ZZZ’s Spooky Funhouse Tales hands out a free W-Engine and Polychromes before the 3.4 crossover
A free W-Engine before the crossover
October 22 is the date to remember if you play Zenless Zone Zero without spending much. That is when Spooky Funhouse Tales opens at the HIA Club, and it brings one of the few W-Engines you can pick up without pulling. The Candlelit Scheme is event-exclusive, so it is only available while the event is live.
The timing matters. Version 3.3 went live on 2026-10-21 with Agents Phoenix and Severian plus a new mech combat system. Spooky Funhouse Tales sits right after that heavy patch and offers something lighter. You out-scare enemies in a virtual funhouse instead of fighting them head-on. No best-in-slot gear required, just a plan. For more on the current update and the wider game, check our Zenless Zone Zero hub.
Where to start and who can join
Find Patsy at the HIA Club and talk to her. She drops you into a VR game where the Trickmobile is your main tool. The event runs from 2026-10-22 10:00 to 2026-11-30 03:59, server time, which works out to just over five weeks.
Two requirements stand between you and the funhouse. Your Inter-Knot level must be at 20, and you need to have cleared the Chapter 1 Intermission section of the main story. Miss either one and the event stays locked. For most accounts that have been playing a while, this is a low hurdle. If you are short on either requirement, close that gap before 2026-10-22.
Mission Mode first, then the score chase
The event splits into Mission Mode and Challenge Mode, and they open in that order.
Mission Mode holds three themed stages that unlock one after another. In each one, you plan scare tactics and steer the Trickmobile to frighten the enemies wandering the funhouse. Routing and timing decide the outcome more than raw combat power, so a freshly built account can keep up with a veteran one.
Clear the missions and Challenge Mode shows up. The goal shifts. You stop chasing stage clears and start stacking the highest Fright score you can manage. It is a leaderboard-style chase, so the top of the score table becomes the target. Starting early gives you more time to push that number, though with over five weeks on the clock there is no real rush.
The reward list, with one honest caveat
Advancing event commissions and finishing stages pays out in several directions:
- Candlelit Scheme, an event-exclusive W-Engine
- Prankster and Mischievous, two Proxy accessories
- Hamster Cage Pass
- Polychromes
- Upgrade materials
Here is the honest caveat. Official materials do not state exact quantities for any of these rewards. You know what you are getting, but not how much, until the event itself shows the numbers.
Who should make time for this
F2P players have the most to gain. The Candlelit Scheme and the Polychromes are the main draws. If you are saving currency for the 3.4 crossover, this event is a steady extra income stream.
Low-spend players should keep expectations measured. Without official stats on the W-Engine, treat it as a bonus. It might fill a niche for a specific character, but it is not worth stressing over either way.
Players who like to squeeze maximum value can follow a simple order. Clear all Mission Mode stages to open Challenge Mode, then refine your Trickmobile routes to push Fright scores higher.
The crossover that is still a question mark
The 3.4 crossover featuring Kafka and Robin was announced during the 3.3 Special Program, and that is roughly all we know so far. Details remain scarce, and the standing label on them is unconfirmed. For everything we know about the current patch and what comes after, our Zenless Zone Zero coverage is a good starting point.
Their roles, elements, and combat kits are unconfirmed and subject to change.
Whatever your reason for joining, the clock is the same for everyone. Spooky Funhouse Tales closes at 03:59 server time on 2026-11-30, and the Candlelit Scheme W-Engine goes with it.