Zeno Clash
Does Zeno Clash run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?
Sold for Windows today, no problem on record.1
No Mac version is sold.
Through Proton. ProtonDB: Gold, runs perfectly after tweaks.3
Playable, as rated by Valve. May need some setup.1
One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs
Synopsis
Zeno Clash is a first-person brawler from Chilean studio ACE Team, set in the surreal fantasy world of Zenozoik. Ghat flees his home town after a crime against his strange parent FatherMother, and the story unfolds through flashbacks between fights. Most of the game is a run of small arena battles fought with punches, kicks, blocks and grabs, plus a few odd firearms.
Reception
Critics in 2009 praised the hard-hitting melee combat and the bizarre, colorful art direction, and Eurogamer recommended it almost without reservation. The same reviews pointed to a short campaign, a confusing story, engine quirks and a disappointing final stretch. Steam players still rate it Very Positive and value it as a one of a kind curiosity, though some recent reviews call the Source engine tech dated. It has a free fan-made multiplayer mod but no official online mode.
Trailer from Steam Playability today
The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works
Runs today
5/5- Sold or given away today by an official source
- Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
- ?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connectionNo source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
- All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)The game is single-player only with a challenge tower, and nothing has been removed (PCGamingWiki).
- Supports modern resolutions and widescreenWidescreen and 4K resolutions are supported natively (PCGamingWiki).
- Full controller support or remappable controlsControllers are supported with remapping, sensitivity and inverted look (PCGamingWiki).
- Steam Deck Verified or Playable
- No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
- No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
- No known game-breaking bugs in the current versionThe only listed issue, enemies with disabled AI after loading a save, is fixed by restarting the chapter (PCGamingWiki).
Design today
3/5- Controls feel awkward on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardKeys and controller buttons can be remapped, but the same button picks up items and locks onto enemies, which critics found disorienting in crowded fights. Source: eurogamer.net, pcgamingwiki.com.
- Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensWidescreen and 4K resolutions are supported natively, with subtitles, closed captions and separate volume sliders. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
- Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressThere is no manual save in the menus; the game autosaves as the story moves through its short, separate fights, finished chapters can be replayed, and saves sync through Steam Cloud. Quick load sits on F9, while quick save works only after binding a key in config.cfg. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, steamcommunity.com.
- It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressCombat moves are taught through tutorial flashbacks with Ghat's mentor Metamoq, spread through the opening chapters, and players describe the tutorial as a good introduction to fighting and dodging. Source: eurogamer.net, steamcommunity.com.
- Pacing drags: grind, filler or forced backtrackingThe campaign is short at about six to seven hours, and a large part of the endgame is spent backtracking before a weak final fight. Source: eurogamer.net.
- Camera or movement fights the playerEnemies often join fights silently from behind, players can get stuck on scenery while surrounded, and the field of view can only be changed by editing script files. Source: eurogamer.net, pcgamingwiki.com.
How does it play for you today?