When Zenless Zone Zero was first revealed, many players expected another orchestral-heavy soundtrack similar to Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail. Instead, the game surprised audiences by embracing EDM, funk, lo-fi, and acid jazz, creating a soundscape that feels more like a nightclub than a fantasy world. This wasn’t just a stylistic experiment but a deliberate creative decision rooted in emotion and identity.
In an interview with IGN, composer Yang Wutao explained the philosophy behind this shift. Rather than following trends or sticking to genre conventions, the team focused on one core idea: making music that feels alive. This approach is what ultimately makes Zenless Zone Zero’s soundtrack stand out and resonate with players in a completely different way.
Emotion Comes First, Genre Comes Later
Unlike traditional game soundtracks that begin with a defined musical style, Zenless Zone Zero flips the process entirely. Yang Wutao revealed,
“Music exists to express emotion — otherwise it’s just sound,”
highlighting the team’s focus on character-driven composition. Instead of asking what genre fits a scene, they ask what the character is feeling.
This philosophy allows the music to evolve naturally. A high-energy character might lean into EDM, while a quieter moment could shift toward lo-fi or jazz. The result is a soundtrack that feels deeply personal rather than mechanically designed.
This is where Zenless Zone Zero differs sharply from Genshin Impact. While Genshin uses orchestral music to build a sense of scale and fantasy, Zenless Zone Zero uses genre diversity to explore character identity. The music becomes an extension of personality, not just atmosphere.
Breaking Away From HoYoverse’s Orchestral Identity
HoYoverse has built its reputation on cinematic orchestral scores, but Zenless Zone Zero intentionally moves away from that formula. According to Yang Wutao, the team wanted to avoid following industry trends and instead create something fundamentally different.
He explained,
“A lot of games in the industry are going orchestral. We didn’t want to go down that road.”
This decision reflects a broader shift in how the developers approached the entire project. Rather than competing within an established style, they chose to carve out a new identity.
This change also aligns with the game’s setting. New Eridu is not a mythical land but a gritty, retro-futuristic city influenced by street culture. The music mirrors this environment, making the world feel more authentic and immersive.
Club Culture and Energy Define the Sound
One of the defining aspects of Zenless Zone Zero’s soundtrack is its connection to club culture. The game’s music draws heavily from electronic genres, creating a high-energy experience that feels immediate and visceral.
Yang Wutao described EDM as a perfect fit because
“you don’t need to understand it, you just need to feel it.”
This emotional accessibility is key to the game’s design. The music doesn’t rely on complex melodies or lyrics but instead uses rhythm and energy to connect with players.
Collaborations with artists like Tiësto and partnerships with global festivals further reinforce this identity. However, the developers emphasize that this direction wasn’t forced. It emerged naturally from the team’s shared tastes and experiences, giving the soundtrack an organic feel.
Music That Exists Beyond the Game
Another major difference lies in how the music is treated. In most games, soundtracks are designed to support gameplay. Zenless Zone Zero takes a different approach by treating each track as a standalone piece of art.
Yang Wutao noted that the team never asks whether a track is
“game music or a pop single.”
Instead, they focus on whether it has emotion, energy, and quality. This mindset allows the music to exist outside the game, making it something players can enjoy independently.
This approach also explains why character EPs feel like festival-ready tracks rather than background scores. The goal is not just to enhance gameplay but to create music that resonates on its own terms.
Why the Experiment Works So Well
The success of Zenless Zone Zero’s soundtrack comes down to how well it aligns with the game’s core identity. Every piece of music is tailored to its specific context, ensuring that it always feels relevant and intentional.
Even when the soundtrack shifts between genres, it never feels disjointed because each track is grounded in emotion. As Yang Wutao explained, the team focuses on getting the music right for each moment rather than forcing a consistent style.
This flexibility allows the game to explore a wide range of sounds while maintaining a cohesive experience. It also gives each composer the freedom to bring their own personality into the music, making it feel more dynamic and alive.
