Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, developed by ZA/UM, was released in 2026 as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed Disco Elysium game [1, 2]. The new title centers on Hershel Wilk, known as Cascade, a spy who returns from a five-year hiatus to undertake a mission in the city of Portofiro [1, 2].
Gameplay in Zero Parades focuses on dialogue, exploration, and skill-based narrative choices rather than traditional combat mechanics, continuing the approach pioneered by Disco Elysium [1, 2]. The game features a skill system similar to its predecessor, where players allocate 15 skills that influence dialogue and actions. These skills manifest as separate voices inside Cascade's mind, adding layers to the narrative experience [2].
Zero Parades differs from Disco Elysium in tone by embracing a more humorously absurd style and less philosophical depth, according to reviews [1]. Polygon noted that "Zero Parades takes creativity to such extremes that it makes everything else in my overflowing Steam library feel stale" [1].
However, the release comes amid turbulence within ZA/UM. Since Disco Elysium’s original release in 2019, the studio has experienced significant internal disputes including the dismissal of founding members in 2022 and legal battles over the Disco Elysium intellectual property [2]. These controversies have cast a shadow over Zero Parades, leading The Verge to comment that "Zero Parades carries heavy baggage. It’s also impossible to divorce it from the shadow of Disco Elysium" [2].
Despite the real-world challenges, ZA/UM completed and launched Zero Parades in 2026. The game continues the studio’s exploration of narrative-driven RPGs through a distinctive blend of dialogue, humor, and psychological complexity [1, 2].
