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Swimming
February 10, 2026 at 08:03 AM
Full rewrite with pool building details, ocean mechanics, energy drain numbers, swimming skill, customization, and Young Zoi aquatic ability
Swimming lets Zois exercise in pools and explore the ocean at beach locations. The feature was not available at launch in March 2025. It arrived in the v0.3.0 update on August 20, 2025, alongside the Island Getaway DLC. Swimming introduced its own skill, pool building in Build Mode, ocean access at beaches, and drowning as a potential cause of death.
Two swimming environments are available:
Pools - built at home through Build Mode or found at public pool locations around the cities.
Ocean - walk into the water at any beach. Available in Bliss Bay and Cahaya. Dowon does not have ocean swimming since it is an inland city.
Pools are built in Build Mode under Buildings > Exteriors > Swimming Pool. Two approaches:
Preset pools - select from pre-designed pool shapes and drop them onto the lot.
Custom pools - draw pool walls manually by placing points. Adjust the height and steepness of each wall segment. All wall lines must connect to form a closed shape, or the pool won't hold water.
Pools can be built outdoors in the yard or indoors as part of the house structure. Indoor pools work exactly the same as outdoor ones.
After placing a pool, several customization options are available:
Lighting - add underwater and rim lighting to illuminate the pool at night.
Paint - change the pool surface color and material.
Pool floaties - 4 types of floating objects that Zois can interact with.
Pool lamps - 4 types of poolside lighting fixtures.
Ladders - give Zois an easy entry and exit point. Without a ladder, Zois jump in from the edge.
Click a pool and select "Go" to have the Zoi enter the water. Once swimming, two control methods:
Point-and-click - click anywhere in the pool and the Zoi swims to that spot.
Direct control - use WASD to swim in any direction manually.
Hold Shift while swimming to switch to freestyle. Freestyle is faster but drains energy more quickly.
While in a pool, Zois can do more than just swim laps:
Practice Holding Breath - the Zoi dips underwater. Builds the swimming skill.
Dance in Water - a fun social activity that can improve relationships when done with others.
Float on tube - requires a pool tube to be placed in Build Mode first. The Zoi lounges on the tube and relaxes. This activity does not drain energy, making it the safe way to enjoy the pool.
At any beach in Bliss Bay or Cahaya, walk a Zoi into the water and swimming begins automatically. Ocean swimming uses the same WASD and point-and-click controls as pool swimming.
The ocean is riskier than a pool. There is no edge to grab onto if energy runs low. Venturing far from shore with depleted energy is dangerous because the Zoi's swimming speed drops as energy drains, making the return trip slower. Higher swimming skill levels reduce ocean threats, including encounters with sharks.
Swimming has its own dedicated skill that was added alongside the feature in v0.3.0. Benefits of leveling the skill:
More efficient swimming (less energy spent per stroke).
Faster swimming speed at higher levels.
Reduced danger from ocean threats like sharks.
Access to more advanced water techniques.
Young Zois (children) develop a separate "Aquatic Ability" skill instead of the adult Swimming skill. This prepares them for the full Swimming skill when they reach a later life stage.
Swimming consumes energy steadily. After approximately 3 in-game hours of continuous swimming, a Zoi is at serious risk of drowning. As energy depletes:
Swimming speed drops gradually, making movement sluggish.
A warning notification appears indicating low energy.
If the Zoi remains in the water with no energy, drowning occurs and the Zoi dies.
Floating on a pool tube is the exception. Tube floating does not drain energy, so a Zoi can relax on a tube indefinitely without drowning risk. Use tubes for extended pool sessions.
Pools - safer. Zois can grab the edge or climb a ladder when energy gets low. Floaties and tubes provide zero-energy rest options.
Ocean - riskier. No edges to grab. Distance from shore matters. Low energy means slow speed, and slow speed means a longer swim back. Shark encounters are possible at lower skill levels.
Always place at least one ladder in your pool so Zois can exit quickly.
Add pool tubes if you want Zois to relax in the pool without drowning risk.
For ocean swimming, keep trips short until the Swimming skill is high enough to handle extended time in the water.
Watch the energy bar. If it drops below half, send the Zoi back to shore or to a pool edge.
Indoor pools let you swim year-round regardless of weather or season.
