In the world of life-simulation games, death has always played a curious role, granting a genre that is otherwise fairly cheery a more morbid tone. Deaths in life-simulators can be tragic, situational, frustrating, completely unexpected, or a reasonable progression after old age. Regardless of how players feel about their avatars dying, death is a vital system that adds depth, unpredictability, and tons of fandom discourse to gameplay. For veterans of The Sims, death is an old, familiar friend (or foe), with its many causes and the Grim Reaper’s dramatic flair. But with InZOI bringing a new kind of life simulation to the table, many gamers are prone to comparison. InZOI goes head to head with The Sims 4 in many aspects, and death isn’t far behind.
While The Sims 4 offers many ways for Sims to meet their end (excluding paid Expansion and Game packs, which add dozens of more ways a Sim can meet the romanceable Grim Reaper—everyone mourns differently), InZOI introduces nine unique death types that reflect a more grounded, modern take on daily life. Additionally, InZOI adds a few unexpectedly grim outcomes to everyday occurrences that add some flavor to the mix. The result is a system that may not be quite as outlandish as The Sims, but one that arguably feels more emotionally and socially charged.
InZOI vs.The Sims 4: The Major Similarities and Differences
The Sims 4 and InZOI share a lot in terms of customization, storytelling, and gameplay, but have their fair share of differences as well.
Setting The Groundwork For Comparison: How Sims And Zois Can Die
Before diving into a comparison of how The Sims 4 and InZOI approach death, it’s important to outline what each game offers at a base level. Both games provide systems that allow for mortality, but their design philosophies differ greatly. While The Sims 4 leans into its flagship comedy, InZOI tends to root its identity in realism. These systems shape how players experience consequences and challenges pertaining to life and death.
The Sims 4 Base Game Deaths
The Sims franchise has always featured death at the front and center of how unpredictability reigns supreme. In The Sims 4 base game, Sims can meet their end through a mix of logical and ludicrous causes. This wide range of options supports the sandbox chaos the series is known for, blending humor with high stakes in the most unexpected ways. While The Sims 4’s DLCs add on about a dozen more ways to die, here are some base game reasons a Sim may move toward the light:
Death
Description
Anger
Sims with too many Angry moodlets can die from a cardiac explosion brought on by intense rage.
Cow Plant
Sims who repeatedly fall for a Cow Plant’s bait risk being devoured whole by the creature.
Drowning
If a Sim is left swimming for too long without rest or escape, they will drown.
Electrocution
Sims who fail electrical repairs or experience shocks twice in a row may be fatally electrocuted.
Embarrassment
A Sim overwhelmed by Mortified moodlets can die from sheer embarrassment.
Fire
When trapped in or too close to flames, Sims can perish in a blaze.
Hunger
Neglecting a Sim’s basic need for food will eventually result in death by starvation.
Laughter
Sims pushed into a Hysterical state from excessive Playful moodlets can laugh themselves to death if they don’t calm down.
Meteorite
Though exceedingly rare, Sims can be struck and killed by a falling meteorite while stargazing or standing outside.
Old Age (Elder Sims)
Elder Sims will eventually pass away peacefully once their time naturally runs out.
Overexertion (Elder Sims)
Elder Sims who push themselves too hard physically, especially during exercise, can collapse and die from overexertion.
Sims who pass on don’t need to disappear from a household. They might be able to return as ghosts, giving players the option to take on a haunting new gameplay challenge. With the Life and Death Expansion Pack for The Sims 4, players can give new meaning to life after death if their Sims meet unfortunate fates.
InZOI Deaths
InZOI’s nine death types focus on grounded realism. Zois can die from starvation, disease, or pollution, as well as more socially resonant causes like loneliness or lack of recognition. Other hazards reflect a new layer of danger that The Sims franchise has never attempted. These death types create a different emotional texture for players: one rooted less in chaos and more in the fragility of modern life. It’s a grimmer, but arguably more immersive, system that reflects InZOI’s grounded tone.
Death
Description
Car Accidents
A Zoi may die if they are hit by a car, whether they are victims of an accident or are run over by another driver.
Disease
If a sick Zoi does not receive proper treatment for their illness, they may die.
Electric Shock
Zois who are not careful while repairing electronics may experience the shock of their lives, quite literally.
Lack of Recognition | Loneliness
Without enough social interaction, a Zoi may die of loneliness.
Lack of Sleep
Death by exhaustion may occur if a Zoi does not sleep enough.
Old Age
Elder Zois who have reached the end of their lifespan will die of old age.
Pollution
Continuous exposure to pollution can take a toll on a Zoi’s health, causing them to die.
Slipping
A nasty fall on a wet surface can cause a Zoi to die.
Starvation
A Zoi that has not eaten for an extended period of time will perish due to starvation.
As of May 2025, Krafton has not added ghostly or paranormal life forms to InZOI. This makes a Zoi’s death feel painstakingly permanent, unlike the continuity or choices offered by The Sims 4’s post-mortem gameplay. Although in-game prompts suggest that ghosts will be added on at a later point, this life state may not be available for every Zoi that passes. Ghost Zois, as explained by Nyx the Cat, sound more like punishments for having bad Karma in life rather than a way to continue gameplay.
InZOI Reveals Mod Support Release Window and Roadmap
InZOI confirms the release window for the game’s upcoming mod kit and gives fans an in-depth preview of what to expect from the feature.
The Differences Between Deaths In The Sims 4 vs. InZOI
While both The Sims 4 and InZOI lean into dramatic, unexpected ends for their virtual residents, the way each game handles death reveals key differences in design philosophy. The Sims 4 embraces death as an emotional and often absurd extension of gameplay that blends humor, fantasy, and consequence—which is why so many deaths in The Sims are funny. In contrast, InZOI takes a more grounded and socially reflective approach, tying many of its fatal outcomes to real-life issues like pollution, loneliness, and overwork. These differences in tone and mechanics point to each game’s unique vision of what it means to simulate life—and death—in a virtual world.
A Matter Of Mood: Death By Emotion In The Sims 4
One of the most distinctive features of The Sims 4 is its emotional death mechanics. Unlike InZOI, Sims can perish from sheer intensity. Too much anger, embarrassment, or laughter can push a Sim into fatal territory. While these may sound absurd (and often are), their addition is appropriate within the franchise’s long-running tradition of blending slapstick comedy with simulation. In contrast, InZOI skips the cartoonish edge and steers players toward more “real-world” outcomes. There’s no such thing as dying from too much laughter in InZOI, but death by loneliness or exhaustion is absolutely on the table, suggesting a more somber, grounded approach to emotional well-being.
InZOI’s Realism Sets It Apart
Of its nine death types, several mirror genuine health and safety hazards that modern society faces daily, from pollution to disease to car accidents. These additions help reinforce InZOI’s goal of creating a more socially aware and reality-grounded life sim. The inclusion of death by loneliness or lack of recognition also adds a layer of emotional commentary that’s less visible in The Sims, which typically plays social neglect for laughs. Keeping a Zoi happy keeps these emotional deaths away, while emotionality could be the root cause of a Sim’s demise.
Where The Sims Still Reigns Supreme (For Now)
The Sims 4 may not be as realistic, but it offers a broader and often more chaotic range of options. From bizarre plant-based deaths to meteor strikes, there’s a theatricality that remains central to its identity. For players who prefer the absurdity and randomness of a Sim dying in a pool without a ladder, The Sims will always offer that flavor of chaos.
Moreover, The Sims 4’s emotional death mechanics add a layer of unpredictability. Players might not even realize their Sim is on the verge of cardiac explosion until it’s too late, or a family hangout may end abruptly when Grandma has told too many jokes at the table. This keeps emotional management front and center, begging the player to keep a close eye on the Sims. Even if deaths sometimes veer into parody, it still offers great gameplay opportunities to make The Sims 4 more interesting.
The Sims 4 Could Take a Page Out of InZOI’s Book to Update One Useful Feature
EA and Maxis may not be worried about competing with InZOI, but one feature from The Sims 4 could learn a thing or two from the new life sim
Shared Ground: Common Deaths in Both The Sims 4 and InZOI
Despite their differences in tone, both games cover the fundamental pillars of (virtual) mortality:
Starvation/Hunger: Both Zois and Sims can die if left without food.
Electrocution: Tampering with electronics remains dangerous business in the hands of the unskilled or clumsy.
Old Age: Eventually, the reaper comes for everyone.
While InZOI doesn’t currently include drowning or fires (The Sims staples), it compensates with more nuanced additions like death by slipping, a minor incident turned fatal if conditions are right. It’s an attention to mundane realism that signals a very different design philosophy.
