Zone of the Enders, also known as Z.O.E, is a video game that was developed and published by Konami in 2001 for the PlayStation 2. It was produced by, and is closely associated with, Hideo Kojima. The game is based around mecha combat. The mechas were designed by Yoji Shinkawa, also the character and mechanical designer for the Metal Gear Solid series.

Z.O.E was initially released in most territories with a playable demo version of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the second installment of Kojima's popular stealth-based action game. Because of this association, initial sales figures could be counted as misleading as many buyers simply wanted the demo. Shortly before the game's release, the popular webcomic Penny Arcade wrote, "the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo will be released to stores very soon, and it even comes with some other game, which I thought was real nice of Konami." A great many copies of Z.O.E appeared on "pre-owned" shelves of major gaming stores when the full version of Metal Gear Solid 2 was released.

One sequel exists, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (known as Anubis: Zone of the Enders in Japan), also for the PlayStation 2. There was also a spin-off turn-based strategy title named Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars for the Game Boy Advance.

Two anime series were produced: a film direct-to-video story titled ZOE: 2167 IDOLO, set prior to the events of the first game at an event called the "Deimos Incident" (It was originally created as a part of premium for a "Special Edition" release of the first ZOE game, and to supply some of the game's back story), and a 26-episode television series titled ZOE: Dolores, i. Both anime series were animated by Sunrise, the Japanese animation studio best known for the legendary Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise.

All three games, and both anime series have been commercially released outside of Japan.

While ZOE focusses mostly on the loss of innocence of a child faced with having to kill to survive, "IDOLO" and "The Fist of Mars" explore issues surrounding colonialism, independence, political and personal power and ambitions, and revenge -- many of the same themes explored in the various Mobile Suit Gundam series. "Dolores, i" adds the emotional conflicts and tensions of a family, split by distance and circumstance, as they try to come together to overcome their differences in the face of an impending conflict.

It must be noted that Dolores,i & Fist of Mars are officially regarded as part of the ZOE history (with Kojima's consent). Based during late 2172-73 and in FOM it highlights the beginning of Bahrams oppression of Mars and its moons.

- From Wikipedia