What is Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, the Next Game From Disco Elysium Developer ZA/UM?

After the success of the popular indie game Disco Elysium almost seven years ago, its developer, ZA/UM, is releasing a new title. Called Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, the game appears to be the kind of unique, politically-driven RPG that fans have come to expect from ZA/UM, though it’s not a direct continuation of the Disco Elysium story. Zero Parades: For Dead Spies will be available on May 21st, so fans won’t have to wait long to experience ZA/UM’s latest creation.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies has a demo available on Steam for players to check out ahead of launch.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies’ Features at a Glance

  • A grand spy RPG with psychological depth, surrealist undertones, and a rich world to explore.
  • Recall your training to customize your operant as you decide what skills are right for the job.
  • Freeze time in Tactical View and determine the best path to overcome the impossible.
  • It pays to listen to your inner voices for advice but be careful to fully trust them.
  • Push yourself to your physical and mental limits to force the dice in your favour.

The Story of Zero Parades: For Dead Spies

Okay, so in Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, I play as Hershel Wilk, who goes by the codename Cascade. I’ve been dropped into this city called Portofiro, and honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing. It’s kinda like playing as Harry Du Bois from Disco Elysium – I’ve lost my memory and have to figure out my mission as I go. If you liked uncovering the story alongside Harry, you’ll probably enjoy piecing things together with me in this game too.

Similar to Disco Elysium, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies features a world divided by competing political groups that players can side with. However, instead of the gritty city of Revachol, Zero Parades takes place in the lively city of Portofiro. The game promises a complex conflict between factions, including international bankers, techno-fascists from other countries, psychic doubles, a paranoid TV host, and even a man with a box where his heart should be.

One of the most popular aspects of Disco Elysium was its memorable and eccentric cast of characters in the city of Revachol. Kim Kitsuragi, Harry Du Bois’s partner, was a particular highlight, creating a strong buddy-cop feel. In Zero Parades, however, Hershel wakes up to find her partner, Psuedopod, alive but unable to respond, raising questions about whether their partnership will continue or if she’ll have to work solo.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies’ Gameplay

In Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, you play like a detective, similar to Disco Elysium. You’ll click around to investigate, and succeed by using your character’s skills and understanding the complex thoughts of Hershel. When important conversations happen, they become strategic challenges where you choose the best options using a special tactical view. Like the Thought Cabinet in Disco Elysium, Zero Parades lets you shape Hershel’s personality. A new ‘Conditioning’ system lets you strengthen certain beliefs, permanently changing how Hershel thinks and acts.

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Similar to Disco Elysium, Zero Parades uses dice rolls to determine if players succeed at actions. Your chances aren’t just based on skills – things like finding clues can also help. Even when things should be easy, a bit of bad luck can still cause failure, which keeps the gameplay exciting no matter how you build your character. The game also introduces new systems called Pressures and Exertions. These let you improve your chances with a dice roll, but overusing them can negatively impact your character’s mental state.

How Zero Parades: For Dead Spies’ RPG Mechanics Compare to Disco Elysium

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies will inevitably be compared to ZA/UM’s Disco Elysium, but the new game appears to be significantly expanding on its questing and storytelling. Where Disco Elysium felt like a detailed, branching narrative shaped by conversations and character skills, Zero Parades seems to be offering a more open-ended, branching quest system similar to Baldur’s Gate 3. How players tackle quests will vary greatly depending on how they’ve developed the character of Hershel, leading to different experiences each time they play.

Do You Need to Play Disco Elysium to Understand Zero Parades: For Dead Spies?

Although Disco Elysium and Zero Parades: For Dead Spies are distinct games with different worlds, it’s recommended to play Disco Elysium first. This will help you learn the game mechanics in a simpler environment. Disco Elysium‘s more direct story makes it easier to understand how character skills and stats work, and how investigating areas can provide benefits, before Zero Parades challenges you to think more creatively about its missions and branching storylines.

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2026-04-07 00:34