HoYoverse has built an empire on the gacha action RPG formula, and Zenless Zone Zero represents the studio's most ambitious attempt to break new ground within that framework. Set in the neon-drenched metropolis of New Eridu, the game trades the open-world exploration of Genshin Impact for tight, corridor-based combat encounters that prioritize moment-to-moment action above all else. The result is a game that feels fundamentally different from its stablemates while retaining the production values that have made HoYoverse a household name in mobile gaming.
The combat system is the clear star of the show. Where Genshin Impact offered satisfying but relatively simple hack-and-slash mechanics, Zenless Zone Zero builds a proper action game framework with dodge cancels, parry windows, chain attacks, and assist switches that reward skilled play. Each Agent in your three-person squad handles differently, and learning the timing of switch attacks to extend combos feels genuinely rewarding. The dodge mechanic in particular is crisp and responsive, providing generous invincibility frames that make narrowly avoiding a boss attack feel incredible.
Visually, HoYoverse has outdone themselves. The cel-shaded art style pops with personality, drawing from street culture, anime, and retro-futurism to create an aesthetic that feels entirely its own. Character animations are fluid and expressive, with idle animations and combat flourishes that give each Agent a distinct personality before they even speak. The environmental design of New Eridu captures a believable lived-in quality, from the bustling street markets to the eerie distortion of the Hollows.
The audio design deserves special recognition. The soundtrack shifts dynamically between exploration and combat, weaving electronic beats, hip-hop percussion, and rock guitar into a cohesive musical identity. Combat tracks escalate in intensity as encounters grow more dangerous, and the satisfying crunch of landing a perfect dodge into a counter-attack is enhanced by punchy sound effects that give every hit weight and impact.
Where the experience falters is in the exploration segments. The TV mode, which has players navigating grid-based maps to progress through the Hollows, feels like filler between the excellent combat encounters. These sections lack the visual flair and tactile satisfaction of the fights, and after the first few hours they become a chore that breaks the otherwise excellent pacing. HoYoverse has been iterating on this system with updates, but it remains the weakest link in the gameplay loop.
Monetization follows the familiar gacha template, and Zenless Zone Zero layers multiple banner systems on top of each other. The standard character banner, weapon banner, and limited-time event banners all compete for your premium currency, and the pity system, while present, requires significant investment to guarantee a specific five-star Agent. Free-to-play players can absolutely enjoy the game, but the pressure to spend is constant and increasingly aggressive during limited-time events.
The narrative oscillates between genuinely engaging and frustratingly padded. The core story of the Hollow Raiders and the mysteries surrounding the Hollows themselves provides a solid foundation, and the main cast of Wise and Belle is likeable enough to carry the dialogue-heavy sections. However, the mid-game chapters introduce filler arcs that slow the pacing dramatically, and some character introductions feel rushed in service of the gacha roster expansion.
Performance on mobile is impressive for a game of this visual fidelity. The combat runs at a stable 60 frames per second on flagship devices, and the touch controls are responsive enough to execute precise dodge timings. Loading times are reasonable, and the download size, while large, is manageable with selective resource downloads. Battery drain during extended sessions remains a concern, as is the significant heat generation on most devices.
The social features are adequate but not groundbreaking. A friend system allows you to borrow Agents from other players, and cooperative events appear regularly in the update cycle. The endgame content, centered around the Shiyu Defense challenge mode, provides a reasonable skill ceiling for dedicated players, though the rewards taper off quickly for those not chasing leaderboard rankings.
Zenless Zone Zero is a game at war with itself. Its combat is among the finest on any mobile platform, its presentation is gorgeous, and its moment-to-moment gameplay loop can be genuinely thrilling. But the aggressive monetization, uneven story pacing, and tedious exploration segments prevent it from reaching the heights of HoYoverse's best work. For action RPG fans willing to navigate the gacha trappings, there is a tremendous amount to enjoy here.