Zenless Zone Zero

Premium action RPG with an urban appeal

Zenless, also known as Zenless Zone Zero, is a paid action game from miHoYo. Dubbed as the next Genshin Impact, this role-playing game is set in a futuristic universe where civilization as you know it no longer exists. The world is now overrun by supernatural creatures called Ethereals. In the middle of the chaos, you play as a demon-dimension explorer tasked with shutting down these dimensions and stopping Ethereals.

With its generous helping of exploration and fighting, Zenless is definitely poised to be a good alternative to Genshin. However, its unoriginal gameplay mechanics is offset only by its fresh narrative.

Be the best demon-dimension explorer

Eager fans of Zenless are looking for clues that could link it to other miHoYo titles such as Genshin Impact or Honkai Impact 3rd. There are no direct references in terms of story though, but the familiar gameplay is there. One case in point is the use of a gacha mechanic for unlocking other characters in the game, which unfortunately favors those willing to invest real-world money.

Unfortunately, its gameplay doesn’t stray far from its sister titles. It also adopts a real-time action approach instead of a turn-based strategy like the one in Honkai - Starrail. It’s driven by a unique story premise that should allow endless gameplay, but the mechanics themselves largely remain in the tried-and-tested formula of the Chinese video gaming giant. It doesn’t take away anything from the awesome and visually-charged animations and interactions.

In terms of visuals, this game can hold its own against other major games from the same developer-publisher. It has a unique take on a post-apocalyptic future, focusing on a more urban feel for both its characters and its set designs. This design option ultimately gives the game its visual identity, allowing it to endear itself to players who prefer styles reminiscent of GhostWire: Tokyo or Persona 5 Strikers.

Not that much of a grind-focused game  

Despite coming from HoYoverse, who’s known for gacha-heavy titles, Zenless Zone Zero is set not to rely on such a mechanic. The official version of the game won’t feature a stamina system that will put a limit on how many story missions a player can complete in a day. Meanwhile, a character trial system will allow players to access properly leveled party members for some missions. 

Besides that, the game is also reportedly not going to “punish” players who have chosen to take a break from it for a bit. Diving into most server-based RPGs after a long time of being unable to grind can be punishing, as there are a lot of rewards and events you’ve likely missed and everyone else has grown stronger while you were away. ZZZ aims to divert from that, and the developers will be working toward that goal.

Yet another Genshin Impact

Zenless Zone Zero remains a curious game in its own right despite miHoYo’s other major titles. Its approach to a post-apocalyptic future that looks pretty urbanized creates a unique identity for the game, which could also explain its enduring appeal despite not adding anything new or unique to the gacha action RPG genre. Experienced players would feel all too familiar playing this one though.