Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
Review: Zero Parades: Director’s Cut (Switch 2) – ZA/UM Returns With Another Atmospheric, Cerebral Yet Overly Familiar RPG
ZA/UM’s Zero Parades: Director’s Cut follows a troubled spy through a politically divided city, using the studio’s familiar mix of introspective writing, investigation and role-playing. The review finds it beautiful and thought-provoking, but says its close resemblance to Disco Elysium makes the experience feel overly familiar.
Players control Hershel Wilk, known by the codename CASCADE, as she investigates her comatose partner and the intentions of her handlers in Portofiro. Dialogue and skill checks shape what she learns, while fatigue, delirium and anxiety can weaken her abilities; thoughts and clothing offer ways to build skills. The review also praises smoother movement and investigation, while noting that exploration still involves aimless wandering.
In short
- A cerebral, atmospheric follow-up to Disco Elysium.
- CASCADE investigates her partner’s coma in a divided city.
- Improved exploration still comes with familiar ideas and aimless wandering.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The familiar style can be seen as a strength: Zero Parades brings ZA/UM’s distinctive writing, political atmosphere and introspective role-playing to a new spy story, while smoother movement and investigation make its systems more accessible. Players who value that combination may welcome another game that rewards close attention to dialogue and character.
The case against
The close resemblance to Disco Elysium may make the new setting and characters feel less original, especially for players hoping the studio would take its role-playing in a different direction. If exploration still relies on aimless wandering, familiar strengths may not be enough to make the experience feel fresh.
Explained simply
ZA/UM is a video game studio best known for Disco Elysium, a role-playing game built around dialogue, investigation and a divided political setting. Role-playing games let players shape a character and influence events through their choices.
In Zero Parades, players follow spy Hershel Wilk, whose codename is CASCADE, as she investigates her comatose partner and the people directing her. The story unfolds in Portofiro, a politically divided city, and choices in conversations and investigations affect what she discovers.
The game’s skills can be shaped by the thoughts Hershel develops and the clothes she wears, while fatigue and anxiety can affect how well she uses them. Its approach matters to players familiar with ZA/UM’s earlier work because it revisits a style of storytelling and role-playing associated with Disco Elysium.