Zenless Zone Zero Sparks Controversy: Indie Dev Claims MiHoYo Copied His Puzzle Game!

Hold up, gamers! Just when everyone’s buzzing about MiHoYo’s upcoming action-RPG, Zenless Zone Zero, a bit of a storm is brewing. An indie game developer has stepped forward, claiming that a puzzle from ZZZ looks suspiciously like his own original creation, and he’s got the receipts to back it up!

Michael Kamm, the brains behind the indie puzzle game Ouros, recently dropped a video that’s got the internet talking. According to Kamm, MiHoYo, the powerhouse studio behind Genshin Impact, straight-up “copied” elements of Ouros and integrated them into Zenless Zone Zero. This particular puzzle apparently showed up in ZZZ sometime in 2025.

So, why is Kamm bringing this up now, you ask? Well, the plot thickens! He’s actually been accused by some folks of copying Zenless Zone Zero himself. Talk about irony! “When you’re a small indie developer and they’re a billion-dollar company, it’s easy for people to assume you copied them,” Kamm explained in his video. “But yaar, it’s frustrating when your hard work gets cloned and then credited to someone else!”

The video comparison is pretty compelling, showing off just how similar the two games are. Both Ouros and the ZZZ puzzle involve players manipulating curves in almost identical ways. But it’s not just the basic concept; Kamm points out “specific design choices” that seem to mirror each other. We’re talking about “curve portals” that zip the ball around the track, a very similar hint system, a reverse direction control, and even the hazy, flowing background aesthetic – it’s all there in both!

It’s tough to just write this off as a coincidence, especially when the details are so granular. While games often inspire each other (think how many ‘Vampire Survivors-likes’ popped up), these similarities go beyond mere inspiration.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time MiHoYo has faced such allegations. Back in April, Pipapo Games raised a similar alarm, accusing MiHoYo of copying their upcoming cartography game, Map Map, for Genshin Impact. Map Map had a demo out on Steam for about a year before this controversy, and the developers expressed their disbelief at seeing a giant in the industry seemingly replicate their unique idea just before their own launch.

Now, before you start thinking about big courtroom dramas, Kamm has clarified that he’s not planning any legal action. His main goal here is simply to “set the record straight” and make sure his original work gets the recognition it deserves. For indie developers, getting their voice heard against industry giants can be a monumental task, and situations like these highlight the ongoing challenges in game development copyright.

What do you guys think? Is this a case of genuine inspiration, or something more? Let us know in the comments!