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11 Overview
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33 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.
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55 All terrain editing happens inside Build Mode (press I). Residential lot edits cost Meow, while community lot edits are free.
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77 Ground Tiles
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99 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.
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1212 Placing Ground Tiles
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1414 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.
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1616 Tile Sizes
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1818 Three fixed tile sizes are available in Build Mode. Tiles cannot be resized after placement in the current Early Access build.
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2020 SizeDimensionsBest ForSmall7.5m x 7.5mGarden beds, small patios, pathway segmentsMedium15m x 15mMid-size outdoor areas, driveways, courtyard sectionsLarge30m x 30mFull yard coverage, large decking areas
2121 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.
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2323 Texture Customization
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2525 After placing a ground tile, click it and select the paint icon to open the customization menu. Available options include:
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2727 OptionDescriptionColorChange the base color of the tile surface.Texture/MaterialSwitch between grass, dirt, stone, wood, tile, concrete, and other surface types.EffectsApply visual effects like weathering or sheen to the surface.AI TextureGenerate a custom texture by typing a text description (e.g., "mossy cobblestone"). The AI produces a tileable pattern.
2828 Custom textures created through the AI generator are saved to your My Texture library and can be reused across different builds and lots.
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3030 Default Lot Grass
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3232 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.
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3434 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.
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3636 Platform Elevation
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3838 Platforms provide the only current method for changing ground height on a lot. They create raised surfaces that sit above the base ground level.
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4040 Creating Elevated Areas
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4242 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.
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4444 Platform Rules
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4646 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.
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4848 Plant Placement and Landscaping
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5050 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.
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5252 Placement Tips
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5454 TipDetailsFree 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 stackingPlants 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.TreesTrees come in multiple sizes (small, medium, large) and species. Larger trees affect the visual profile of the lot from the street view.Garden plotsFor functional gardening (growing crops), place farming plots from the Outdoor furniture category. These are separate from decorative plants.Ground tiles under plantsPlace 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.
5555 Wall, Floor, and Roof Painting
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5757 While not strictly terrain editing, the surface painting system in Build Mode extends to all structural surfaces and uses the same Customize Paint interface:
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5959 SurfaceOptionsInterior wallsWallpaper, paint, brick, stone, tile, wood paneling. Each side of a wall can have a different finish.Exterior wallsSame options as interior. Exterior and interior finishes are independent.FloorsTile, hardwood, carpet, concrete, stone, and custom textures.RoofTiles, shingles, metal roofing, and other materials.Ground tiles (outdoor)Grass, dirt, stone, wood, concrete, and AI-generated textures.
6060 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.
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6262 Current Limitations
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6464 The terrain editing system in Early Access has several significant limitations compared to other life simulation games:
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6666 LimitationDetailsNo terrain sculptingYou 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 brushGround 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 sizesThe three tile sizes (7.5m, 15m, 30m) cannot be resized. This limits precision in small spaces.No water features on terrainPonds, streams, and lakes cannot be created through terrain editing. Pools are the only water feature available.Fence restrictionsFences cannot be placed on floor tiles, including grass-textured tiles. This limits the ability to fence in custom ground areas.No underground editingThere is no way to edit terrain below ground level. Basements are planned for Q4 2026.
6767 Planned Features (2026 Roadmap)
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6969 The "Fundamentals First" 2026 roadmap includes major terrain editing improvements scheduled for Q4 2026:
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7171 FeatureDetailsTerrain editing toolsThe roadmap states the team will "begin development of terrain editing features," suggesting a terrain sculpting brush or similar tool for modifying ground elevation.Basement constructionUnderground building is planned for Q4, which will require terrain modification capabilities. See Foundations and Basements.Wall module decorationDevelopment of interior and exterior wall module decoration features will expand surface customization beyond the current paint system.
7272 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.
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7474 Tips
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7676 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.