Overview
Terrain editing in inZOI refers to the set of tools available for modifying outdoor ground surfaces, placing plants, and shaping the landscape around a property. Unlike some other life simulation games, inZOI does not currently have a terrain sculpting tool that raises or lowers the ground itself. Instead, the game uses a tile-based system for outdoor surfaces and a platform tool for elevation changes. Full terrain editing (sculpting hills, valleys, and custom landscapes) is planned for Q4 2026 as part of the "Fundamentals First" development roadmap.
All terrain editing happens inside Build Mode (press I). Residential lot edits cost Meow, while community lot edits are free.
Ground Tiles
Ground tiles are the primary tool for creating outdoor surfaces like patios, pathways, garden plots, and decorative ground areas. They function similarly to indoor flooring but are placed outside the building footprint.
Placing Ground Tiles
Open Build Mode (press I).
Search for "Floor Tiles" in the search bar, or navigate to the Structure tab.
Select one of the three available tile sizes.
Click on the lot to place the tile.
Click the placed tile to open customization options.
Tile Sizes
Three fixed tile sizes are available in Build Mode. Tiles cannot be resized after placement in the current Early Access build.
Size | Dimensions | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Small | 7.5m x 7.5m | Garden beds, small patios, pathway segments |
Medium | 15m x 15m | Mid-size outdoor areas, driveways, courtyard sections |
Large | 30m x 30m | Full yard coverage, large decking areas |
The fixed tile sizes can make it difficult to fit tiles precisely into small or irregularly shaped spaces. For tighter areas, consider combining a small tile with furniture or plants to fill gaps visually.
Texture Customization
After placing a ground tile, click it and select the paint icon to open the customization menu. Available options include:
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Color | Change the base color of the tile surface. |
Texture/Material | Switch between grass, dirt, stone, wood, tile, concrete, and other surface types. |
Effects | Apply visual effects like weathering or sheen to the surface. |
Generate a custom texture by typing a text description (e.g., "mossy cobblestone"). The AI produces a tileable pattern. |
Custom textures created through the AI generator are saved to your My Texture library and can be reused across different builds and lots.
Default Lot Grass
When a house is placed onto a lot (either from Build Studio or as a preset), the lot's existing grass remains in place. You do not need to manually add grass to your lawn. The grass layer is part of the lot itself, not part of the house design. If you build a house in Build Studio and then load it onto a residential lot, the yard around the building will already have grass.
Ground tiles are placed on top of the existing grass layer. This means tiles are primarily used for decorative areas (patios, walkways, garden beds) rather than covering the entire lot, which already has natural grass.
Platform Elevation
Platforms provide the only current method for changing ground height on a lot. They create raised surfaces that sit above the base ground level.
Creating Elevated Areas
In Build Mode, navigate to the Structure tab and find the Platforms section (scroll down past the main building options).
Place a platform on the lot.
Select the platform and use the movement controller to adjust its height. The first option in the piece selector controls size and height.
Place stairs adjacent to the raised platform so Zois can walk up to it.
Platform Rules
Platforms raised to a single stage allow Zois to stand and walk on them without stairs.
Higher platforms require stairs for Zoi access. Without stairs, Zois cannot reach the elevated surface.
Platforms can be textured using the same paint and material customization system as ground tiles.
Known issue: placing doors on walls attached to raised platforms can cause the door to disappear. Try placing the door before raising the platform height, or adjust the door position after elevation.
Plant Placement and Landscaping
Plants, trees, and landscaping objects are found in the Furniture tab under the Outdoor category. inZOI does not have a dedicated landscaping tool; instead, vegetation is placed as furniture objects.
Placement Tips
Free placement (Alt): Hold Alt while placing plants to bypass grid snapping. This is essential for natural-looking gardens where rigid grid alignment would look artificial.
Plant stacking: Plants can be overlapped using the Alt key, pushing them close together for denser, more compressed landscaping. Without Alt, the game enforces spacing that can look sparse.
Trees: Trees come in multiple sizes (small, medium, large) and species. Larger trees affect the visual profile of the lot from the street view.
Garden plots: For functional gardening (growing crops), place farming plots from the Outdoor furniture category. These are separate from decorative plants.
Ground tiles under plants: Place a dirt or soil-textured ground tile underneath plant clusters to create a garden bed effect. This visually separates planted areas from the grass lawn.
Wall, Floor, and Roof Painting
While not strictly terrain editing, the surface painting system in Build Mode extends to all structural surfaces and uses the same Customize Paint interface:
Surface | Options |
|---|---|
Interior walls | Wallpaper, paint, brick, stone, tile, wood paneling. Each side of a wall can have a different finish. |
Exterior walls | Same options as interior. Exterior and interior finishes are independent. |
Floors | Tile, hardwood, carpet, concrete, stone, and custom textures. |
Roof | Tiles, shingles, metal roofing, and other materials. |
Ground tiles (outdoor) | Grass, dirt, stone, wood, concrete, and AI-generated textures. |
Select any surface and click the paint icon to access options. Use the plus icon to apply the same paint to multiple tiles or wall sections in sequence.
Current Limitations
The terrain editing system in Early Access has several significant limitations compared to other life simulation games:
No terrain sculpting: You cannot raise or lower the actual ground level of a lot. There is no brush tool for creating hills, slopes, valleys, or depressions.
No terrain painting brush: Ground textures are applied per tile, not painted freely with a brush. You cannot blend grass into dirt gradually or create natural-looking terrain transitions.
Fixed tile sizes: The three tile sizes (7.5m, 15m, 30m) cannot be resized. This limits precision in small spaces.
No water features on terrain: Ponds, streams, and lakes cannot be created through terrain editing. Pools are the only water feature available.
Fence restrictions: Fences cannot be placed on floor tiles, including grass-textured tiles. This limits the ability to fence in custom ground areas.
No underground editing: There is no way to edit terrain below ground level. Basements are planned for Q4 2026.
Planned Features (2026 Roadmap)
The "Fundamentals First" 2026 roadmap includes major terrain editing improvements scheduled for Q4 2026:
Terrain editing tools: The roadmap states the team will "begin development of terrain editing features," suggesting a terrain sculpting brush or similar tool for modifying ground elevation.
Basement construction: Underground building is planned for Q4, which will require terrain modification capabilities. See Foundations and Basements.
Wall module decoration: Development of interior and exterior wall module decoration features will expand surface customization beyond the current paint system.
The developers have noted that specific timelines may change based on community feedback and technical constraints. The Q4 target is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Tips
Hold Alt for all outdoor placement. Grid snapping creates unnaturally rigid landscapes. Alt lets you position plants, tiles, and objects with pixel-level precision.
Use dirt-textured ground tiles under plant clusters to create defined garden beds that stand out from the lawn.
The AI Texture generator works on ground tiles. Try descriptions like "weathered flagstone" or "pebble path" for custom outdoor surfaces.
Place ground tiles before adding plants and furniture on top of them. Moving a tile after placing objects on it may displace those objects.
For elevated outdoor areas (raised patios, decks), use platforms with stairs rather than trying to stack ground tiles.
When editing community lots, all terrain changes are free. Use community lots as a sandbox to experiment with landscaping ideas before applying them to your home lot.