Project Zomboid is fast becoming the talk of the town as the must-have title to play if you love zombie survival games. By all accounts, this game is looking like an overnight success since it launched its multiplayer mode this month. Few people realise however that this game has been around for nearly a decade.
The game was first released as a tech demo back in 2011 and enjoyed an official release in 2013. Although the game is still in Early Access on Steam, it is enjoying a massive following of gamers wanting a new zombie survival experience.
Set in a massive open-world full of vehicles, lootable towns and of course, the undead, Project Zomboid ultimately asks you one question, how will you die?
The game plays out in a post-apocalyptic world and you are stuck in a quarantine zone. You need to loot for food, weapons and other items that will help you survive. Sounds easy enough, but with hordes of zombies around, it won’t be long before you are sniffed out.
Crouching around corners, closing curtains and boarding up windows help you stay out of sight from prying eyes but remember, noise attracts the undead so keep things down while you loot and run around.
You start the game by choosing a character and creating a number of traits that will determine your capabilities in-game. You can also customise the look of your character, or just press the randomise button a few times until you see something you like. When you are ready, you’ll spawn in a random house in the town of your choosing; all the towns on the map are connected making for a massive area to explore as you try to delay the inevitable, the day that you will die.
To be honest, you’ll die often, especially the first few hours you play this game. But that is ok, you can pick a few safe houses, mark them on the map (heads-up, you’ll need to find a pen or pencil first to do so) and then stash your loot when your health starts to decline (usually after a zombie bite or scratch). You can find medical supplies to look after your health but survival is not guaranteed. When you respawn, you can head back to your safehouse and continue where you left off with your stashed loot ready and waiting.
As you explore the world, you can easily outwalk zombies but you also have the option to run when needed. This will use up stamina so be careful how and when you use it.
The game features a fun fighting mechanic but it’s always better with a weapon in hand, so get crafting and looting early. You’ll also find guns in the game, but they are less useful than you think. It’s better to use melee weapons, or if you have enough zombies around, burn them with fire. You can get really crafty.
To drive a car you’ll need to hotwire it or find a key. Some cars have the key in the ignition or glovebox so it’s worth exploring. To hotwire a car you’ll need to learn skills and this can be done by studying books found around the map. Then you also need to check if there is enough petrol in the tank. You can find some at the petrol stations dotted around the map.
Just be warned, the water and power get shut off after a while so you’ll need to find generators to keep things going.
The game is impressively intricate and a healthy modding community makes sure the gaps are filled with useful add-ons that add functionality or features to the game.
One of the best things about this game is the fact that it is relatively straightforward to play and to run. It can run on virtually any moderately specced computer, laptop, Mac and even Linux, and you’ll be guaranteed to lose a few hours as soon as you sit down to play.
Project Zomboid truly is one of the most fun zombie survival games I’ve played yet and it’s even better with a group of friends on your own server. Keep in mind it’s still in early access and there may be some bugs but don’t let that put you off, this game is a lot of fun for 150 bucks.