Indie Developer Claims Zenless Zone Zero Mirrors His Game Ouros: ‘They’re Essentially Identical’

Hoyoverse, known for its popular gacha titles like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, has faced accusations of borrowing ideas from other developers. Recently, game designer Michal Kamm took to Bluesky to highlight striking similarities between a minigame in Zenless Zone Zero and his own creation, Ouros.

In his video, Kamm showcases how both games share gameplay mechanics. In Ouros, players manipulate a track to guide a moving ball to hit numbered targets in sequence, with targets arranged in visually captivating patterns. Kamm also presented a glimpse of the Zenless Zone Zero minigame, which similarly involves bending a track around numbered targets.

Kamm pointed out that the parallels extend beyond just gameplay. The Zenless Zone Zero version includes design features found in Ouros, such as portals that teleport the ball back to the start, a button to reverse the ball’s direction, and a hint system that indicates the desired track shape. He noted that Ouros was released in 2024, while the Zenless Zone Zero minigame debuted during a limited-time event last year.

This isn’t the first time Hoyoverse has been accused of copying; another indie developer recently claimed that a minigame in Genshin Impact mirrored elements from their cartography game, Map Map – A Game About Maps. A clip shared on the r/indiegaming subreddit showed both games featuring a map marker descending from the sky when selecting a point on a map.

It’s common for games to draw inspiration from one another, and Hoyoverse’s titles often include minigames reminiscent of those found in Fall Guys or Vampire Survivors. However, Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact are two of Hoyoverse’s flagship gacha games, each boasting dedicated fanbases that are quick to defend them. Reactions to the allegations from Hoyoverse fans on social media have ranged from indifference to outright aggression towards the developers. Some fans have suggested that even if Hoyoverse did borrow ideas, it could serve as a marketing boost for the original creators. Kamm expressed frustration over having his work compared to another’s, stating that he made the video to address comments from Hoyoverse fans who claimed Ouros had copied Zenless Zone Zero.

Kamm and Hoyoverse have been contacted for their responses. Meanwhile, Ouros enjoys a strong rating on Steam with nearly 250 reviews, and Map Map has a playable demo available.