Disco Elysium’s spiritual successor can’t escape its phantoms

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies Struggles with Its Legacy

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is built on the foundation laid by Disco Elysium, carrying forward many of the signature RPG mechanics and psychological storytelling elements. Developed by ZA/UM, the same studio behind Disco Elysium, the game follows Cascade, a spy marked by personal failures and haunted by her past. After years in exile, she returns to gather her old crew for a crucial mission, all while battling inner turmoil and seeking forgiveness.

The Weight of Studio Controversy

The development of Zero Parades comes in the wake of a lengthy dispute among ZA/UM’s founding members, leading to dismissals, lawsuits, and significant changes to the studio's makeup. These conflicts and the removal of pivotal creatives have left a visible impact on the game, with parts of the narrative echoing real-world tensions within the company.

Gameplay and Character Depth

Like its predecessor, Zero Parades lets players define Cascade’s abilities by choosing from skill archetypes or allocating points themselves. Fifteen unique skills not only affect in-game outcomes but also manifest as internal voices, creating vivid internal dialogue throughout the story. Managing fatigue, anxiety, and delirium forms a core part of the experience—pushing Cascade’s limits can lead to serious in-game consequences but may also open new paths forward.

While Zero Parades attempts to develop its cast and city, the absence of Disco Elysium’s lead writers and artists is noticeable. The game features tighter environments, shallower character arcs, and occasional modern internet-inspired dialogue that can feel out of place. Efforts to revive Disco Elysium’s anticapitalist themes are apparent but often lack the original’s nuance and impact.

Conclusion

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is both a continuation and a reflection of the challenges ZA/UM has faced. The game offers a familiar and compelling structure for fans of complex narrative RPGs but ultimately finds itself unable to escape the looming shadow of Disco Elysium or the controversy that has surrounded its development. It launches on PC on May 21st.

For the original in-depth review, visit The Verge.