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In 2020, if someone had told me ZA/UM was making a new game called Zero Parades, I would have been excited and intrigued. At that time, the studio was known for its critically acclaimed hit Disco Elysium, which seemed poised to push narrative storytelling in games to new heights.
Today, my excitement has waned, but my interest remains strong. The title of the game itself isn’t what concerns me; rather, it’s the myriad of new studios that have emerged since Disco Elysium’s release and the contentious allegations between ZA/UM management and key creative leads behind the original game. Some founding members of the art collective that grew into today’s studio are no longer there, and several core writers who worked on Disco Elysium in 2019 have departed under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Zero Parades is an espionage CRPG heavily inspired by classical espionage fiction, with key influences from novels like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People by John le Carré and Mick Herron’s Slough House series. The sci-fi elements come from authors such as Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Stanisław Lem. The game’s protagonist, Hershel Wilk, is a secret agent working under one of the three global powers. Despite her issues, she is described as “brilliant, magnetic, and relentless.” She doesn’t rely on fancy gadgets and has to navigate complex situations while pretending to be someone else.
Hershel works for Superbloc, a union of communist nations, in the sovereign island city-state Portofiro. The city feels its decline, with a sense of dread about an impending event. Hershel is sent back to Portofiro after five years away, where she must deal with her old crew and their strained relationship.
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The game’s personal struggle centers on Hershel’s betrayal of her squad and the subsequent loss of trust. She will need to recruit help from her former team while carrying the burden of her past actions. This narrative explores themes of failure, regret, and rebuilding bridges that can’t be fully repaired.
ZA/UM aims to express these themes through a mechanic called Conditioning, which allows players to build their version of Hershel by reinforcing or punishing certain thoughts. The game also features skills like espionage techniques (Coordination, Primal Reflex) and less espionage-focused abilities (Poetics, Technoflex). Additionally, Pressures and Exertion track physical and mental states, adding layers of complexity.
Dramatic Encounters add an action element to the otherwise narrative-driven gameplay, forcing players to adapt to situations without the option to retry. Hershel’s outfits play a role in access to areas or dialogue options, though not always strictly enforced.
When presented with early gameplay footage, it became clear that Zero Parades has a strong foundation for telling a deep and engaging story. However, as the first game from ZA/UM following the departure of core creative team members behind Disco Elysium, it must prove its worth amidst ongoing legal issues.
The presentation revealed a promising mix of literary influences, gameplay mechanics, and narrative depth. While previews can only reveal so much, especially for narrative-driven games, Zero Parades has the potential to be one of the best in recent years. Still, time will tell if it lives up to expectations or if ZA/UM has lost its touch.
Zero Parades is set to release on PC and PS5 in 2026.
