Zenless Zone Zero has been my daily obsession for the better part of this year, and honestly, it still feels like I’m peeling back layers of a neon-drenched onion. HoYoverse’s urban fantasy action RPG launched a couple of years ago, but the game’s world and combat have only grown richer since then. If you’re considering diving into New Eridu or are already a Proxy looking to sharpen your skills, let me walk you through what makes this title tick — and why it’s become a staple on my gaming rotation in 2026.

Stepping into the shoes of a "Proxy" isn’t just a narrative gimmick; it’s the beating heart of the entire experience. The city of New Eridu is a post-apocalyptic metropolis where reality-bending spheres called Hollows pop up like bad weather. The catch? Normal folks can’t navigate these dangerous alternate dimensions alone. That’s where we come in — Proxies guide individuals (and sometimes entire factions) through these chaotic realms, helping them achieve goals while unearthing personal stories that often hit harder than a chain attack finisher. It’s a setup that feels like a mix of a dungeon crawler and a carefully scripted anime season, and I’m here for every second of it.

Let’s talk combat because, let’s be real, that’s the main course. Zenless Zone Zero serves up a cinematic action system that feels like a love letter to hack-and-slash classics — think Devil May Cry meets God of War 3 with a slick HoYoverse twist. You’re not locked into one character; you’re constantly swapping between three agents in your squad. This isn’t just a tag-team gimmick. Switching characters at the right moment triggers quick-time event combos, chain attacks, and perfect assists that can turn a messy brawl into a ballet of destruction. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve squeaked out a victory by nailing a last-second dodge into a counterattack that filled the ultimate bar — only to then unleash a flashy finisher that cleared the screen. The combat loop is pure dopamine.

One aspect that really caught me off guard was how they wove roguelike elements into the mix. The Hollow Deep Dive System, where you crawl through ever-changing environments, throws random buffs, debuffs, and enemy configurations at you. Each run feels distinct, and the risk-reward choices — like pushing deeper for better loot or extracting early to keep your gains — keep the tension tight. It’s a perfect fit for portable play sessions on the go, and one of the main reasons I keep coming back during my commute.

By 2026, the roster has ballooned in the best way, but the faction dynamics remain a core part of team building. When I first started, I leaned hard on Belobog Heavy Industries agents, whose industrial aesthetic and brutal melee style just clicked with my playstyle. Pairing Von Lycaon’s sweeping blows with Soldier 11’s fiery swordplay and Nekomiya Mana’s agile strikes felt like conducting a violent orchestra. Now, with multiple new factions and limited-time crossover events, the meta is constantly shifting, but your personal favorites can still shine if you master the parry and switch rhythm.

What I respect most, though, is how the game respects your time and skill ceiling. The ultimate abilities — charged by landing chain attacks, assists, and perfect dodges — are not just fire-and-forget nukes. Timing them during a boss’s stagger window or weaving them into a character switch combo can multiply damage massively. Early on, I made the rookie mistake of hoarding ultimates for the “right moment,” only to realize that using them aggressively to maintain pressure often works better. Pro tip: don’t sleep on the brief invincibility frames during ultimate animations; they’ve saved my bacon more times than I can count.

The sibling duo Belle and Wise are more than just cute proxies — they’re the emotional anchor. The story missions flesh out their relationship and the ragtag group of Hollow explorers they assist. Even side commissions often hide bite-sized character arcs that reward you with more than just upgrade materials. I’ve genuinely laughed out loud at some of the banter and felt a pang during a few surprisingly somber moments. For a game that’s all about flashy combat, it delivers narrative punches that stick with you.

Visually, the game remains a stunner. The retro-futuristic cityscapes, the way Hollows warp reality with glitchy textures, and the smooth character animations make every fight a treat. I’ve spent way too long just watching rain-soaked neon reflections on the pavement. The soundtrack, too, is an eclectic mix of beats that keeps the energy up whether you’re in combat or just browsing shops.

If you’re diving in fresh in 2026, my advice is to embrace the swap-heavy combat from the get-go. Don’t treat your team as a main DPS and two benchwarmers — every character is a tool for survival and style. Practice the parry timing in the training room until it’s muscle memory. And don’t hesitate to experiment with off-meta faction synergies; some of the wildest clears I’ve seen come from players who toss the tier lists aside.

Zenless Zone Zero has evolved from a promising HoYoverse experiment into one of the most mechanically satisfying action RPGs on the market. It’s got the style, the depth, and the heart to keep a Proxy like me hooked well into whatever comes next. If you haven’t yet stepped into a Hollow, now’s the perfect time to grab your Bangboo and get to work.