Deaths

Deaths Overview

Death is a significant and permanent mechanic in inZOI. Zois can die from a wide range of causes: starvation, fire, electrocution, car accidents, disease, food poisoning, anger, loneliness, and more. The developers have planned 16 death types, of which 19 are now documented across the base game and the Cahaya DLC (Island Getaway). When a Zoi dies, their accumulated karma determines whether they pass peacefully to the afterlife or become a ghost that haunts the city. Children are protected from death and are removed by Child Protection Services instead.

Understanding death mechanics is essential because allowing too many ghosts to accumulate can have devastating consequences for an entire city. The v0.7.0 update (March 2026) adjusted death frequency so that family members will now die less frequently from low needs, reducing accidental deaths caused by the AI neglecting basic survival tasks.

All Confirmed Causes of Death

Partially implemented death types: Embarrassment and High Fever death types have been found in game files and code. The Embarrassment interaction exists but lacks notification popups and ghost urges. High Fever has a trigger in the code but is currently nonfunctional. These may be completed in future Early Access updates.

What Happens When a Zoi Dies

When a Zoi dies, a popup message appears explaining the cause of death and remembering the Zoi's life. Players are given the following options:

• "On to the Afterlife": The Zoi's fate is determined by their accumulated karma. This is permanent and cannot be undone. If the Zoi has normal or good karma, they pass peacefully. If the Zoi has poor or terrible karma, they become a ghost with unfinished business.

• Continue with remaining family: Switch control to another playable Zoi in the household.

• Select a new family: If no playable Zois remain in the household.

• "Go Back In Time": Reload a previous save to reverse the death entirely. This is the only true death reversal mechanism in the game.

After choosing "On to the Afterlife," the Zoi can be played as a ghost for 3 days (if karma is bad) or moves on immediately (if karma is good). A message from Nyx the cat will indicate whether the Zoi has unfinished business. The Zoi's urn is generated and placed at the Funeral Home automatically.

Karma System

Every Zoi accumulates karma throughout their life based on their actions and social interactions. Karma determines what happens after death:

• Positive karma comes from helping others, complimenting, and positive social interactions.

• Negative karma comes from rude behavior, criminal activities, and neglecting others.

• Karma cannot be checked directly during a Zoi's life; it is evaluated at the moment of death.

• The Neutral Donut (100 Meow Coins from the Meow Store) resets karma to neutral. Use it before a Zoi dies if their karma is at the Poor level or lower.

Soul Management Report

The Soul Management Report is a city-level tool accessible through the Manage Zois tab in City Edit by opening the Karma Report menu. It allows players to oversee the karma of the entire city and monitor individual Zois.

• Karma Status Tab: Shows the karma level of every living Zoi in the city. Players can use the Intervene function on Zois whose karma has dropped to the Terrible level, prompting them to perform good deeds.

• Souls Tab: Lists all recently deceased Zois who have not yet reached the afterlife. Shows each soul's name and the karma level they had when they died.

• Zoi-Soul Ratio: Displays the proportion of living Zois to lingering souls in the city. A high ratio of souls to living Zois indicates the city is at risk of becoming a ghost town.

Ghost System

Ghost play was added in the Halloween update (v0.4.0, October 30, 2025). Zois with bad karma become ghosts after death. Ghosts remain in the game world for approximately three in-game days and can attempt redemption by performing good deeds to improve their karma.

Ghost Mechanics

• Ghosts inherit personality traits from their living selves. Calm Zois become mild-mannered ghosts; aggressive Zois may become mischievous spirits.

• Ghosts interact with objects using Spirit Power, which recovers slowly over time or through conversation with other ghosts. Spirit Power is consumed whenever a ghost uses an ability or interacts with the physical world.

• A Ghost Dependency is created based on the cause of death. Each ghost develops needs and desires tied to how they died. Fulfilling these dependencies unlocks a special self-interaction unique to that death type.

• Nyx the cat serves as a guide through the afterlife, notifying the player when a Zoi becomes a ghost and providing guidance on redemption.

• Claire at the AR Library offers ghost missions that reveal stories of different ghosts. Completing ghost stories earns karma rewards.

• Meeting a ghost can cause negative status effects on living Zois, including extreme fright.

• After the 3-day period, players choose to have the ghost ascend to the afterlife or attend a funeral.

Soul Guide Service

The Soul Guide is a service available through the Pocket Market app. Players can hire a Soul Guide to summon a specific lingering ghost and interact with them, or choose to put a soul at rest and release them to the afterlife. This is useful for managing ghost populations without waiting for the 3-day timer to expire naturally.

Ghost Abilities by Death Type

Each ghost gains unique abilities tied to how they died. These abilities include a primary supernatural power, object interactions, and passive effects on nearby living Zois:

Ghost Town Consequence

If too many ghosts accumulate in a single city, new Zois cannot be born, families cannot form, and the population declines. The city becomes a literal "ghost town." Players must actively manage karma across the entire city to prevent this. Cleansing a ghost town requires resolving the karma of existing ghosts through good deeds, or using the Soul Guide service to release lingering souls.

A Ghost Appearance Rate Slider (accessible through city settings) allows players to adjust ghost density. Lowering this slider reduces the visual presence of ghosts in the city but does not remove them from the population count. The Zoi-Soul Ratio in the Soul Management Report helps players track whether their city is approaching ghost town conditions.

Funeral System

The v0.4.0 update added funeral-related features:

• Funeral Home and Columbarium property types.

• A Cemetery for holding funerals and storing urns.

• Urns are generated automatically for Zois who die. The urn can be found at the Funeral Home after death.

• The "Make Event" action creates funeral events where family and friends can gather to mourn.

• "Enshrine Deceased" places urns in the columbarium as permanent memorials.

• After the 3-day ghost period expires, players choose between ascending to the afterlife or attending the funeral. Choosing the funeral triggers a ceremony event at the Cemetery.

Child Protection

Children cannot die in inZOI. If a child Zoi's needs reach critically low levels across multiple categories (hunger, sleep, social), they are removed by Child Protection Services rather than dying. The child is permanently removed from the household and cannot be recovered.

• This applies to toddler and child life stages only. Teenagers can die from standard causes.

• Children who would freeze or suffer heatstroke are also sent to Child Protection Services instead of dying.

• Children faint instead of dying from sleep deprivation.

• A launch-era bug that allowed vehicles to kill child Zois was patched out by Krafton, who described it as "highly inappropriate" given the game's Teen ESRB rating.

Death Prevention Items

The Meow Store (accessed through the Zoi's portrait card) sells donuts that provide temporary protection against specific death causes. Donuts are consumable items purchased with Meow Coins that function as power-ups, making specific aspects of a Zoi's life easier for a limited time:

There is no permanent item that prevents all deaths. Donuts offer temporary or targeted protection only. The "Go Back In Time" option after death is the only true reversal mechanism.

Insurance System

Insurance can be purchased through the Insurance app on the smartphone or computer:

All insurance policies apply to all family members, not just the individual Zoi who purchased them. Policies can be cancelled from the same devices.

No Murder System

Krafton has explicitly stated they will not add a murder system to inZOI, saying the team "does not condone this behaviour in real life." The only way to deliberately cause another Zoi's death is through car accidents (driving a vehicle into them) or environmental manipulation such as removing pool ladders, locking Zois in rooms without food, or placing faulty electronics nearby.

Indirect Killing Methods

Players have discovered several ways to indirectly cause Zoi deaths through environmental manipulation:

• Remove ladders from swimming pools to prevent escape and cause drowning.

• Lock Zois in rooms without food access to cause starvation.

• Place faulty electronics near Zois with low Housework skill to increase electrocution chance.

• Build rooms without exits and start fires.

• Force Zois into heavy traffic areas for car accidents. Enabling manual driving increases control over vehicle collisions.

• Lower the City Fire Prevention Rate to increase fire frequency across the entire city.

• Feed a Zoi a Poison Donut from the Meow Store to cause food poisoning death.

• Repeatedly use mean interactions on a Zoi in an Enraged state to trigger anger death.

• Use the controlDisaster HeavyRain cheat to force Heavy Rain in any city, exposing outdoor Zois to lightning strikes.

• Leave spoiled food out and allow Zois to sniff it, triggering food poisoning.

These methods generate bad karma, potentially creating ghosts and contributing to ghost town conditions.

Base Game Death Types

Starvation

The most common preventable death. Zois can survive without food for approximately 2 in-game days. Once the Hunger gauge hits zero, the first 12 hours are "uncomfortable." Then a critical warning notification appears stating the Zoi is "enduring severe hunger." If the Zoi does not eat within the next 12 hours after this warning, the cycle repeats. Death occurs after approximately 6 warning cycles (roughly 3 full days).

Prevention: Keep food stocked in the refrigerator, order food from the Pocket Market app, or visit restaurants. Leaving Autonomy on allows Zois to feed themselves. The Enduring Hunger Donut from the Meow Store prevents hunger depletion for a full day.

Sleep Deprivation

Zois can survive without sleep for approximately 2 in-game days. Once the Sleep gauge hits zero, a "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" notification warns that if the Zoi does not rest within 12 hours, it could prove fatal. Children do not die from sleep deprivation; they faint instead.

Fire

Kitchen fires break out when cooking goes wrong or when appliances malfunction. Electronics also have a random fire chance. The City's Fire Prevention Rate (adjustable via Smartphone > City Map > Manage City) directly affects fire probability; lowering it increases fire frequency. While a fire is active, Build Mode becomes inaccessible until the fire is extinguished.

Prevention: Keep the Fire Prevention Rate high, repair broken appliances using the Housework skill, keep fire extinguishers available, and call Firefighters if a fire starts.

Slipping and Falling

Wet floors from broken plumbing, kitchen spills, or water left after showering create slippery surfaces. When a Zoi steps on a wet surface, there is a small random chance they slip and die. This is specifically about slipping on wet surfaces, not falling from heights.

Prevention: mop up spills immediately and repair broken faucets and plumbing.

Electrocution

Zois can be electrocuted when repairing broken electronics with low skill levels, or when attempting to hack ATMs (a Crime action). Higher Housework skill levels significantly reduce the risk during repairs.

Prevention: hire a professional repair service through the Pocket Market app instead of attempting DIY repairs.

Car Accident

Zois can be hit by vehicles while walking near roads, or the player can deliberately drive a vehicle into another Zoi. This is described as the easiest and fastest way to cause a death. Only collisions between playable Zois count; NPC vehicles do not cause fatalities. The driver who kills another Zoi is arrested and sent to jail.

Prevention: keep Zois away from busy roads and high-traffic areas. Motorcycles and scooters can also collide with cars, causing death.

Old Age

The only inevitable death type. Only Zois in the Senior life stage can die of old age. Death occurs approximately 17 in-game days after entering the Senior stage. The exact timing varies per Zoi and changes each time the game is resumed, preventing repeated deaths at the same age on reload. Female Zois tend to live slightly longer. The city's Health Level setting also affects lifespan.

Players can delay old age death by turning off aging in simulation settings. The immortalZoi true cheat makes all Zois immortal.

Disease and Illness

Illness is caused by cold weather exposure, standing in rain, contagion from sick household members, or seasonal pollen allergies. Untreated illness progresses to fatal infection. The v0.6.0 update increased the time before catching a cold in rain from 1 hour to 6 in-game hours, making rain exposure significantly less deadly.

Treatment: Use a First Aid Kit (100 Mew from Build Mode) with cold medicine or allergy medicine. The Immunity Donut (100 Meow Coins from the Meow Store) grants permanent immunity to both colds and allergies.

Running Away (Lack of Recognition)

When the Recognition need drops to critically low levels, the Zoi becomes depressed for 12 hours, followed by a 24-hour warning period. If the Recognition need is not restored, the Zoi runs away and permanently leaves the household. The Zoi vanishes without becoming a ghost, as no physical death occurs. This mechanic is unique to inZOI and reflects how "in the modern world people feel fulfilled from being recognized by others."

Prevention: maintain the Recognition need through social validation and accomplishments.

Overexertion

Zois can die from performing energy-intensive actions (exercise, physical labor, strenuous work) when their Energy need gauge is very low or completely empty. The Zoi collapses from physical strain. This death type is triggered by attempting to perform high-energy activities without adequate rest, not simply by having low energy.

Prevention: allow rest periods between strenuous activities and monitor the Energy need gauge. Avoid starting exercise routines when Energy is already depleted.

Pollution

Prolonged exposure to high pollution levels in heavily modernized areas can be fatal. This is one of the rarest death types. While dataminers have noted limited evidence of pollution death in game files, community reports confirm it can occur under extreme conditions.

Prevention: avoid heavily polluted areas.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning was present in early playtests, where Zois could die from eating when a city's sanitation was set to low. In the current Early Access version, spoiled food cannot be eaten directly. Instead, players are given the option to either smell the spoiled food or throw it away. Sniffing spoiled food can trigger food poisoning, which progresses to a fatal condition if untreated.

The Poison Donut from the Meow Store is the most reliable way to trigger this death type intentionally. It causes immediate food poisoning when consumed.

Prevention: always discard spoiled food rather than sniffing it. Keep kitchens clean and food properly stored.

Anger

Zois can die from extreme anger when they use mean interactions while in the Enraged emotional state. Emotions in inZOI follow an intensity progression: Annoyed escalates to Angry, which escalates to Enraged. Each emotion has a point score that increases as negative factors accumulate. Once a Zoi reaches Enraged intensity and then performs hostile social interactions (insults, arguments, mean actions), there is a chance of death from extreme anger.

Prevention: avoid using mean interactions when a Zoi is already visibly angry. Use calming activities such as bathing, listening to music, or positive social interactions to reduce anger before it escalates to the Enraged level.

Weather-Related Deaths

Freezing

Cold weather below 0°C (32°F) is dangerous. Zois automatically switch to Winter outfits, but wearing light or Summer clothing accelerates cold effects. A "Freezing Winds" warning message appears when wearing inappropriate clothing in extreme cold. After about 30 minutes of exposure, the Zoi becomes "Afraid" due to Brain Freeze. Continued exposure leads to freezing to death. Children are sent to Child Protection Services instead.

Dowon is the only city where freezing is a regular risk due to its four-season climate that includes harsh winters.

Heatstroke

Extreme heat during Heatwave natural disasters can cause heatstroke and death. The temperature threshold is around 30°C (86°F). Wearing heavy clothing accelerates overheating. A "Scorching Heat" warning message appears during life-threatening heat conditions. After about 30 minutes of extreme heat exposure, the Zoi becomes afraid and continued exposure leads to death. This can occur indoors if climate is not controlled. Heatwaves occur in all cities, not just tropical ones.

Developers adjusted death probability from heatwaves after reports that Zois were dying too frequently in early builds.

Prevention: use fans to cool rooms, stay indoors during heatwaves, and wear appropriate Summer clothing.

Cahaya DLC Death Types

The Island Getaway DLC (v0.3.0) added death types related to water and tropical weather in Cahaya and Bliss Bay. Some of these death types had bugs at launch: drowning and jellyfish deaths were bugged in v0.3.0 and fixed in v0.4.0. The shark attack animation was also added in v0.4.0.

Drowning

Swimming depletes Energy faster than normal activities. Once Energy hits zero while swimming, a warning appears that the Zoi may drown in 3 hours. The warning repeats 3 times. After the third warning, if the Zoi hasn't exited the water, they die. Fast swimming becomes disabled once Energy depletes, making it harder to reach shore.

Prevention: exit the water when Energy gets low and build the Swimming skill before extended swims.

Shark Attack

Entering shark-infested areas in Bliss Bay or Cahaya triggers escalating warnings. The first warning provides notice; subsequent warnings cause increasing fear. Extended time in the area increases the chance of a fatal shark attack. Shark attack has its own unique death animation, added in v0.4.0. Players can check the in-game town map to identify shark-infested zones. Cahaya's Lessons (an in-game tutorial system) also identifies dangerous swimming areas.

Prevention: check the map before swimming and leave immediately when warnings appear.

Jellyfish Sting

Same mechanic as shark attacks but in jellyfish-infested waters. Escalating warnings precede death with high death chance during prolonged exposure. Was bugged at launch in v0.3.0 and fixed in v0.4.0.

Prevention: avoid jellyfish zones and exit immediately when warnings appear.

Lightning Strike

Being outdoors during Heavy Rain in Cahaya exposes Zois to frequent lightning strikes. Heavy Rain is a natural disaster unique to Cahaya that floods the ground and prevents Zois from driving. There is a small chance of being struck by lightning while remaining outdoors during the storm.

Players can trigger Heavy Rain in other cities using the controlDisaster HeavyRain cheat, which enables lightning death in locations where it would not naturally occur.

Prevention: go indoors during Heavy Rain events and avoid open areas during storms.

Update History

Tips

• Starvation is the most common accidental death. Always keep refrigerators stocked and cooking enabled.

• The "Go Back In Time" option is your safety net. Use it if an important Zoi dies unexpectedly.

• Pay attention to karma throughout a Zoi's life. By the time they die, it is too late to change their karmic balance. Use the Neutral Donut proactively if a Zoi's karma is trending badly.

• Fix broken fixtures immediately. Wet floors from broken plumbing cause more deaths than expected.

• The Housework skill reduces electrocution risk during repairs. Level it up before DIY fixes.

• Monitor the ghost population in your city using the Soul Management Report. If the Zoi-Soul Ratio skews toward souls, prioritize helping ghosts complete karma redemption or use the Soul Guide service to release them.

• Old age is unavoidable without cheats. Use the Zoi's final days to ensure positive karma for a peaceful passing.

• Child Protection Services removal is permanent. Keep children's needs above critical levels at all times.

• The Enduring Hunger Donut and Immunity Donut from the Meow Store are the best targeted death prevention items.

• Use the Ghost Appearance Rate Slider in city settings if ghost density becomes overwhelming.

• After the v0.7.0 update, family members are less likely to die from neglected needs, but manual monitoring is still important for households with many Zois.

• Avoid letting Zois reach the Enraged emotional state. Anger death can happen suddenly when mean interactions are used at peak rage.

• The Poison Donut is the easiest way to intentionally cause a food poisoning death, but it generates bad karma for the household.

• Insurance is a worthwhile investment for large families. Death Insurance pays 10,000 Mew, which can help surviving family members maintain their lifestyle.