Zenless Zone Zero

The player assumes the role of a Proxy, a character who helps others explore alternate dimensions called Hollows.^[5][6] Over time, the Proxy will recruit new party members known as Agents to fight hostile entities called Ethereals and other enemies. In addition to the Proxy, players use rabbit-like robotic assistants known as Bangboos.^[6]

The gameplay is a mix of semi-open world combat, and a 3D hack and slash. There used to be a "TV mode", but due to players being unsatisfied with it, Zenless Zone Zero developers removed that aspect of the game. Now, to complete missions, players simply have to participate in combat trials.

By combining the abilities of different Agents and Bangboos, players can deal greater damage and combos (known as Chain Attack) onto enemies.^[6][7][8] The game features an in-game clock system, with the days split into morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight.^[6]

Zenless Zone Zero was produced by Zhenyu Li.^[11] The development team cited Persona 5, Digimon World, and Street Fighter as influences for Zenless Zone Zero, influences from Street Fighter can be seen within the animation of characters during combat while the influences of Digimon World can be seen in the implementation of the in-game clock system. The development team stressed that Zenless Zone Zero has a unique style.^[12][13]

Characters in Zenless Zone Zero have different designs based on their faction; For instance, the design for Victoria Housekeeping characters is based on Victorian-era butlers and maids with tropes from horror movies.^[10] There is an emphasis on quality over quantity regarding the development of characters.^[12]

Unlike the character designs in miHoYo's previous games such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero took a different direction with its variety of playable characters; There are non-human playable characters such as Ben Bigger, a grizzly bear, Soukaku, a blue-colored oni, and Billy Kid, an android^[14] gunslinger.^[15][16] During the planning stages, these non-human characters were not intended to be present in the game but the team did find them fun and later incorporated them into the game.^[17]

The developer has adjusted gameplay elements after player feedback. Late in 2024, the TV Mode was largely truncated due to generally negative reception of the puzzle-based design.^[18] The version 2.0 update in July 2025 optimized the hub world design and user interface to improve player's experience.^[19]

miHoYo revealed the game in May 2022 and began holding closed beta tests, known as "Tuning Tests", for PC and iOS in August of the same year.^[20] A second closed beta test, called an "Equalizing Test", was also held for PC and iOS in November 2023.^[21] A third beta test, called an "Amplifying Test", was held for Android, PC, and iOS, in April 2024.^[22] During Sony Interactive Entertainment's State of Play presentation in January 2024, a PlayStation 5 port of the game was announced as a timed console exclusive.^[23] A technical test was held for the PS5 in April 2024. The release date was announced in late May of that same year.

The game was released on July 4. To promote the game, HoYoverse collaborated with several graffiti artists to create Zenless Zone Zero-themed graffiti in 19 cities in Indonesia.^[24] An advertisement campaign on the Manila Light Rail Transit in the Philippines was held.^[25] A series of launch events titled "New Eridu City Tour" is being held in 19 locations worldwide.^[26] Another series of events titled "Zenless Dazzle Expo" is held within six comic conventions.^[27]

In July 2024, HoYoverse, through a collaboration between them and Lofi Girl, released a Zenless Zone Zero-themed Lofi Girl video featuring the character Belle though its HoYoFair YouTube channel, which features lo-fi remixes of select Zenless Zone Zero soundtracks.^{[28][29][30][b]}

Prior to the game's release, the Chinese video game news website 17173 noted that HoYoverse had significant experience with action games, considering Zenless Zone Zero as both a return to the genre and a potential breakthrough for the company. They believed that HoYoverse had yet to encounter significant rivals in the action game category and that Zenless Zone Zero could "stabilize and expand the user market." 17173 also emphasized the game's strong stylized design and trendy visual elements, noting that it inherited HoYoverse's expertise in the action category while presenting a distinct and unique work.^[41]

Eurogamer said that the combat and day-to-day exploration exciting, and the world setting unique and immersive.^[36] Kotaku said its combat system is similar to miHoYo's previous game, Honkai Impact 3rd.^[15]

Paste, in its more critical review, praised the character design and variety, while calling the starter playable characters' usage repetitive and the TV mode dull and uninspiring.^[42] PC Gamer criticized the combat system by calling it "mindless mouse clicking".^[40]

In Japan, four critics from Famitsu gave the game a total score of 34 out of 40.^[37]

Zenless Zone Zero has surpassed 50 million downloads around the world just three days after launch.^[43] The mobile version of the game grossed almost US$52 (equivalent to $53.37 in 2025) million in its first 11 days and US$100 million in its first month.^[44][45][46] Chinese video game news website GameLook estimated the total revenue from all platforms of the game for July 2024 to exceed CN¥ 2.2 billion (US$306 (equivalent to $314.05 in 2025) million.)^[47]