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Lost in the kaleidoscopic streets of New Eridu, many Proxies find themselves asking the same question: just how many chapters make up the main story of Zenless Zone Zero? With every update, HoYoverse adds fresh layers to this post-apocalyptic tale, and keeping track of where one stands in the grand narrative can be as tricky as navigating the Hollows themselves. This guide unspools the structure of Phaethon’s Story, laying out exactly what has been released, what each chapter contains, and how to check your personal progress in 2026.

The core narrative of Zenless Zone Zero is called Phaethon’s Story. Much like the Archon Quests in Genshin Impact or the Trailblaze Missions in Honkai: Star Rail, these chapters form the backbone of the game’s lore and character progression. They follow siblings Belle and Wise — the legendary Proxy duo known as Phaethon — as they juggle daily life on Sixth Street with hair-raising expeditions into the Hollows. But Phaethon’s tale is never a solo affair. Each chapter peels back the curtain on a different faction and its Agents, weaving their personal stakes into the siblings’ ever-deepening mystery.

When Zenless Zone Zero launched in 2024, the main campaign consisted of four distinct chapters, including the Prologue. Since then, version updates have steadily expanded the storyline, introducing new arcs and character spotlights. As of early 2026, the foundational pillars of the tale remain these initial four chapters, which set the tone for everything that follows. Every chapter takes roughly an hour to complete, mixing real-time conversations, comic-book-style cutscenes, rescue operations inside the Hollows, and free-roaming moments across the glittering yet dangerous districts of New Eridu. The narrative is not simply a linear marathon; it’s a measured drip-feed of revelations, each designed to make you question the true nature of the city and its enigmatic twin guides.

So what exactly do these original chapters cover? The Prologue wastes no time plunging players into the heart of the conflict. It establishes Belle and Wise’s roles as information brokers and introduces the Cunning Hares — a scrappy, unpredictable faction that quickly becomes entangled in the siblings’ lives. The tone is equal parts whimsical and ominous, setting up the central conflict surrounding the Hollows and the dark secrets they hold.

Chapter 1 shifts the spotlight to Nekomata, the Red Fang Gang, and the shadowy Vision Corporation. Here, the story takes a sharp turn towards corporate espionage and street-level power struggles. Players get their first taste of how economic titans manipulate New Eridu’s chaos, and they begin to grasp the moral complexity that underpins every faction’s motives. Can a Proxy truly remain neutral when the city’s balance hangs by a thread?

In Chapter 2, Belobog Industries takes center stage. This heavy-industrial powerhouse provides some of the most dramatic set pieces in the early game, pitting the ingenuity of Phaethon against massive machinery and rigid bureaucracy. The chapter doesn’t just develop lore — it also forces the siblings to confront their own limits, adding a layer of raw vulnerability to the otherwise cool-headed Proxies.

The climax arrives with Chapter 3, where the genteel facade of Victoria Housekeeping crumbles to reveal a much darker reality. What begins as a seemingly straightforward commission involving maids and butlers spirals into a confrontation that reshapes how players view the entire city. The true nature of this "housekeeping" organization is laid bare, delivering some of the most emotionally charged moments in the entire storyline. Are appearances meant to deceive, or did the signs lurk in plain sight all along?

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For anyone wondering whether they have missed a chapter or accidentally skipped a story beat, the game offers a straightforward way to check your status. Navigate to the main menu and select Inter-Knot Level. From there, switch to the Schedule tab. The Schedule not only displays your current chapter in Phaethon’s Story but also tracks Agent-specific story commissions and side narratives. This tool is invaluable for completionists who refuse to let any piece of the puzzle slip through their fingers.

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Beyond these four foundational chapters, HoYoverse has demonstrated a clear commitment to expanding the world through regular updates. Proxy guides, seasonal events, and Agent companion quests all add supplementary chapters that enrich the central theme. The question "How many chapters does Zenless Zone Zero have?" is therefore not a static one; it evolves alongside the game itself. What remains constant is the meticulous storytelling and the promise that each new chapter will pull players deeper into the enigma of New Eridu. Stay sharp, keep your Inter-Knot account up to date, and never stop asking what lies beyond the next Hollow.