Nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-like properties (nanozymes) have attracted growing interest owing to their striking merits over the traditional enzymes, such as low cost, easy surface modification, high stability and robustness, and tunable activity. These features enable them to be considered as a potent substitute for natural enzymes to construct novel analytical platforms to detect various analytes from small molecules to proteins and cells. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the design strategies using nanozyme catalytic mediated signal amplification for sensing applications. The progress of nanozyme-based analytical systems in the detection of different types of analytes, including ions, small biomolecules, biomacromolecules and others, is summarized. Furthermore, the future challenges and opportunities of nanozyme-based analytical methods are discussed.