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, loneliness, and more. The developers have planned 16 death types, of which 15 are currently confirmed in Early Access. 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.

All Confirmed Causes of Death

The 16th planned death type has not been fully identified yet and may be added in a future Early Access update. Anger and Embarrassment death types have been referenced in game files but are currently only partially implemented.

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.

• 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.

Karma System

Every Zoi accumulates karma throughout their life. 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; it is evaluated at the moment of death. The Neutral Donut (100 Meow Coins from the Meow Store) resets karma to neutral.

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.

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.

• Nyx the cat serves as a guide through the afterlife, notifying the player when a Zoi becomes a ghost.

• 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 (extreme fright).

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

Ghost Abilities by Death Type

Each ghost gains a unique ability tied to how they died:

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. A Ghost Appearance Rate Slider (accessible through city settings) allows players to adjust ghost density.

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 for Zois who die. The "Make Event" action creates funeral events.

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

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.

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:

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.

• Build rooms without exits and start fires.

• Force Zois into heavy traffic areas for car accidents.

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

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.

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. Prevention: keep Zois away from busy roads and high-traffic areas.

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. 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.

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, a Zoi may run away and permanently leave the household. This 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 excessive exercise or physical labor without adequate rest. The Zoi collapses from physical strain. Prevention: allow rest periods between strenuous activities and monitor the Energy need gauge.

Pollution

Prolonged exposure to high pollution levels in heavily modernized areas can be fatal. This is one of the rarest death types. Prevention: avoid heavily polluted areas.

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. 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.

Heatstroke

Extreme heat during Heatwave natural disasters can cause heatstroke and death. This can occur indoors if climate is not controlled. Developers adjusted death probability from heatwaves after reports that Zois were dying too frequently. 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:

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. 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. Extended time in the area results in death. Shark attack has its own unique death animation. Players can check the in-game town map to identify shark-infested zones. 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. 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 also prevents Zois from driving. Prevention: go indoors during Heavy Rain events and avoid open areas during storms.

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.

• 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. If ghosts accumulate, prioritize helping them complete karma redemption.

• 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.