Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid (2013) is a zombie-infested open-world strategy game. It's a survival game that's designed to be really hard. In fact, the game's tagline is "no help is coming, how will you die?" You of course do your best not to die by looting houses, building defences and brutally killing zombies. It's unusual not only because of the difficulty but because it models the world in great detail.

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Play involves strategically investigating properties to find safety and resources. Great care is needed as zombies can both see and hear. If you get caught in the open you will be swarmed by hundreds of them. You can use shadows and line of sight to stay hidden.

As you progress more of the depth of the game becomes apparent. You'll find yourself turning off lights and hanging sheets over windows to avoid being spotted. Vehicles can move you around quicker, but make more sound and need fuel. You can use tools and items to craft weapons, barricade and cook. You can even build zombie proof forts by chopping trees, sawing wood and scavenging supplies.

Along with survival you also need to help your character deal with depression, boredom, hunger, thirst and illness. Having a hobby can help. Farming, fishing, carpentry, cooking and trapping are useful pursuits. To do well at these you need to practice and read up on the skills and perks you need. Then there are the changing seasons, faltering electricity, generators needing fuel and other impositions of the game world.

The result is an intricately detailed game that requires high skill, planning and the stomach for bone crunching, head squelching combat to survive. Although it is brutal, it's interesting because of the freedom (and complexity) it offers the player to survive their own way.

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Our examiner, Jo Robertson, first checked Project Zomboid 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 7 weeks ago.