Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning oozes both charm and horror in equal measure. It’s a highly enjoyable game that deserves a lot more attention than it’s getting. Perfect for fans of horror, mystery, and dungeon crawling RPGs.

74%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, optimization

75% User Score Based on 374 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom €5.99

Buy NowGet on Steam €5.99

About

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning is a single player survival role playing game with horror, fantasy, drama, anime and others themes. It was developed by Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd. and was released on April 9, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

A first-person dungeon crawler staring eight protagonists who are the last surviving people on earth after a disaster that killed off most of humanity in a single day.

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 374 reviews

story182 positive mentions

grinding43 negative mentions

Unique and intriguing story with strong, well-developed characters and emotional depth.
Innovative gameplay mechanics including the death and rebirth system that rewards player progression through dying.
Good blend of visual novel storytelling with survival and dungeon crawling elements, supported by appealing graphics and quality voice acting.

Gameplay can be clunky and tedious, especially combat which many find repetitive and frustrating.
Survival and inventory management mechanics are cumbersome and can feel tedious or overwhelming to manage.
Dungeons sometimes suffer from poor design such as confusing puzzles, repetitiveness, and unfair enemy placement that causes annoyances.

story
514 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The story of Zanki Zero is widely praised for its engaging, dark, and emotionally intense narrative with well-developed, diverse characters akin to Spike Chunsoft’s signature style seen in Danganronpa. While the plot offers intriguing mysteries, dramatic twists, and character-driven storytelling, some players find its pacing uneven and later chapters less satisfying, with occasional reliance on clichés and heavy, grim themes. Overall, the story is considered the game's strongest aspect, compelling enough to motivate players despite the often frustrating gameplay.
- “The story begins with eight strangers awakening on a desolate island known as Garage Island, surrounded by the ruins of what appears to be a collapsed civilization.”
- “The story is absolutely amazing, it really had me at the edge of my seat during the major reveals.”
- “From meeting your fellow party members and learning the truth behind the strange, metallic x-keys on your stomachs, to discovering each heart-wrenching plot twist and back story, you won't want to take a break, except to process and maybe cry a bit.”
- “- The plot is a letdown for me, the payoffs weren't nearly as powerful as setups, some twists coming outta nowhere or going nowhere ("she's my sister" twist with completely no setup), the whole thing didn't tie up as nicely as you would expect (most of the time you chase conquest videos which end up being completely inconsequential to the main storyline, plus connection to seven deadly sins is a stretch), also the logic didn't hold up well (genius scientist wants to cure humankind from a "bug" with no intention of eradicating himself while being a by-the-book manifestation of the "bug" and doesn't see the contradiction?”
- “- I finished an LP online to check out the rest of the plot and I'm glad I didn't continue with the game - the plot writing also left me feeling very disappointed.”
- “- The story is so soul-crushingly dark that it’s hard to care about what happens, and the characters aren’t as deep as I would've liked, either.”
gameplay
343 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
Zanki Zero’s gameplay is a unique but divisive blend of first-person dungeon crawling with survival and aging mechanics, including managing hunger, stamina, stress, and character death-rebirth cycles that impact progression. While some find its intricate systems engaging and the difficulty customization helpful, many players experience the combat as clunky and repetitive, survival elements as tedious or intrusive, and exploration as slow and grind-heavy, often detracting from the otherwise compelling narrative. Overall, the gameplay is innovative yet flawed, appealing mostly to niche fans of hardcore survival RPGs or dungeon crawlers, while others may find it frustrating enough to recommend focusing on the story through alternate means.
- “At its core, Zanki Zero is a first-person dungeon crawler—similar to Etrian Odyssey or Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey—but it adds survival and life-cycle mechanics that make it unlike anything else.”
- “This concept of accelerated life cycles forms the backbone of the game’s gameplay mechanics.”
- “The death and rebirth mechanic also plays an important role in making the game fun.”
- “Combat is rather clunky and lackluster, and the survival mechanics are tedious but can be disabled.”
- “Really nice visuals, great atmosphere, and an interesting story, but unfortunately the gameplay is pretty weak — it feels like a failed attempt to mix a dungeon RPG with survival mechanics.”
- “While the story kept me going to finish the game, I can't recommend it unless you are very patient and looking for something unique and different, even if the gameplay is not very good.”
music
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The game's soundtrack effectively sets the mood with a mix of melancholic and eerie ambient tracks, enhancing the atmosphere and tension, particularly in dungeons. However, many users find the music limited and repetitive, with a small number of tracks played repeatedly, which can become tiresome over time. Despite this, the music is generally appreciated for its quality and fitting ambiance, with some praising its impact and inclusion of an in-game music player for extended listening.
- “The soundtrack alternates between melancholic melodies during narrative sequences and tense, dramatic compositions during dungeon exploration.”
- “The soundtrack is expertly crafted and set the mood just right.”
- “Looking past the controls and some of the gore, this is actually an enjoyable title with solid dungeon crawl mechanics, great atmosphere and ambient music, and a decent story (so far, I'll edit this as I get farther into the game). There's also the definite sense that things are not what they seem.”
- “The soundtrack is extremely limited--I swear they made like 4 songs for this game.”
- “They're fine musically, but it gets pretty grating hearing the same music over and over and over again for multiple different scenes and menus.”
- “It came with a pretty big 34-track mini-soundtrack, so the first thing I did when the download was over was to check it out... first disappointment: the whole soundtrack was in mp3 128k.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
Grinding in this game is widely described as tedious, repetitive, and sometimes frustrating, with combat and survival mechanics feeling clunky and slow. While some players appreciate the challenge and unique systems, many find the extensive resource and death-related grinding a chore that hampers enjoyment, especially for completionists. However, difficulty settings and the option to disable certain mechanics can help alleviate the grind for those more interested in the story than the gameplay loop.
- “100% achievement completion boils down to grinding all different types of deaths with all characters, which is a very grindy (yet min-max-able) chore.”
- “The sheer amount of grinding for loot, skill points, death buffs etc. shows there are extremities to what a gamer may find endurable.”
- “The combat isn't fun, it's grindy as hell and feels like a chore.”
graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
51%
8%
The game features a distinctive anime-inspired art style that blends stylized 2D character portraits with 3D dungeon environments, earning praise for its aesthetic, atmosphere, and detailed visuals despite some critique of inconsistency and occasional drab areas. While its graphics are often described as impressive and fitting for its small-scale origin and Vita platform, some note they feel dated or unimpressive compared to contemporary standards. Overall, the unified art direction and vivid visuals significantly contribute to the game's unique appeal, especially for fans of anime-style dungeon crawlers.
- “Visually, the game adopts a stylized anime aesthetic that combines illustrated character portraits with fully rendered 3D environments for dungeon exploration.”
- “The visuals are a mix of 3D exploration and stylish 2D portraits, similar to Danganronpa but more grounded.”
- “The music and visuals are extremely impressive, especially for such a small game like this.”
- “As it was developed with the PS Vita in mind (the system is still popular in Japan), its graphical elements were held back.”
- “Yeah, this game takes a long time to beat, or you can beat it quickly if you just cheese the game by doing difficulty level one, but for the visuals, gameplay, soundtrack, and overall playability... this game should have only been $30 tops and that is being generous.”
- “As an aside, some evil wizard has turned all of the lizards in the game into 2D graphics... it's only a bit unsettling when you notice it :).”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a deeply emotional and unique narrative with well-developed characters whose tragic backstories evoke strong feelings of attachment and empathy. While its tonal shifts between heartfelt storytelling and quirky gameplay may challenge some players' emotional engagement, many praise its memorable, touching moments and impactful ending. Despite gameplay frustrations, the emotional depth and character-driven plot make it a compelling experience for fans of emotional RPGs.
- “The result is a strange but memorable experience that blends emotional storytelling with unconventional gameplay systems.”
- “These backstories are often tragic or disturbing, touching on themes such as guilt, betrayal, trauma, and personal failure.”
- “From meeting your fellow party members and learning the truth behind the strange, metallic x-keys on your stomachs, to discovering each heart-wrenching plot twist and back story, you won't want to take a break, except to process and maybe cry a bit, something I possibly... maybe... definitely had to do.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor skillfully blends dark, eccentric, and sometimes exaggerated comedic elements with serious psychological themes, creating a distinctive and memorable tone reminiscent of Danganronpa. While many find the writing intelligent, funny, and full of unique character moments, some attempts at humor fall flat or feel forced, with occasional tonal shifts that may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the humor contributes to the game's unsettling yet engaging atmosphere, balancing tragedy and comedy effectively.
- “While the narrative occasionally shifts between dark drama and strange humor, these tonal contrasts contribute to the game’s distinctive identity.”
- “Created by some of the same people behind Danganronpa, it has that same sense of mystery, dark humor, and moral discomfort — but with its own unique twist: humanity has ended, and you play as the clones who might be its last survivors.”
- “Some fantastic ambience, a fun cast, and the same hybrid level of dark/funny/darkly funny that is signature to the creators - and I got all that.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie, immersive, and chilling qualities, enhanced by a great soundtrack and distinctive visuals that create a sense of mystery and hopelessness. While some find the horror elements intense and stressful, the calm safe zones and varied dungeon designs provide balance, making the overall experience engaging and memorable. However, opinions on the music vary, with some noting a reliance on ambient sounds over a full soundtrack.
- “Each set of ruins really had its own unique atmosphere while also giving off a sense of mystery and hopelessness.”
- “Together with the calm and eerie atmosphere, it creates a very immersive experience, definitely something where you have to stay concentrated since you have to make decisions all the time.”
- “BGM is mediocre; the atmosphere in dungeons is hampered by a lack of music and the inclusion of ambiance instead.”
- “Not for people who don't like games with scary atmospheres (gameplay-wise) and dark situations involving children (story-wise).”
- “The atmosphere was eerie and very chilling at times, which was a constant reminder of how barren and hopeless the world had become following the end of the world.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
Character development is widely praised for its well-rounded and emotionally engaging portrayal, with expressive and memorable designs that enhance the story and atmosphere. Many appreciate the unique, stylish character art and the exploration of backstories, which fosters emotional attachment, though a few find aspects of the development less impactful. Overall, character-centric storytelling and design are considered standout strengths of the game.
- “The character designs are expressive and memorable, helping convey the emotional intensity of the story during dialogue scenes.”
- “The character designs are quite well done, and I liked exploring their back-stories, which were pretty good.”
- “As the game is heavily character-centered, character development is the most amazing.”
- “The story and character development of the several characters just feels bland.”
- “Are you the CRPG addict, but you suddenly love anime character design?”
- “The Danganronpa games relied heavily on character development, suspense around impending murders, and the characters' stories, which this game lacks in comparison.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's optimization involves significant resource and base management that appeals to players who enjoy micro-managing, though the extensive menu navigation can become tedious. Performance issues persist even on high-end PCs, with rendering resolution greatly impacting smoothness, and some launcher-related problems remain unresolved.
- “Ignoring these factors can weaken characters or impair their performance, encouraging players to return to the base regularly to rest and prepare for the next journey.”
- “So if survival mechanics are not your thing, you should still enjoy this game solely because the story is that good, but if you do like the micro managing and grind that comes with resource and base optimization, this game should be a great fit for you, as it was for me.”
- “This is one of these games where performance is highly dependent on the rendering resolution.”
- “Be aware of bad performance even though my PC is really high-end.”
- “While you'll do less damage if you're not as optimized, the game is so bogged down in menus that you'll just get tired of setting up the optimal equipment and party formations all the time.”
- “The rest (performance, launcher...) wasn't fixed.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
User opinions on replayability are mixed, with some highlighting very limited replay value typical of visual novel-style games, while others find it infinitely replayable. Overall, replayability may depend on player preference for the genre.
- “Infinitely replayable”
- “Now to the real cons: little replay value.”
- “No, like the majority of Spike Chunsoft's other VN style games, very little replay value.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally stable and not prone to bugs, but certain boss battles on specific difficulty settings have frustrating glitches where bosses become invincible, leading to repetitive and stalled combat. This suggests some issues with playtesting in these scenarios.
- “The combat can become even more frustrating during certain boss battles, where some of them (possibly due to difficulty-specific glitches) simply refuse to die, resulting in you using standard procedures on them interminably while your characters literally urinate themselves, die of starvation, or some combination thereof.”
- “It's not a buggy game by any means, but it just seems some things were not playtested very well, for example, a boss in the high school later on, on a certain difficulty, will not die.”

Skip Critic Reviews

73%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning
€5.99
See offer on Steam

50h Median play time

43h Average play time

23-80h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

79%2kreviews

Digimon Survive

2022

Survival Role Playing

72%796reviews

CRYSTAR

2019

Hack and Slash

84%5.6kreviews

Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

2018

Open World City Builder

+12

78%845reviews

Death end re;Quest

2019

Tactical Role Playing

78%632reviews

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

2018

Tactical Role Playing

More games like Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning is a survival role playing game with horror, fantasy, drama, anime and others themes.

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 43 hours playing Zanki Zero: Last Beginning.

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning was released on April 9, 2019.

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning was developed by Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd..

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked Zanki Zero: Last Beginning for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning is a single player game.

Similar games include Digimon Survive, CRYSTAR, Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom, Death end re;Quest, Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk and others.

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

Platforms

Zanki Zero Review