The Tales of Kenzera: ZAU demo has been released early

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
(Image credit: Surgent Studios)

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU had a demo release planned for Monday, February 5 until February 12 as part of Steam Next Fest, but it has been brought forward to make the demo available now. 

As announced on Twitter by Abubakar Salim, the founder of Surgent Studios: "We couldn't wait any longer, so we just decided to drop it." Alongside the announcement of the demo now being available on Steam, Salim encourages any players to share their feedback and thoughts about the experience. 

In addition to this, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is being livestreamed as part of Steam Next Fest so those curious about what the game offers can tune in to watch Abubakar Salim and a "close friend" play through the demo.

Regarding who this friend, Salim states: "you all know who he is, some more intimately than others." However, more details about this livestream are expected to be released soon. If you're curious, it's worth keeping an eye on Salim's Twitter/X page for any updates on who this mystery guest might be. 

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is scheduled to release on April 23, 2024, on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and PC. So, there's plenty of time to get to see what the demo has to offer before its full release and whether or not you've got what it takes to embark on the emotional journey the game will put forward. 

As we stated in our preview: "Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is more than just your average metroidvania," so if you're looking for an upcoming game worth keeping on your radar, and you're a fan of metroidvanias that push you to your limits, then this likely isn't one to miss.

If you're looking for some more high-stakes action while you wait for the full release of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, it's worth checking out our guide to the best roguelike games, alongside the best FPS games

Kara Phillips
Evergreen Writer

Kara is an Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming. With a degree in Journalism and a passion for the weird and wonderful, she's spent the last few years as a freelance video game journalist, with bylines at NintendoLife, Attack of the Fanboy, Prima Games, and sister publication, GamesRadar+. Outside of gaming, you'll find her re-watching Gilmore Girls or trying to cram yet another collectible onto a shelf that desperately needs some organizing.

Read more
A character in heavy armor bows toward the left of the frame
Phantom Blade Zero - everything we know so far
The promotional key art from Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.4.
I can't wait for Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.4, here's everything you need to know before it drops next week
The player engages a flying drone enemy in Metal Eden.
Metal Eden is an exhilarating mix of Doom and Ghostrunner, and my hands-on preview left me craving more
Pulchra Fellini in Zenless Zone Zero.
Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 will finally let you play as a furry gunslinger
A Jaguar racing around a track in Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 is getting a content-rich free demo almost three years after it came out
A screenshot of Hazel from South of Midnight holding a glowing bottle
South of Midnight could be the fantastic B-tier action adventure Xbox desperately needs
Latest in Gaming
Pulchra Fellini in Zenless Zone Zero.
Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 will finally let you play as a furry gunslinger
A D-pad in the PlayStation Plus logo
Sony is now issuing PS Plus compensation following the recent PSN outage
Assassin's Creed Nexus VR.
Assassin's Creed Nexus VR finally let me perform a leap of faith in virtual reality and I didn’t even throw up
An armed man walks away from a muscle car
Rockstar acquires studio behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition upgrades and L.A. Noire re-releases
A screenshot of the party members from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends Western gaming sensibilities with JRPG panache, in 2025’s weirdest role-playing game
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 4 (game #632)
Latest in News
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he signs an executive order to create a US sovereign wealth fund, in the Oval Office of the White House on February 3, 2025, in Washington, DC.
US set to pause cyber-offensive operations against Russia - but CISA says it won't stop
Web DDoS attacks see major surge as AI allows more powerful attacks
Pulchra Fellini in Zenless Zone Zero.
Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 will finally let you play as a furry gunslinger
Two hands holding the Tecno Spark Slim phone
The world’s thinnest phone was just revealed, but a new iPhone 17 Air leak suggests it could be even slimmer
Polish space agency says it was hit by a cyberattack
The new limited edition Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses show a translucent design.
Ray-Ban and Meta just teased new limited-edition smart glasses – but they'll be in frustratingly short supply