Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid is an open-world post-apocalyptic survival game developed by The Indie Stone. I started playing Project Zomboid in 2011 when they released the first Tech Demo, which I still have on my PC. I was specifically looking for an open-world zombie survival game with NPCs (Kate and Bob were in the Tech demo) and came across this game by searching for those terms on Google.

Zomboid began with a simple isometric graphic style that I immediately liked. Over time, the developers remade all the graphics to be more 3D, which I initially liked less but have grown to love; it really fits the game. The main mechanics and features of Project Zomboid include building a base, exploring the world, killing zombies, looting, and interacting with NPCs and later with multiplayer RP. Although I rarely RP with people online, I preferred to play the game solo.

The sound design in Zomboid is a mixed bag. While some aspects are great, others are less impressive. However, the music is overall very fitting to the post-apocalyptic theme, and the developers did a great job with that.

Project Zomboid excels in creating a realistic and unforgiving post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The survival aspect is particularly well-done, with a depth reminiscent of games like Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (CDDA). However, the game could improve in several areas. The NPCs and solo player experience need enhancement, and the speed of updates has been frustratingly slow. Despite purchasing the game in 2011, it is not even halfway done in 2024. Additionally, more endgame content, quests, and ofcourse autonomous NPC would significantly enhance the game.

Pros: Freedom to do a lot of things, with great depth High replayability Extensive mod support

Cons: Slow update speed, with no NPCs even after over a decade of development Depth could be improved, necessitating alot of mods Promised complex and autonomous NPCs

Conclusion: I have enjoyed playing Project Zomboid over the years, primarily sticking to solo play because the public and some private servers are hard to get into RP-wise. In recent years, I haven't played much because of the slow pace of updates and the over-reliance on mods. The endgame is nonexistent, and I often find myself wondering what to do after setting up a base and clearing a town for the hundredth time.

The game gets stale quickly, leading players to reach for mods and then delve into the chaos of multiplayer RP. After doing that a few times, it becomes tiresome and boring, prompting a break from the game. This cycle repeats every few years, and I realize that nothing significant has changed or been added to keep me engaged. Did I win Zomboid? Perhaps, but the victory feels hollow without more substantial updates and content.

I would recommend Project Zomboid to anyone who enjoys deep survival mechanics and the thrill of a post-apocalyptic setting. However, patience is essential, as the game's development pace is extremely slow, and relying on mods is almost a necessity for a fulfilling experience.

Despite all its positives, I give this game a 6/10 because it remains unfinished after all these years.

As in the headline, this game is the outlier. It may not appear as anything special from the outside, but on the inside, it is a brutal, unforgiving experience. You are constantly walking along the edge of a razor at all times. Any mistake could be severely debilitating, or fatal. Your character isn't a genetic freak. The infection can (and will) infect them from direct contact with the infected through blood or saliva. You will need to constantly adapt and learn how to survive, as the Zombie threat is constant, looming, just waiting for you to slip up into demise. You can't get rid of the Zombies, they must become a way of life. Project Zomboid isn't a casual game, for the faint of heart. Is is brutal and unforgiving in any way it can be, and if you can think of it, it probably does it. You must be incredibly diligent to your characters health and needs. They need proper calorie intake, proper exercise, wounds need to be properly treated and disinfected, there is NO cure, but most of all, you need to keep your eyes and ears open at all times. There is no such thing as being "safe" in this game. A zombie can always break a few things to get to you, you might run out of food or water, or even just general supplies. You must constantly be on the watch at all times for Zombies to avoid being infected. Keep your eyes peeled, learn to think on your feet, and pack some spare food and water, and most importantly, be careful. All it takes is a bite...

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ This game is genuinely one of the best zombie survival games next to DayZ

Everything about this game is perfect, So ill put it in diffrent sections

PvE

Player vs zomboid, The games bread and butter, it goes from pushing and stomping to slicing and shooting, the game without modifications can be hard at first but thats the point. Another thing to mention is the timing of zomboid appearance. Imagine scavenging for something like nails in a store and turning the corner and seeing a group of 6 zomboids charging at you, what will you do? Run and hide, or fight with a risk of injury or death. I think out of nowhere moments like that show our take on fight or flight. A good moment of reward is coming across a katana, now there's less of a risk but still danger, because if you get stuck in a hallway of zomboids and get cornered, it's game over.

PvP

This is gonna be a short one due to lack of experience

PvP is like Zomboids with guns and melee weapons, think about stealing from a enemy base and getting into a car chase, thats where the best of PvP comes in, pure adrenaline. It also brings another issue for first-aid, bullet wounds, if shot you need to get the bullet out and bandage it ASAP, but it won't save you from being shot dead, bandages can only stop the bleeding, not your health.

Mechanics

From cooking food to building the next roman empire out of planks from a random chair, Project Zomboids mechanics are true realism with a hint of The Sims, you can get hypothermia, you cant sleep when in pain or extremely stressed, and you get hot when wearing to much clothes. A thing i tend to do is go to Louisville and take over a mansion and make it some sort of military base like the one from 28 Days Later, you can defend your base with walls but before you make one you have to make a base, which makes sense (obviously).

In the end I recommend Project Zomboid for everything since it can be modified to be perfect for you.

Bonus

Steam Workshop content

IT HAS MODS!!!

You can install mods for this in the workshop that can either add more guns or items like cassette tapes that play actual songs or add guns from video games and allow more mechanics, or you can modify the game to allow nudity for zomboids and the player (please use that in a respectful way.)

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