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About Zero-K
Zero‑K is a free, physics‑driven real‑time strategy where players build massive robots, armies of tiny “fleas”, and reshape battlefields. The game features a galaxy‑spanning solo campaign, co‑op missions, and a variety of multiplayer modes ranging from 1v1 ladders to 16v16 team battles.
All units and projectiles obey realistic physics, letting players use terrain, gravity guns, and construction tools to out‑maneuver opponents. With over a hundred unit types and extensive map‑editing freedom, Zero‑K encourages creative tactics and long‑term community‑driven evolution.
01 / THE GUIDE
Physics‑Based Combat
Every unit and projectile in Zero‑K follows a simulated physics model, making speed, trajectory, and terrain interaction crucial. Players can dodge slow projectiles, hide behind hills that block line‑of‑sight, and even fling units with gravity guns.
The terrain itself reacts to combat: craters slow tanks, bridges can be built, and players can dig canals for naval strikes. This dynamic environment adds a layer of strategy rarely seen in RTS titles.
- Use hills to block enemy radar and line‑of‑sight.
- Experiment with gravity guns to reposition key units quickly.
02 / THE GUIDE
Single‑Player Campaign & AI
Zero‑K offers a 70+ mission galaxy‑spanning campaign that can be played solo or with friends in co‑op. The AI is described as challenging without cheating, providing a solid single‑player experience.
A survival mode pits players against waves of alien “chicken‑monsters”, and the campaign lets you discover new technologies while exploring diverse planets.
- Try co‑op to share unit production and terrain work.
- Use the survival mode to practice handling large enemy waves.
03 / THE GUIDE
Multiplayer Modes
Zero‑K supports a range of multiplayer experiences: 1v1 ladder matches, 16v16 team battles, free‑for‑all, and cooperative play against AI or chicken‑monster waves. Ladders, replays, spectators, and tournaments are built into the service.
The game also features PlanetWars, an online competitive campaign with diplomacy and backstabbing, currently on hiatus pending an overhaul.
- Watch replays to learn opponent positioning.
- Join PlanetWars when it returns for a strategic meta‑game.
04 / THE GUIDE
Construction & Terrain Tools
Players have unrestricted camera control and can queue construction priorities for builders. Units can be ordered to form any painted shape, and builders can erect ramps, bridges, or entire fortresses.
Advanced tools let you transport massive ships onto hills, dig canals, or even burn a portrait into the planet’s crust using the planetary energy chisel.
- Prioritize builder queues to speed up fortification.
- Paint formations to coordinate large unit groups efficiently.
05 / THE GUIDE
Unit Variety & Abilities
Zero‑K features over 100 distinct units with abilities such as cloaking, jumpjets, EMP, gravity guns, and self‑replication. Unique units include flea swarms that cling to walls, steam‑spike “cans”, and carriers with helicopters.
Combining these abilities—like cloaking with teleport or jumpjets with gravity guns—creates endless tactical possibilities and surprising synergies on the battlefield.
- Mix cloaking and jumpjets for hit‑and‑run tactics.
- Test unconventional combos in custom matches.
COMMUNITY
Player discussion