🖥️Getting Started6 min read
Interface Explained: Menu & Build Mode
Complete UI walkthrough — every button, menu, and shortcut explained.
📅 Published: 2026-05-26🔄 Updated: 2026-05-26
🏠 Main Menu
When you launch Paralives, you'll see:
- Continue: Load your most recent save
- New Game: Start fresh with new Paras
- Load Game: Choose from all save files
- Settings: Graphics, audio, controls, UI scale
- Workshop: Steam Workshop browser
- Exit: Quit to desktop
🎮 Live Mode HUD
Bottom-Left Panel
- Para Portrait: Shows selected Para's face
- Need Bars: 🍔 Hunger, 🔋 Energy, 🛁 Hygiene, 💬 Social, 🎮 Fun, 🛋️ Comfort
- Emotion Icon: Current mood state
- Moodlet Icons: Active positive/negative effects
Bottom-Right Panel
- 🏗️ Build Mode: Switch to building (Tab)
- 🗺️ Map: Open world map (M)
- 📱 Phone: Call friends, check jobs, browse web
- ⚙️ Settings: Quick access to game settings
Top Bar
- 💰 Funds: Current household money
- 🕒 Time/Date: Current game time
- ⏩ Speed: 1x, 2x, 3x speed controls
- ⏸️ Pause: Pause/unpause (Space)
🏗️ Build Mode Interface
Top-Left Panel (Tools)
- 🧱 Build: Walls, floors, foundations
- 🛏️ Room: Pre-built room shapes
- 🪑 Furniture: All buyable items
- 🌳 Terrain: Landscaping tools
- 🔍 Search: Find specific items
Top-Right Panel (Actions)
- 🔨 Hammer: Delete objects (S)
- 💉 Eyedropper: Copy object/color (P)
- ↩️ Undo: Reverse last action (Ctrl+Z)
- 🏢 Floors: Toggle floor visibility
- 👁️ Wall View: Toggle wall visibility
💡 UI Tips
- UI Scale: Go to Settings → UI Scale (110-120% recommended for 1080p)
- Hover Tooltips: Hover over any icon for description
- Right-Click: Quick access to common actions
- Drag & Drop: Drag items from catalog to lot