I still remember booting up Zenless Zone Zero for the first time in 2024 and being utterly captivated by the shattered world of New Eridu. Two years have passed, and I have spent countless hours guiding Proxies through the distorted dimensions known as Hollows. These aren't just dungeons on a map; they are apocalyptic scars on reality itself, and understanding them is key to surviving the game’s deepest challenges.

Hollows exist as rapidly expanding, sphere-shaped anomalies scattered across the globe. From the vantage point of a veteran Proxy, I see them as the game’s beating heart — a supernatural disaster that wiped out most of civilization and left New Eridu as humanity’s final stronghold. Whenever I accept a commission and dive into a new Hollow, I’m reminded that these colossal structures are alive with danger, always shifting and never forgiving.

What Makes a Hollow So Deadly?

The first thing any new player learns is that Hollows are not empty voids. They are teeming with Ethereals, the primary antagonists of Zenless Zone Zero. My early expeditions with Anby and Billy taught me humility fast. Some Ethereals shuffle slowly, mimicking weakness, only to unleash teleportation strikes or area-of-effect devastation. The unpredictability is exactly what keeps combat fresh even after hundreds of hours. Each trip into the Hollow forces me to adapt — a brute-force approach fails when an enemy can phase through your combo and hit your backline.

But Ethereals are just the tip of the iceberg. Government-issued survival guides, which I’ve practically memorized at this point, warn of mutated beasts, rogue Hollow Raiders, and desperate scavengers. The New Eridu City Survival Guide hints at even stranger presences: official personnel lurking in the shadows for undisclosed missions. I’ve often stumbled upon cryptic notes left by research teams, adding a layer of conspiracy that fuels the game’s lore. You never know whether the human figure you glimpse in the corrupted fog is a merchant, a thug, or someone with far darker intentions.

The Role of Proxies: More Than Just Guides

Here’s where my personal story intersects with the mechanics. In Zenless Zone Zero, players don’t directly become a fighter; we embody a Proxy — a guide specialized in navigating Hollows. At first, I thought Belle and Wise were just charming mascots, but their role is profoundly strategic. Every time I select a commission, I’m choosing how to escort clients through environments where corruption and mutation lurk around every corner. The Proxy system makes me feel responsible for the whole squad, not just a damage dealer.

My favorite part is how Proxies unlock personal narratives. A client might enter a Hollow seeking revenge, lost knowledge, or a simple extraction. As I guide them, I trigger side stories and hidden dialogues that flesh out factions like Belobog Heavy Industries or the cunning Victoria Housekeeping. It’s not just about combat — it’s about surviving the psychological maze of a world broken by disaster.

The Expanding Threat in 2026

Since launch, HoYoverse has expanded the Hollow concept with every major update. In the version 3.0 patch we got Corrupted Pylons that merge Hollows together, creating multi-layered labyrinths where even seasoned Proxies like myself have to relearn basic tactics. I spent a whole weekend just mapping one such fused Hollow with a squad from the Belobog faction, and the sense of discovery rivals any open-world game.

Additionally, the Ethereal roster has ballooned. New variants with illusion magic or gravity manipulation have made standard combat loops obsolete. I now check community compendiums before entering an Elite-level Hollow, something I never did in my first year. The game rewards adaptation, and the Hollows always provide fresh nightmares. Sometimes I’ll enter a low-level event Hollow expecting a quick clear, only to find a hidden boss that forces me to swap out my entire team composition.

A Personal Look at Hollow Exploration

What keeps me logging in daily, however, isn’t the loot — it’s the atmosphere. Hollows are unsettlingly beautiful. The distorted soundscapes, the way gravity warps near an Ethereal nest, and the city fragments suspended in mid-air all contribute to a unique aesthetic that no other HoYoverse game matches. Genshin Impact has its idyllic landscapes, and Honkai Star Rail offers cosmic vistas, but Zenless Zone Zero grinds it all into a stylish, post-apocalyptic jazz. Walking through a Hollow at night with a squad, I feel a genuine tension that makes the safe return to New Eridu’s streets feel like a victory.

The survival guide’s advice to trust your Proxy is more than flavor text. I’ve learned to read subtle arena signals — a flickering light means an ambush; a sudden silence indicates a mutation wave. After two years, I still make mistakes, but that’s the point. Hollows are meant to be incomprehensible, and the game never lets me forget that.

Looking Ahead

As 2026 rolls on, rumors of Hollow expansion into the Outer Ring area have me excited. Data miners suggest a new Hollow category — Sentient Dimensions that can alter their own rules mid-mission. If true, every piece of knowledge I’ve accumulated might need a rewrite. And honestly, that’s why I love this game. Hollows aren’t a static obstacle; they are a narrative engine that pushes both story and gameplay forward.

So, whether you are a rookie picking up the game for the first time or a veteran looking for deeper lore, dive into the Hollows with respect. Bring a balanced squad, listen to your Proxy, and never underestimate a sluggish Ethereal. The only certainty in the Hollows is that nothing is certain, and that unpredictability makes every expedition unforgettable.