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ZPF

ZPF Game Cover
45%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics
Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay
69% User Score Based on 16 reviews

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Xbox Series X|SPCXbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindows
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ZPF Game Cover

About ZPF

ZPF is a single player platformer game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by ZPF Team and was released on April 16, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Inspired by classic horizontal shooters like Lords of Thunder, Elemental Master, and the Thunderforce series, ZPF is a passion project from the designer and developer of Super XYX and Tänzer. Players will dodge and weave through intense bullet patterns, unleashing a barrage of firepower upon hordes of unique and challenging enemies. Choose your hero - from the teleporting trickster to the laser-…

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Reviews

69%Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews
music9 positive mentions
  • Highly refined and polished controls with precise movement and responsive gameplay.
  • Unique and stunning pixel art style with vibrant, saturated visuals and an outstanding, atmospheric soundtrack.
  • Multiple ships to choose from and an in-game shop system that adds strategic depth and replayability.
  • Bullet and enemy visibility issues due to busy backgrounds and color palettes, causing confusion at times.
  • Lack of modern features such as save states, continues by default, online or local leaderboards, and menu/option saving.
  • Gameplay frustrations including lack of continues without purchase, awkward melee mechanic, and one-hit kills making the game feel punishing.

  • music

    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    75% positive mentions, 17% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions

    The music in Zpf is consistently praised as outstanding, atmospheric, and highly fitting, complementing the game's gorgeous 16-bit visuals and euro shmup roots. Reviewers highlight its energetic, hype-inducing soundtrack that significantly enhances the overall vibe and experience.

    • “Zpf is a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up best described as a highly refined euro shmup in terms of atmosphere and music with exceptional gameplay.”
    • “Outstanding, atmospheric music that complements the gorgeous 16-bit visuals beautifully.”
    • “Tight controls, killer pixel art, insane bosses, and that soundtrack goes way harder than it has any right to.”

  • gameplay

    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    30% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 30% negative mentions

    The gameplay is generally challenging and fun with a refined euro shmup style, featuring solid atmosphere and music, but is marred by some frustrating design choices and underdeveloped mechanics, such as the awkward melee button. While visually and aurally impressive, the gameplay experience can feel inconsistent and occasionally frustrating.

    • “Zpf is a side scrolling shoot ‘em up that is best described as a highly refined euro shmup in terms of atmosphere and music with exceptional gameplay.”
    • “Modern euro shmups gameplay is usually as highly refined as that of the best of the best Japanese shoot 'em up experiences and zpf is no different.”
    • “Challenging gameplay though fun and not too difficult to pick up.”
    • “While the core gameplay is average, there are a number of puzzling design decisions that make this game more of an exercise in frustration.”
    • “Though in the past euro shmups were known for their amazing visuals and music yet more often than not suffered from poor game design decisions or downright broken gameplay, things have changed drastically over the years and now usually only the gorgeous visuals and amazing music remain to remind us of these games’ euro origins.”
    • “One of the game's mechanics, the melee button, is awful to look at and use; it's severely undercooked.”

  • graphics

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The graphics are praised for their exceptionally creative and unique 16-bit art style that gives the game a distinctive, atmospheric look reminiscent of late Sega Genesis shmups. While the visuals are gorgeous and complement the outstanding music, they can sometimes be overwhelming, causing some bullets and enemies to blend into the detailed backgrounds. Overall, the graphics are visually impressive and fitting for the genre, despite occasional clarity issues.

    • “+ exceptionally creative and unique artstyle with its own signature look and feel throughout the entire game”
    • “+ outstanding, atmospheric music that compliments the gorgeous 16bit visuals beautifully”
    • “As mentioned before, the artstyle is perfect for the era of late sega genesis shmups compared to the likes of lords of thunder.”

  • atmosphere

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The atmosphere of Zpf is highly praised for its exceptional, atmospheric music that perfectly complements the stunning 16-bit visuals, creating a refined and immersive euro-style shoot ‘em up experience.

    • “Zpf is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up that is best described as a highly refined euro shmup in terms of atmosphere and music with exceptional gameplay.”
    • “Outstanding, atmospheric music that complements the gorgeous 16-bit visuals beautifully.”
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Game News

Review: ZPF (Switch) - A Unique-Feeling Mega Drive Shooter With Some Switch Issues

April 20 on nintendolife.com

Sumptuous Retro Shmup 'ZPF' Launches On Switch In Just A Few Weeks

March 26 on nintendolife.com
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Frequently Asked Questions

ZPF is a platformer game with fantasy and science fiction themes. Common tags for ZPF include futuristic, indie, 2d, aliens, pixel graphics and others.

ZPF is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Steam Deck and others.

ZPF was released on April 16, 2026.

ZPF was developed by ZPF Team.

ZPF has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked ZPF for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

ZPF is a single player game.

Similar games include Earthion, Syder Arcade, Xeodrifter, The Bug Butcher, 1993 Space Machine and others.