Tales of Kenzera: Zau

About

"Tales of Kenzera: Zau" is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game with an intriguing story of a grieving boy who becomes a warrior shaman, Zau, to reclaim his father's spirit. With stellar graphics, a compelling gameplay, and an ingenious soundtrack, players will journey through the beautiful yet treacherous lands of Kenzera, facing formidable foes and mythical characters. This emotionally-driven game is inspired by actor Abubakar Salim’s own experience with grief, making it a wholesome and memorable experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 478 reviews

story213 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful art style that enhances the overall experience.
The story is heartfelt and emotionally resonant, exploring themes of grief and loss in a meaningful way.
The voice acting is top-notch, bringing the characters and narrative to life effectively.

The combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety and some frustrating mechanics.
The platforming sections can be challenging due to unresponsive controls and awkward camera angles.
The game is relatively short and linear for a Metroidvania, with minimal backtracking and exploration opportunities.

story
402 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The story of "Tales of Kenzera: Zau" is a poignant exploration of grief and loss, centered around a young shaman's quest to reunite with his deceased father. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and cultural richness of the narrative, some critique its predictability and linearity, suggesting that it lacks the complexity found in other titles within the genre. Overall, the storytelling, voice acting, and visuals are frequently praised, making it a compelling experience for those who value narrative-driven gameplay.
- “The story was fantastic and engaging, constantly making you wonder what life lessons Zau will learn throughout the story about grief and loss. The world was gorgeous to look at, and the crazy plot twist at the end of the game really took it home for me.”
- “Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a beautifully poignant story about death, grief, coping, and acceptance. The story hits hard, especially with how Zau handles his dad's passing.”
- “This is the story of a young man learning to move forward after the death of his father through the frame of a story rooted in African folklore, and it's done spectacularly.”
- “The story is boring, nothing great.”
- “Unfortunately, the story feels bland, and I don't feel engaged with the main character or his journey.”
- “The story is just mediocre, with very performative character progression and lots of exposition.”
gameplay
183 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The gameplay in "Tales of Kenzera: Zau" is generally described as smooth and enjoyable, particularly in terms of movement and traversal mechanics, reminiscent of classic metroidvanias. However, many reviewers noted that combat can feel awkward and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety and some frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While the game features solid mechanics and a compelling story, it falls short of the high standards set by other titles in the genre, leaving players wanting more in terms of combat complexity and level design.
- “The gameplay is fluid, especially switching between the moon and sun masks that also have their own skill trees to level up and enhance your combat experience.”
- “Tight and challenging gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and a beautifully written story.”
- “The gameplay is excellent, the story is compelling, traversal is fluid, and more.”
- “The level design, enemies, action, and fighting mechanics are all rather dull and bland.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there is a huge lack of variety in the creatures/enemies to fight.”
- “But the gameplay really sucked the fun and meaningfulness out of it for me.”
graphics
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
25%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and unique art style inspired by African folklore. Many reviewers highlighted the beautiful environments and character designs, noting that the visuals significantly enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a standout feature, contributing to its emotional storytelling and immersive atmosphere.
- “The art style is gorgeous, with vibrant, hand-crafted environments that make each area feel unique.”
- “The visuals are absolutely beautiful.”
- “Incredible visuals/graphics, setting and environments are gorgeous.”
- “There are better metroidvanias out there with comparable graphic fidelity (Ori, Hollow Knight, etc.) but much better feeling combat mechanics and storytelling.”
- “All the work, money, and attention on this project was clearly spent on graphics and story, and not any of it was spent on 'how to design a good metroidvania.'”
- “Your character feels floaty and odd to control, the camera feels a bit too zoomed out, and the art style is colorful, but still somehow feels very generic even with all the cultural references.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
33%
3%
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its beauty, emotional depth, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. While some found it memorable and well-complemented by the visuals and story, others described it as forgettable or lacking standout tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a key aspect of the game's appeal, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.
- “First off, the music is amazing.”
- “The soundtrack is memorable and perfectly sets the mood for your adventures.”
- “Beautiful writing & world building, best-in-class voice acting, incredible music, vibrant and colorful art design.”
- “The soundtrack is not my favorite either, too happy and cheerful with instruments to make it sound more exotic than it is.”
- “The only redeeming aspect of the game is its soundtrack.”
- “I was barely entertained enough to keep going for most of the journey, and it was really just the visuals and music that held my interest.”
emotional
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, which effectively explores themes of grief, family, and personal growth. Many players found the narrative to be touching and relatable, often evoking strong feelings and reflections on their own experiences. While some noted that the emotional impact varied, the overall consensus is that the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with a deeply resonant story, making it a memorable experience.
- “It's an emotional rollercoaster that beautifully bridges generations.”
- “It deals with the subject matter of grief in such an incredibly personal and touching way that you'd be doing yourself a disservice for not at least giving it a go.”
- “The story is the game's strongest suit, reaching emotional touches you don't often see in games.”
- “The story and characters are boring; there is nothing special about any of them, and the protagonist feels rushed with no growth until a sudden, unrealistic maturity.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with quick loading times and smooth gameplay on various platforms, including the Steam Deck. While some users reported occasional bugs and performance dips, particularly in specific areas, recent patches have addressed many issues, leading to improved stability. The game is praised for its striking visuals and strong narrative, making it an enjoyable experience despite minor optimization concerns.
- “Very quick load times, well optimized.”
- “For anyone wondering about compatibility with the deck, it's perfect with the default settings and very well optimized (and no EA app launcher!).”
- “Great game in my opinion, despite some dips here and there; it is very well optimized.”
- “Performance on Steam Deck had some issues, with some hefty frame drops at certain points, but nothing that rendered the game unplayable.”
- “Some bugs and issues with optimization, and it doesn't seem to be the longest game, but it's still a good time.”
- “Crashes and won't boot, poorly optimized.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on grinding highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the lack of hardcore grinding and find backtracking rewarding due to new abilities unlocking previously inaccessible areas, others find certain aspects tedious, such as challenging combat, poorly designed arenas, and the need for multiple attempts in tough levels. Overall, the game offers a balance where collectables are well-spaced and enjoyable to find, but can also test patience with its difficulty and design choices.
- “However, I do feel it might become tedious when combat becomes more challenging or when backtracking for all the goodies.”
- “Tough levels: if you're not into grinding through a level a few times, this might test your patience.”
- “Arenas are poorly designed and become tedious, especially in the presence of traps, necessitating complete sequence restarts upon any misstep.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
9%
64%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting minor glitches and bugs that occasionally disrupt gameplay, particularly in the latter half of the game. While many users experienced smooth performance, particularly on the Steam Deck, others faced significant issues, including crashes and freezing, which detracted from their overall experience. Overall, the game appears to have a solid foundation but suffers from inconsistencies in stability.
- “No glitches to be found.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck OLED as well...”
- “Graphics are really nice and runs great on my PC.”
- “For me, it felt like there was a notable dip in quality in the back half of the game where it just didn't seem like it had been tested as thoroughly - there were a few glitches where the character just froze for a bit, and I had to go through the whole epilogue section 4 times because the game kept crashing right as the boss fight started.”
- “There are also some glitches and oversights that hamper the experience.”
- “Couldn't even get the game to run after restarting my PC and trying 5 times; it's clearly a buggy mess with stinky sweet baby fingerprints all over it.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while the setting is enjoyable and some dialogue, particularly between the main character and the god of death, is both funny and heartfelt, overall cleverness in the writing falls short. Voice acting is described as mediocre, but standout performances, especially from Abubakar Salim, enhance the comedic chemistry between characters. Additionally, humorous elements like funny hitboxes add a lighthearted touch to the experience.
- “The highlight is definitely the story and the dialogue between the main character and the god of death, who have frequent banter that's funny and often touching.”
- “I never got into the story, and this is where Zau just takes you along easily – with some good humor and heartfelt emotions which never seem forced or overdone.”
- “Abubakar Salim nails it as Zau and his chemistry with Kalunga is funny and realistic.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively complementing the narrative and enhancing the overall experience. The unique setting and art style contribute to a compelling ambiance, while the soundtrack, though competent, may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout aspect that elevates the game's storytelling.
- “This game is beautiful from characters to atmosphere.”
- “The music is beautiful and complements the game's atmosphere perfectly.”
- “Unique setting, art style, music, and atmosphere in general.”
- “As someone who has been struck by grief myself, this is a familiar motive and it can be brilliant if explored properly and if the atmosphere is right.”
- “I just took it for its own goals (the story and atmosphere) and the rest is a respectable, competent game, if a bit above average.”
- “The soundtrack is definitely competent and helps build up the world and atmosphere very well, but none of the tracks were standout for me.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many users noting a lack of exploration and content that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate features like the ability to skip certain sections, the general consensus is that the game could benefit from additional modes or mechanics to enhance its replay value.
- “Also, thank you to whoever provided the option to skip the chase sections. I didn't enjoy those much, and knowing I can skip them in the future really makes this more replayable!”
- “If you're looking for that sort of replayability, I'd recommend Hollow Knight.”
- “Wish they would add some sort of roguelike or tower climbing feature for endless replayability!”
- “There's just no exploration or replay value - essential attributes for the genre.”
- “It is quite short and doesn't have much replayability.”
- “Wish they would add some sort of roguelike or tower climbing kind of thing for endless replayability!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
While the character development for Zau could have been more extensive, the overall narrative is praised for its beauty and emotional depth. The game excels in gameplay, voice work, world-building, and character design, with a strong appreciation for its cultural lore, though some players feel it would benefit from an open-world RPG format.
- “Beautiful, moving story, fun, challenging gameplay, phenomenal voice work and world building, S-tier character design and artwork, the attention paid to Bantu lore. Honestly, the only thing that would put this even further above and beyond than it already is would be if this was an open-world RPG.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed negatively due to its early access status, which raises concerns about future improvements and advertising. Additionally, players express frustration over the requirement to be online to play, particularly on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, despite praising the game's story, graphics, and challenging gameplay.
- “The monetization model is frustrating; it feels like the game is designed to push players towards spending more money rather than enjoying the experience.”
- “I can't believe how many in-game purchases are required just to progress. It really ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
- “The constant prompts to buy additional content are overwhelming and take away from the overall experience.”