Phone Calls

Overview

Phone Calls are a social feature introduced in the March 2026 Update (v0.7.0) that lets Zois call and receive calls from other Zois through their smartphone. Before this update, remote communication was limited to text messaging and the Call Over function in the Relationship menu. The new calling system adds a direct voice channel between characters, giving players another way to stay connected with friends, family, and romantic partners across the map.

Phone calls work alongside the broader conversation system, which was also overhauled in v0.7.0. Conversation outcomes now vary based on a Zoi's traits, emotions, and relationships, so the same call can play out differently depending on who is involved and how they are feeling at the time.

Acquiring Phone Numbers

Phone numbers can only be obtained by asking a Zoi for their number during an in-person interaction. There is no phone directory or automatic exchange. Your Zoi must be in a face-to-face conversation with the target, at which point the option to ask for their number becomes available.

NPCs follow the same rules. They can ask your Zoi for a number, and they can choose to accept or decline the request. This creates a natural, two-way social dynamic where both player-controlled and AI-controlled characters participate in building their contact lists.

If you delete a contact's number from your phone, you do not lose the ability to get it back. You can approach the same Zoi in person and ask for their number again. This applies to any deleted number, regardless of how high or low the relationship score may be.

Making and Receiving Calls

Once a phone number has been saved, your Zoi can place a call to that contact at any time using the Phone Apps interface on the smartphone. Select the Contacts app, choose a saved contact, and tap the call button. The other Zoi will answer if they are available.

Incoming calls work the same way in reverse. When another Zoi calls your character, a notification appears and you can choose to answer or ignore the call. NPCs initiate calls on their own based on their relationship with your Zoi and their current emotional state.

Conversation outcomes during phone calls follow the same rules as face-to-face interactions. The result of any exchange depends on the traits and characteristics of both Zois, their current emotions, and the existing relationship between them. A phone call with a close friend will feel different from one with a recent acquaintance, and a Zoi in a bad mood may respond more negatively than usual.

Contact Management

The Contacts app on the smartphone is the central hub for managing phone numbers. From this screen, players can review their saved contacts and perform several actions.

Blocking is useful for managing unwanted social interactions. If an NPC calls too frequently or the player wants to cut off communication with a particular character, blocking stops all incoming calls from that number. The blocked Zoi is not permanently locked out, however. They retain the ability to approach your Zoi in person and request to be unblocked, adding a layer of social realism to the system.

How Relationships Affect Calls

The v0.7.0 update tied conversation outcomes more closely to the simulation's social systems. Phone calls are subject to the same rules that govern in-person conversations:

These factors combine to make each call feel distinct. Two calls to the same contact can go differently depending on what has happened in the game since the last conversation.

Smartphone Animations

Alongside the calling feature, v0.7.0 introduced new animations for smartphone use in everyday situations. These animations are part of the broader push toward more natural, context-sensitive Zoi behavior.

These animations apply to all smartphone activities, not just phone calls. A Zoi browsing Phone Apps, reading messages, or scrolling through the Contacts app will also use the new sofa and toilet animations when the context is appropriate.

Phone Calls vs. Call Over

It is important to distinguish phone calls from the existing Call Over feature. Call Over is accessed through the Relationship menu (the icon showing two people shoulder-to-shoulder in the bottom-right corner of the screen). When you use Call Over, the selected Zoi physically travels to your location. This is how players invite other Zois to their home or current lot.

Phone calls, by contrast, are remote conversations that happen entirely through the smartphone. The called Zoi does not travel anywhere. Phone calls are for socializing at a distance, while Call Over is for getting a Zoi to come to you in person.

Tips

• Build up your contact list early. Ask every Zoi you meet for their number so you have options for social calls later.

• Pay attention to your Zoi's emotional state before making important calls. A Zoi who is in a positive mood is more likely to have a successful conversation.

• Use the block feature strategically. If an NPC keeps calling at inconvenient times, blocking them temporarily can help, and they can always request to be unblocked later.

• Deleting a contact is not permanent. If you change your mind, just find the Zoi in the world and ask for their number again.

• Phone calls complement the Call Over feature rather than replacing it. Use calls for quick social interactions and Call Over when you want a Zoi to physically visit.

Social Need Fulfillment

Phone calls contribute to the Social need bar. Each completed call provides a moderate boost to the Social meter, making calls a convenient way to keep the need from dropping when the Zoi is busy with other tasks. The boost is smaller than an in-person conversation but still meaningful.

Multitasking

One of the key advantages of phone calls is that Zois can talk while performing other activities. A Zoi can eat a meal, watch TV, or sit at their desk while on a call. This makes phone calls time-efficient compared to traveling across the city for a face-to-face chat.

However, certain high-focus activities (such as cooking complex recipes or engaging in active sports) may not be compatible with simultaneous phone calls. The game will prevent the call from starting if the current activity requires full attention.

Relationship Effects

Phone calls maintain and strengthen existing relationships. The available call options depend on the current relationship level between the two Zois. Close friends and romantic partners have access to more intimate conversation topics, while acquaintances are limited to casual small talk.

Regular phone calls help prevent relationship decay over time, which is especially useful for relationships between Zois who live in different parts of the city. Without occasional contact (in person or by phone), relationship scores gradually decrease.

Long-Distance Usefulness

Phone calls are particularly valuable in neighborhoods where Zois live far apart. Rather than spending significant in-game time traveling to another lot for a social interaction, a quick phone call accomplishes much of the same relationship maintenance. This is helpful in larger city layouts where travel time can eat into a Zoi's schedule.

Patch History