Paralives FAQ

Checked through EA patch 0.1.5 · July 2026

Practical answers for buying, playing, fixing issues, and getting through Early Access — focused on what to check before you buy, in your first week, and when something breaks.

Interactive Tool

EA Save Safety Checklist

Run this before cheats, heavy Workshop changes, age jumps, or major renovations. It turns the safety advice from the FAQ into a quick go/no-go check.

Duplicate the household or create a separate Sandbox save. Export the household or lot to the library when it matters. Launch once with mods disabled after any patch. Run HELP before copying any cheat command. Play one in-game day on the test file before touching Story. Save normally, quit to desktop, and reload once.

Safety result

0 of 6 complete. Treat this file as unsafe for experiments.

shopping_bag

Getting the Game

helpWhere can I buy Paralives?

Buy Paralives through Steam if you play on Windows PC or Mac and are comfortable with an Early Access game. Before paying, check the Steam store page for your regional price, system requirements, and current update notes.

helpHow much does it cost?

The Early Access base price is $39.99 USD, with Steam regional pricing where available. Treat that as an early-buyer price: the developers expect the price to rise as more content is added toward version 1.0.

Important for budget planning: the team has pledged no paid DLC. Future expansions are planned as free updates, so the main choice is whether you want to play during Early Access or wait for a fuller build.

helpIs it available on consoles or mobile?

For now, plan around PC or Mac only. A console version is not currently on the roadmap, and a mobile version is not planned, so players on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, iOS, or Android should not buy expecting a near-term port.

sports_esports

Gameplay

helpIs this an online multiplayer game?

No. Paralives is built as a single-player life sim. You do not need an online session to manage a household, build homes, or play Live Mode, though Steam features such as Workshop browsing still use Steam's online services.

helpIs there a first-person or third-person mode?

There is no first-person or over-the-shoulder control mode. The game uses a free 3D camera meant for building, decorating, and managing Parafolks from above, so expect a life-sim camera rather than direct character control.

helpWhat languages does the game support?

At Early Access launch, the supported interface languages are English, French, Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Brazil), German, Italian, and Polish. If you need another language, check the Steam page before buying because future additions are possible but not guaranteed.

helpWhat is the age rating?

Paralives is designed around a Teen-friendly tone. It avoids mature themes such as drugs, murder, sexual violence, pornography, and gore, which makes it closer to a household-friendly creative life sim than a darker adult simulation.

helpWhat are the life stages in the game?

There are 8 life stages: Baby, Toddler, Child, Pre-Teen, Teen, Young Adult, Adult, and Elder. The practical impact is pacing: family saves can move from childcare to school years to adult goals instead of treating every Para like the same age. See the Life Stages Guide.

helpCan I turn off aging?

Yes. Use the Storyteller menu when you want a slower save, a no-aging building sandbox, or a household that ages while the rest of town stays stable. This is one of the safest settings to check before starting a long legacy-style playthrough.

helpCan I play completely offline?

Day-to-day Live Mode and building do not require you to stay connected for multiplayer. You can play offline once the game is installed, but Steam itself may still need occasional online checks for ownership, updates, and Workshop browsing. Plan around that if you travel without internet.

settings

Technical

helpWhat are the system requirements?

Use the Steam page as the final source because requirements can change during Early Access. If your computer is near the minimum, lower expectations for large homes, busy households, and heavily decorated lots..

helpThe game crashes or freezes, what do I do?

Start with the simple checks: compare your PC or Mac to the Steam requirements, update graphics drivers if relevant, close heavy background apps, and test again with a smaller household or lot. Early Access builds can still have edge-case bugs, so repeatable crashes are worth reporting.

When reporting, include what you were doing, your save situation, and whether the crash repeats. Send the report through paralives.com/gamefeedback so the developers receive useful details instead of a vague complaint.

helpMy Para is stuck and can't do anything.

Open the ESC menu and use the "Unstuck" button first. If the same spot keeps trapping your Para, move nearby furniture or doors, save the location in your notes, and report the setup so the pathing issue can be reproduced.

helpSave files are not loading.

If a save refuses to load, do not keep overwriting it. Try another save slot if you have one, note the last action before the issue appeared, and submit the details at paralives.com/gamefeedback. During Early Access, extra save slots are your best safety habit.

helpMac users have trouble with camera controls.

If camera movement feels unreliable on a Mac trackpad, switch to a mouse for building and long play sessions. It gives cleaner drag, zoom, and rotate control, especially when placing small objects or adjusting walls.

helpHow should I protect saves in Early Access?

Treat every household save as valuable. Keep multiple slots, label a story save separately from a building sandbox, and avoid stacking risky cheats on your only file. Before big renovations or experimental mods, duplicate the save or use in-game backup tools if you use cheats — EA patches can still break old files.

extension

Modding

helpDoes the game support mods?

Yes, but think of modding mainly as Steam Workshop sharing for player-made content at this stage. Use the Steam Workshop for supported items, and do not assume script mods will arrive soon because they are not currently planned.

helpHow do I install mods?

Start with Workshop items because they are the cleanest path for beginners. Before adding many at once, test one or two items in a separate save so you can identify problems quickly. See the Modding Guide.

rocket_launch

Early Access

fact_check

What Can You Actually Play in EA 0.1.5?

Early Access is a full Melino life loop—not a vertical slice—but Alex Massé's team still ships features in waves. This list matches official patch notes through 0.1.5 (July 2, 2026). Compare it with the roadmap before you buy for pets, pools, or a family tree screen.

Live build · EA 0.1.5 · updated July 2026

At-a-glance: can you play it in 0.1.5?

Scan before you buy—or before you expect Sims-complete systems on day one.

Feature area	In EA now?	Week-one note
Melino life loop (needs, jobs, bills)	Yes	Storyteller toggles bills & aging
11 careers + Application Points	Yes	Rank 1 jobs need no AP gate
Teen romance & group dining	Yes (0.1.3+)	Test on a sandbox duplicate first
Build: curved walls, terrain, library export	Yes	Watch reload bugs—see Updates
Steam Workshop CC + HELP cheats	Yes	0.1.5 mod toggle + 0.1.4 Workshop tags
Pets, pools, weather, family tree UI	Roadmap	Not a reason to skip EA—set expectations

After a patch: do these three before your main save

looks_oneSettings → About: confirm 0.1.5 (or newer), then launch once with every Workshop item disabled—or use the Mods menu toggle-all off.
looks_twoOpen HELP on a mod-free duplicate save—copy no cheat lines until the list matches your build.
looks_3Read what changed on Updates (newest first), then load your labeled Story household—not your only file.

Where to check known issues

linkPatch timeline and hotfix notes: Updates.
linkWorkshop stuck on Reimporting: Mod after-patch checklist.
linkSave safety, Steam Cloud & lot recovery: Save safety guide.

Playable today (verified)

checkOnboarding: train tutorial, Paramaker, furnished Town lot or empty lot, Storyteller presets before you unpack.
checkLive loop: needs, jobs across 11 domains, Application Points, bills (toggleable in Storyteller), bus fares, and Melino landmarks.
checkSocial life: adult romance, teen romance gates after patch 0.1.3, group dining at tables, pregnancy and adoption.
checkBuild tools: curved walls, terrain sculpting, advanced widget (watch reload bugs—see Updates), and library export for lots/households.
checkMods & cheats: Steam Workshop CC; 0.1.4 Workshop tags and 0.1.5 mod toggle-all speed post-patch testing. HELP on a duplicate save—see the Cheats guide.
checkQoL landed: save hardening (0.1.2+), 0.1.5 adds smaller saves, three autosaves, Steam Cloud, lot recovery, and appearance editing routes.

Not shipped yet (official roadmap)

removePets, pools, basements, vehicles, and weather/seasons cycles.
removeFamily tree UI, formal weddings, and toddlers as a fully featured stage.
removeWorld travel outside Melino and script mods—Workshop is CC sharing only for now.
removeA bug-free, content-complete release—June–Sept 2026 is officially focused on performance, fixes, and QoL hotfixes.

Buy if you enjoy testing builds and giving feedback; wait if you need polish first. Track patches on Updates, duplicate saves per the save safety guide, and read paralives.com/development before expecting roadmap features to appear overnight.

helpWhat is Early Access?

Early Access means you can play now, but the game is still changing. Buy now if you enjoy following development and giving feedback; wait if you mainly want a polished, content-complete version with fewer bugs and fewer missing features.

helpWhat's coming next?

The safest way to track future content is to follow the official roadmap and Steam patch notes, then compare them with what is already playable. The Updates page explains what each patch changes for day-to-day play.

helpWhat is NOT in Early Access yet?

Official roadmap lists weather/seasons, pets, pools, basements, vehicles, family tree, and formal weddings as future free updates—not day-one EA features. Check paralives.com/development before you buy expecting those systems. The Updates page tracks what patches actually shipped.

helpHow can I help improve the game?

Useful feedback is specific: include your platform, what you clicked, what happened, what you expected, and whether it happens again. Submit bugs and suggestions at paralives.com/gamefeedback.

helpCan my save file get corrupted?

Rare, but yes. Patch 0.1.5 added smaller save files, three autosaves, Steam Cloud support, and a way to recover from broken lots; still keep manual duplicates for story saves. Duplicate slots in Load Game, export households to the library, and read the save safety guide plus paralives.com/news/fix-save-files if a file stops loading.

helpCan cheats break my save?

Yes—KILLCHARACTER, SPAWNALLITEMS, and long debug chains can destabilize a file you care about. ZIPSAVEFILE before experiments, keep a Story slot separate from Sandbox, and test commands on a mod-free copy after each patch. See the Cheats guide safety checklist—not every line in HELP is safe on your only save.

helpIs there a Discord community?

Yes. The official Discord is useful for community discussion, quick player tips, and update chatter. Join at discord.gg/Paralives, but use official pages for final purchase and support information.

FAQ Verification Notes

This FAQ is written for Early Access decision-making, not as a replacement for official support. We separate confirmed playable systems from roadmap-only features, link technical risks to save/mod checklists, and mark patch-sensitive advice when hotfixes change behavior.

Playable vs roadmap: buy decisions should use shipped systems, not wishlist features.
Safety links: save corruption, cheats, and Workshop issues route to checklists before experimentation.
Patch context: advice is checked against July 2026 EA builds and update notes where possible.

This FAQ synthesizes official Paralives FAQ, Steam Early Access information, and community launch references. Last updated: July 2026.