Spoiler-light practical guide
Zero Parades early game walkthrough
This walkthrough covers the opening safe house and first leads without revealing late-game answers. Follow the checklist to stay oriented in the first 1-3 hours.
Quick Answer
In the safe house, inspect Pseudopod, check the jacket and stereo, take the red disc, check bathroom and desk, then speak with Constance before following the Bootleg Bazaar lead.
Spoiler-Light Hint
When the game gives you a new name, ask: person, faction, place, or object? Categorizing names is half the early-game work.
Full Guide
Safe house checklist
Inspect every interactive object in order: Pseudopod (your handler/interface), the jacket (check purchase order), the stereo (take the red disc), the bathroom (inspect trousers), and the desk (cipher clue and documents). Missing any of these can make early dialogue harder.
Talk to Constance
Before leaving the safe house, speak with Constance thoroughly. She provides context on your mission, early faction names, and safe navigation advice. Ask every available question before moving on.
Bootleg Bazaar
Follow the Bootleg Bazaar lead first. It is the safest early area with the most tutorial-like encounters. You will meet several recurring characters and learn the check system in a low-pressure environment.
First network pass
Record names, loyalties, and contradictions in your notes. Do not commit to strong interpretations yet. The opening hours teach you the game's clue language.
Before spending upgrades
Wait until you have seen 3-4 different check types before investing skill points. Early hoarding prevents panic spending on skills that never matter for your route.
Recommended first route order
Use this order if you feel lost: Safe House full inspection, Constance briefing, Quisach check-in, Bootleg Bazaar conversations, Goat Eyes purchase decision, then branch into Foto 24 or Party Alley depending on whether you need the gun route or prybar route.
What to write down
Keep four note buckets: names, places, faction attitudes, and locked objects. When a clue repeats, move it from a loose note into a route priority. This makes later choices easier without spoiling yourself with full walkthroughs.
Save points in the opening
Manual save before leaving the safe house, before your first recruitment attempt, and before any 100 sol purchase. Use quick save for room-by-room exploration and routine checks.
Common Mistakes
- Following only the loudest objective.
- Forgetting faction names.
- Spending upgrades before repeated checks appear.
- Reading a failed check as the end of a route.
- Leaving the safe house without talking to Constance.
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FAQ
Is this walkthrough spoiler-free?
It is spoiler-light. It explains route habits and early priorities without listing late answers — for example, we tell you to inspect the stereo and take the red disc, but not what it unlocks later.
Where should I go first?
The Bootleg Bazaar is the safest first lead. It introduces the check system, Karolina, and the lockpick vendor (Goat Eyes, 30 sol) in a controlled low-pressure environment.
Can I miss content early?
Likely yes in small ways. The Mysterious Red Disc in the stereo can be missed. Constance's full briefing is easy to skip. The lockpick should be bought before any other 30+ sol purchase. Save before major decisions if you care about completion.
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Last updated: July 9, 2026