Overview
Adolescence is one of nine Life Stages in inZOI, covering the transition period between Childhood and the Teenage years. It represents ages 11 to 15 in the game's age system and lasts approximately 6 in-game days. Unlike most other life stages, Adolescence is not selectable when creating a new Zoi. The only way to have an Adolescent Zoi is to age up a Child through normal gameplay.
All life stages
inZOI features 9 distinct life stages. Each stage has a fixed duration in in-game days, a corresponding age range, and selectability status in Character Creation.
Life Stage | Duration (in-game days) | Age Range | Selectable in Character Creation |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0 to 1 | No | |
Toddler | 2 | 1 to 3 | No |
Child | 7 | 3 to 11 | Yes |
Adolescent | 5 to 6 | 11 to 15 | No (aging only) |
Teenager | 4 to 4.5 | 16 to 20.5 | Yes |
Young Adult | 9 to 10 | 20.5 to 29.5 | Yes |
Adult | 20 | 29.5 to 49.5 | Yes |
Middle-Aged | 16 | 49.5 to 65.5 | Yes |
Senior | ~17 (variable, max ~35) | 65.5+ | Yes |
Adolescence occupies a unique position as the only mid-range stage that cannot be directly created. Newborn and Toddler are also not selectable, but they sit at the very beginning of the lifecycle and are expected to be experienced only through pregnancy and birth.
What Adolescence unlocks
Adolescence itself is a transitional stage and does not unlock major exclusive features. Instead, it is a bridge between the significant unlocks of Childhood and the Teenager stage.
Child stage unlocks (for context)
When a Zoi enters the Child stage (age 3 to 11), the following features become available:
Unlock | Description |
|---|---|
the system that shapes a Zoi's personality and decision-making begins to form. | |
Elementary School | the Zoi enrolls in school and must attend classes. |
children gain access to thesmartphone interface. | |
More interactions | the social interaction menu expands with age-appropriate options. |
Random Events | childhood-specific random events begin appearing, offering choices that shape development. |
Teenager stage unlocks
When the Zoi ages from Adolescent to Teenager (age 16+), the following features become available:
Unlock | Description |
|---|---|
High School | the Zoi transitions from elementary to high school. |
teenagers can begin forming professional connections and part-time work relationships. |
Homework
School-age Zois (Children, Adolescents, and Teenagers) must complete homework. The homework system works as follows:
Type | Description |
|---|---|
Computer-based homework | requires a computer at home. The Zoi uses it for research and coding-style assignments. |
Book-based homework | requires reading specific books. These books can be found at the library or purchased for home use. |
Failing to complete homework regularly affects the Zoi's school performance, which can influence their emotions and self-esteem. Parents or guardians in the household can encourage homework completion through interactions.
Why Adolescence exists
The developers intentionally included Adolescence as a separate stage to give Zoi personalities time to form during the middle school years. Rather than jumping directly from Child to Teenager, the Adolescent stage provides a buffer period where:
Values and personality traits established during Childhood continue to develop and solidify.
Traits become more defined, influencing the Zoi's preferences and behavior patterns.
Emotions become more complex, matching the turbulence of early adolescence.
Relationships with family members and peers deepen or shift as the Zoi's personality matures.
The developers wanted middle school to serve as a personality incubation period, making sure that Teenage and Young Adult behaviors feel earned rather than sudden.
Comparison with The Sims 4
One of the frequently noted advantages of inZOI's life stage system is the inclusion of Adolescence. The Sims 4 features the following life stages: Baby, Infant, Toddler, Child, Teen, Young Adult, Adult, and Elder. There is no direct equivalent to inZOI's Adolescence. In The Sims 4, the jump from Child to Teen is abrupt.
By including a distinct Adolescent stage (ages 11 to 15), inZOI provides a more gradual and realistic aging progression. This allows for more layered storytelling and personality development during the formative middle school years.
Tips
Since Adolescence cannot be selected in Character Creation, you must create a Child Zoi and wait for them to age up to experience this stage.
Make sure you have a computer or books at home before your Zoi enters school age. Homework requires one or the other, and falling behind affects school performance.
Pay attention to trait development during Adolescence. The traits that solidify here will carry through to the Teenager and Adult stages.
Use the Adolescent period to build relationships with family members. Strong family bonds formed during this stage can provide emotional benefits later in life.
The relatively short 5 to 6 day duration means Adolescence passes quickly. If you want to maximize personality development, actively direct your Zoi's activities rather than letting the stage play out passively.