Underplayed Gems

Zero Strain (2019)

Zero Strain cover
Developer
Kaio Meris
Genres
Action, Indie
Rating
4.2 of 5, 24 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 2.4 hours
Where to get it
Steam

More by Kaio Meris

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A lightning-fast shooter where swapping weapon abilities on the fly keeps every second tense and reactive.

fast-pacedarcadeintenseactionskill-basedenergetic

What players say

Players describe Zero Strain as a fast-paced top-down shooter with a lock-on system and a stamina bar shared between attacking and dodging. The energy management adds tension, but some find it frustrating in chaotic fights. Boss battles are tough and compare to Furi or Cuphead. Ships have distinct abilities, though the small arenas and camera can cause visual clutter.

Screenshots

Zero Strain screenshot 1Zero Strain screenshot 2Zero Strain screenshot 3Zero Strain screenshot 4Zero Strain screenshot 5Zero Strain screenshot 6

More games like this

More by Kaio Meris

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.