Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,738 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Game Cover
The GEEKOM GT13 Pro is yet another mini PC powerhouse from a company that has a growing presence in the…
Starting at €16.79Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

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.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Nintendo 3ds
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,738 reviews
story1,153 positive mentions
graphics104 negative mentions
  • Engaging and mind-bending story with unexpected twists.
  • Interesting puzzles that challenge players without being overly difficult.
  • Strong character moments and emotional depth, especially in D-Team.
  • Poor animation quality and stiff character models detract from the experience.
  • Confusing non-linear storytelling makes it hard to follow the plot.
  • Some characters feel unlikable or poorly written, particularly Eric and Mira.
  • story4,348 mentions

    The story of "Zero Time Dilemma," the third installment in the Zero Escape series, is characterized by its complex, non-linear narrative structure, which some players found innovative while others deemed it confusing and disjointed. Many reviews highlight the game's ambitious plot twists and emotional moments, but also point out significant plot holes and a lack of character development compared to its predecessors, "999" and "Virtue's Last Reward." Overall, while the game provides a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, it is often considered the weakest entry in terms of storytelling, requiring familiarity with the earlier games for full appreciation.

    • “This game is insanity and I lost my mind in my playthrough. I love that insanity; the story was great and I liked the true ending. I feel like it's the most Zero Escape ending you can do, and it's a good wrap to the saga. I love this game a lot; it's one of the best visual novels I've ever played.”
    • “The story is so captivating and the gameplay is well balanced between dialogue, puzzles, and decisions. Great game with a lot of story, puzzles, and entertainment!”
    • “The story is mind-blowing, and those concepts talked about in the game are actually inspiring.”
    • “The time travel was always weird and full of plot holes.”
    • “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 so convoluted that at the end of it, I couldn't feel anything for anyone and instead played through the supposedly emotional scenes with a dead-bored face.”
  • graphics561 mentions

    The graphics in "Zero Time Dilemma" have received largely negative feedback, with many players citing poor animations, graphical glitches, and a significant downgrade from the previous titles in the series. The shift to a full 3D art style has left some characters unrecognizable and resulted in a jarring visual experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some appreciate the effort put into the visuals, the consensus is that the graphics are subpar, especially given the game's budget constraints.

    • “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 are a marked improvement over VLR - I wasn't a fan of the move away from cel-shading to 3D models, especially when their expressions didn't change, but I'm pleased to say the 3D modeling in ZTD is of a much higher quality than VLR.”
    • “The graphics are hideous - for some reason the devs decided to change from 2D to 3D and it resulted in weird, emotionless character animations with out-of-sync voice acting.”
    • “This is one of the few games I've played where I can actually say that the graphics/animations hurt the quality of the game.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay492 mentions

    The gameplay in "Zero Time Dilemma" is a mix of escape room puzzles and visual novel elements, featuring a new "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 story and gameplay, many criticize the repetitive nature of the puzzles, convoluted mechanics, and an overabundance of cutscenes that detract from the interactive experience. Overall, the game is seen as a decent conclusion to the trilogy, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional gameplay experience.

    • “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 is simple but effective, very good to play with your partner.”
    • “The gameplay is nice and escape rooms improved, but it kinda screwed up with the game's plotline.”
    • “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 puzzles also feel just a bit less challenging than I'm used to from this series, and the fact that the gameplay is broken up into multiple 'fragments' means that the story has a disjointed feel to it while trying to play since after each big decision you're getting booted back to the menu to pick a new memory to play out.”
  • music318 mentions

    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 complaints about the audio mixing, which often drowns out dialogue, requiring players to constantly adjust volume settings. While the soundtrack includes many remixed tracks from previous entries, some players express disappointment over the lack of new compositions, feeling that this reliance on older music detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack remains as my favorite part - the whole trilogy has a really good OST that's stuck with me for longer than I'd care to admit.”
    • “The music is amazing, the characters are wonderful, all in all this is a perfect game.”
    • “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 dialog is washed out by the soundtrack.”
    • “The sound mixing is bad, the music is too loud and often drowns out the dialogue.”
    • “I wish I could say my audiovisual woes end there, but so much of this game's music is just reusing old tracks, which while fine, gets a little too tiring as this game sorta lacks in original tracks outside of a few gems and the escape room tracks.”
  • emotional159 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Zero Time Dilemma" is a mixed bag, with some players finding it to be an emotional rollercoaster filled with impactful moments and character backstories that resonate deeply, while others criticize the game for its lack of emotional weight, particularly in its ending. Many reviews highlight that the poor animation and character development detract from the emotional scenes, making it difficult for players to connect with the characters or feel the intended emotional impact. Overall, while there are standout emotional moments, the execution often falls short, leading to a sense of disappointment for some fans of the series.

    • “I'm so glad they continued the route of giving the most innocent character the most traumatic and emotional routes.”
    • “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.”
  • humor140 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, with many players finding it hilariously absurd and entertaining despite its flaws. Characters like Eric and Carlos provide deadpan humor, while awkward animations and ridiculous plot twists contribute to a comedic experience that often leaves players laughing at the game's shortcomings. Overall, while the game may not be the strongest in the series, its charm and humor make it a memorable, albeit chaotic, ride.

    • “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!”
    • “Honestly, I was so mad after playing this game but after some time I think this game is just incredibly funny.”
    • “Great pacing, beautifully jank animations, insane plot - it's absolutely hilarious.”
    • “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 were cringeworthy and detracted from the overall experience.”
  • character development98 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its execution compared to previous titles in the series. While some praised the character designs and voice acting, they criticized the lack of depth and consistency in character arcs, noting that many characters felt underdeveloped or inconsistent with their past portrayals. Overall, the narrative struggles to provide meaningful character growth, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story and its characters.

    • “Furthermore, the character development is amazing (except Eric since I hate that character for some reason). 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.”
    • “I went in expecting Telltale's The Walking Dead, and came out with 20 pounds of character development and feels.”
    • “Some of the returning characters have different personalities for weak reasons, and some of the new characters are just plain unpleasant, lacking any kind of real character development.”
    • “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.”
    • “The ending and character development are not satisfying and overall not worth the time.”
  • atmosphere71 mentions

    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 tension and mystery. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in character lighting and voice acting, the overall experience is enriched by the evolving atmosphere throughout gameplay, reminiscent of previous titles in the series. Despite some narrative shortcomings, the game's ability to create a haunting and oppressive environment remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to player engagement.

    • “But it was worth it, the atmosphere of this visual novel evolves with the time you spend in the game.”
    • “Story-wise a little lacking but makes up for it with an astounding atmosphere and feeling of mystery that the series delivers on while simultaneously allowing you to explore it in any way you'd like with its continued use of the intersected yet branching story paths the series is well known for.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the variety of options available, including widescreen support, others report significant performance issues, particularly on PC, with no clear way to enhance gameplay efficiency. Additionally, controls are noted to be poorly optimized for the PS5 controller, leading to a frustrating experience for some users. Overall, while the voice acting, especially in Japanese, is praised, the technical aspects leave much to be desired.

    • “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.”
    • “And the cherry on top is the performances by AAA voice actors, at least with the Japanese voices.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many players noting that while individual chapters can be replayed, the lack of engaging puzzles and a compelling reason to revisit the story diminishes its overall value. Some players found enjoyment in replaying for the narrative, but others felt that the experience was marred by frustrating elements, leading to a consensus that replay value is minimal. Despite some claims of high replayability compared to other titles in the series, many reviews highlight a significant lack of incentives to play again after the initial experience.

    • “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.”
  • stability27 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant graphical glitches, including texture clipping and character animation issues, as well as sound problems like missing music and dialogue interruptions. While some users experienced a polished performance on high-end hardware, others criticized the port for being buggy, with frequent crashes and poor controls. Overall, the stability aspect appears to be a major concern, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Runs great on a 3090.”
    • “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.”
    • “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)...”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and slow, with many players feeling frustrated by pixel hunts and cumbersome camera controls that hinder gameplay. While some puzzles are enjoyable, they can also be repetitive and lead to a sense of boredom, particularly in the early stages of the game. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the experience, making it feel unnecessarily drawn out.

    • “And that means it feels like a pixel hunt, which is tedious, and only serving to slow the pace of the game down further.”
    • “That's insanely tedious and boring!”
    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

Play time

17hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
11-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games