Table of Contents
What is Build Mode?
Build Mode is where you design and construct your Parafolk's living spaces. Whether you're placing a single item or designing a sprawling multi-story mansion, Build Mode gives you the tools to bring any vision to life. The key philosophy behind Paralives' building system is freedom — there's no grid forcing you into rigid alignments, no locked preset rooms, and no artificial limits beyond your household's budget.
You access Build Mode from within Live Mode, allowing you to pause your Parafolk's daily life and focus entirely on construction. Everything you build costs Paradimes (the in-game currency), but there's no limit on creativity — only on funds.
See It In Action
Watch official Paralives gameplay trailers featuring Build Mode in the Videos section on the homepage.
Screenshots
Build Mode Tutorial Video
Core Building Tools
Advanced Object Placement Tool
The Advanced Object Placement Tool is your most powerful ally in Build Mode. It gives you complete control over every object in your build:
- Free rotation — Rotate objects at any angle, not just 90 degrees. You can even tilt items.
- Free placement — Place objects anywhere on your lot, not locked to a grid.
- Stacking — Stack objects on top of each other to create unique arrangements.
- Elevation — Lift objects off the ground, useful for shelves, wall-mounted items, and floating decorations.
- Flipping — Flip handles, doors, and other interactive elements (including toilet paper rolls for those who care about left vs. right-handed preferences).
Wall Tool
The Wall Tool in Paralives is one of the most flexible in any life simulation game. Walls can be:
- Placed at any length, not limited by a grid
- Set at any angle you choose
- Built as full walls, half-walls, or fences
- Snapped to nearby objects or the optional grid
Tip: You can enable an optional grid at any angle and size if you prefer more structured building. But you don't have to use it — free-form placement is always available.
Curved Walls & Free Placement
Curved walls are one of Paralives' signature building features. You can create completely free-form curved wall sections, making organic shapes impossible in other life sim games. This enables:
- Round rooms and bay windows
- Curved hallways and corridors
- Rounded exterior walls for cottages and organic structures
- Custom rooflines and architectural flourishes
Current limitation: At Early Access launch, windows and doors cannot yet be placed on curved walls. The team has confirmed this is planned for a future update during Early Access.
Wall Height
You can resize wall height on a per-section basis. This means you can have a tall main room with a lower ceiling extension — all using the same wall tool. Combined with split levels, this creates incredible architectural variety.
Color Wheel System
Every single object in Build Mode can be recolored using the full color wheel. This applies to:
- Furniture — Every couch, table, bed, chair, and appliance
- Walls — Each wall can have its own color, including gradient effects between colors
- Floors — Unique floor colors per room, per section
- Ceilings — Color your ceilings independently
- Textures — Change material textures independently of color
You can input exact hex codes for precise brand colors, or use the visual color wheel. Objects can be reset to their default color with one click if you change your mind.
Color Customization Examples
Paint your kitchen cabinets navy blue, your living room walls sage green, your bedroom floor warm oak — all independently. No other life simulation game gives this level of granular color control.
Split Levels & Upper Floors
Split Levels
Any floor in your build can have multiple platform heights. This means you can create:
- Kitchen raised slightly above living room for a breakfast bar effect
- Loft sleeping areas above main floor spaces
- Split-level entryways
- Pools at different depths
- Underground basements (planned for future update)
Stairs automatically adjust their size and shape to connect different platform heights. If a platform is only one step up, Parafolks will simply step up without needing stairs.
Upper Floor Assist
Building a second floor is straightforward with the upper floor assist tool. The grid can automatically align your second floor walls with the first floor below, making multi-story builds fast and accurate. If you use curved walls on the first floor, the upper floor walls will adopt the same curvature automatically.
You can also duplicate entire floors with one click, perfect for creating consistent apartment buildings or matching levels.
Terrain Tools
Build Mode includes a full set of terrain editing tools that let you reshape your lot:
- Raise — Lift sections of ground to create hills, mounds, or raised garden beds
- Lower — Dig down to create sunken patios, lower gardens, or walkout basements
- Flatten — Smooth out uneven terrain for a level build site
- Sculpt — Fine-tune terrain with brush-like control
Planning tip: The terrain system works best when you have a clear vision for your lot's topography. Use terrain editing to create natural hills, garden terracing, or unique landscape features that make your builds stand out.
Planned Terrain Features
During Early Access, the roadmap includes additional terrain features coming in future updates:
- Basements
- Advanced roof tools with extensive customization
- Pools
- Lakes and ponds
- World editing tools (edit the base town of Melino)
Build Mode Catalog
The Build Mode catalog is organized into 4 tabs for easy navigation:
| Tab | Description |
|---|---|
| Theme | Browse objects by room type or theme (kitchen, bedroom, outdoor, etc.) |
| Function | Browse objects by what they do (seating, storage, decoration, etc.) |
| Brand/Style | Browse by aesthetic or brand feel |
| Search | Find specific items by name or keyword |
All objects can also be tagged with multiple labels, meaning the same item can appear in several different menu sections simultaneously.
Steam Workshop Support
Build Mode objects are fully moddable and can be shared via Steam Workshop on day one of Early Access. This means:
- Download custom furniture, vehicles, decorations, and building parts from other players
- Share your own custom builds with the community
- Extend the catalog with new architectural styles, furniture sets, and themed content
Exporting: Individual objects and building parts can be exported to Steam Workshop. Full lot exports (entire homes) are not yet supported — this is planned for a future update.
Pro Building Tips
- Start with the shell. Build your exterior walls and roof structure first, then fill in the interior. This prevents you from having to delete expensive furniture to make structural changes later.
- Use split levels for visual interest. Even a small 2-inch height difference between rooms creates a sense of depth and architectural sophistication.
- Color before you furnish. Apply all your wall, floor, and ceiling colors before adding furniture. It's much easier to match furniture colors to fixed walls than the reverse.
- Elevate objects creatively. Use elevation to place items on imaginary shelves, floating above surfaces, or creating tiered displays.
- Curved walls work great outdoors too. Create organic garden borders, curved pathways, and round patios — not just round rooms.
- Check your budget constantly. It's easy to overspend in Build Mode. Keep an eye on your Paradimes balance and plan expensive items carefully.
- Stack compatible objects. Stack items like books on shelves, plates in cabinets, or towels on racks for a lived-in feel.
- Use fences creatively. Half-walls and fences aren't just for yards — use them as room dividers, breakfast bars, or decorative accents.
- Browse Workshop before building. Custom objects from the community often fill gaps in the base game's catalog. Check for mods before redesigning something the game already supports with mods.
- Test your build in Live Mode. After placing furniture, switch to Live Mode and watch how your Parafolks interact with the space. Sometimes a beautiful build doesn't work practically!