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Hobbies and Preferences
March 16, 2026 at 03:20 AM
Add wikilinks to table cells (3 new links)
Every Zoi can have up to 10 preferences total, selected from 7 categories. Each preference can be set to either "Like" (shown as a yellow heart) or "Dislike" (shown as a gray broken heart), and both likes and dislikes count toward the 10-preference limit. So if a Zoi likes Cooking, Painting, and Coffee (3 likes) and dislikes Fast Food and Boxing (2 dislikes), that's 5 of their 10 slots used.
Preferences can be edited anytime through the Zoi Card interface, accessed via the toolbar menu on the bottom right of the gameplay screen. As of the August 2025 update (v0.3.0), newly created Zois no longer have preferences automatically assigned. You set them manually during or after creation.
Effect | Description |
|---|---|
Autonomous behavior | When Autonomy is on, Zois gravitate toward liked activities and avoid disliked ones. A Zoi who likes Cleaning will tidy the house whenever the opportunity arises. |
Skill growth | Liked activities level up the associated skill faster than neutral ones. |
Emotional responses | Liked activities produce positive emotions (Tranquil, Concentrated); disliked ones produce negative emotions (Bored, Annoyed). |
Urge triggers | Preferences influence which urges appear. Zois with liked preferences receive more urges related to those activities. |
Social dynamics | Preferences influence how Zois interact with each other and shape their Desired Lives. |
Through life experiences, Zois can discover new preferences or have existing ones change naturally. This happens organically as they go about their daily lives. A Zoi who keeps getting forced to cook might develop an opinion about it one way or the other. Discovery means a Zoi could gain a new like or dislike without the player explicitly setting it, adding an element of emergent personality development.
There are currently 33 preferences across 7 categories:
Jogging, Strength Training, Yoga, Boxing, Ball Sports. These tie into the Fitness skill and affect which workout activities a Zoi gravitates toward. See the fitness article for workout details.
Coffee, Street Food, Fast Food, Meat, Vegetables, Spicy Food, Cake. These affect which foods a Zoi gravitates toward when eating and how they react to meals. See Restaurants and Dining for food details.
Animals, Plants. A Zoi who likes Animals will interact more with cats and other animals in the world. A Zoi who likes Plants will be more attentive to gardening.
Dancing, Singing, Taking Photos, Appreciating Art, Painting, Gaming. These map directly to the hobby activities available in the game and influence which leisure pursuits a Zoi chooses during free time.
Self-Help Books, Novels, Health, Art. Different book types level different skills when read: self-help books increase Rhetoric, tech books increase Programming, health books boost Fitness, and general reading builds Critical Thinking.
Guitar, Piano, Drums. See the instruments article for details on playing music, composition, and the Pro Musician ambition.
Cooking, Cleaning, Laundry, Bathing, Washing Cars, Repairing. These are everyday chores. A Zoi who likes Cleaning becomes a lifesaver in larger households.
Traits (based on the Enneagram personality framework) are the primary driver of autonomous behavior, while preferences add a secondary layer of personal taste. A Zoi with the Adventurer trait might naturally seek outdoor activities, but their specific preferences determine whether they gravitate toward Jogging, Ball Sports, or Yoga within that context.
Values develop dynamically through gameplay and further shape which activities feel rewarding. When a Value reaches 60 or higher, it begins actively influencing decisions alongside traits and preferences. The three systems (traits, values, preferences) work together to create each Zoi's unique behavioral pattern.
Preferences only affect behavior when Autonomy (Free Will) is enabled. The toggle is per-Zoi; there's no global setting. Press the T key or use the toggle in the bottom UI panel.
White open cat's eye = Autonomy on (Zoi acts independently based on preferences)
Orange closed cat's eye = Autonomy off (Zoi takes no action on their own)
Be careful with Autonomy off. Without it, a Zoi literally does nothing unless you command them. They can starve or collapse from sleep deprivation if you forget about them.
Beyond the preference system, here is the full list of leisure activities available in the game:
Painting: Draw or doodle at a table, or paint on easels and walls. Levels the Art skill. Paintings can be sold through the Pocket Market.
Photography: Requires a Camera (599 Meow in Build Mode). Levels Media Production. See Photo Mode.
Media Production: Create and edit videos on a computer.
Appreciating Art: View art pieces at the Narim Art Gallery in Dowon or at home.
Playing instruments: Guitar, piano, keyboard, drums. Children can access drum kits and keyboards. See instruments.
Singing and karaoke: Sing at home or visit karaoke venues like the Coin Booth Karaoke in Dowon. Costs 5 Meow per session. Levels the Performance skill.
Busking: Perform music in public areas (parks, cafes, plazas, beaches) to earn tips. Crowded spots pay better.
Stand-up comedy: Perform comedy routines at venues. Levels the Performance skill.
Dancing: Connected to the Idol/Performer career paths in Dowon's entertainment industry.
Gym workouts: Squat racks, bench presses, free weights, pull-down machines, treadmills. See fitness.
Yoga: On mats at home or at locations like the Cahaya temple.
Jogging: Run around the neighborhood or parks.
Boxing: Punching bags at gyms.
Ball Sports: Basketball and soccer at outdoor courts.
Swimming: Available at pools and Cahaya beaches. Added in the v0.3.0 Island Getaway DLC.
Hula Hoop: A lighter exercise option.
The v0.3.0 Island Getaway DLC added several new hobby activities exclusive to Cahaya:
Surfing: Ride waves at Cahaya's beaches.
Snorkeling: Explore coral reefs and encounter sea turtles and dolphins in Cahaya's ocean. See Diving and Snorkeling.
Fishing: Cast lines at designated spots across all cities. Fish can be kept or sold. Added in v0.3.0.
Farming: Grow crops on agricultural land in Cahaya. See Farming.
Boat cruises: Rent boats and sail between islands.
Video games: Play on a computer, console, or arcade machine. Levels the Programming skill.
Reading: Books on a tablet or from a bookshelf. Different genres level different skills.
Gardening: Buy and maintain plants, water them, harvest crops. See gardening.
Cooking: Prepare meals at home using recipes. Watching cooking shows on TV also helps. See Cooking Skill.
Coffee crafting: Brew coffee with a grinder and espresso machine. Levels the Coffee Crafting skill.
Beach volleyball: At Bliss Bay and Cahaya.
Chess: Play on a chessboard (780 Meow in Build Mode).
For reference, the complete skills list in inZOI: Cooking, Charm, Programming, Gardening, Fitness, Art, Coffee Crafting, Rhetoric, Media Production, Housework, Instrument, Critical Thinking, and Performance.
