Karma.
- Driving skills: Zois could improve over time, with perks like faster commutes or lower accident risks for high-level drivers.
- Maintenance and upkeep: Regular inspections, fuel needs, or car breakdowns could add new layers of responsibility and realism.
- Vehicle-based professions: Taxi driving, rideshare gigs, delivery jobs, or even racing events could diversify career paths.
If InZOI wants to lean into realism and day-to-day simulation, the vehicle system is a goldmine of opportunities to add depth while keeping things fresh.
The Sims 4 Missed The Turn on Vehicles' Importance
Despite years of DLC and updates, The Sims 4 never reintroduced functional vehicles in a meaningful way. Cars exist only as part of the background or as objects that fade into the limits of the world map. Players can’t interact with traffic, manage parking, or feel the ripple effects of poor urban planning in a Sims 4 Expansion Pack like City Living. Given the level of control players have over nearly every other aspect of their Sims' lives, transportation remains one of the few areas with minimal depth.
This has created a clear opening for InZOI. Not only has it stepped into this space, but it’s also set the groundwork for gameplay that The Sims community has been asking for since the launch of The Sims 4 in 2014.
Driving isn't just about getting from point A to B. It’s tied to autonomy, independence, and consequences. Giving Zois the ability to drive and make choices behind the wheel opens doors to spontaneous storytelling that’s harder to control and more fun to react to. Players might find themselves stuck in traffic on the way to a date, pulled over for speeding, or experiencing a fender-bender that leads to an unexpected relationship with another Zoi. These moments don’t just enhance realism—they introduce unpredictability, and that’s where simulation games thrive.
A Road Less Traveled in Life Sims
As more life sims enter the scene, InZOI has an opportunity to widen its lead by committing to the features that The Sims 4 still hasn’t fully embraced. Vehicles and transportation systems may not be the flashiest mechanics, but they’re meaningful. They shape time, relationships, routines, and community layouts. By digging deeper into the everyday complexities of vehicle ownership, InZOI can offer gameplay that’s both fun and friction-filled.
InZOI
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unsupported
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
