Desired Lives

What are Desired Lives?

A Desired Life is a customizable life path that sets a Zoi's default values, preferences, ambition, and aligned skills. They are only available to Young Adults and older. Children and Teenagers cannot have a Desired Life. Choosing one is optional, and the defaults it sets can all be changed later through the Zoi's profile card.

The main benefit of picking a Desired Life is that it aligns the Zoi's Urges with their goals. Urges are spontaneous desires that pop up during gameplay. When a Desired Life matches the Zoi's trait, they get Urges that push them toward activities relevant to their ambition. Fulfilling Urges triggers positive emotions like Tranquil and Concentrated.

All 16 Desired Lives

Life of Abundance

Pursues wealth and material comfort. Recommended traits: Socialite, Go-Getter. Values: Authority, Accomplishment. Aligned skills: Rhetoric, Programming, Charm. Default ambition: Luxury Mansion.

Life of Advancement

Continuous self-improvement through learning and challenge. Recommended traits: Perfectionist, Explorer. Values: Challenger, Accomplishment. Aligned skills: Critical Thinking, Programming, Fitness. Default ambition: Competent Talent.

Life of Perseverance

Overcoming physical and mental limits. Recommended traits: Adventurer, Entertainer. Values: Challenger, Pleasure. Aligned skills: Fitness, Media Production, Cooking. Default ambition: Fitness Master.

Life of Contribution

Giving back to the community. Recommended traits: Collaborator, Volunteer. Values: Coexistence, Love. Aligned skills: Fitness, Cooking, Parenting. Default ambition: Cheerful Neighbor.

Life of Creativity

Artistic expression and innovation. Recommended traits: Visionary, Dreamer. Values: Autonomy, Coexistence. Aligned skills: Art, Performance, Instruments. Default ambition: Great Painter.

Life of Excitement

Thrills, adrenaline, and pushing boundaries. Recommended traits: Adventurer, Entertainer. Values: Challenger, Pleasure. Aligned skills: Media Production, Fitness, Coffee Craft. Default ambition: Famous Hacker.

Life of Devotion

A happy family life above all else. Recommended traits: Volunteer, Collaborator. Values: Coexistence, Love. Aligned skills: Cooking, Housework, Parenting. Default ambition: Loving Family.

Life of Freedom

Living without external constraints. Recommended traits: Individualist, Authoritarian. Values: Autonomy, Pleasure. Aligned skills: Charm, Performance, Art. Default ambition: Nation's Sweetheart.

Life of Harmony

Coexisting with nature and the environment. Recommended traits: Social Activist, Volunteer. Values: Coexistence, Love. Aligned skills: Art, Cooking, Gardening. Default ambition: Plant Lover.

Life of Respectability

Earning respect through merit and leadership. Recommended traits: Go-Getter, Leader. Values: Autonomy, Authority. Aligned skills: Rhetoric, Fitness, Media Production. Default ambition: Next Gen Leader.

Life of Romance

Focused entirely on romantic relationships. Recommended traits: Charmer, Entertainer. Values: Challenger, Love. Aligned skills: Charm, Performance, Instruments. Default ambition: Nation's Sweetheart.

A Life of Self-Creation

A blank slate. No recommended traits, values, ambitions, or aligned skills. For players who want to figure things out as they go.

Life of Simplicity

Minimalism and efficiency. Recommended traits: Perfectionist, Social Activist. Values: Coexistence, Rule-Abiding. Aligned skills: Cooking, Fitness, Gardening. Default ambition: Tranquil Mind.

Life of Stability

Predictability and fixed routines. Recommended traits: Sentinel, Mediator. Values: Safety, Rule-Abiding. Aligned skills: Cooking, Housework, Gardening. Default ambition: Wealth.

Life of Tranquility

Inner peace and calm. Recommended traits: Dreamer, Mediator. Values: Traditionalist, Safety. Aligned skills: Cooking, Housework, Gardening. Default ambition: Tranquil Mind.

Life of Wisdom

Accumulating knowledge and understanding. Recommended traits: Scholar, Explorer. Values: Rule-Abiding, Challenger. Aligned skills: Critical Thinking, Programming, Gardening. Default ambition: Knowledge Seeker.

Ambitions

Ambitions are long-term goals with 3 progression levels. Each level contains specific objectives that must all be completed before the next level unlocks. Completing individual goals awards Meow. Finishing all three levels of an ambition awards a larger Meow bonus and unlocks new interactions tied to that ambition. Ambitions can be changed at any time.

Career Success

Next Gen Leader: Level 1 -- Read self-help books 10 times. Level 2 -- Reach Rhetoric level 6, read self-help books 10 more times. Level 3 -- Have 100 positive business conversations, reach Rhetoric level 10.

Competent Talent: Level 1 -- Shake hands with acquaintances 10 times, practice investment simulation 5 times. Level 2 -- Maintain a full-time job, get promoted. Level 3 -- Toast with business partners 10 times, get promoted twice more.

Community

Philanthropist: Level 1 -- Mail letters 5 times, donate via ATM 5 times. Level 2 -- Donate via mailbox 10 times, donate books 15 times. Level 3 -- Donate to homeless 10 times, pledge organ donation via computer.

Cheerful Neighbor: Level 1 -- Have 5 positive conversations with unfamiliar residents, 5 friendship conversations. Level 2 -- Have 15 friendship conversations, give thank-you cards or gifts 10 times. Level 3 -- Establish 10 BFF relationships, dance excitedly 20 times with BFFs.

Creative Expression

Great Painter: Level 1 -- Buy an easel, paint 3 pictures. Level 2 -- Paint 10 pictures, read art books 10 times. Level 3 -- Reach Art level 10, appreciate art 10 times while Curious.

Voice of Heaven: Level 1 -- Buy a standing microphone, sing 3 songs. Level 2 -- Sing 10 songs while Amused, reach Performance level 6. Level 3 -- Sing at karaoke booth 10 times, reach Performance level 10.

Pro Musician: Level 1 -- Buy an instrument, play 3 times. Level 2 -- Play drums 10 times, play instruments 10 times while Sentimental. Level 3 -- Reach Instrument level 10, play guitar 20 times.

Family Happiness

Loving Family: Level 1 -- Form a family, have 3 positive partner conversations. Level 2 -- Have 20 positive partner conversations, 10 sentimental family conversations. Level 3 -- Have 50 positive partner conversations, 30 positive child conversations.

Parenting Expert: Level 1 -- Play with child 5 times, dance for child 5 times. Level 2 -- Tell stories 10 times, care for child 20 times. Level 3 -- Sing fun songs 10 times, care for child 50 times.

Financial Success

Wealth: Level 1 -- Hold 50,000 Meow, buy furniture over 800 Meow 5 times. Level 2 -- Deposit money 10 times, live on property valued 35,000+ Meow. Level 3 -- Hold 200,000 Meow, live on property over 50,000 Meow.

Luxury Mansion: Level 1 -- Hold 50,000 Meow, live on 35,000+ Meow property. Level 2 -- Buy furniture over 1,500 Meow, plant 10 medium+ trees. Level 3 -- Buy furniture over 800 Meow 5 times, live on property over 50,000 Meow.

Harmony and Peace

Plant Lover: Level 1 -- Buy 5 houseplants, water flowerpots 3 times. Level 2 -- Water plants 10 times, reach Gardening level 6. Level 3 -- Arrange bonsai 5 times, reach Gardening level 10.

Tranquil Mind: Level 1 -- Buy a yoga mat, practice yoga 3 times. Level 2 -- Do yoga 10 times, take hot showers 5 times while Uncomfortable. Level 3 -- Meditate 50 times, relax on sunbed 30 times.

Knowledge

Walking Encyclopedia: Level 1 -- Fix broken objects 3 times, reach level 5 in 3 skills. Level 2 -- Craft furniture 15 times, reach level 8 in 5 skills. Level 3 -- Create videos 20 times, reach level 10 in 5 skills.

Knowledge Seeker: Level 1 -- Buy a bookshelf, read 3 books. Level 2 -- Read 10 books, read newspapers 5 times. Level 3 -- Reach Critical Thinking level 10, write 20 times.

Romance

Nation's Sweetheart: Level 1 -- Have 5 positive romantic conversations. Level 2 -- Have 50 positive romantic conversations. Level 3 -- Reach Charm level 10, maintain 5 true love relationships.

Partners in Love: Level 1 -- Establish a mutual crush, hold hands 3 times. Level 2 -- Hold hands 10 times, serenade 10 times. Level 3 -- Propose while Aflutter, show affection 20 times.

Social Disorder

Notorious Villain: Level 1 -- Kick vending machines 5 times, secretly drop items 3 times. Level 2 -- Knock down others 3 times, start 5 fights. Level 3 -- Scam with false investment claims 5 times, get arrested 5 times.

Famous Hacker: Level 1 -- Reach Programming level 3, commit secondhand sale scams 5 times. Level 2 -- Reach Programming level 6, hack ATMs 10 times. Level 3 -- Reach Programming level 10, hack banks 3 times.

Health

Fitness Master: Level 1 -- Buy fitness equipment, work out 3 times. Level 2 -- Read health books 10 times, reach Fitness level 6. Level 3 -- Work out 20 times while Focused, reach Fitness level 10.

Neat Freak: Level 1 -- Buy a cleaning tool, clean 3 times. Level 2 -- Clean 10 times, buy a washing machine. Level 3 -- Do laundry 20 times, reach Housework level 10.

Master Chef: Level 1 -- Cook from a refrigerator 5 times. Level 2 -- Reach Cooking level 6, cook 20 times. Level 3 -- Reach Cooking level 10, cook 30 times.

How Desired Lives Affect Gameplay

Urges

Zois receive Urges aligned with their Desired Life more frequently. Each Zoi can have up to 4 simultaneous urges at any time, and they expire after 12 in-game hours. There is no penalty for ignoring urges, but fulfilling them awards Meow Coins and a mood boost. Some urges are gated behind specific Desired Lives. For example, the "Wants to Buy a Lottery Ticket" urge only triggers for Zois with the Life of Abundance.

When you click an urge, the submenu shows what caused it (which trait, value, or Desired Life triggered it) and the expected reward.

Value Growth

Desired Lives set initial Value distributions during character creation. Values range from 0 to 100, and the Value with the highest score becomes the Zoi's Core Value. When any Value reaches 60 or above, it unlocks additional interactions, new urges, and special event opportunities. Changing a Desired Life later does not retroactively alter accumulated Value progress.

Preferences

Each Desired Life sets default Preferences that align with its theme. Preferences are organized into 7 categories (Sport, Food, Perception, Hobbies, Reading, Instruments, Activities) with 33 total options. For example, Life of Harmony defaults to Jogging, Coffee, Animals, Plants, and Taking Photos, while Life of Creativity defaults to Appreciating Art, Painting, Gaming, Art reading, and Guitar.

Preferences directly influence urges and emotional responses. A Zoi who likes Animals may trigger the "Wants to Bond With Animals" urge. Preferences can be modified at any time through the Zoi Card, with up to 10 preferences per Zoi set as either likes or dislikes.

Autonomous Behavior

When Free Will is enabled (toggled with the T key), Zois independently fulfill needs and respond to urges. Traits and preferences determine which activities the AI selects, and the Desired Life shapes which urges and values guide those decisions. Note that the Desired Life does not affect skill growth rates in the current Early Access build.

Changing Desired Lives

Unlike Traits (which are permanent after character creation), Desired Lives can be changed at any time:

1. Open the Zoi Card from the bottom-left corner of the screen or press O on the keyboard.

2. Navigate to the Desired Life section.

3. Click to change or remove the current Desired Life.

Desired Lives are also entirely optional. A Zoi does not need to have one selected at all. Changing or removing a Desired Life does not reset accumulated Value progress or previously completed ambition milestones.

Strategy Tips by Playstyle

Family-Focused Gameplay

Life of Devotion pairs with the Volunteer or Collaborator traits and defaults to the Loving Family ambition. This path emphasizes Cooking, Rhetoric, and Media Production, making it ideal for stay-at-home parents or Zois focused on marriage and raising children.

Romance and Relationships

Life of Romance pairs with the Charmer trait, which makes building romantic relationships faster. Trait compatibility affects relationship speed: "Very Good" compatibility lets relationships progress in roughly 30 in-game minutes, while "Very Bad" compatibility takes around 90 minutes of continuous interaction. Compatibility is determined by Traits, not Desired Lives.

Wealth and Career

Life of Abundance pairs with the Go-Getter trait for faster career progression and defaults to the Luxury Mansion ambition. For pure career climbing, Life of Respectability (Next Gen Leader ambition) and Life of Advancement (Competent Talent ambition) are also strong picks.

Creative and Artistic Income

Life of Creativity pairs with Visionary or Dreamer traits and defaults to the Great Painter ambition. This path supports multiple income streams through art, video production, and music, making it a good choice for "rags-to-riches" challenges.

Nature and Gardening

Life of Harmony defaults to the Plant Lover ambition and emphasizes Coexistence and Love values. Combined with the Life of Simplicity option, these paths focus on environmental engagement, gardening, and peaceful living.

Criminal and Chaos Gameplay

Life of Excitement defaults to the Famous Hacker ambition, which aligns with the Crime skill system for hacking ATMs and running scams. This is the best pick for players planning a criminal playthrough.

Sandbox and Completionist

A Life of Self-Creation sets no presets, enabling players to max all skills, complete all ambitions, and reach the highest job positions without being funneled toward one path. This is the recommended choice for completionist playthroughs.

Future Development

The 2026 development roadmap includes plans to "enhance desired life aspirations with new urges and missions," indicating the system will be expanded beyond its current Early Access state with additional content tied to each Desired Life.