Paralives Life Stages Guide
All 8 Life Stages — Ages, Durations, School Rules & Romance Gates
8 Life Stages · Baby to Elder · 3 Lifespan Settings
How Aging Works
- check_circleAging is on by default — Parafolk automatically progress through all 8 stages until death.
- check_circleEach stage has a progress bar; hover to see remaining days.
- check_circleChild and Pre-Teen bars are segmented — each segment is a Growth Spurt.
- check_circleAdjust aging speed anytime in Storyteller (top-right ⋮ menu → Storyteller).
- check_circleSet aging separately for household members and non-household NPCs.
- extensionLife stages can be customized via Steam Workshop mods.
All 8 Life Stages
Default Normal-mode durations and what unlocks at each stage.
Baby
Age: 0–1 years
Normal duration: ~7 days
- checkFully dependent on caregivers — cannot act independently.
- checkIf no Teen+ caregiver is home, Baby is sent to daycare automatically (extra cost).
- checkHeight slider unavailable.
Toddler
Age: 2–4 years
Normal duration: ~14 days
- checkStarts learning Language and Potty — only learnable in this stage.
- checkStill needs a caregiver present.
- checkPersonality level cap: Lv. 2.
Child
Age: 5–8 years
Normal duration: ~21 days
- checkStarts school; segmented progress bar for Growth Spurts.
- checkPersonality level cap: Lv. 3.
- checkShares voice options with Pre-Teen.
Pre-Teen
Age: 9–12 years
Normal duration: ~21 days
- checkSegmented progress bar — prepares for Teen stage.
- checkShares voice options with Child.
- checkPersonality level cap: Lv. 3.
Teen
Age: 13–17 years
Normal duration: ~28 days
- checkCan legally care for infants and toddlers.
- checkFull personality system begins unlocking.
- checkCan take part-time jobs.
- checkShares voice options with Young Adult, Adult, and Elder.
Young Adult
Age: 18–39 years
Normal duration: ~56 days
- checkFull personality system; personality level cap Lv. 20.
- checkCan work full-time, date, marry, and have children.
- checkFastest skill learning speed.
Adult
Age: 40–64 years
Normal duration: ~56 days
- checkGameplay largely same as Young Adult.
- checkPersonality level cap: Lv. 20.
Elder
Age: 65+ years
Normal duration: ~28 days
- checkFinal stage — death follows.
- checkPersonality level cap: Lv. 20.
- checkNo afterlife or supernatural elements in the current game.
Lifespan Settings
Three presets — switch anytime in Storyteller.
| Setting | Multiplier | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Short | ×0.5 | Each stage lasts half as long — great for fast-paced play. |
| Normal | ×1 | Default settings. |
| Long | ×4 | Each stage lasts 4× longer — ideal for slow / multi-generation play. |
You can also manually adjust how many real-world seconds each in-game minute represents to fine-tune time flow.
Aging Cheats
These console commands give precise aging control (open the console first):
- codeForce next life stage: SETAGE [stage name]
- codeTrigger a Growth Spurt: GROWTHSPURT
- codeRevive a dead Parafolk: REVIVE
See the full cheat list on the Cheat Codes page.
Pro Tips
- scheduleFirst-time players: choose Long lifespan to explore every stage comfortably.
- family_restroomInfant/toddler caregivers must be Teen or older — confirm before building a multi-gen household.
- child_careLanguage and Potty are toddler-only — miss them and they're gone forever; prioritize early.
- personFor career/skill focus, starting as Young Adult in Paramaker is the most efficient.
- linear_scaleChild and Pre-Teen segmented bars mark Growth Spurts — new interactions unlock during each spurt.