From the developers behind Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero plunges players into a vibrant, urban dystopia with its signature anime aesthetic and fast-paced action. The story unfolds in the futuristic city of New Eridu, humanity’s last bastion after the world was ravaged by a supernatural disaster called “Hollows”. These calamitous events create shifting, disordered dimensions filled with monstrous creatures known as Ethereals. To survive, New Eridu has learned to extract valuable resources, or Ether, from the Hollows, but the resulting power dynamics have led to mounting tension between monopolistic corporations, gangs, and other factions.
Players assume the role of a Proxy—either the sibling Belle or Wise—who navigates the dangerous Hollows to guide and assist skilled fighters called Agents. Operating out of a retro video rental shop, the protagonist and their sibling use a special “Hollow Deep Dive System” to remotely enter the Hollows via a small, rabbit-like robot called a Bangboo. This unique narrative device is one example of the game’s charming, retro-futuristic style, where high technology is interspersed with analog aesthetics like VHS tapes and CRT monitors. This creative visual design extends to the diverse cast of characters, which includes both human and animal-like Thirens, each with a unique personality and combat style.
The game’s combat is a major highlight, featuring a real-time, tag-team system where players build a squad of three Agents to take on enemies. The fast and fluid action, heavily emphasizing quick-time-event (QTE) combos, allows for spectacular, cinematic combat sequences. Between these action-packed encounters, players navigate the dungeons, or Hollows, in a board game-like interface where they move between monitor-like tiles to uncover secrets and progress. Despite some criticism at launch regarding the repetitive nature of this “TV Mode,” subsequent updates optimized the experience based on player feedback. With its stylish presentation, engaging combat, and a lore-rich world to explore, Zenless Zone Zero offers a unique blend of urban fantasy and high-octane action. As a free-to-play gacha game, it builds upon developer HoYoverse’s successful formula while carving its own distinct, street-savvy niche.
