Zero Escape: The Nonary Games

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,480 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games Game Cover
The Nonary Games is a fantastic package that has two of the best adventure games of all time in a single package with worthy enhancements to 999 which remains one of my favourite games of all time.
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"Zero Escape: The Nonary Games" is a collection of two visual novels, "999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors" and "Virtue's Last Reward." Players must solve puzzles and make decisions to escape life-threatening situations, with different story paths and endings based on choices made. The games blend elements of adventure, escape-room, and thriller genres, with a suspenseful narrative centered around nonary games and human experimentation.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,480 reviews
story1,007 positive mentions
grinding61 negative mentions
  • story2,630 mentions

    The story in "Zero Escape: The Nonary Games" is widely praised for its intricate and engaging narrative, filled with unexpected plot twists and deep character development. Players appreciate the way the story unfolds through multiple playthroughs, requiring them to piece together various endings to fully understand the overarching plot. While some critiques mention convoluted elements and pacing issues, the overall consensus is that the storytelling is a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The story and the twists are phenomenal in both games.”
    • “The story is captivating and full of mysteries that will leave you begging for more answers.”
    • “The story is incredibly unique and keeps you wanting to learn more.”
    • “The story is a convoluted mess.”
    • “By the end, with all the twists and stretched plot logic, I just did not care anymore what was happening, to whom and why.”
    • “The story doesn't work.”
  • gameplay395 mentions

    The gameplay in the Zero Escape series, particularly in "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward," is a blend of visual novel storytelling and escape room-style puzzles. While many players appreciate the engaging narratives and character interactions, some criticize the repetitive dialogue and occasionally confusing mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the games are praised for their unique integration of story and gameplay, offering a compelling mix of decision-making and puzzle-solving that keeps players invested.

    • “The gameplay was immersive as hell, I loved every ending and interactions.”
    • “The gameplay consists heavily of visual novel cliches, peppered with escape rooms and a smattering of choice and consequence.”
    • “The puzzles are challenging and were a welcome surprise to someone who knew nothing about the gameplay.”
    • “The characters are not well developed (except Phi maybe) because most of the dialogues are repetitive, meaningless explanations of the mechanics or just filler. It's rare to get a real ending, and nothing meaningful happens to them.”
    • “I dropped VLR because it was so long, boring, and repetitive. I also found the mechanics of the safes pretty confusing, like why do I need to solve the same puzzle two times to open the same safe and get different items?”
    • “The gameplay is a mixture of visual novel clichés, peppered with escape rooms and a smattering of choice and consequence.”
  • graphics284 mentions

    The graphics in the Zero Escape series, particularly between "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward" (VLR), have received mixed reviews. While "999" is praised for its timeless 2D art style and crisp visuals, VLR's transition to 3D graphics is often seen as a downgrade, with many players noting that the 3D models appear dated and less expressive. Overall, while the graphics may not be the strongest aspect of the games, players often find that the engaging story and gameplay compensate for the visual shortcomings.

    • “It seems like 999 got the biggest overhaul, especially with its updated artwork.”
    • “The graphics look less good on a big screen, even when 'upscaled' to the surprise of nobody.”
    • “Amazing game with well-written characters, great visuals, and plenty of unexpected twists.”
    • “The graphics are ugly, the voice acting is bad, and the controls are very frustrating in some puzzles.”
    • “The visuals to this may not be the ugliest thing out there, but after seeing them for hours with their sometimes glitchy animations, it lacks.”
    • “The second game's graphics are poor, especially with the rough 3D models of VLR, but it has a unique style and amazing sense of atmosphere that masterfully toes the line between a thriller and horror.”
  • music219 mentions

    The music in both games is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtracks as standout features. While some tracks are noted for being repetitive or reused, the overall compositions, particularly those by Shinji Hosoe, are described as memorable and fitting for the game's themes. Many players find themselves still enjoying the music long after playing, indicating its lasting impact.

    • “The music is outstanding; the dialog is expressive; the voice acting is sublime.”
    • “The music perfectly fits both games and is well made.”
    • “The soundtrack is very good and you'll get to enjoy the beat as you solve your way through all of the puzzles.”
    • “However, the lack of music variety can make the experience feel repetitive.”
    • “The only real minus for me was the background music which became quite tedious after a while (it felt there were like 3-4 bgm circulated throughout none of which was really that good).”
    • “The music is forgettable besides two tracks and the graphics are subpar.”
  • emotional84 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a significant highlight, with many players expressing deep investment in the characters and their stories, often leading to intense feelings of joy, sadness, and even existential reflection. While some critiques mention that certain visual elements may detract from the emotional impact, the overall narrative and character development are praised for their ability to evoke strong emotional responses, including tears and a sense of connection. The game's complex storytelling and well-executed voice acting further enhance its emotional depth, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “They're interconnected in ways you wouldn't expect and tell really emotional stories that can connect to anyone.”
    • “You'll find yourself emotionally invested in their fates, desperate to see them overcome the horrors they face.”
    • “The story told in each of them is masterful; the characters are super emotionally engaging, the plot twists hit real hard, and the suspense and stakes throughout the story kept me on the edge of my seat.”
  • humor72 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the quirky and absurd moments, such as the beloved "funyarinpa" in-joke, while others criticize the repetitive and often inappropriate jokes, particularly those of a sexist or crass nature. Many reviews highlight the clever dialogue and comedic timing that provide comic relief amidst the darker themes, though some find the humor inconsistent and occasionally immersion-breaking. Overall, while the humor can be hit or miss, it contributes to the game's charm and appeal, especially for those who appreciate its unique blend of tension and levity.

    • “One of the standout moments is when Junpei humorously misidentifies a dog portrait as a funyarinpa.”
    • “The characters are great, each serving their purpose for the story - the way they bounce off one another is amusing and I adored the humor; all those small jokes sprinkled here and there with perfect comedic timing made for a really great time.”
    • “Despite liking the first game, and finding the third funny enough to warrant completely mastering, I have no motive to finish Virtue's Last Reward.”
    • “VLR is peppered with Sigma's terrible sexist (and on one occasion, transphobic) jokes, which are not only unfunny but excessively repetitive and sometimes just plain sad.”
    • “Besides being anticlimactic as hell, the jokes are not funny and kind of spoil the immersiveness of the game.”
  • grinding64 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, particularly due to the need to replay segments multiple times to achieve different endings, often with minimal changes in dialogue. While some players appreciated the flowchart system that alleviates some repetitiveness, many found the puzzles and lengthy cutscenes to be frustratingly repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story. Despite these issues, the engaging narrative and vibrant characters helped some players push through the grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The process of getting all the endings was tedious for me, as you would have to replay some parts way too many times with only minor changes in the dialogue.”
    • “Those 28 endings I mentioned might have sounded great at first, but it also means that you will experience a lot of the same cutscenes, and believe me, it will become tedious to listen to the essentially same dialogue for the 6th time just to have 4 sentences change.”
    • “The final room of VLR is particularly tedious, right when you're impatiently waiting for the plot to explain its many mysteries.”
  • atmosphere64 mentions

    The atmosphere in both "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward" is widely praised for its ability to create tension and immersion through effective use of music, sound design, and environmental storytelling. While "999" is noted for its darker, more melancholic tone, "Virtue's Last Reward" expands on this with improved settings and puzzles, though some feel it lacks the same level of intensity. Overall, both games are recognized for their unique atmospheres that enhance the narrative experience, despite some criticisms regarding the impact of technical limitations in their ports.

    • “The music in the game is atmospheric and fitting, adding to the overall mood of the game.”
    • “Brilliantly, uniquely atmospheric on a level gaming as an art form rarely ever approaches.”
    • “The writing in these games is absolutely fantastic, the first game builds a great horror atmosphere and tension through music, scenery, and text alone and both are an extremely enriching experience.”
    • “On the topic of visuals, the general atmosphere itself of the new settings in basically everything including visuals loses most of the tenseness of the first game.”
    • “It's too bad you never get a chance to immerse yourself in it because a particular character flirts (agonizingly badly) with you after every item you inspect, completely destroying the atmosphere.”
    • “What truly bothers me is that every character keeps saying things that are either too intelligent and informative, or embarrassingly flirty (both from male and female), which is totally out of the realm of their character personas and the overall atmosphere.”
  • character development37 mentions

    Character development in the games is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth and complexity of character relationships and narratives, while others criticize the inconsistent character designs and missed opportunities for growth. The first game is noted for its engaging character arcs and art style, whereas the second game suffers from less expressive 3D models and a goofier aesthetic, leading to a perception of underdeveloped characters. Overall, while the story and character interactions can be rewarding, the execution varies significantly between the titles, impacting players' overall enjoyment.

    • “While the main aim of the game seems to be the puzzle aspect, the true enjoyment comes from the story and the character development that we experience along the way.”
    • “The story and character development in both games is so rich and rewarding.”
    • “Before the plot reaches top speed, it is supported by engaging and detailed character development, and a lot of escape room puzzles - their design is undoubtedly one of the best in the genre.”
    • “Scenes linger on overexplaining parts of the complex mystery plots, and both games waste a lot of opportunities for character development along the way.”
    • “Akane and Junpei's relationship is heavily underdeveloped, and Akane is one of the characters that had next to no character development.”
    • “The music is generic, character designs are ridiculous and tell nothing of the characters, dialogue is weak and the logic at the 'true end' is just... uh.”
  • replayability37 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highly regarded due to its multiple endings and branching paths, encouraging players to explore different choices and uncover the full story. While some players find the replay experience enjoyable and rewarding, others note that once all endings are achieved, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. The presence of puzzles and narrative complexity adds to the replay value, though some mechanics may detract from the experience for certain players.

    • “The decisions made throughout the game can lead to multiple endings, providing replayability and encouraging players to explore different paths.”
    • “With a complex story that evolves over 3 games, this game has huge replay value with multiple endings and every choice you make matters, changing the story drastically.”
    • “Lots of replayability due to the design of the stories and multiple endings.”
    • “10/10 I love being called brain dead by Alice while solving a puzzle. Also, I only cared about the plot. The puzzles, some of them are rather too much of a waste of time to want to overthink them. Most of them were good, but some were way too annoying to want to waste time thinking it over for a long time. If you're new to the game and really want to play, yeah, it's worth it. Sadly, after you beat both games, there is zero replayability.”
    • “The games are fun, although, as a combination of visual novels and room escapes, once you've seen the (fairly numerous) endings, you've pretty much seen everything the game has to offer, limiting replay value.”
    • “Again, the same thing applies here - replay value is mandatory and it can come across as a bit irritating.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting issues like text display speeds, animation freezes, and occasional stuttering, which detracted from the experience. However, others appreciated the graphical overhaul and smooth performance on HD displays, suggesting that while there are optimization flaws, the game remains enjoyable, particularly for its storytelling and voice acting.

    • “I definitely think they should have optimized everything for PC before releasing such a version for PC.”
    • “Performance-wise, the ports run smoothly.”
    • “Since this is the first time either of these games have been released on a platform other than a handheld, they have been adequately optimized for multiple types of HD displays.”
    • “I wanted to enjoy the game, yes, but I definitely think they should have optimized everything for PC before releasing such a version for PC.”
    • “I mean, it's a visual novel, it's not like performance is really important, but I swear at least to me it started really getting in the way, the text would display in completely wonky speeds, animations would somewhat freeze and it looked weird.”
    • “I do have my criticism -- VLR's characters being not very likable, Zero Jr's voice actor being annoying, the aforementioned repetition, the constant use of ellipses tiring my finger trying to click through, some stuttering and lagging from a game that totally shouldn't... but in the end the mind-explosion-level story was enough to have me overlook those things.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The stability of "999" is generally praised, particularly for its performance on Linux, while "Virtue's Last Reward" faces significant criticism due to frequent bugs, crashes, and audio issues, making it a poorly received port. Many users report frustrating experiences with freezing and glitches, especially during critical moments like cutscenes, leading to recommendations against playing it in its current state.

    • “The game was not buggy, and I did not encounter any glitches.”
    • “There were no glitches, translation/dialog issues, or anything.”
    • “Virtue's Last Reward runs great in the port, and I have no qualms about it.”
    • “The game content is good but it's so buggy it's not worth it; it crashes every 5 seconds and the audio doesn't work properly. Get it on the original consoles instead.”
    • “Sadly, it's very poorly ported; no sound works except during cutscenes, it freezes randomly during conversation parts, and it crashes on loading a save state.”
    • “Won't recommend it because it's a very bad port, with all sorts of nuisances, like bugs, freezes, and crashes.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect has received mixed feedback, with some users feeling that the game employs misleading advertisements, leading to a perception of a lack of transparency in its monetization practices. Overall, it appears to be a point of contention among players.

    • “The monetization strategy feels like a cash grab rather than a fair system.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the overall experience.”
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Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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Play time

29hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
10-47hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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