# Punishing vs Zenless Zone Zero

The clearest difference is ads: Punishing at none against Zenless Zone Zero's shown. Zenless Zone Zero's advantage is chart position (#29 vs #113). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Punishing sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Zenless Zone Zero sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Punishing against 4.1 for Zenless Zone Zero. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.7K and 22K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of Punishing's written reviews are positive against 60% of Zenless Zone Zero's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Punishing | Zenless Zone Zero |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (8.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/punishing-gray-raven/id1571685286/reviews)** | [4.1 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zenless-zone-zero/id1606356401/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8.7K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **65.2% of reviews** | 59.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #113 | **#29** |
| Size | 3.7 GB | 3.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [KURO TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) CO., LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571685288) | [COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599719156) |

## What reviewers say

### Punishing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/punishing-gray-raven/id1571685286)

**Currently charting:** #113 Top Grossing · Action, #176 Top Grossing · Role Playing (US App Store)

Lead an elite task force against a mechanical army in this fast-paced sci-fi action RPG. Assemble powerful cybernetic soldiers, master fluid combat, and uncover the secrets of a virus threatening humanity's survival.

**Highlights:** Lightning-fast combat, Real-time 3D control, Squad member switching, Dazzling combo system, Dystopian sci-fi story, Explore fallen planet environments, Stylized post-human aesthetic

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Rainbow Card | $0.99 | one-time |
| 28 Rainbow Card | $4.99 | one-time |
| 34 Rainbow Card | $5.99 | one-time |
| 59 Rainbow Card | $9.99 | one-time |
| 71 Rainbow Card | $11.99 | one-time |
| 119 Rainbow Card | $19.99 | one-time |
| 299 Rainbow Card | $49.99 | one-time |
| 600 Rainbow Card | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Unique characters
- 💎 Generous free-to-play model
- 🎨 Impressive visuals and soundtrack
- 🔥 Addictive combat system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Confusing UI and menus
- ⏱️ Slow progression and stamina system
- 💰 Expensive monetization practices
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🌐 Unequal treatment between global and other servers

**Reported bugs**

- Account resets after updates
- Unresponsive controls and camera issues
- Difficulty spikes in certain missions

**Requested features**

- Improved co-op mode
- More cinematic story cutscenes
- Faster stamina recovery
- Controller support optimization
- Consistent rewards across all servers


### Zenless Zone Zero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zenless-zone-zero/id1606356401)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Grossing · Action, #38 Top Grossing · Role Playing, #93 Top Free · Role Playing, #193 Top Free · Action (US App Store)

Embark on an urban fantasy adventure in a near-future world threatened by mysterious "Hollows." Assemble a squad, engage in fast-paced 3D combat, and explore a city teeming with diverse factions. Your role as a Proxy is crucial to navigating these dangerous dimensions and uncovering the secrets of this unique world.

**Highlights:** Fast-paced 3D combat, Squad building, Unique visual style, Engaging storyline, Faction interactions, Exploration of New Eridu

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monochrome ×60 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Eridu Welcome Gift | $0.99 | one-time |
| Limited Gift | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hollow Navigator Supply | $2.99 | one-time |
| Special Bundle | $3.49 | one-time |
| Monochrome ×300 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Inter-Knot Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sincere Invitation Gift | $4.99 | one-time |
| Growth Plan | $9.99 | one-time |
| Favored Invitation Gift | $9.99 | one-time |
| Monochrome ×980 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Limited Gift | $14.99 | one-time |
| Exclusive Invitation Gift | $14.99 | one-time |
| Premium Plan | $19.99 | one-time |
| Monochrome ×1980 | $29.99 | one-time |
| Monochrome ×3280 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Monochrome ×6480 | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and fluid combat
- 👍 Unique and expressive character designs
- 🎨 Beautiful art style and animations
- 📚 Engaging story and character interactions
- 🎮 Satisfying parry and combo mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Overwhelming amount of dialogue and cutscenes
- 🔌 Game takes up a lot of storage space
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and performance issues
- 🎮 Repetitive and monotonous gameplay loop
- 🕹️ Forced character swapping can disrupt flow

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on launch for some users
- Compatibility issues on certain devices
- Graphical glitches and visual bugs
- Progression-blocking bugs in story missions

**Requested features**

- More open-world exploration
- Streamlined progression and less grinding
- Improved optimization for older/lower-end devices
- Increased variety in gameplay modes and activities
- Addition of more male characters with diverse designs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Punishing free?

Punishing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Zenless Zone Zero free?

Zenless Zone Zero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Punishing or Zenless Zone Zero?

Punishing is rated higher. Punishing averages 4.2 out of 5 from 8.7K ratings, while Zenless Zone Zero averages 4.1 from 22K ratings.

### Do Punishing or Zenless Zone Zero have ads?

Zenless Zone Zero shows ads; Punishing does not.

### Which is updated more often, Punishing or Zenless Zone Zero?

Punishing ships an update every 6 weeks, and Zenless Zone Zero every 6 weeks. Most recently, Punishing was updated on October 30, 2026 and Zenless Zone Zero on October 29, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Punishing or Zenless Zone Zero?

Punishing currently peaks at #113 in the App Store charts, and Zenless Zone Zero at #29. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*