Zenless Zone Zero Archives

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Maybe I should just buy Factorio? I’d like Arknights: Endfield a lot more if it would stop trying to be Genshin Impact and just let me build

The anime gacha game market is becoming increasingly similar, with Genshin Impact as a dominant influence. New titles often struggle to differentiate themselves, leading to a saturation of open-world action RPGs with collectible anime characters. Arknights: Endfield introduces a unique factory-building mechanic, allowing players to mine materials and manage conveyor belt systems, which sets it apart from typical gacha games. Honkai: Star Rail is noted for its turn-based gameplay and humor, while other titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact feature vibrant character designs but face challenges with monetization strategies that can detract from gameplay enjoyment. Despite the innovations in Endfield, it still caters to the Genshin Impact audience, highlighting a desire for more engaging gameplay without the complexities of traditional action RPGs.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

Uh-oh, I think I’m finally all gacha’d out

The author has been involved in gacha games and RNG mechanics for over a decade, starting with mobile games like Love Live! School Idol Festival. They transitioned to various titles, including Genshin Impact, which launched in 2020 and expanded the gacha genre's audience. The author notes the overwhelming number of games from HoYoverse, such as Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, and expresses concern about the sustainability of the market due to the rapid release of new titles and the fear of missing out. They highlight the transient nature of live service games, with many shutting down within a year, leading to doubts about investing time and money in them. Despite these concerns, the author still feels a desire for the excitement of gacha games and their character-driven narratives, suggesting that a reduction in the number of available titles could enhance the gaming experience.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

One of 2024’s worst gacha games relaunches without microtransactions, and it’s already looking so much better

Gacha mechanics in gaming can evoke mixed emotions, with titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai Star Rail featuring impressive graphics but facing criticism for their microtransactions. Solo Leveling: Arise was anticipated by fans but was quickly dismissed due to its aggressive monetization strategy, which included frequent flash sales and multiple subscription models. A review described the game as "too grindy, frustrating, and repetitive," with poor drop rates. A new version, Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive, has been released on PC, removing gacha mechanics and allowing players to recruit Hunters and craft weapons without randomness. This iteration aims to reward effort and strategy, with players able to earn all Hunters through gameplay. The game currently holds a 75% rating on Steam, with some concerns about always-online requirements and anti-cheat issues. Netmarble is reportedly working on a solution for offline play. Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive is priced at .99 / £34.99 on Steam, with a free demo available. Over 10,000 players have already engaged with the game.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

It’s a shame HoYoverse’s new game is sporting offensively cheap-looking character models because everything else has me sold on its paranormal cop mystery

HoYoverse has announced a new game titled Varsapura, which follows their previous projects, Petite Planet and Nexus Anima. The game features a narrative centered around a paranormal government agency dealing with a harmful black substance. Character designs have received criticism for their plasticky look, contrasting with the game's realistic aesthetic inspired by Singapore. Varsapura includes engaging gameplay mechanics, such as a combat system similar to Zenless Zone Zero, allowing character swaps and dynamic attacks. The protagonist uses a whimsical umbrella as a weapon, while a secondary character, Sayuki, wields paperwork. The gameplay incorporates stealth elements and features a small police vehicle for transportation. Despite some concerns about character models, Varsapura offers a mix of creativity, light horror elements, and a richly designed world.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Genshin Impact’s flashy combat and Control’s paranormal vibes collide in a new Hoyoverse game, and I’m immediately hooked

Hoyoverse has released a half-hour gameplay demo of its upcoming open-world title, Varsapura, which features elements reminiscent of Control and LA Noire. Set in modern-day Singapore, the game involves paranormal investigation, dialogue choices, stealth mechanics, and combat similar to Zenless Zone Zero. Players assume the role of a protagonist applying for a job at SEAL (Shadow Entity Analysis and Limitation), where they undergo a "mind scan" during the application process. The game introduces officer Sayuki, who discusses the Mindrot phenomenon, which generates derogatory comments in a test chamber. Players combat shadow creatures using umbrella-based attacks and can swap characters during battles. The narrative includes a personal motive for joining SEAL, with dialogue options categorized into 'Empathy,' 'Persuasion,' and 'Deception.' The gameplay features an open-world driving segment and stealth mechanics, allowing exploration of a city resembling Singapore. The visual style combines realistic art with anime character designs. Hoyoverse hints at customization options for the protagonist's appearance and is recruiting talent for the game's development.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

Games & Numbers (July 2

Rust has surpassed 20 million copies sold on Steam. Lords of the Fallen has attracted 5.5 million players. Peak has sold 4.5 million copies. Sultan's Game has achieved 1 million copies sold. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sold over 674,000 copies in its first three days, with total sales exceeding 1 million. The Alters sold 280,000 copies in under a month. Mafia: The Old Country has over 2.5 million wishlists. Pokémon GO has generated over billion in revenue. Whiteout Survival has surpassed billion in gross revenue. Zenless Zone Zero generated .1 million in its first year. Clash Royale earned .8 million on July 8. Wittle Defender achieved million in gross revenue. Sky: Children of the Light has surpassed 270 million mobile downloads. MLB Rivals reached 5 million installs. Valorant Mobile in China has over 40 million pre-installs. Destiny: Rising has 5 million pre-registrations. The Nintendo Switch 2 has over 5 million units sold, with 1.8 million in the U.S., 1.47 million in Japan, and 1.18 million in Europe.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

English is no longer the biggest language on Steam as Chinese gamers embrace PC gaming even harder after Black Myth: Wukong

Mandarin is the most widely used language on Steam, with 33.7% of users selecting it as their primary language, followed closely by English at 33.5%. Over 66% of Steam users have chosen a primary language other than English. The popularity of games developed by Chinese companies, such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, has contributed to this trend. Chinese game developers often have significantly larger budgets and workforces compared to Japanese developers. Additionally, Mandarin speakers are not only from mainland China but also from Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, with reports of the language being encountered in South Korea and Vietnam in 2023.

BetaBeacon

December 28, 2024

Top 5 mobile games of 2024: Stephen’s picks of the year

- In 2024, the author's favorite games included Pocket Necromancer, Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago, Bella Wants Blood, Guncho, A Little to the Left, Pokemon Go, and Vampire Survivors. - The author enjoys opening packs in Pokemon TCG Pocket and playing games that evoke nostalgia. - The author dislikes clutter and enjoys playing games that are perfect for short bursts of play. - The author is looking forward to adding Dredge and Last Spartan: Glory of Madness to their collection in 2025.

AppWizard

December 19, 2024

‘Gooner 9/11’ averted as Zenless Zone Zero’s butt-obfuscation technology is rolled back in the face of horny outrage

A recent update to Zenless Zone Zero led to player backlash after patch 1.4 introduced a change that caused characters to appear faded from certain angles, which players referred to as a "butt filter." This change sparked frustration within the community, with users expressing concerns over perceived censorship and speculating about external pressures, including potential influence from the Chinese government. In response to the outcry, developer MiHoYo announced a hotfix less than 24 hours later, addressing the fading effect and restoring characters' appearances to normal. The community celebrated the reversal, although the motivations behind the initial change remain unclear.

AppWizard

December 14, 2024

The Game Awards 2024 results: All the winners

The Game Awards celebrated its tenth anniversary with major announcements and awards. Highlights included the reveal of a new Witcher title, a spinoff of Elden Ring, and a first look at Borderlands 4. Astro Bot won four awards, including Game of the Year, while Metaphor: Refantazio and Balatro each won three awards. Baldur's Gate 3 was recognized for Best Community Support. Key award winners: - Best Fighting Game: Tekken 8 - Best VR/AR Game: Batman: Arkham Shadow - Best Esports Game: League of Legends - Best Esports Athlete: Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok) - Best Esports Team: T1 (League of Legends) - Games for Impact: Neva - Innovation in Accessibility: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - Best Family Game: Astro Bot - Best Performance: Melina Juergens (Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2) - Best Action Game: Black Myth: Wukong - Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto 6 - Best Multiplayer Game: Helldivers 2 - Best Game Direction: Astro Bot - Best Action Adventure Game: Astro Bot - Content Creator of the Year: Caseoh - Best Sports/Racing Game: EA Sports FC 25 - Best Sim/Strategy Game: Frostpunk 2 - Best Ongoing Game: Helldivers 2 - Best Adaptation: Fallout - Best Score and Music: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Best Independent Game: Balatro - Best Debut Indie Game: Balatro - Best Mobile Game: Balatro - Best Audio Design: Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 - Game Changer: Amir Satvat - Players' Voice: Black Myth: Wukong