Needs

May 23, 2026

Needs – Complete Paralives Guide

Paralives Early Access 2026 | Last Updated: May 25, 2026

What Are Needs?

Needs are the core physical survival meters that govern all Parafolk behavior in Live Mode. They decline automatically over time and must be fulfilled to keep your Para healthy, productive, and emotionally stable. Unmet Needs trigger negative Emotions, slow down skill gain, hurt career performance, and lead to disruptive autonomous actions. Long-term neglect of critical Needs can even lead to death.

Needs work closely with Wants, Traits, Emotions, and Autonomy—they form the foundation of realistic life simulation for your Parafolk.

Core Mechanics

  • All Needs are displayed on a 0–100% meter.
  • Needs decay over time, with speed affected by activities, age, and Traits.
  • Fulfilling a Need refills its meter and often boosts positive Emotions.
  • A Need at 0% enters a Critical State with strong gameplay penalties.
  • Needs directly influence your Para’s autonomous choices and action priorities.
  • Needs and Wants are closely linked: unmet Needs frequently generate matching Wants.

Full Needs List (Early Access Launch)

Paralives launches with 4 core physical Needs for all Parafolk.

1. Hunger

  • Description: Controls your Para’s need for food and nutrition.
  • Decay: Drops steadily over time; falls faster when working, exercising, or doing active tasks.
  • How to Fulfill: Cook meals, eat snacks, dine at restaurants around Melino, or drink beverages.
  • Critical State (0%): Severe discomfort, slowed movement, greatly reduced skill gain, and risk of starvation if ignored for too long.

2. Energy

  • Description: Manages stamina, alertness, and overall physical capability.
  • Decay: Drops quickly during exercise, dancing, working, or active play; declines slower while resting.
  • How to Fulfill: Sleep in a bed, take a nap, relax on a couch, or use comfort furniture.
  • Critical State (0%): Triggers the Exhausted emotion, extremely slow actions, inability to work or level skills, and broken autonomy.

3. Bladder

  • Description: Basic physical need for bathroom relief.
  • Decay: Rises gradually over time; fills faster after eating or drinking.
  • How to Fulfill: Use a toilet.
  • Critical State (0%): Strong distraction, discomfort, and embarrassing accidents that lead to social penalties.

4. Hygiene

  • Description: Handles bodily cleanliness and freshness.
  • Decay: Drops after physical activities, cooking, or being in dirty spaces; used objects can also lower Hygiene over time.
  • How to Fulfill: Shower, bathe, wash hands, or clean used objects.
  • Critical State (0%): Triggers the Uncomfortable emotion, negative social reactions, and avoidance from other Parafolk.

How Needs Interact With Other Systems

↔ Emotions

  • High Needs → Calm / Happy / Energetic
  • Low/Critical Needs → Stressed / Exhausted / Uncomfortable / Sad

↔ Traits

  • Neat: Hygiene decay slows down, and satisfaction from clean spaces lasts longer.
  • Active: Energy decays faster but also recovers more quickly.
  • Night Owl: Energy decay slows at night.
  • Sloppy: Fewer penalties from low Hygiene or messy environments.

↔ Wants & Autonomy

  • Unmet Needs automatically create related Wants (e.g., low Hunger → Want to Eat).
  • Paras will autonomously prioritize critical Needs when left without direct control.

↔ Careers & Skills

  • Fully met Needs → faster skill gain and better career performance.
  • Critical Needs → bad work reviews, failed tasks, and slower progression.

How to Manage Needs Effectively

  1. Prioritize critical Needs first: Bladder → Energy → Hunger → Hygiene.
  2. Use multi-task actions: Relax while watching TV to restore Energy and Fun at the same time.
  3. Build a functional home: Place a bed, toilet, shower, and kitchen close together for fast access.
  4. Pick Traits that fit your playstyle: Choose traits that reduce decay for Needs you struggle to maintain.
  5. Respond to Wants early: Fulfilling Wants often fixes underlying Needs before they reach critical levels.
  6. Use town facilities: Restaurants, parks, and community spaces can restore multiple Needs at once.

Pro Tips for New Players

  • Don’t leave Needs in the red for long — extended critical states can lead to death.
  • Keep food and bathroom access nearby to avoid emergencies while building or decorating.
  • Build your daily routine around Needs: sleep before work, eat before practicing skills.
  • Keeping Needs consistently full maintains positive Emotions and smooth progression.

This guide covers Paralives Early Access (May 25, 2026) gameplay systems. Additional Needs may be added in future updates.