Developer: HoYoverse
Release: 2024
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Mobile
Genre: Action RPG, Gacha, Urban Fantasy
1. Core Concept
Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) is an urban-fantasy action RPG set in New Eridu, the last bastion of humanity after the emergence of chaotic dimensional anomalies called “Hollows.”
Players act as Proxies, assembling squads of Agents to clear missions, gather resources, and expand their capabilities over time.
The game favors tight, session-based loops, with a strong focus on combat execution, progression systems, and long-term roster development.
2. Gameplay & Core Loop
Combat is fast and reactive:
- Three-Agent squads with real-time switching.
- Chain Attacks triggered by precise timing.
- Perfect dodges and parries open stun windows.
- Fluid animations support a clean and rewarding combat flow.
Core loop:
- Accept mission.
- Enter a Hollow (instanced combat zone).
- Execute high-tempo combat.
- Earn rewards.
- Return to hub, upgrade, repeat.
The experience emphasizes short, repeatable sessions with growing complexity over time.
3. Progression Mechanics & Monetization (in depth)
3.1. Account Progression (Proxy Level)
- Proxy Level is the central axis of progression.
- Completing missions grants EXP, unlocking higher-tier Hollows, new missions, and gameplay systems.
- It serves as a soft gate, ensuring a controlled progression curve.
3.2. Agent Acquisition
- Agents form the core of the progression structure.
- Each new Agent expands roster flexibility, allowing different combat styles, elemental compositions, and team synergies.
- A broader roster improves adaptability to high-tier Hollow content and event missions.
- Rare (S-rank) Agents typically have stronger scaling and synergy, making them pivotal for long-term growth.
💰 Monetization:
Agents are primarily obtained through gacha pulls, making their acquisition the main monetized progression layer. This system incentivizes expanding rosters to unlock both power and strategic options.
3.3. Agent Leveling
- Agents level up through consumable XP materials obtained via missions and events.
- Higher levels increase base stats and unlock higher performance ceilings.
- Level caps can be raised by farming specific upgrade resources.
💰 Monetization:
There’s no direct purchase of levels, but leveling speed can be accelerated indirectly through:
- Stamina refills (premium currency) to farm XP materials faster.
- Occasional resource packs available in shops.
- Event bonuses more accessible to players with larger rosters.
Monetization acts here as a time accelerator, not a hard gate.
3.4. Skill Upgrades
- Each Agent has multiple skills that can be upgraded individually.
- Upgrading increases damage, utility, or cooldown efficiency.
- Skill enhancements create clear power spikes, directly impacting combat flow and role effectiveness.
- Skill materials are obtained primarily through farming Hollow missions and events.
💰 Monetization:
As with leveling, there’s no direct purchase of skill upgrades, but progression can be accelerated indirectly via:
- Stamina refills to farm skill materials more frequently.
- Occasional material packs in shops.
This makes monetization a time-saving lever rather than a mandatory spending wall.
3.5. Gear & W-Engine System
- Each Agent equips a W-Engine (weapon) and additional gear pieces.
- Gear determines stat distribution, elemental focus, and passive effects.
- Upgrading gear requires specialized farming and currency investment.
💰 Monetization:
W-Engines can be obtained through gacha pulls, making this a major progression and monetization point tied directly to combat performance.
3.6. Hollows & Endgame Scaling
- Hollows are repeatable combat instances with multiple difficulty tiers.
- Higher tiers reward better upgrade materials for levels, skills, and gear.
- Endgame content pushes both mechanical skill and team optimization.
💰 Monetization:
Premium currency can be used to refill stamina or build stronger rosters, accelerating Hollow clear speed and progression.
✅ Summary:
In Zenless Zone Zero, Agent Acquisition and W-Engines are the two primary monetized progression points, while Leveling, Skill Upgrades, and Hollows build depth and long-term goals around them.
The monetization model focuses on roster expansion and time acceleration, not raw stat purchase — keeping combat skill meaningful while rewarding investment with faster progression.