Independent life simulation game Paralives is set to enter Early Access on Steam on May 25, marking the culmination of nearly seven years of development since its initial reveal in June 2019. Originally created as a solo project by developer Alex Massé, Paralives later expanded into a full studio through funding from Patreon supporters. As of 2026, the development team has grown to 14 members. Throughout development, the studio regularly shared progress updates, including demonstrations of its character creator, known as the Paramaker, along with building and live-mode showcases. 

One of Paralives’ defining features is its emphasis on player freedom. The game utilizes a gridless building system that allows players to create curved walls, split-level homes, and highly customized living spaces. Furniture can be resized and recolored with considerable flexibility, while playable characters, known as Parafolks, offer detailed customization options including height, facial structure, body shape, clothing, personality traits, and accessibility-related features.

The game is set within an open-world town featuring locations such as shops, parks, restaurants, and museums. Alongside exploration, players can engage in familiar life-simulation activities including careers, relationships, family building, and generational progression. Paralives also includes built-in modding support and Steam Workshop integration, enabling players to create and share custom content. Visually, the game adopts a stylized art direction rather than pursuing photorealism, distinguishing it from other recent entries in the genre.

According to the developers, Paralives will avoid a traditional paid DLC model. Instead, all future gameplay additions are planned as free updates. During the Early Access period, the studio intends to introduce major features including weather and seasons, pets such as dogs, cats, and horses, vehicles and bicycles, swimming pools, gardening systems, family trees, and expanded NPC story progression.

Paralives enters Steam Early Access on May 25 at 10:00 a.m. The developers have indicated that the game's price is expected to increase upon its full release.