The Zero Escape Series is a trilogy of three Visual Novel Puzzle games and a true hidden gem. If you enjoy games with a strong narrative, deep and well developed characters, and plot twists that will blow your mind, the Zero Escape Series is for you.
A fair warning: The Zero Escape series involve more reading than gameplay. The story and characters are at the forefront here. If you don’t like reading, you might not be able to make it through these games (though music and visuals may provide the help you need). These games also feature several escape-the-room puzzles, so if you don’t like puzzles those are probably a deterrent.
If you are not bothered by that, I suggest you check out these games and strike while the iron is hot, as the third and final game is releasing tomorrow – June 28th.
I would recommend this series for anyone who likes Telltale Games’s series such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Tales from the Borderlands, if you are an avid reader, or if you just like a really compelling story. I asked the subreddit, r/ZeroEscape, how they would try to convince someone to play and one user (Riobux) said, “So, you know how M. Night Shamalan’s film Sixth Sense is loved because the twist is impactful, contextualizes everything and is revealed to be hinted at through-out the film? Now, imagine a game like that but does it about 10 or 15 times, each one following Knox’s Ten Commandments so they’re solvable twists.” This statement is incredibly accurate and manages to convey the roller-coaster ride you’ll be in for if you decide to play. Keep reading for more information on each individual game.
999
The first game, 999, also known as 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors, introduces the story as 9 people are trapped on a boat that will sink in 9 hours unless they are able to make their way through the ship and puzzles within to find the Number 9 Door to escape. While the game is shrouded in mystery, the reason for the title is made astoundingly clear. Throughout the game you will get to know and love the characters you are trapped with and see them work together or fight among themselves in this Saw-inspired scenario. There are six endings to play through (with one as the “true” ending) and much to enjoy. I can promise your mind will be completely blown by the time the final credits roll.
Virtue’s Last Reward
The second game, Virtue’s Last Reward, is a large improvement over the first game and delivers more content, more endings, and much more story. With 24 total endings, 9 “good” endings, and a secret hidden ending, there is so much to discover. The game also introduces voice-acting. This time, the game our 9 characters are forced to play is framed around the Prisoner’s Dilemma. To explain this, suppose two criminals who committed a crime together are captured. They are interrogated separately and told the same thing by the detective questioning them. If they each stay silent, they will serve 1 year in prison. If one confesses, they go free, but the other has to serve 3 years. However, if they both confess (effectively betraying each other) they both serve two years. You are placed in this situation where you must choose to ally or betray your fellow prisoners, each choice you making creating a branching path in the narrative. Though the story takes a little bit to establish solid connections to the first game, all is very clear eventually and the last third of the game delivers satisfying reveals and answers nonstop while setting up for the final game flawlessly. It is so hard to describe these games without spoiling them so please, if you are interested, do not hesitate to pick these games up.
Zero Time Dilemma
The third and final game, Zero Time Dilemma, releases tomorrow and promises to deliver a satisfying conclusion with answers to the mysteries and questions that developed over the previous two titles. This time, the 9 characters are split into teams of 3 and told only one team can escape alive in what is being called “The Decision Game”. From what I have heard this game will me more gruesome than past games and I think the most similar title to Saw (though they could all be compared to it). This entry stands out as different from the first two because it features full cut-scenes and character animations, where the first two relied heavily on character sprites and text passages. While being advertised as a good entry point for first-time players, first reviews have highly suggested you begin with the first two games to make this a truly satisfying experience.
As I said earlier, if you are even somewhat interested, do not hesitate. If you have read this far, buy these games now! The second game especially is likely my favorite story experience I have ever had with a game and I cannot wait to see how everything wraps up in the third game. I hope I am able to convince you to check out these games and have a truly unique experience. I will likely post a review for the third game (and maybe the first two) so be on the lookout for that! Thanks for reading!
~ExpvReal27
EVR 