Table of Contents
What is Live Mode?
Screenshots
Live Mode Gameplay Video
Watch Live Mode in Action
See Parafolks living their daily lives in the official gameplay trailers on the homepage.
Live Mode is the beating heart of Paralives — where your Parafolks actually live their lives.
In Live Mode, you can switch seamlessly between controlling a single Parafolk, directing a household, or letting them operate autonomously. The game gives you as much — or as little — control as you want. Some players micromanage every moment; others set long-term goals and let the simulation run.
What Happens in Live Mode
Needs fluctuate · Emotions shift · Wants emerge · Skills level up · Relationships evolve · Careers progress · Parafolks age · Bills arrive · Town Events happen · Story Cards appear
Managing Needs
Every Parafolk has core needs that must be satisfied for them to function well. The exact needs depend on their life stage, but generally include:
- Hunger — Keep your Parafolk fed by cooking meals or buying food from shops around Melino.
- Energy — Rest, sleep, and relaxation restore energy. Overwork leads to exhaustion.
- Hygiene — Shower, bathe, or wash to stay clean.
- Social — Parafolks need interaction. Isolation leads to negative mood effects.
- Fun — Entertainment and leisure activities prevent boredom.
- Comfort — A comfortable environment (nice furniture, pleasant surroundings) affects mood.
When needs drop critically low, your Parafolk's dominant Emotion will shift to a negative state, their performance at work will suffer, and relationships may deteriorate. Keeping all needs in balance is the foundation of successful Paralives gameplay.
Pro tip: Build a home that covers multiple needs efficiently. A well-designed kitchen adjacent to a dining area with comfortable seating means less time walking between rooms and more time doing meaningful activities.
Understanding Emotions
Emotions are one of the most nuanced systems in Paralives. Your Parafolk can experience multiple emotions simultaneously, with some emotions carrying more weight than others in determining their overall mood. Emotions affect:
- Skill progression speed — Negative emotions from unfulfilled needs slow down skill learning
- Work performance — A stressed Parafolk won't perform as well at their job
- Relationship success — Emotional state influences how interactions with other Parafolks go
- Idle animations — Parafolks display unique animations based on their current emotions
- Story Cards — The Storyteller takes emotions into account when presenting daily Story Cards
How to Check Emotions
Click on a Parafolk's thought bubble in their UI panel to see all their current emotions. Each emotion appears as a card showing its intensity (a number indicating how strongly that emotion is felt) and the specific causes behind it. Hover over any emotion card to see exactly what triggered it.
All Emotions in Paralives
| Emotion | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Happy | Positive | Core positive state, from fulfilled needs and pleasant activities |
| Amused | Positive | From entertainment, funny interactions, jokes |
| Inspired | Positive | From creative activities, art, music |
| Flirty | Positive/Social | From romantic interactions and attractions |
| Sleep | Physical | From exhaustion and need for rest |
| Sad | Negative | From loss, rejection, or unmet emotional needs |
| Angry | Negative | From frustration, conflict, or negative events |
| Anxiety | Negative | From stress, pressure, or uncertain situations |
| Bored | Negative | From lack of stimulation, idle time, or repetitive activities |
| Stressed | Negative | From work pressure, bills, or time pressure |
| Fear | Negative | From dangerous situations or threats |
| Sick | Physical | From eating poisonous mushrooms or other health issues |
| Disgust | Negative | From unpleasant situations, bad smells, or toxic environments |
| Embarrassed | Social | From social mishaps, rejection, or awkward situations |
| Fire | Hazard | From being on fire or near fire hazards |
Wants & Goals
When a Parafolk experiences a specific emotion, a Want emerges as a consequence. Wants are the player's actionable objectives — fulfilling a Want gives personality points and often generates positive emotions.
The thought bubble panel lets you browse available Wants for each emotion. You have until your Parafolk goes to sleep that day to fulfill the selected Want. Choosing which Want to pursue — and which to let go — is a core strategic decision in Live Mode.
Life Goals are longer-term aspirations that drive a Parafolk's overall direction. Story Cards can unlock new Life Goals, and completing them provides significant personality point rewards.
Story Cards System
At the end of each day (once all Parafolk in your household are asleep), the Storyteller presents up to 3 Story Cards based on your household's circumstances. Each card offers a different path forward with unique consequences.
Story Cards are context-dependent — they account for your Parafolk's careers, relationships, personality, and current situation. Each card shows its full description and effect before you choose. Once you open a pack, you must pick one — no backing out!
Story Card Packs
| Pack | Effect |
|---|---|
| Life Goals Pack | Unlocks new Life Goals for your Parafolk to pursue |
| Moon Pack | Miscellaneous bonuses — money, skill boosts, surprising events |
| Social Pack | Impacts relationships, can unlock secret crushes, social perks |
| Sun Pack | Temporary 24-hour buffs — performance boosts, social advantages |
| Work Pack | Career-related benefits — promotions, perks, rank increases |
The game has at least 251 unique Story Cards at Early Access launch, ensuring that no two days feel exactly the same.
The Daily Loop
A typical day in Paralives follows this cycle:
- Morning: Parafolk wake up. Check needs and emotions.
- Activities: Work, school, hobbies, social interactions, skill practice.
- Midday: Check Town Events newspaper for opportunities.
- Afternoon: Continue activities, manage needs as they arise.
- Evening: Social interactions, leisure, relationship building.
- Night: Parafolk sleep. Story Cards appear.
- Next Day: Repeat, with new Wants, emotions, and Story Cards.
Time management tip: Town Events often require travel time. If you see an event you want to attend, plan your day's activities to end near that location. This prevents wasting valuable game hours walking across Melino.
Money & Bills
Paradimes (P) is the currency of Paralives. You'll need it for:
- Building — Every object, wall, and floor piece costs Paradimes
- Utilities — Bills arrive periodically for electricity, water, and other services
- Taxes — Yes, even Parafolks pay taxes
- Food & Shopping — Buying meals, groceries, and items
- Services — Haircuts at Headlines, meals at restaurants
- Town Transportation — Bus rides cost P3 regardless of distance
Earning Paradimes primarily comes from careers and jobs, with occasional windfalls from Story Cards, collectible sales, and museum donations.
Activities & Hobbies
Live Mode is packed with activities to keep Parafolks engaged:
- Cooking — Parafolks can cook meals at home using learned recipes
- Gardening — Plant seeds, water plants (full gardening system coming post-launch)
- Media consumption — TV, radio, internet browsing, video games on phones/computers
- Music — Learn piano or guitar through practice
- Painting — Create artwork on canvas
- Astronomy — Use telescopes at the Mountain Top park
- Fitness — Gym workouts, jogging, yoga, dancing
- Social hangouts — Visit cafes, restaurants, and shops around Melino
- Town Events — Join scheduled community activities
Daily Management Tips
- Prioritize needs over wants. A hungry, exhausted Parafolk performs poorly at everything. Keep needs above 50% before pursuing optional activities.
- Build skills through daily activities. Don't treat skill-building as separate from gameplay — combine it with activities you'd do anyway.
- Use Story Cards strategically. Some cards give long-term buffs. A 24-hour work performance boost on promotion day is more valuable than the same boost on a rest day.
- Check the newspaper daily. The New Paper reveals Town Events and opportunities that can significantly boost skills or provide rare items.
- Balance work and life. Overworked Parafolks suffer negative emotions and health effects. Schedule rest days.
- Manage bills proactively. Keep a surplus of at least P500–P1000 on hand for unexpected expenses.
- Age young Parafolks thoughtfully. Child, Preteen, and Teenager life stages all have growth spurts. Don't miss these developmental milestones.