Lifespan and Aging
Complete guide to lifespan and aging in inZOI covering all nine life stage durations (Newborn through Senior), the aging-up process, simulation speed and day length settings, disabling aging, the v0.1.3 change restricting natural death to seniors only, feature unlocks at each stage, and tips for managing Zoi lifespans.
Every Zoi in inZOI progresses through nine life stages, from Newborn to Senior, with a total lifespan of approximately 100 in-game days at default settings. Aging is automatic: Zois jump from one stage to the next after a fixed number of in-game days, with their size and appearance changing instantly at the transition. Players can adjust the pace of aging through simulation settings or disable it entirely.
Life Stage Durations
The following table lists the duration of each life stage in in-game days and approximate real-world time at the default day length of 96 real minutes per in-game day:
Life Stage | Duration (In-Game Days) | Cumulative Days | Real Time (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
Newborn | 1 | 1 | 96 minutes |
Toddler | 2 | 3 | 192 minutes |
Child | 7 | 10 | ~11 hours |
Adolescent | 5 | 15 | ~8 hours |
Teenager | 4 | 19 | ~6.5 hours |
Young Adult | 10 | 29 | ~16 hours |
Adult | 20 | 49 | ~32 hours |
Middle-Aged | 16 | 65 | ~25.5 hours |
Senior | Up to 35 | Up to 100 | Up to ~56 hours |
The Senior stage does not have a fixed endpoint. Zois in the Senior stage can die naturally from old age at any point, with the probability increasing as they approach the maximum of approximately 100 total days. The total full lifespan is roughly 6 real-life days of continuous play at default speed.
The Aging-Up Process
Zois do not age continuously. They remain at one life stage for its full duration, then jump to the next stage instantly.
When a Zoi ages up, their physical appearance (height, build, face) changes immediately to match the new stage.
There is no visible progress bar or countdown showing how close a Zoi is to aging up. The transition happens automatically when the in-game day count is reached.
Only the currently selected Zoi receives life stage transition notifications. Death notifications appear regardless of which Zoi is selected.
Child skills (Creativity, Motor Development, Sociability, Responsibility) transfer to adult skill bonuses when the child ages into a Teenager. See Creativity Skill for an example of this transition.
Simulation Speed and Day Length
Aging speed is controlled by two settings found in Game Menu > Options > Simulation:
Setting | Details |
|---|---|
Length of Day | Controls how long one in-game day lasts in real time. Default is 96 real minutes per in-game day. Can be adjusted from 48 minutes (faster aging) to 24 hours (slower aging) per in-game day. |
Simulation Speed | Adjustable from 1x to 4x using the controls in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Higher speeds make time pass faster. Speeds above 5x disable Zoi movement and autonomy. |
Disable Aging | A toggle in Options > Simulation that freezes all aging. Can be applied separately to your own Zois and other Zois in the city. When disabled, Zois remain at their current life stage indefinitely. |
Changing the day length affects all time-based systems: aging, career schedules, school attendance, seasonal transitions, and need decay rates. Shorter days mean Zois age faster but also have less real time to complete daily activities.
Death from Old Age
As of v0.1.3 (April 1, 2025), only Zois in the Senior life stage can die naturally from old age. Before this patch, natural death could occur at any adult life stage based on probabilistic calculations. The change was made because, as the developers stated, "it's important for Creators to have time to bond with their characters and fully immerse themselves in their stories."
This rule applies only to natural death from aging. Non-natural deaths (fire, drowning, electrocution, starvation, sleep deprivation, car accidents, falling) can still happen at any life stage from Teenager onward. Children cannot die; if both parents die, children are sent to the Child Protection Agency.
For full details on all death types, see Deaths.
Feature Unlocks by Life Stage
Each life stage unlocks new gameplay capabilities:
Life Stage | Key Unlocks |
|---|---|
Newborn | Crib interactions only. Parents can check temperature. Auto babysitter if parents leave. |
Toddler | Formula feeding, diaper changes, toddler toys, Cognitive Development skill. |
Child | Self-care, elementary school, child skills (Creativity, Motor Development, Sociability, Responsibility), trait selection. |
Adolescent | Middle school attendance. |
Teenager | High school, part-time income (busking, selling items), expanded social interactions. |
Young Adult | Full careers, university, romantic relationships, ambitions, Desired Life selection, adoption, pregnancy. |
Adult | All Young Adult features plus expanded career progression and family creation. |
Middle-Aged | Continued career and family life. No new unique unlocks. |
Senior | Retirement available. Natural death from old age becomes possible. |
Aging and Character Creation
When creating Zois in Character Creation, players can select from six starting age groups: Child, Teenager, Young Adult, Adult, Middle-Aged, and Senior. Newborns, Toddlers, and Adolescents are not directly selectable in the character creator. They can only be created through in-game events (pregnancy, adoption, or aging up from a younger stage).
Tips
If you want a long-lived Zoi without disabling aging, increase the Length of Day setting. Setting it to 24 hours per in-game day effectively makes each life stage last many real-world days.
Disable aging selectively: freeze aging for your household while letting city NPCs age normally. This keeps the world dynamic while giving you unlimited time with your main characters.
Plan skill development around life stage durations. Children have 7 days to max child skills, and Teenagers have only 4 days before becoming Young Adults. Prioritize the most impactful skills first.
The Senior stage is unpredictable. Save frequently once a Zoi reaches Senior age, as death from old age can happen at any time without warning.
If you want to experience the full lifecycle from birth to death, start with a pregnant couple. The resulting child will age through every stage naturally, giving the most complete experience.