Disco Elysium Successor? Play the Zero Parades Demo This Month

By Ryan Messina Gaming News
13 February 2026 no comments

You know that specific ache? The one you felt wandering the ruinous streets of Revachol in Disco Elysium? It wasn’t just about solving a murder. It was about existing in a world that had already moved on without you.

It looks like ZA/UM is ready to hurt us again. The studio has finally broken its silence with Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. It’s not just a spiritual successor; it’s a full-blown isometric spy thriller that trades police badges for espionage, yet keeps that signature, existential dread we fell in love with.

But before we get too lost in the philosophy of it all, there’s a clock ticking on your chance to play it.

A Blink-and-Miss-It Taste Test

Here’s the deal. You don’t have to wait until the full 2026 release to see if the magic is still there. A demo is dropping on February 23 for Steam Next Fest. But there’s a catch.

This isn’t one of those demos that sits in your library forever. It’s strictly limited. Once March 16 rolls around, it’s gone. If you’re curious, you need to jump in during that window. The developers have confirmed this slice of the game is substantial, taking place in the city-state of Portofiro.

You’ll get two full missions, side activities, and free rein to explore the environment. They’re even giving us three distinct character archetypes to mess around with.

This means you can replay the demo a few times to see how the dialogue system bends and breaks based on who you’re pretending to be. It’s a generous appetizer, but the time limit is real. Mark your calendars.

The Art of Beautiful Failure

What strikes me most about Zero Parades isn’t the espionage setting. It’s the perspective. You aren’t playing a super-spy like James Bond.

You’re playing Hershel Wilk, a retired agent dragged back for “one last job.” Jim Ashilevi, the writer and VO director, put it perfectly: this game is an exploration of failure. It’s about losing everything and having to keep walking anyway.

The mechanics reflect this. Just like in Disco, your mental and physical health are resources. You have to manage them to pass skill checks. And the world? It’s obsessed with “soft power”—pop culture, retro tech, bootleg movies.

Your character isn’t just fighting enemy agents; she’s navigating a world defined by what people consume. It asks weird, uncomfortable questions. Why do we obsess over old cartoons? How does buying a specific magazine feed into global politics? It’s deep, cerebral, and very, very ZA/UM.

The Fogged Mirror: a grimy schnapps bar favoured by Party Alley's most rabid pelota fans, undiscerning alcoholics, and defunct spies.

You may not like what you recognise here.

Art from #ZEROPARADES. pic.twitter.com/LtsrRU55LG

— ZA/UM Studio (@studiozaum) February 9, 2026

Navigating the Storm

Look, we can’t talk about this game without addressing the elephant in the room. ZA/UM has had a rough few years. Cancellations, layoffs, and a very public, messy breakup with the original creative leads.

It’s been a drama-filled saga that left a lot of us worried about the studio’s future. But listening to studio head Allen Murray, there’s a sense that the team remaining is laser-focused on one thing: the art.

They know their “North Star” is storytelling. They’re leaning into what they do best—reactive worlds, incredible writing, and art direction that looks like a painting come to life. Zero Parades feels like their answer to all the noise. It’s a statement that says, “We’re still here, and we still have stories to tell.”

Keeping the Signal Alive

There is a terrifying beauty in what Zero Parades is trying to do. It’s stepping into the shadow of a masterpiece and trying to carve out its own identity in a genre that Disco Elysium practically reinvented.

From what we’ve seen, it’s not trying to copy its predecessor’s homework. It’s taking those same tools—the introspection, the dialogue, the psychological depth—and applying them to a colder, sharper world of spies and betrayal.

The 2026 release date feels far away, but this upcoming demo is our first real proof of life.

Ryan Messina

A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !

Disco Elysium Successor? Play the Zero Parades Demo This Month

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