Zenless Zone Zero

Premium action RPG with an urban appeal

Zenless, also known as Zenless Zone Zero, is a paid action game from miHoYo. 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. You play as a demon-dimension explorer tasked with shutting down these dimensions and stopping Ethereals.

With its generous help of exploration and fighting, Zenless is definitely poised to be a good alternative to Genshin Impact. However, its unoriginal gameplay mechanics are offset only by its fresh narrative. It is also important to note that this game is still in active development.

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. Though there are no direct references in terms of the story, the familiar gameplay is there. One case in point is using a gacha mechanic to unlock 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 takes nothing away 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 its characters and 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 is a promising action game set in a futuristic world overrun by Ethereals. While offering engaging exploration and combat experiences, its gameplay mechanics lack originality, albeit compensated by a fresh narrative. Fans speculate connections to other miHoYo titles like Genshin Impact. Despite its derivative gameplay, Zenless impresses with visually striking graphics and a unique post-apocalyptic aesthetic, appealing to players fond of urban-themed settings like Persona 5 Strikers.