Zero Escape: The Nonary Games

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,040 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
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,040 reviews
story902 positive mentions
grinding53 negative mentions
  • story2,364 mentions

    The "Zero Escape: The Nonary Games" series, comprising "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward," is lauded for its intricate and engaging storytelling, filled with unexpected plot twists and deep character development. Players appreciate the way choices impact the narrative, leading to multiple endings that enrich the overall experience, although some find the pacing slow and the complexity overwhelming at times. While "999" is often praised for its tight plot and character arcs, "Virtue's Last Reward" expands on the story with a more convoluted narrative that some players feel detracts from the experience, yet both games are recommended for their unique blend of visual novel and puzzle elements.

    • “The brilliance of the nonary games lies in its unique blend of visual novel storytelling and escape room puzzles.”
    • “Every decision you make - who to trust, who to betray - alters the story's course and leads you towards one of the game's multiple endings.”
    • “The story is fantastic and something I believe one should go into completely blind.”
    • “The story is convoluted, inconsistent, and contrived.”
    • “The story is very off the walls bonkers during the later half but I honestly found that fun.”
    • “The story is a total mind fuck and one of the best ones I've seen in a video game series.”
  • gameplay357 mentions

    The gameplay in the Zero Escape series, particularly in "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward," is primarily a blend of visual novel storytelling and escape room puzzles, with players navigating through intricate narratives while solving various puzzles. While many players appreciate the engaging story and character development, some criticize the gameplay for being clunky or frustrating at times, particularly with certain puzzles and mechanics. Overall, the series is recommended for those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences with challenging puzzles, though it may not appeal to those seeking purely action-oriented gameplay.

    • “I enjoyed Virtue's Last Reward considerably more than 999 as the gameplay was a lot more streamlined, the UI was great, and the plot was very well done.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and rewarding but can be confusing and frustrating at times.”
    • “The gameplay consists heavily of visual novel cliches, peppered with escape rooms and a smattering of choice and consequence.”
    • “As far as gameplay is regarded: the controls and interface are pretty bad.”
    • “The gameplay is split into two different sections: visual novel & escape room.”
    • “The gameplay between the story are easy puzzles that don't really offer anything worthwhile, you just find objects until a character tells you to use them.”
  • graphics266 mentions

    The graphics in the Zero Escape series, particularly in "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward," have received mixed reviews. While "999" is praised for its timeless 2D art style and crisp visuals, "Virtue's Last Reward" suffers from dated 3D models that many players find unappealing and awkward, leading to a noticeable drop in aesthetic quality. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, the engaging story and character development often overshadow these visual shortcomings.

    • “Stunning artwork and a captivating narrative come alive with your choices.”
    • “The art style is good.”
    • “The graphics might not be perfect, but considering these are ports from DS, they do their job in an admirable manner.”
    • “The graphics for this game are hit and miss.”
    • “The visuals, I felt, were a downgrade.”
    • “While 999's visuals were stylish and clean, VLR's mediocre 3D graphics are the slightest bit awkward and not nearly as pleasing to the eye.”
  • music198 mentions

    The music in both games is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the emotional depth and fitting nature of the soundtracks. While some tracks are noted to be reused and can feel repetitive, the overall compositions, particularly those by Shinji Hosoe, are considered memorable and integral to the storytelling experience. Overall, the soundtracks are described as excellent, contributing significantly to the immersive experience of the games.

    • “The music perfectly fits both games and is well made.”
    • “The soundtrack compositions by Shinji Hosoe are beautifully arranged in this version, and I love Hosoe's compositions in their purest form as it really sets 999 apart.”
    • “The music adds amazing amounts of atmosphere; they really did a bang-up job on the soundtrack.”
    • “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).”
    • “Terrible music (at least early game, there is no way to turn it off either aside from turning the volume of your computer off but then you can't hear the dialogue), and the game is super wordy.”
  • emotional80 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional investment in the characters and their journeys, often finding themselves moved to tears by the story's twists and heart-wrenching moments. The games are praised for their complex narratives and well-developed characters, which create a strong connection that resonates with players long after they finish. The emotional impact is heightened by excellent voice acting and a compelling soundtrack, making the experience feel both engaging and profound.

    • “You'll find yourself emotionally invested in their fates, desperate to see them overcome the horrors they face.”
    • “The ending of this game, while I won't spoil it, is very heart-wrenching and the voice acting heightens it to a new level, and you can tell the actors put their soul into their performance.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere60 mentions

    The atmosphere in the games is widely praised for its ability to create a sense of unease and tension, enhanced by fitting music and well-designed environments. While the first game, 999, is noted for its eerie and immersive atmosphere, some players feel that the sequel, Virtue's Last Reward, loses some of that intensity due to changes in design and storytelling. Overall, both games are recognized for their unique atmospheres that effectively complement their engaging plots and character development.

    • “The games draw you in with engaging, well-designed point-and-click escape rooms and keep you playing with their intriguing plots and intense atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “As a port, the game is lacking; while playing VLR, you really feel that it's a game imported from 3DS, with blurry/low-res textures. The environment may seem a bit empty (but it fits the atmosphere though); overall, it may even feel ugly.”
  • grinding56 mentions

    Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of these games as tedious, particularly when it comes to replaying segments for different endings or navigating repetitive puzzles. While some appreciate the engaging story and characters that motivate them to push through, many find the necessity to revisit similar dialogues and mechanics frustrating, especially in "Virtue's Last Reward." The introduction of features like the flowchart helps alleviate some of the tedium, but the overall experience can still feel laborious for those seeking to achieve 100% completion.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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. Even if you join a plotline midway through, there is a lot of dialogue in each chapter, 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 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.”
    • “The only real con to this game, other than replaying the events over and over for different endings and not having a straight-up skip section button, is that the math puzzles are tedious as hell, especially if you hate math. Get ready to bust the guide out for this one.”
  • humor55 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny and relatable, while others criticize the reliance on juvenile and inappropriate jokes that can detract from the overall experience. Many appreciate the clever writing and comedic timing, particularly during intense moments, but note that the humor can sometimes feel forced or out of place. Overall, while there are standout comedic moments, the humor's effectiveness varies widely among players, often depending on personal taste.

    • “Some of the dialogue was downright hilarious and the voice acting is top-notch!”
    • “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.”
    • “The writing, the humor, the puzzles, it's all so good and I think the fact that I 100% the achievements proves it.”
    • “Besides being anticlimactic as hell, they're not funny and kind of spoil the immersiveness of the game.”
  • character development36 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging and realistic interactions between characters, despite some criticism of specific character arcs being underdeveloped. The writing and voice acting contribute significantly to the overall experience, making the story and character relationships feel rich and rewarding. However, opinions on character design vary, with some finding it lacking or inconsistent, which can detract from the overall immersion.

    • “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.”
    • “Very interesting story, amazing character development, and awesome atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “Some fanboys would scream that you should not play this mode because it does not have a proper character development and story details, and you know what, I played the original 999 and I can certainly say that absolutely zero value was lost.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings and branching paths, encouraging players to explore different choices and uncover the story's complexities. While many players appreciate the depth and fun of replaying, some note that once all routes are completed, the replay value diminishes. The inclusion of intuitive mechanics, like a flow chart, enhances the experience, making it easier to revisit the game without feeling tedious.

    • “I have played fully through the first two games multiple times, and there is just so much replay value, even if you already know what the larger plot twists and answers are.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “5 a few mechanics are a bit of a bother such as the flow chart, redoing the puzzles, and a few unskippable cutscenes. Once you finish all the routes in the game and complete the story, there is little replay value, but you do get many hours worth of content for two games.”
    • “I think replayability should be a player's choice, not a chore.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The stability of the games varies significantly among users. While "999" is praised for its smooth performance on Linux, "Virtue's Last Reward" is criticized for being plagued with numerous bugs, frequent crashes, and audio issues, making it a poor port overall. Some players report no glitches, but many others experience frustrating freezes and crashes, particularly during key moments in the game.

    • “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.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization for PC has received mixed reviews, with some players noting issues like text display speeds and animation stuttering, which detracted from the experience. However, many appreciate the graphical overhaul and smooth performance of the ports on HD displays, suggesting that while there are optimization flaws, the core storytelling and voice acting remain strong points.

    • “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.”
  • 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 in-game purchases are overpriced and offer little value for the money.”
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Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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Play time

28hMedian play time
28hAverage play time
10-44hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 23 analyzed playthroughs

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