In the ever-evolving universe of gaming, there’s a genre that’s emerged over the past year that can be, frankly, infuriating. I’m honestly at a loss for what to label it. One thing’s certain: if you lack a very specific skill set—trust me, I do—and don’t have the patience usually reserved for saints—guilty as charged—you might find the experience rather harrowing. Today, we’re diving into one of these games, which is why we’re just having a preview instead of a full review. Despite all my efforts, making progress in ZERO Sievert has been elusive. Does this mean it’s a poor game? Not at all, but it does make evaluating it tricky. I’ll share a bit about ZERO Sievert and elaborate on why playing it feels like sheer torment, while I hope to justify my perspective along the way.
Think of ZERO Sievert as sitting in the same ballpark as Escape from Tarkov. These games take the “git gud” mantra and raise the stakes to an absurd level. It’s not the typical “Soulsbourne” kind of difficulty but rather a challenge that leans solely on your abilities outside of smashing attack patterns and item combinations. Each run’s success is purely determined by your skill, and dying feels like a sock to the jaw. If you’re not adept in this kind of game, progression halts entirely, which, for me at least, is immensely frustrating.
I completely understand the allure for many players who thrive on the anxiety and exhilaration from knowing that, upon death, all the hard work you’ve put in could vanish in a heartbeat. There’s definitely a rush that comes with realizing your loot is yours only while you’re alive. Every bullet becomes precious, and each adversary represents a real threat to end your streak. You strive, improve, and triumph—eventually. On paper, this might sound thrilling, but that’s precisely where my enthusiasm takes a nosedive. You’re going to face defeat repeatedly, losing your hard-earned rewards, and endure countless retries without ever feeling a sense of progress.
For those of us who enjoy roguelikes, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from facing insurmountable odds, well aware that failure is likely. The key difference, though, is that in roguelikes, each failure typically makes you stronger, better prepped for the next attempt. ZERO Sievert, on the other hand, rests heavily on your real-time skill rather than lasting character boosts from prior runs. You gain nothing except experience from failure—unless you learn from it and level up your gameplay. Otherwise, you stagnate. For me, gaming is synonymous with progression, and a lack of tangible progress makes this genre’s demands severe.
That said, this is purely my take. Some players pick up on the required finesse quickly and manage to complete successful runs, returning to base laden with loot. The rush is real, setting them up for many returns to this relentless challenge. This is why I hesitate to label these games, ZERO Sievert among them, as inadequate—the design has brilliance, provided you can navigate the punishing cycle and triumph.
Now that I’ve spelled out my existential issues with ZERO Sievert, allow me to describe the game itself. It thrusts you into a top-down survival trip set in a post-apocalyptic world. Your main task? Scavenging for essentials around hazardous zones and to bring them back to aid your base. The twist? The world has everything imaginable trying to eliminate you. That includes wild animals and heavily armed robbers, not mentioning mutants who seem to live just to make life miserable.
Literally everything poses a threat. Besides living threats, radiation represents an ominous risk. Exploring these wastelands means keeping close watch on your radiometer clicks, which increase in frequency as your exposure does. And let’s not forget the basic human needs—running out of food and water, even in your bunker, could mean game over. The day and night cycle is treacherous too. An ill-advised night jaunt can leave you prey to lurking ghouls at the perimeter, hidden completely by darkness. ZERO Sievert demands survival at its most raw.
I wish I could share how exciting it is to reconstruct your bunker with your retrieved spoils—but that would require surviving long enough to return with said spoils. Sadly, survival is an art I’m yet to master. Hence, this remains a preview. I can hardly review what I’ve yet to fully experience.
You might assume I’d have given up on ZERO Sievert by now. Yet, something inexplicably addictive keeps pulling me back in, despite the fact that my skills could be likened to the game’s title itself: zero. There’s an undeniable thrill, and while my progress is static, my excitement isn’t. If you’re a fan of games like Escape from Tarkov and wish for a similar experience in solo mode, this might just be your new jam. For those seeking a truly intense challenge, this game delivers. Otherwise, if you’re not prepared for brutal difficulty, brace yourself. Yes, there is always the relief of easier modes, though that might defeat the challenge’s purpose.
All in all, ZERO Sievert demands to be played under specific conditions. Definitely not your typical casual endeavor nor the go-to for a relaxed gaming evening with your buddies. Imagine stress encapsulated—it’s wrapped snugly into this game. If the idea of a contained nightmare in a neat package excites you, then by all means, jump right in. If not, you might want to look elsewhere.
