So, it's 2026, and miHoYo has been cooking up something completely different—Zenless Zone Zero. I finally got my hands on the closed beta (if you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?), and let me tell you, stepping into this post-apocalyptic world feels like nothing they've done before. Remember that cryptic countdown with the retro TV static? That was just the appetizer. Now I'm roaming New Eridu, the last city standing, and honestly, I'm losing sleep over it.
You play as a Proxy, a guide who leads explorers into the Hollows. Yes, Hollows—not the undead kind. These are dimension-warping calamities that swallowed the old world, leaving behind distorted realities and nightmarish monsters. But here’s the twist: New Eridu isn't a crumbling ruin. The survivors actually figured out how to harvest resources from those dimensional tears, turning apocalyptic disaster into a technological boomtown. The city glows with that futuristic punk spark, all neon and chrome built atop the bones of chaos. It's Blade Runner meets Genshin Impact's anime flair, and I'm here for it.
The Rogue in the Hollow
What really hooked me is the roguelike gameplay mechanism miHoYo teased. I went in expecting a straight-up action RPG, but the Hollows are procedurally layered labyrinths—each run feels fresh. You pick your squad of anime-styled characters and dive deep, facing shifting corridors, random buffs, and escalating threats. It's not as punishing as a traditional roguelike, but the tension is real. Managing resources while the "distortion" meter climbs adds a push-your-luck thrill I haven't felt since Hades. Pair that with miHoYo's signature flashy combat, and you get these
A City of Factions and Frenemies
But the streets above ground are just as dangerous. New Eridu simmers with power struggles—gangs, politicians, megacorporations, and rogue scientists all clawing for control of Hollow-derived tech. I've already stumbled into a tense standoff between the "Cunning Hares" (a scrappy gang with a soft spot for stray Proxies) and the enigmatic "White Lion" security force. The writing packs that slice-of-life charm miHoYo is known for, only with a grittier edge. One minute I'm chatting with a bubbly mechanic about her custom weapon mods, the next I'm dodging a back-alley ambush because a corporate exec decided I knew too much.
How Does It Stack Up to Genshin Impact?
If you played Genshin (still waiting for that Switch port, right? Still in development, miHoYo assures us), you'll recognize the DNA: rapid team-switching, element-like affinities, and those jaw-dropping ultimate animations. But Zenless Zone Zero steps away from the open-world formula. Instead, it's a hub-based structure where you prep in New Eridu before venturing into instanced Hollow missions. The pacing is tighter, more focused. No more climbing mountains to find a chest—here, every corner turned is a fight or a frantic escape. And the character designs? They’re pure style. From the shark-girl with her hydro-smash gauntlets to the grim reaper Proxy who speaks in riddles, I'm already agonizing over who to main.
The Roguelike Twist Unpacked
Let's dig deeper into that roguelike promise. Each Hollow trip gives you a set of "Resonance Cores"—temporary abilities that dramatically alter your playstyle. On one run, I turned a healer into a close-range berserker. On another, all my dodges triggered afterimage clones that taunted enemies. The build variety is staggering, and failure doesn't feel bad because you're always unlocking new narrative threads back at base. There's also a "data distortion" mechanic where the environment itself glitches out, spawning traps and loot alike. It’s like the devs stuffed a rogue-lite into their action RPG, then wrapped it in that slick pop-art interface I can’t stop screenshotting.
Why You Should Keep an Eye on It
I know, I know—another miHoYo timesink. But Zenless Zone Zero feels like a bold pivot. The urban fantasy setting is a breath of fresh air after so many medieval-inspired worlds. The music alone—jazzy noir tracks mixed with pulse-pounding electronic drops—deserves an award. And the lore? Already layered. Proxies are more than just adventurers; they’re navigators of human memory and emotion left behind in the Hollows, which raises some deeply unsettling questions about identity. I’m already theory-crafting about the true nature of the calamity.
Final Early Impressions
Of course, this is all based on a beta build. There are missing voice lines, occasional balance quirks, and the gacha system hasn't fully shown its fangs yet (but knowing miHoYo, expect generous launch bonuses with a steep endgame curve). Still, the foundation is rock solid. If they keep building on this fusion of roguelike experimentation and narrative-driven action, I can easily see myself pouring hundreds of hours into New Eridu. Genshin might have been my first miHoYo love, but Zenless Zone Zero? This feels like the rebellious younger sibling who skipped college to start a punk band—and somehow made it work.
So, grab your Proxy license and keep an eye on the official site. The Hollows aren't going to explore themselves, and the city’s factions aren't getting any friendlier. I'll be the one chasing that perfect run while humming along to the soundtrack. 🎸⚡
Next stop: discovering what actually caused the Hollows. A rogue AI? Eldritch experiment gone wrong? Knowing miHoYo's love for hidden truths, I bet the answer is already scattered in the opening cutscene, waiting for someone to piece it together.
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