Independent game studio · Since 2017

Stories that stay with you.

Return 0 Game Studio creates atmospheric, story-driven games where character, consequence and mystery take center stage.

Explore our work ↓

Now in productionShining: Block 21

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Watch

Stories in
motion.

Step inside the worlds we build. Selected trailers, captured from our games and immersive projects.

01 / In production

Shining: Block 21

Psychological crime thriller

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Original games

Our games

Distinct worlds. Human stories.
Experiences built with intent.

In production

Psychological crime thriller

Shining:
Block 21

A detective sees evidence. A fanatic sees prophecy. Sometimes they are looking at the same thing. Detective Matthew Woods enters a murder investigation where evidence, memory and an occult conspiracy begin to overlap.

Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Target: Q4 2026
Platforms: Steam · Xbox

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Released

Point & click puzzle adventure

About a Boy

About a Boy tells the story of a boy in a future time when, following his destiny, he inevitably enters a dark future city where there is no human being in the sense of the word.

Engine: Unity
Target: June 2023
Platforms: PC · macOS

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Get the game

03 / VR

Immersive work

Virtual
reality

Interactive VR projects built around presence, spatial storytelling and purposeful simulation.

01 Real-location VR simulationSaudi Arabia VR ProjectExplore project ↗

02 Immersive training simulationShooting Range VR ProjectExplore project ↗

Beyond the current slate

Future
projects

New worlds are already taking shape with the same story-first discipline.

01 · In development

Explore project ↗

OPTICAL ARRAY 24 NODES LOCKED

PIPELINESHOGUN / LIVE

CAPTURE STATE SOLVE READY

24-CAMERA OPTICAL VOLUME VOLUME READY

Performance capture

Performance,
captured.

Return 0’s in-house Vicon motion capture studio brings physical performance directly into our production pipeline. Using Vicon Vantage V16 cameras with Shogun Live and Shogun Post, we capture full-body movement for grounded, cinematic character work.

0124 × Vicon Vantage V16

02Full-body performance capture

03Shogun Live + Shogun Post

STUDIO RENTALPlan your capture session

Tell us what you need and our team will reply with availability, preparation requirements and a tailored quote.

RETURN 0 / STORY FIRST

The studio

Small team.
Big feeling.

Return 0 is an independent game studio and the creator of Shining: Block 21 and About a Boy. We combine interactive storytelling, purposeful design and performance capture to build cinematic worlds that feel intimate, unsettling and alive.

Story firstHuman performanceAtmosphere with purpose

The people behind the stories

Farzam Menbari

CEO-Director

Game developer since 2009, with experience creating games for both independent studios and game companies. Projects include About a Boy, Shabgard, and Shining: Block 21, alongside numerous private projects developed for game companies.

Helya Rahmani

Lead Level Designer | 3D Garment Designer

Level Designer with 2+ years of experience in game development, specializing in immersive environments and engaging gameplay. Background in 3D clothing and fashion design, with a strong focus on creativity, visual storytelling, and detail.

Nima Yadegar

Lead Programmer

Computer Engineering student passionate about game development, problem-solving, and building gameplay systems with Unreal Engine. Always eager to learn and work as part of a team.

Navid Yadegar

Texture Artist | Animator

I'm a passionate game developer with hands-on experience in texturing, level design, and 3D environment creation, combining artistic creativity with technical problem-solving to build immersive worlds. Currently expanding my skills in Vicon motion capture post-processing and animation cleanup.

Sama Ahmadi

3D Modeler | Texture Artist

I have 1.5 years of experience working at Return 0 Game Studio. I mainly work with Blender, creating 3D models, textures, and game assets.

Hesam Hesami

Cinematic

Video editing and color grading, Creative professional with 2.5+ years of experience in animation, specializing in storytelling, screenwriting, character design, and storyboarding. Currently working as a Cinematic Designer and Video Editor in the game development industry, focused on cinematic sequences and visual storytelling.

Remote/project-based colleagues

Model, Plugin, Marketing

Stories that stay with you.