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Tales of Kenzera: Zau release date
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a platformer inspired by African myths and will be released on April 23, 2024.
It follows Zau, a shaman who recently lost his father, as he traverses a Bantu tale with the god of Death to bring his father back. Expect unique powers, puzzles, and combat encounters that pay tribute to Bantu folklore.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a visual stunner of a platformer with metroidvania-inspired elements and its release date is almost here. Its tender tale of grief involves a journey with the literal god of death. With dazzling color schemes and lush biomes powered by African myths, here’s what you need to know about the game.
When is the Tales of Kenzera Zau release date?
Tales of Kenzera: Zau releases on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. It’ll be released on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the EA service. The Surgent Studios game will also launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. That means that you’ll be able to harness Zau’s powers as a shaman pretty soon against powerful spirits and combatants.
Tales of Kenzera Zau expected release time
Here’s when we think Tales of Kenzera: Zau will be released in your region.
| Region | Release Time |
|---|---|
| United States (EDT) | Apr 23, 12:00 p.m |
| United States (PDT) | Apr 23, 9:00 a.m |
| United Kingdom (GMT +1) | Apr 23, 5:00 p.m |
| New Zealand (NZST) | Apr 24, 5:00 a.m |
| Japan (JST) | Apr 24, 1:00 a.m |
| Philippines (PHST) | Apr 24, 12:00 a.m |
| South Africa (GMT +2) | Apr 23, 6:00 p.m |
| Brazil (GMT -3) | Apr 23, 1:00 p.m |
Does Tales of Kenzera Zau have a demo?
Yes, Tales of Kenzera: Zau has a demo that can be downloaded on Steam. It was dropped on February 5, 2024, and serves as an excellent appetizer before the main game. Naturally, you won’t get the full experience unless you purchase the game. Plenty of powerups, biomes, and threats haven’t been revealed in the demo. You’ll need to play the single-player story to experience them all as a grieving boy.
All the latest Tales of Kenzera Zau trailers
The first reveal trailer of Tales of Kenzera: Zau introduced us to the novel platformer. It also served up some treats in the visuals department. As for how the game would work, a fresh gameplay trailer dropped a month ago. Tales of Kenzera: Zau was also featured at the BAFTA Games Awards 2024 with an exclusive look into the game. These should give you a good idea of what to expect from the game. It’ll still have plenty of secrets to unravel and abilities to discover and use against puzzles and spirits.
What kind of story does Tales of Kenzera Zau have?
Inspired by actor and Surgent Studios founder Abubakr Salim’s own experience and personal story of grief, Tales of Kenzera: Zau pairs the supernatural with loss. The game is published under the EA Originals banner. Players will recognize him as the voice actor of Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins. “I wanted to create an experience that honored my father and the ones that we have loved and lost,” he noted in an interview with Xbox Wire. You’ll confront your emotions as you go on a Bantu journey penned by your late father. Bargaining with the god of death for his life is one thing, but taking on three spirits who have denied death itself will not be an easy task.
Tales of Kenzera Zau gameplay mechanics explained
Tales of Kenzera: Zau’s platforming is inspired by titles like Ori and Hollow Knight. Players can swap between sun and moon powers via masks, each with their own powerups and combat strategies. The Sun Mask is melee-focused and offers a fiery spear to knock enemies away or interact with the environment. As for the Moon Mask, you will be able to freeze enemies or rivers/waterfalls, granting new mobility options to tackle environmental hazards. Its ranged attacks might not pack as much of a punch but they will keep you from the enemies’ grasp. You’ll be able to improve these abilities with experience from combat and exploration. Players can also stumble into brand-new abilities as they progress along the 8-10 hour story.
Switching between masks is essential while traversing the land of Kenzera, featuring a variety of biomes to explore. For instance, the Woodlands is a gloomy swamp region while the Deadlands has lethal lava pools. The Highlands will task you with crossing impossible heights. And these regions are inspired by the stages of grief, imbuing its setting with a clear purpose. You’ll come across plenty of spirits to fight too, culminating in boss fights against ancestral spirits like Impundulu and GaGorib.
Composer Nainita Desai has done an impressive job of infusing African beats into the soundtrack across both serene and intense moments. The in-game group chants are sung in Swahili, a Bantu language spoken on Africa’s east coast. A lot of love and effort has gone into respecting the culture that inspired the game’s setting and visuals.
Latest news for Tales of Kenzera: Zau
With only a couple of days left for the game to drop, Sony revealed that Tales of Kenzera: Zau will release day 1 into the PlayStation Plus game catalog. Game previews have been positive across the board, meaning that this platformer is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Does Tales of Kenzera Zau have pre-order bonuses?
Yes, here are the pre-order bonuses you can expect:
- 10% discount on the base game
- Kalunga’s Blessing visual effect variant
- Two shaman points to enhance up to two skills in-game
- Soulshifters digital companion comic
Tales of Kenzera Zau release date FAQs
What will Tales of Kenzera: Zau cost?
The game will cost $20 on all platforms. You can also get a 10% discount if you pre-order Tales of Kenzera: Zau.
What is the age rating of Tales of Kenzera: Zau?
The age rating is ESRB 10+.
