Needs & Motives Explained
In inZOI, Needs (also referred to as Motives) are the fundamental requirements your Zois must satisfy to stay alive, healthy, and functional. Think of them as the core survival drivers, distinct from fleeting Emotions or long-term Ambitions. Successfully managing these eight essential needs is crucial for your Zoi's well-being and their ability to pursue a fulfilling life.
How Needs Work in inZOI
- Constant Decay: All eight needs gradually decrease over time. The rate of decay can be influenced by activities, traits, and sometimes even moods.
- UI Indicators: You can monitor your active Zoi's needs via the Needs Panel, typically located near their portrait in the bottom UI area. Each need has a gauge:
- White: The need is well-satisfied.
- Yellow: The need is becoming significant and should be addressed soon.
- Red: The need is critically low and requires immediate attention.
- Consequences of Neglect:
- Mood Impact: Allowing needs (especially physical ones) to drop into the yellow or red zone will often make a Zoi feel Uncomfortable, hindering their ability to learn skills or engage positively.
- Death: Severe, prolonged neglect of critical needs like Hunger, Sleep, and potentially Recognition can lead to death.
Meeting Your Zoi's Needs
There are several ways to ensure your Zoi's needs are met:
- Autonomous Fulfillment (Free Will): If a Zoi's Autonomy is enabled (
[T]key toggle), they will attempt to fulfill their own needs when they get low by seeking out relevant objects or interactions (e.g., finding food when hungry, sleeping when tired). This is the default behavior. - Player Commands: You can directly instruct your Zoi to fulfill a need by:
- Clicking on a relevant object (like a bed, toilet, refrigerator) and selecting the appropriate action.
- Double-clicking the corresponding Need icon in the Needs Panel (if it's yellow or red), which usually prompts the Zoi to find the nearest solution.
- Meow Store Donuts: As a quick fix or temporary boost, you can purchase special donuts from the Meow Store using Meow Coins. Various donuts can instantly fill a specific need gauge or even temporarily halt its decay.
The 8 Core Needs Explained
inZOI features eight distinct needs, categorized broadly into physical and mental/social requirements:
| Need | Description | How to Fulfill | Consequence of Severe Neglect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunger | The fundamental need for sustenance and hydration. This need represents your Zoi's requirement for both food and drink to maintain their physical health and energy levels. | Eat food from various sources (fridge, cooking, vendors, restaurants), Drink water from sinks, water fountains, or bottled water. | Death (Starvation) |
| Sleep | The essential need for rest and physical recovery. This need represents your Zoi's requirement for adequate rest to maintain cognitive function and physical health. | Sleep in a bed, Nap on a couch/chair, or rest in other comfortable furniture. | Death (Lack of Sleep) |
| Hygiene | The need to maintain personal cleanliness and grooming. This need represents your Zoi's requirement to stay clean and presentable, affecting both physical comfort and social interactions. | Use shower/bathtub, Wash hands/face at sink, Use fabric freshener on bed, Take a bath, Use hygiene products. | Uncomfortable mood |
| Bathroom | The basic physiological need to relieve oneself. This need represents your Zoi's requirement to use bathroom facilities to maintain comfort and hygiene. | Use a toilet or public washroom, Find appropriate bathroom facilities when needed. | Uncomfortable mood |
| Fun | The need for entertainment and recreational activities. This need represents your Zoi's requirement for enjoyment and leisure to maintain mental well-being and happiness. | Engage in liked Preferences (hobbies, games, TV, social activities, outdoor recreation, creative pursuits). | Bored mood |
| Social | The need for meaningful interaction and connection with other Zois. This need represents your Zoi's requirement for social engagement and relationship building. | Converse with other Zois, Participate in group activities, Attend social events, Build and maintain relationships. | Loneliness (potentially leads to Lack of Recognition death) |
| Recognition | The need for achievement and acknowledgment. This need represents your Zoi's requirement to feel valued and accomplished in their pursuits and relationships. | Succeed at work/school tasks, Receive compliments, Achieve goals, Discuss accomplishments, Gain promotions or recognition. | Death (Lack of Recognition) |
| Energy/Vigor | Represents overall vitality and motivation required for actions. This need is distinct from Sleep, focusing more on mental energy, enthusiasm, and the drive to engage in activities. | Perform liked activities, Achieve goals, Rest (indirectly via Sleep), Experience novel events, Engage in stimulating activities. | Lethargic mood, Reduced efficiency |
Factors Influencing Needs
- Traits: Certain traits directly impact the decay rate of specific needs. For example, an 'Adventurer' Zoi's Energy depletes slower, while a 'Dreamer's Sleep need depletes faster.
- Emotions: Sometimes, strong emotions can affect needs. For instance, being 'Worried' can cause the Bathroom need to decrease more quickly.
- Activities: Strenuous activities like working out heavily drain Energy and potentially Hunger/Hygiene. Passive activities might deplete Fun faster if the Zoi isn't engaged.
Paying attention to your Zoi's Needs is fundamental to their simulation. Keeping these gauges managed allows them to maintain positive moods, learn skills effectively, succeed in their careers, build relationships, and ultimately, stay alive to pursue their dreams and ambitions in the world of inZOI.