Reading and Books

Overview

Reading is a core activity in inZOI that serves multiple purposes, from building skills and completing homework assignments to simply relaxing at home with a good book. Zois can read physical books from bookshelves and stacks of books placed in their homes, visit public libraries in the city, or use tablets to access e-books on the go. Several skills in the game can be improved by reading the right type of book, and higher levels of the Critical Thinking skill even allow Zois to write and publish their own manuscripts for profit.

Whether your Zoi is a student trying to finish a school assignment, an aspiring author working toward a published novel, or just someone who enjoys curling up with a story, the reading system touches many parts of daily life in inZOI.

How Reading Works

To read a book, select your Zoi and interact with a bookshelf or stack of books in their home. Choose the "Read Book" option from the interaction menu, then browse the available titles. A flyout menu appears listing the books you can read, organized by genre and topic. Select the title you want, and your Zoi will sit down and begin reading.

Reading fills a progress circle that tracks how far your Zoi has gotten through the book. For casual reading, you can stop and resume at any time. However, for school homework that requires reading a specific book, the Zoi must read the book to completion for the task to count as finished. Simply starting the book is not enough.

Be careful when selecting books from the menu, as some titles have similar names. If you are working on a homework assignment, double-check that the book you select matches the exact title listed in your assignment. Picking the wrong book means wasted time.

Bookshelves and Reading Furniture

To read at home, your Zoi needs access to reading furniture. There are two main options available through Build Mode:

You do not need to own a bookshelf to read. All book-related tasks can be completed by visiting a public library or by finding bookshelves at community lots around the city. However, owning reading furniture at home saves travel time and lets your Zoi read whenever they want.

Skill Books

One of the most practical reasons to read in inZOI is skill development. Several of the game's 13 skills can be improved by reading books on related topics. Reading is generally a slower method of skill growth compared to hands-on practice, but it offers a reliable alternative when other methods are not available, such as when a computer breaks down or your Zoi is stuck at home.

Not every skill has associated books. Skills like Cooking, Gardening, Art, and Coffee Crafting are improved primarily through hands-on practice rather than reading.

E-Books and Tablets

Tablets provide an alternative reading experience through the "Read an e-Book" option. After purchasing a tablet from Build Mode (found under Home Office in the Computers tab), place it on an accessible surface like a desk or table. Your Zoi can then interact with it to browse digital titles.

Some content is exclusive to tablets. Investment books, for example, can only be read through the tablet's e-book menu and are not available on physical bookshelves. Reading an investment book is often triggered as an urge for Zois who have traits and ambitions related to financial success. Tablets also support other functions beyond reading, including playing games and performing skill-related actions like creating mind mazes.

Homework and School Reading

For Zois enrolled in school or attending university, reading is not optional. Homework assignments frequently require reading a specific book by title. These assignments appear in the Zoi's backpack through the action bar, and the computer interface includes a dedicated homework section for tracking progress.

Some examples of homework books include "Problem Solving Through Computational Thinking" for computer science courses and "How to Communicate with the World" for communication-related assignments. These titles must be read to completion for the homework to count as done.

If the required book is not available on your home bookshelf, you have a few options:

• Visit the public library (the AR Library in Dowon or Bliss Bay) where a wider selection is available.

• Purchase a larger bookshelf through Build Mode, which provides access to more academic titles.

• Buy a Stack of Books (~14 Meow) as a budget option for many assignments.

• Right-click your Zoi during homework time to access book options directly through the character menu.

Beyond homework, ambitions can also require your Zoi to read books from a particular genre to make progress toward their life goals.

Public Libraries

Both of inZOI's main cities have a public library called the AR Library. These are community lots that any Zoi can visit for free to read, study, and access books that may not be available at home.

In addition to the AR Libraries, other locations around the city offer bookshelves for casual reading. For instance, Cafe Gaon in Dowon features bookshelves alongside its coffee and food service, letting your Zoi grab a drink and settle in with a book.

To travel to a library, open the map with the M key and select the AR Library as a destination. You can choose to walk ("Go Here") or drive ("Drive Here") to get there. Driving saves a significant amount of travel time.

Writing Books

Reading and writing are closely connected through the Critical Thinking skill. As your Zoi's Critical Thinking level increases, they unlock the ability to write books in progressively more genres. At higher levels, your Zoi can complete full manuscripts and sell them online for Meow, turning reading and writing into a source of income.

Higher skill levels also improve the quality of written books, which means they sell for more when published. If your Zoi enjoys reading and has been building Critical Thinking through various study methods (watching debate programs, self-reflection, reading various subjects), writing becomes a natural next step and a viable way to earn money from home.

The Bookworm Characteristic

Zois who love reading can be created with the Bookworm characteristic, which was introduced in Update v0.4.0. This characteristic is available for Young Adults and older Zois. The in-game description reads: "Enjoys reading stories and books. Immersed in reading, they find peace within the print."

In addition to characteristics, the Self Help Books preference can be assigned during character creation. This preference indicates that a Zoi will enjoy activities involving self-help books and aligns well with the Life of Abundance, Life of Advancement, Life of Wisdom, and Life of Respectability desired lives. Zois can have up to 10 preferences at a time, and preferences may change over time based on in-game events and actions.

Tips

• If you cannot find a homework book on your home bookshelf, try visiting the AR Library in Dowon or Bliss Bay. The public library carries a wider selection of academic titles.

• Invest in a larger bookshelf if your household has school-age Zois. The biggest bookshelves grant access to all available book titles, reducing trips to the library.

• Use reading as a fallback skill-building method. If your Zoi's computer breaks or the gym is too far away, pick up a book on the relevant subject instead.

• Double-check homework book titles carefully before reading. Some books have very similar names, and reading the wrong one will not count toward the assignment.

• Purchase a tablet for access to exclusive e-book content, including investment books that are not available on physical bookshelves.

• Pair reading with the Bookworm characteristic during character creation if you want a Zoi who naturally gravitates toward books and finds peace in reading.

• Build Critical Thinking through reading to unlock writing genres. Selling completed manuscripts is a solid way to earn Meow from home.

• Keep your Zoi in a positive mood while reading. Happiness improves learning effectiveness, meaning skill gains from books will be slightly better when your Zoi is content.

Book Types and Skill Gains

Books in inZOI fall into several categories, and each category provides experience toward a specific skill or knowledge area. Choosing the right book type is the key to using reading as an efficient skill-building strategy.

The skill experience gained from reading is steady but modest per session. Reading is not the fastest way to build any individual skill (practicing the skill directly is usually faster), but it is a low-effort, multi-purpose activity that works well during downtime or as a supplement to active skill practice.

Reading at the AR Library

The AR Library is a unique venue that combines traditional library features with augmented reality technology. Zois who visit the AR Library have access to a wider selection of books than what is available on a personal tablet. The library environment also provides a concentration bonus that slightly increases the rate of skill experience gained from reading.

The AR Library is a public venue, so Zois can encounter other readers there, creating low-key social interactions. It is a quiet, studious environment that contrasts with the louder entertainment venues in each city. For Zois pursuing academic or intellectual goals, the library is a natural hub.

Studying at the library is particularly beneficial for school-age Zois. Children and teens who study at the library see improvements in their school performance. Regular library visits help maintain good grades and can unlock educational opportunities and rewards that might otherwise be missed.

Reading and Education

For younger Zois, reading plays a direct role in the education system. School-age Zois who read regularly perform better in their classes, earn higher grades, and have a smoother academic progression. The connection between reading and school performance encourages players to balance their younger Zois' recreation time with study habits.

Reading builds Critical Thinking more reliably than almost any other casual activity. Since Critical Thinking is useful across many gameplay systems (problem-solving, career advancement, social intelligence), investing time in reading pays dividends throughout a Zoi's life.

Need Fulfillment

Reading primarily fulfills the Fun need. The Fun gain from reading is moderate; it is not as exciting as going to an amusement park or playing sports, but it is a reliable, low-energy way to keep the Fun meter from bottoming out. Novels and fiction provide the highest Fun gain, while educational books provide a smaller Fun boost alongside their skill benefits.

Reading does not fulfill the Social need. It is an inherently solitary activity, even when done at the library alongside other Zois. For Zois who need both Fun and Social, pairing reading with a group activity afterward is a good strategy.