Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

About

In "Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma," nine strangers find themselves in an underground facility, forced to play a deadly game where they must kill six of their own for a chance to escape. Players will explore 3D environments, solve puzzles, and make life-or-death decisions in this cinematic, non-linear narrative game. Featuring returning characters from previous games in the series, players must question their morality and piece together the fractured narrative to unlock multiple endings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,529 reviews

story620 positive mentions

graphics57 negative mentions

Engaging and complex story with unexpected plot twists.
Fun and challenging escape room puzzles.
Satisfying conclusion to the Zero Escape trilogy.

Poor animation quality and stiff character models.
Confusing non-linear storytelling that can be hard to follow.
Some characters feel unrecognizable or poorly written compared to previous games.

story
2,349 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The story of "Zero Time Dilemma" is a complex and ambitious continuation of the Zero Escape series, weaving together multiple timelines and character arcs through a fragmented narrative structure. While it offers intriguing plot twists and emotional moments, many players find it suffers from significant plot holes and a disjointed presentation that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is still recommended for fans of the series, as it provides closure to the overarching story established in the previous titles.
- “Amazing story and fun gameplay.”
- “One of the best story games I have played yet.”
- “The story is so long and it's incredible!!!”
- “This game was a disappointment in many areas: lack of character development, lack of continuity with the plot from 999 and VLR, time paradoxes, impossible puzzles, the use of cutscenes instead of a normal visual novel style, and especially the fact that the ending hinges on a party that is not explained anywhere in the game, leaving out chunks of vital information that would have probably changed my mind about this game and its review.”
- “The writing was somehow incredibly predictable and completely inane at every turn - I was playing with a friend and we were able to predict most plot twists from a mile away, except for the ones which had no buildup, which also happened a fair amount of times.”
- “The story is overall weaker with plot twists already used in the other games, fair amount of plot holes and an ending that could lead to another game even though this is supposed to bring closure to the trilogy.”
graphics
301 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The graphics in "Zero Time Dilemma" have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the transition to 3D models and the overall quality of animations, which are often described as awkward and low-budget. While some appreciate the effort to create a new art style, many feel it detracts from the experience, making characters unrecognizable and scenes less engaging. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant step down from the previous entries in the series, with many players expressing a preference for the 2D art style of earlier games.
- “The graphics and gameplay are commendable, as well as the musical score and sound effects.”
- “The graphics are quite similar to 'The Walking Dead' and it works a lot better than the previous games.”
- “The graphics in this game are fairly basic, but the voice acting is pretty good, and successfully conveys all the emotion of the characters in their moment.”
- “The graphics are horrible, the animation is pretty much non-existent in true visual novel tradition.”
- “The graphics are dated even at 2016 standards, the story is straight up terrible and this game, overall, is just an enormous betrayal to everything that VTD was leading up to.”
- “The graphics and animation have taken a step backward from the previous game.”
gameplay
261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
5%
The gameplay in "Zero Time Dilemma" is a mix of escape room puzzles and visual novel elements, featuring a unique "fragment" mechanic that allows players to experience the story in a non-linear fashion. While some players appreciate the engaging puzzles and the integration of decision-making mechanics, others criticize the repetitive nature of the puzzles, convoluted gameplay, and an overabundance of cutscenes that detract from the interactive experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a step down from previous entries in the series, with a focus on story that may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional gaming experience.
- “Amazing story and fun gameplay.”
- “The escape room style puzzles are again the main gameplay element you have and I think they are super fun and more logical than the previous ones.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the puzzles are really fun and engaging, as well as difficult!”
- “The narration and gameplay is needlessly convoluted and somewhat complex, but I guess that's the whole point of the game... but it could be annoying especially when you're nearing the endgame.”
- “Absolutely insufferable characters and an endless amount of lazily patched-up plot holes mashed into never-ending cutscenes, and when you get to some actual gameplay in the form of the escape sequences, those are mediocre as well.”
- “The gameplay doesn't feel coherent and controlling multiple people loses the entire meaning behind 'jumping to a different worldline'.”
music
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and emotional impact, with many reviewers highlighting it as a standout feature of the trilogy. However, there are significant criticisms regarding the audio mixing, as the soundtrack often drowns out dialogue, and a substantial portion of the music consists of reused tracks from previous entries, which some players found disappointing. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally considered excellent, the reliance on recycled music and mixing issues detracts from the experience for many players.
- “The music is the best OST of the trilogy, hands-down, though the audio mixing was terrible.”
- “The soundtrack remains my favorite part - the whole trilogy has a really good OST that's stuck with me for longer than I'd care to admit.”
- “With its solid puzzles, wonderful characters, fantastic storytelling, and kickass music, this is honestly the most fun I've had with a game in a very, very long while.”
- “Audio mixing is terrible and half the time cutscene dialogue is washed out by the soundtrack.”
- “A lot of the music from the first two games was recycled in this one, and that makes me pretty sad.”
- “The soundtrack feels a lot less powerful than before, and leans heavily on a few songs from previous games.”
emotional
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to evoke strong feelings through character backstories and impactful moments, while others criticize the execution due to poor animations and inconsistent character development. Many found certain scenes to be heart-wrenching and memorable, yet felt that the overall emotional weight, particularly in the ending, fell short compared to previous entries in the series. Despite its flaws, the game still manages to deliver a range of emotional experiences, leaving players with a blend of satisfaction and disappointment.
- “Eric comes across as blatantly unlikable at the start of the game, though the more you learn about him, the more sad and heartbreaking you realize his pathetic desperation for love and approval becomes.”
- “This game made me feel an emotion I quite literally do not have the words to describe.”
- “It really manages to tie in the backstories of so many of the characters together, into a nicely woven tapestry of murder and emotional distress.”
humor
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, often stemming from its awkward animations and absurd plot twists, leading players to laugh both with and at the characters. While some found the deadpan humor and character interactions genuinely funny, others noted that the game's shortcomings, such as poor graphics and inconsistent character writing, contributed to an unintentional comedic experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a redeeming quality, providing entertainment even amidst the game's flaws.
- “The deadpan humor that has been present since the first game to somewhat balance the tense atmosphere between the characters is still here, of course!”
- “The strongest part of the game for me was probably the sections where you are allowed to type in a name or word as an answer; the cutscenes given for some answers were hilarious.”
- “It's the weakest of the trilogy for sure, but still it has so much charm in its stiff animation and odd camera cuts and voice acting you can't help but love it; the story is so ridiculous I can't help but enjoy it.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
- “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and often miss the mark.”
character development
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
12%
Character development in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment compared to previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the character designs and voice acting, they criticize the lack of depth and continuity in character arcs, feeling that many characters are underdeveloped or inconsistent. Overall, the game struggles to balance its narrative and character growth, leading to a less engaging experience for players familiar with the earlier installments.
- “Furthermore, the character development is amazing; the animation for its time is good, and I feel the voice actors did a great job voicing their respective characters.”
- “This is the setup to tell a story with sci-fi themes that goes far beyond the mere concept of escaping, with plot twists and character development that defies the initial premise of the formula.”
- “Seeing those actions animated gives you more time to see the story and character development and less time reading about someone reaching into their pocket or furrowing their brow.”
- “This game was a disappointment in many areas: lack of character development, lack of continuity with the plot from 999 and VLR, time paradoxes, impossible puzzles, the use of cut scenes instead of a normal visual novel style, and especially the fact that the ending hinges on a party that is not explained anywhere in the game, leaving out chunks of vital information that would have probably changed my mind about this game and its review.”
- “Character development is a joke compared to 999 and Virtue's Last Reward, and all the jumping back and forth between different characters and events, combined with the vast amount of death scenes in different timelines, make it really hard to care about what happens to any of them.”
- “Well, I know we are supposed to know these guys (at least 4 of them) from previous games but there is zero to no character development compared to 999 and VLR.”
atmosphere
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
40%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective music and sound design that evoke feelings of mystery and tension. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in character lighting and voice acting, the overall ambiance remains a strong point, with many players appreciating the evolving atmosphere throughout the gameplay. The series is noted for its ability to balance deadpan humor with a thrilling environment, making it a memorable experience for fans of visual novels.
- “But it was worth it, the atmosphere of this visual novel evolves with the time you spend in the game.”
- “The game has its own atmosphere, and the muted sound design helps sell it.”
- “Overall, despite the shortcomings, there are many things I love about this game: cast, writing, voice acting, music, the fragment system, humor, puzzles, decisions, emotional moments, etc. while I think 999 has the best climax and art design and VLR has the best plot twists and dialogue, ZTD has, in my opinion, the best emotional moments and atmosphere.”
- “A surprising blow to this game's atmosphere was the very subpar voice acting this time around.”
- “Tl;dr - the change from first-person view to outside observer of events killed the atmosphere and suspense, the game no longer has any meaningful mystery because you're given next to no clues on who's secretly killing people and who's zero until the game is just suddenly ready to reveal their identities, then some other minor gripes.”
- “That, combined with the altered atmosphere, just makes those scenes seem tragic instead of chilling.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback; while some players report smooth performance on PC with various options available, others experience significant issues, particularly on lower-end systems. Additionally, there are complaints about the lack of controller optimization for the PS5 and inconsistent voice acting quality, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game is praised for its engaging writing and strong performances from select voice actors.
- “Just thought I would throw in this quick note here: I was very surprised by the optimization due to a lot of options being realized and put into the game, even an option for widescreen displays, which almost nothing has.”
- “As for the port of PC, mine runs smoothly at 60 fps with no form of performance issue.”
- “Because of this rough animation, the lip-sync isn't perfect either, though I didn't find it breaking immersion at all. This is mostly because of the excellent writing, the localization team behind this has done a great job, and the well-done performances by the various voice actors.”
- “It runs horribly on my computer with no way to optimize the game for performance; I don't have a decade to spend waiting to watch the characters get gunned down by gatling guns hidden inside suits of armor for the second time trying to roll a 1.”
- “Feels unfinished; controls are not optimized for PS5 controller at least (it shows a generic control layout).”
- “Just thought I would throw in this quick note here: I was very surprised by the optimization due to a lot of options being realized and put into the game, even an option for widescreen displays which almost nothing has.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
93%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant graphical glitches, animation issues, and bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as freezing characters and audio problems. While some users experienced a smooth performance on high-end hardware, others criticized the port for its numerous nuisances, including poor controls and frequent crashes. Overall, the game appears to be a mix of polished elements and frustrating instability, leading to a divided opinion on its reliability.
- “Runs great on a 3090.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive for such a large open world.”
- “The game itself I could give a 6/10, but due to the port being buggy, having horrible controls and showing controller inputs while not even supporting a controller apparently (tested with Nintendo Switch Pro controller)...”
- “Won't recommend it because it's a very bad port, with all sorts of nuisances, like bugs, freezes and crashes.”
- “Really buggy at times, background music will suddenly stop, or characters will stop talking mid-sentence, or major flickering of background objects whether UI or items you picked up.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
43%
36%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the ability to revisit chapters and enjoy the story multiple times, many feel that the lack of engaging puzzles and limited gameplay length significantly diminish its replay value. Some reviews highlight that the experience may only appeal to those with a poor memory or a strong desire to relive the narrative, while others express frustration with certain game elements that detract from the overall replayability.
- “This game also has incredible replay value compared to the other games in the series.”
- “The replay value seems good enough to beat it about six more times or so.”
- “Determining how and why this is happening is the key objective of all these games, with replayability in fact being a critical way of getting all the answers.”
- “The last few fragments just absolutely ruined the game for me, removing all replayability (at least if I did not want to play the game seething with rage) and leaving a bad aftertaste in my mouth.”
- “On the whole, while the story and the mechanics were interesting, it left very little room for replayability despite being a choice-based, story-driven game.”
- “Lack of engaging puzzles, a 20-hour-max play time and no major replayability afterwards really makes it hard to defend the $40 USD price tag.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
92%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing it as a slow and repetitive experience that detracts from the enjoyment of puzzles and gameplay. While some sections improve over time, many users feel that the initial grind and cumbersome mechanics hinder the overall pacing and engagement. However, there are moments where the puzzles shine, suggesting that the grinding can be mitigated by more enjoyable gameplay elements later on.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “And that means it feels like a pixel hunt, which is tedious, and only serving to slow the pace of the game down further.”
- “Just terrible and tedious.”
- “Not to mention the story is extremely tedious with the fragment system, the escape rooms are dull in general, and the new style is horrible because of the robotic animations.”