Zero Parades: For Dead Spies review: a must-play Disco Elysium follow-up
ZA/UM’s sophomore title Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is an espionage RPG centered on protagonist Hershel Wilk (codename: Cascade), a deeply incompetent spy tasked with redeeming herself following a notable professional failure. The game’s central conceit subverts the spy thriller genre by making its protagonist fundamentally unsuited to intelligence work—so out of her depth that her survival on dangerous assignments seems unlikely and her success even more improbable.
Despite the inherent bleakness of this premise, early reviews indicate the game succeeds in creating an irresistible narrative experience. The tension derives not from a competent operative outmaneuvering enemies, but from watching an ill-equipped agent stumble through assignments where the best outcome might be her removal from active duty rather than rescue. The game refuses to make the protagonist heroic or capable, instead exploring the darker implications of an operative who would only endanger others through incompetence.
As the second major release from ZA/UM following their acclaimed 2019 debut Disco Elysium, Zero Parades appears to maintain the developer’s signature approach to narrative-driven RPGs that prioritize character and story over traditional gameplay mechanics. The title has been described as a must-play follow-up to the studio’s previous work, suggesting ZA/UM has successfully continued its distinctive creative vision while exploring new thematic territory through the espionage genre.