Tales of Kenzera: Zau wants to be a fresh start for a tired series. It gets some of the way there, but the old problems keep leaking through the seams. This is a game about a girl named Kenzera who can’t die, and her adventures across a world full of magic and strange creatures. It is available on Series X|S, PC, PS5 and Switch, and it asks a lot of players willing to put in the hours.
Trailer, via Electronic Arts.
The Girl Who Cannot Die
Kenzera is the center of the story. She is a young girl who cannot die, and that single fact shapes everything she does. Her inability to die means she lives far beyond what most people ever see, and the game leans on that idea to build its central mystery. The setup is simple, but it gives the writers room to explore themes of mortality, loss and identity without leaning too hard on them.
The supporting cast is thinner. Allies appear and disappear quickly, and few of them leave much of an impression beyond their role in a particular scene. Kenzera herself carries most of the weight of the narrative, and the game trusts her presence to hold the story together even when the script stumbles.
Combat That Cuts Both Ways
The combat system is built around fast attacks, guard breaks and special moves. It is smooth when it works, and it can feel stiff when it doesn’t. Players who have spent time with other games in the genre will know the rhythm immediately, but the execution here has rough edges that keep it from feeling fully polished.
Boss fights are where the system shows its limits. Some encounters ask for precise timing that the controls cannot quite deliver, while others rely on patterns that feel less like skill and more like trial and error. The pacing suffers in both cases, and long stretches of combat can drag rather than exhilarate.
The game also includes a mode where players can switch to a different perspective for a break from the action. It is a welcome addition, though it does not solve the underlying issues with the core combat loop. It simply offers a respite from a system that never quite clicks into place.
A World Worth Walking Through
The world of Kenzera: Zau is large and varied. Cities, forests, deserts and mountains all get their chance to shine, and the game does a decent job of making each location feel distinct. Exploration rewards curiosity, and hidden paths often lead to small surprises that make wandering worthwhile.
The visuals are competent but not striking. Character models hold up well in motion, but static scenes can look dated compared to what newer titles offer. The lighting is serviceable, and the sound design does a fair job of selling the sense of place, but neither rises to the level of something truly memorable.
The game also includes a companion mode that lets players bring a friend along on their journey. It is a nice touch, though it adds little to the experience beyond giving players someone to talk to while they walk.
Where the Game Falls Short
The writing is uneven. Some scenes land with real force, especially those centered on Kenzera’s relationship with death, while others stumble over exposition that feels forced or unnecessary. The pacing suffers from long stretches of filler content that pad out the middle of the story without adding much of substance.
The difficulty curve is inconsistent. Early sections can feel punishing, while later ones ease off almost entirely, leaving players unsure what the game expects of them from moment to moment. This inconsistency makes it hard to judge whether a challenge is a design choice or a technical flaw.
There are also moments where the game’s systems work against itself. Menu navigation can be slow, and some transitions between areas take longer than they should. These are minor frustrations, but they add up over a playthrough that can easily stretch past forty hours.
The Verdict on Kenzera: Zau
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a mixed bag. It has a strong central character and a world worth exploring, but its combat and pacing hold it back from greatness. The best moments come when the story focuses on Kenzera’s condition and lets the player breathe, while the weakest moments come during extended stretches of combat that feel more like chores than challenges.
The game does not reinvent the formula, but it does not need to. What it offers instead is a solid, if flawed, entry in a series that has struggled to find its footing in recent years. Players who enjoyed earlier entries will likely find enough here to justify their time, even if the journey is bumpier than it needs to be.
Key Facts Box
- Title: Tales of Kenzera: Zau
- Platforms: Series X|S, PC, PS5, Switch
- Genre: Action RPG
- Score: 7.4 of 10
- Length: Roughly forty hours
- Release: 2024
The game is available now on all five platforms, and it stands as a decent, if imperfect, entry in a series still searching for its identity.
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