The short version
Build the upper floor or raised platform first, open the Stairs tool, pick one of the 8 styles, then place the flight and drag it to the platform edge until it snaps. Drag the arrows to resize width and height. At the bottom of the screen, toggle railings on both sides, one side, or none, and optionally remove the wall underneath. Stairs can be placed diagonally — but there are no curved or spiral stairs in EA yet.
- 8 staircase styles, resizable width and height
- Stairs can be placed diagonally
- Railings: both sides, one side, or none
- No curved or spiral stairs in EA 1.0 yet
How to Build Stairs in Paralives
- 1
Build the level you're connecting to first
Stairs need a destination. Place your second floor, or raise a platform with the floor-height system, before opening the Stairs tool. With nothing to connect to, the flight has nowhere to land.
- 2
Open the Stairs tool and pick a style
Press TAB for build mode, open the Stairs category, and choose one of the eight staircase styles. They range from compact straight runs to wide grand staircases — the style sets the look; you handle the fit in the next steps.
- 3
Place the flight and snap it to the edge
Drag the staircase to the edge of the upper floor or raised platform until it snaps into place. It does not have to be pixel-perfect — as long as it snaps, the connection registers. For a raised porch, snap the stairs to the platform you made with the Separator tool.
- 4
Resize width and height with the arrows
Click the placed staircase and drag the arrows to adjust both its width and its height. Widen it to line up exactly with a doorway, or stretch a grand staircase across a large entry hall. The treads adjust automatically as you resize.
- 5
Set railings and place diagonally
At the bottom of the screen you can choose railings on both sides, one side, or none, and remove the wall underneath the stairs to open up decorative under-stair space. Stairs can also be rotated to sit diagonally, which is the closest thing EA offers to an angled or winding look.
- 6
Fence the upstairs opening
There is a dedicated tool that automatically places a fence around the floor opening at the top of the stairs, so your Parafolk don't walk off the edge. Use it on any second-floor landing — it keeps the build safe and looks more finished.
Common mistakes
These four are the usual stair questions and snags in Early Access.
Looking for curved or spiral stairs
Paralives EA 1.0 does not have curved, winding, or spiral staircases — only the 8 straight styles, which can be placed diagonally. For a turret, run a diagonal flight against the wall instead. The devs may add winding stairs later.
Stairs won't connect to a raised porch
The flight has to snap to the platform edge. Trace the raised area with the Separator tool first, then drag the staircase up to that edge until it snaps. Nudge it closer if the snap doesn't trigger.
A Para falls through the upstairs opening
The floor opening has no railing. Use the auto-fence tool that rings the stair opening upstairs — it places a protective fence around the gap in one click.
Staircase is wider or narrower than the doorway
Click the staircase and drag the width arrow until it lines up with the door or wall opening. Width and height are fully adjustable after placement, so resize rather than redraw.
What to build with stairs
Four ways the 8 styles and diagonal placement come in handy.
- Grand entry staircase
- Pick a wide style and stretch the width arrow across an entry hall for a statement staircase. Add railings on both sides for the full mansion look.
- Diagonal staircase
- Rotate a flight to sit at an angle across a corner. It's the closest EA gets to an angled or winding stair, and it tucks neatly where a straight run would block the room.
- Split-level connector
- A short flight snapped between two platform heights. The clean way to join a sunken lounge or raised porch to the rest of the floor.
- Open under-stair space
- Toggle 'remove wall underneath' to open the space below the stairs for shelving, a reading nook, or a display — instead of a closed-off boxed staircase.
Stairs FAQ
The questions players ask most about stairs in Early Access — spiral workarounds, L-shapes, and stairs that refuse to connect.
- Does Paralives have spiral or curved stairs?
- Not in Early Access 0.1.x — the staircase tool ships 8 straight styles only. For a spiral look, players fake it with two short L-shaped runs wrapping a small landing; for a curved look, place a straight flight against a curved wall and let the wall carry the shape.
- How do I make L-shaped or U-shaped stairs?
- Build the first flight, place a square landing at the top, then rotate the second flight 90° (or 180° for U-shaped) off the landing's open edge. The landing is the trick — stairs cannot bend mid-flight, so every turn needs a flat landing tile.
- Why won't my stairs connect or work?
- Three common causes: the floor heights don't match (lower the upper floor or rebuild), a wall or railing blocks the top tile (delete it and retry), or the staircase is flagged as blocked by furniture on the landing. Move objects off the landing square and the path fixes itself.
Keep building
More build mode tutorials and references.
Curved walls do exist in EA, even though curved stairs don't. 7-step walkthrough.
No spiral or curved stairs in EA yet — here's the closest workaround for a winding, spiral-like look.
All hotkeys, feature highlights, and build-specific shortcuts.
Porch steps are short stair flights snapped to a platform. Two methods, four builds.