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Adolescence
May 8, 2026 at 08:59 AM
Applied Title Case to body headings
Adolescence is one of nine life stages in inZOI, covering the transition period between the Child and Teenager stages. It represents ages 11 to 15 in the game's age system and lasts 6 in-game days. Adolescence corresponds to the middle school years and is a bridge where a Zoi's personality solidifies before entering the more independent Teenager stage.
Unlike most other life stages, Adolescence is not selectable when creating a new Zoi in character creation. The only way to have an Adolescent Zoi is to age up a Child through normal gameplay. In this respect, it shares the same restriction as the Newborn and Toddler stages, though those sit at the very beginning of the lifecycle. Adolescence is the only mid-range stage that cannot be directly created, which makes it a uniquely organic part of a Zoi's development.
inZOI features 9 distinct life stages. Each stage has a fixed duration in in-game days, a corresponding age range, and a selectability status in character creation.
Life Stage | Duration (In-Game Days) | Age Range | Selectable in Character Creation |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0 to 1 | No | |
2 | 1 to 3 | No | |
7 | 3 to 11 | Yes | |
Adolescent | 5 to 6 | 11 to 15 | No (aging only) |
4 to 4.5 | 16 to 20.5 | Yes | |
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 |
~17 (variable, max ~35) | 65.5+ | Yes |
Adolescence occupies a unique position as the only mid-range stage that cannot be directly created. Players who want to experience it must start with a Child Zoi and let them age up naturally.
Adolescents remain in this life stage for approximately 5 to 6 in-game days. Since each in-game day defaults to roughly 48 real-world minutes at standard speed, this translates to roughly 8 to 9.5 hours of real-time play. Players who adjust day length through the Simulation settings will see a proportionally shorter or longer adolescence.
After the adolescent period ends, the Zoi automatically ages up to the Teenager stage at the start of a new day. The transition happens without manual confirmation, and the Zoi's appearance changes immediately with adjustments to height, body proportions, and facial features. Players can check the Aging and Life Span Settings page for details on how to disable aging entirely or adjust the simulation speed to extend or shorten this stage. Disabling aging through the Options menu under the Simulation tab freezes the Zoi at their current stage indefinitely, which can be useful for players who want more time to develop their adolescent Zoi's personality.
Adolescents attend middle school as part of their daily routine. School operates on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM in-game time. Like all schools in the current version of inZOI, middle school functions as a rabbit-hole activity. When the school day begins, the Zoi leaves the household lot and disappears into the school building. Players cannot follow their Zoi inside or directly control what happens during classes.
While an adolescent is at school, a portrait button appears next to their character icon. Clicking this button lets you choose specific actions for the student to focus on during the school day, such as studying hard, socializing with classmates, or relaxing. These choices influence which skills receive passive gains and how the Zoi's mood is affected when they return home.
Random events may also trigger during the school day, presenting scenarios with multiple-choice responses. These events affect the Zoi's mood, relationships, and can steer their value development in particular directions. For instance, an adolescent might need to decide how to handle a disagreement with a peer or whether to participate in a group project.
inZOI enforces a strict three-absence rule. If a student misses three or more school days without attending, they face expulsion from the school. Expelled students lose access to academic progression and must re-enroll, making consistent attendance important throughout the adolescent stage.
After each school day, adolescents receive homework assignments that appear as a task list on the left side of the screen. These tasks must be completed within a tight window of approximately 5 to 6 hours after school ends. Since school lets out at 2:00 PM, adolescents typically need to finish their homework by around 8:00 PM.
Homework tasks fall into two main categories. Book-based assignments require the Zoi to find and read specific books. These books can be found on home bookshelves or at the public library. Computer-based assignments involve doing research or completing coding-style tasks on a home computer. Having both a well-stocked bookshelf and a computer at home makes homework completion much smoother and prevents wasted time traveling to external locations.
Completing homework on time and attending school regularly increases the adolescent's Academic Level. Missing deadlines or skipping school causes it to decline. Players can track academic performance, attendance records, absences, and upcoming deadlines through the School tab on the smartphone. Strong academic performance throughout adolescence sets the stage for a smooth transition into high school when the Zoi becomes a Teenager.
One of the primary purposes of the Adolescence stage is personality development. The values system, which first unlocks during the Child stage, continues to develop and solidify during adolescence. The choices an adolescent Zoi makes, the situations they encounter, and the interactions they have with family and peers all shape which values become dominant. By the time a Zoi transitions to the Teenager stage, their core personality framework is largely established.
Traits become more defined during this period, influencing the Zoi's preferences and behavior patterns. An adolescent who spent their childhood focused on creative pursuits may develop values associated with artistic expression, while one who prioritized social interactions may lean toward interpersonal and community-oriented values. Parents and household members can still influence value development through encouragement, praise, and exposure to specific activities, though the adolescent's own choices carry more weight than they did during childhood.
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 personality traits solidify organically. This ensures that behaviors during the Teenager and Young Adult stages feel earned rather than sudden.
Emotions become more complex during adolescence, matching the turbulence of early teenage development. Adolescent Zois experience a wider range of emotional states and may shift between moods more frequently than children. Positive experiences at school, strong family bonds, and completed homework contribute to good moods, while social setbacks, unmet needs, and academic struggles can trigger negative emotional states.
Relationships with family members and peers deepen or shift as the Zoi's personality matures. Adolescents maintain friendships formed during childhood and can develop new social connections at middle school. The social interactions available to adolescents are similar to those available to children, though the underlying dynamics carry more emotional weight. Family relationships remain important during this stage, and consistent positive interactions with parents and siblings contribute to emotional stability.
Adolescents share the same core needs as other Zois. The seven need categories remain consistent:
Hunger - Regular meals are essential. Adolescents can eat food prepared by household members or grab snacks independently.
Hygiene - Bathing and washing hands keep this need satisfied. Adolescents handle hygiene tasks on their own.
Energy - Adequate sleep is important, especially with the demands of school and homework. A consistent bedtime helps.
Fun - Play activities, video games, entertainment, and social interactions fulfill this need.
Social - Interacting with family, friends, and classmates. School attendance naturally satisfies some of this during the day.
Comfort - Rest, relaxation, and a comfortable home environment contribute to this need.
Bladder - Standard bathroom needs, handled independently.
Keeping needs balanced is especially important during adolescence because the stage is relatively short. An adolescent with chronically unmet needs will be in a bad mood, which slows personality development and makes homework completion more difficult. Since values and traits are actively solidifying during this window, persistent negative moods can steer development in unintended directions.
Adolescence itself is a transitional stage and does not unlock major exclusive features beyond middle school enrollment. Instead, it is a bridge between the significant unlocks of Childhood and the Teenager stage. Below is a summary of what the surrounding stages provide 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 the smartphone 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. |
When the Zoi ages from Adolescent to Teenager (age 16+), the following features become available:
Unlock | Description |
|---|---|
High School | The Zoi transitions from middle school to high school. |
Business Relationships | Teenagers can begin forming professional connections and part-time work relationships. |
Teen Romance | Teenagers can pursue romantic relationships with other teenage Zois. |
One of the frequently noted advantages of inZOI's life stage system is the inclusion of Adolescence as a distinct stage. The Sims 4 has 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, skipping the middle school years entirely.
By including a dedicated Adolescent stage (ages 11 to 15), inZOI provides a more gradual and realistic aging progression. The additional stage allows for more layered storytelling and personality development during the formative middle school years. Players who enjoy watching their characters grow and change over time benefit from having this extra developmental window, since it gives values and traits more room to develop before the significant freedom and feature unlocks that arrive with the Teenager stage.
Since Adolescence cannot be selected in character creation, you must create a Child Zoi and wait for them to age up naturally to experience this stage.
Make sure you have both a computer and a well-stocked bookshelf at home before your Zoi reaches school age. Homework requires one or the other depending on the assignment, and falling behind affects school performance and mood.
Pay close attention to trait and value development during Adolescence. The personality that solidifies here will carry through to the Teenager, Young Adult, and Adult stages, shaping behavior for the rest of the Zoi's life.
Use the Adolescent period to build and maintain strong relationships with family members. Positive family bonds formed during this stage provide emotional stability and can influence values in beneficial directions.
The relatively short 5 to 6 day duration means Adolescence passes quickly. If you want to maximize personality development, actively direct your Zoi's daily activities rather than letting the stage play out passively.
Monitor your adolescent's academic level through the School tab on the smartphone. Consistent homework completion and school attendance keep the academic level high, which contributes to a smooth transition into high school.
Avoid letting three or more school absences accumulate. The expulsion rule applies to all school-age Zois, and losing school access during adolescence disrupts routine and social development.
Consider disabling aging in the Simulation settings if you want more time to develop your Zoi's personality and explore the middle school experience before they become a Teenager.
Keep all seven needs balanced throughout the stage. An adolescent in a persistently bad mood may develop unintended personality traits, and homework completion suffers when needs are neglected.
