one dataset · paper, tables, graph, wiki
simgrammar the grammar of simulation

parts

12 mechanics, as Paralives does them

core · 2

space & construction

Building placement

Grid-less building with curved walls, split-level floors, and resizable, recolorable, stackable furniture; walls are drawn with a road-style tool modeled on Cities: Skylines.

agents & behavior

Needs decay

Parafolks carry needs, wants, and emotions that steer their autonomous behavior and set the player's care tasks.

supporting · 10

agents & behavior

Agent skills

progression & goals

Career ladder

Jobs with flexible career progression paths.

multiplayer & persistence

Content sharing

Steam Workshop distributes community houses, Parafolks, and mods.

population & lineage

Lifecycle and aging

multiplayer & persistence

Modding API

An in-game modding interface lets players edit or add content.

agents & behavior

Personality traits

social relations

Relationship values

Conversation fills a together bar between two Parafolks, and a full bar unlocks together cards.

social relations

Romance and family

agents & behavior

Utility action selection

core loop

design Parafolks in the Paramaker -> build a grid-less home -> Parafolks pursue needs and wants -> socialize, work, and build skills around town -> relationships, children, and aging change the household -> share homes and Parafolks on the Workshop

design notes

Paralives began as Alex Massé's solo project, was funded through Patreon (over 15,000 supporters by November 2023), and entered Steam early access on 2026-05-25 with about two years planned before 1.0. Its building tools are its most distinctive system: walls and furniture resize, recolor, and stack, walls can curve, floors can split level, and a road-style wall tool was inspired by Cities: Skylines. Conversation fills a together bar that unlocks together cards, multiselect lets several Parafolks act as a group, and procedural animation adapts to preceding animations.

appears in

the paper, 2 sections · 2 chapters · 1 episode
paper

5. The structure of the design space

linked in this section of the paper

paper
paper

Appendix A. Game catalog

linked in this section of the paper

paper
catalog

The catalog

listed with its year, developer, subgenre, and number of mechanics

book
ch 3

Chapter 3. Old parts

linked from the text

book
ch 4

Chapter 4. Families

linked from the text

book
ep 3

Families across genres

on screen at 4:12 odd couples

episode

relations

2 stored edges
influenced by
influenced by

sources

2
Wikipedia contributors (2026). Paralives. Wikipedia
Paralives Studio (2026-05-25). Paralives on Steam. Steam

provenance

runs in log/runs
2026-10-24
created2026-10-24-catalog-gccatalog
2026-10-24
reviewed2026-10-24-review-fixesmaintenance