Atom Zombie Smasher

About

In "Atom Zombie Smasher," command mercenaries to rescue survivors and wipe out zombies in a procedurally generated city. Use helicopters, mortars, and mines as you strategize and plan your next move. Experience different scenarios, intense replayability, and ever-evolving challenges as you strive to exterminate the zombie threat in this thrilling real-time strategy game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,371 reviews

gameplay178 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

Unique blend of real-time strategy and tower defense mechanics, providing a fresh take on the zombie genre.
Highly replayable with customizable difficulty settings and a variety of mercenaries to use in each mission.
Quirky art style and engaging soundtrack that adds to the overall charm of the game.

Can be frustratingly difficult, especially if the random selection of mercenaries doesn't favor the player.
Gameplay can feel repetitive after a while, with limited variety in missions and objectives.
Some technical issues, particularly with compatibility on modern systems, can hinder the gaming experience.

gameplay
460 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
60%
1%
The gameplay of "Atom Zombie Smasher" is characterized by its unique blend of strategy and tower defense mechanics, requiring players to plan routes and deploy units to rescue civilians from zombie hordes. While the core mechanics are engaging and addictive, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, lacking depth and variety in objectives. The game offers a customizable experience with various settings and mods, enhancing replayability, but some players feel that the randomness of unit availability can undermine strategic planning.
- “The gameplay mechanics, which involve planning routes and deploying various units, add a layer of strategy to the experience.”
- “Atom Zombie Smasher features addictive and fully customizable gameplay with a backdrop dripping with style and worldbuilding.”
- “The gameplay is quick and pressure nicely builds up as the zombie hordes push forward.”
- “While the concept is intriguing, the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacking in depth.”
- “I don't recommend this; the gameplay is repetitive and the units you buy and have available to you each month are completely random, making planning a strategy a worthless task; this game is more about mitigating your losses than anything else.”
- “It doesn't explain some of its main mechanics very well and it can get a bit repetitive after a few hours.”
story
434 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The story of "Atom Zombie Smasher" is largely considered nonsensical and fragmented, presented through quirky comic-style vignettes that add a humorous touch but lack coherence. While the game is set in a zombie-infested world where players strategize to rescue survivors, the narrative is often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics, making it feel more like a backdrop than a central focus. Overall, players appreciate the absurdity and charm of the storytelling, even if it doesn't provide a deep or engaging plot.
- “Set in a world overrun by a zombie plague, players must guide their team of elite soldiers through a series of strategic missions, rescuing survivors and protecting them from hordes of undead attackers.”
- “While the people you save are abstracted away as colored squares on a map, each mission typically 'unlocks' a short strip telling a personal story about a normal guy, a survivor, or el presidente, typically with a comedic twist and pop references.”
- “The bizarre storyline is in fact pretty entertaining, and it doesn't add any negative elements to a game more loaded with strategy than it seems.”
- “The story is complete nonsense, and the upgraded artillery is so powerful most late game maps end up as piles of rubble as you collateral damage your way through, but it's all part of the anarchic charm.”
- “The 'story', such as it is, is nonsensical rubbish.”
- “The story is told randomly through disconnected vignettes that are unlocked through play, and really do not affect the game.”
graphics
322 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The graphics of "Atom Zombie Smasher" are predominantly minimalistic and simplistic, often described as basic sprites or dots representing characters and environments. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and find it charming, others criticize the visuals for being monotonous and lacking depth. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay over graphics, which many reviewers agree is effective in delivering an engaging experience despite the visual limitations.
- “The game's graphics are simple but effective, with a retro aesthetic that recalls classic arcade games.”
- “Its minimalist graphics might put some people off but honestly, it gives the game a really unique and dreary atmosphere, almost like you're a military commander sitting in a control room and watching helplessly as dots that indicate civilians are slowly wiped off the map.”
- “The art style is unique, and the music is top notch.”
- “The graphics are simple, and the environments can become visually monotonous over time.”
- “While it has its moments of enjoyment, it falls short in terms of depth and variety, and its visuals and sound design leave something to be desired.”
- “Simple graphics and all but as-is, the game is simpler than many free-to-play flash games and not worth paying for or playing as a commercial game.”
music
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The music in "Atom Zombie Smasher" is widely praised for its catchy surf rock soundtrack, which complements the game's quirky aesthetic and humorous tone. While many players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for the game's lighthearted approach to the zombie apocalypse, some note a lack of variety, leading to potential repetitiveness over time. Overall, the music significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it memorable and engaging.
- “The soundtrack is superb and once you think you've finished with the game, other players have created lots of fantastic mods which add more playtime and gameplay options.”
- “The music is great and can really get you into the groove of the game and it really fits the style and overall silliness of the setting.”
- “The comic book narratives delivered between missions and groovy surf rock soundtrack are the icing on the cake.”
- “The sole soundtrack annoys the hell out of me.”
- “The art design is inspired, as are the music and sound effects, though the music will likely get a bit old as time goes on; there isn't any variety in the soundtrack.”
- “Overall it is a great little addictive strategy game, one word of warning though, it only has the one soundtrack, so if you don't like it, you may want to turn the music off altogether!”
replayability
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high potential due to customizable settings, various game modes, and mod support, while others find it lacking after a few playthroughs. Many reviews highlight that the enjoyment can vary significantly based on individual preferences for gameplay mechanics and the novelty of the experience. Overall, while some players report endless replayability, others suggest it may not sustain long-term interest.
- “This feature extends the game's replayability and ensures that there's always something new and exciting to discover.”
- “The game offers a great challenge and forces you to think in many ways how to beat a map, there's also great replayability in for example, adjustable length of the campaign, hardcore mode which prevents you from restarting the map if you fail, or faster zombies.”
- “Incredibly fun indie game, with heaps of replayability!”
- “I like the idea of this, but after one campaign I don't see much replayability.”
- “Not a ton of replay value; once you've beaten it a couple of times, there's not much more to see.”
- “My only complaint is the replay value is relatively low.”
humor
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky, offbeat style, often relying on random and absurd situations that can be both hilarious and unpredictable. While many players appreciate the unique comedic elements and engaging narrative, some find the humor can become repetitive or fall flat at times. Overall, the game successfully blends strategy with a lighthearted tone, making it an entertaining experience filled with amusing vignettes and unexpected twists.
- “Despite being made on a minimal budget, the game is fun, engaging, difficult, and has a great (and offbeat) sense of humor.”
- “The characters and events introduced are funny and original.”
- “It's an enjoyable little minimalist game that manages to be both extra funny and extra gruesome at the same time due to its small abstract graphics.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
12%
13%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its eerie, atmospheric soundtrack and unique minimalist graphics, which create a compelling and dreary setting that enhances the gameplay experience. While some may find the graphics underwhelming, the overall stylization and rich backstory contribute to a memorable atmosphere, making it one of the most atmospheric games of its kind. The combination of dark themes and engaging audio-visual elements results in a captivating environment that keeps players immersed.
- “The soundtrack is equally impressive, with an eerie, atmospheric score that perfectly matches the game's dark, dystopian setting.”
- “Its minimalist graphics might put some people off, but honestly, it gives the game a really unique and dreary atmosphere, almost like you're a military commander sitting in a control room and watching helplessly as dots that indicate civilians are slowly wiped off the map.”
- “Awesome atmosphere, audio/visuals, and presentation/composition for a top-down game of dots.”
- “Most zombie apocalypse games have dark and gritty atmospheres to create a horror setting.”
- “Although the graphics and presentation aren't awe-inspiring, the atmosphere and stylization work for this game.”
- “With a rich (and ludicrously funny) backstory that sometimes makes no sense at all, along with vignettes (unlocked as you progress through the campaign) that attempt to capture the atmosphere of the game, Atom Zombie Smasher is... a smash.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be imbalanced and often tedious, particularly for achievement hunters who face the challenge of accruing large amounts of kills with various weapon types. While some enjoy the strategic elements, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of grinding, suggesting that custom levels can alleviate some of the grindiness. Overall, the game is seen as fun but can become overly grindy, especially when aiming for 100% completion.
- “Imbalanced gameplay; tedious and frustrating.”
- “If you're an achievement hunter like me, this game gets very tedious due to having to accrue very large amounts of kills with every weapon type.”
- “+steam achievements - really grindy, hard to get 100%.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced issues launching the game, often requiring additional software to mitigate these problems. Overall, the current version is described as "buggy and broken," impacting the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The current version is buggy and can crash on launch without the proper software (made available in the support site).”
- “This game is awful; it freezes every time I try to start it up. I've tried it on multiple PCs and it never works.”
- “I've also begun to run into a few glitches (crashes), which make playing it challenging.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting minor bugs and performance issues, particularly on older hardware, leading to overheating. While some players noted that performance can be great, others experienced random variances in unit effectiveness that impacted gameplay. Overall, improvements in optimization are needed to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Performance is obviously great.”
- “Throughout the missions your mercenaries gain experience based on their performance (which will be largely dependent on the player's effective utilization of them).”
- “I did encounter a few minor bugs and there are some performance issues.”
- “There's also random variance in the performance of your units; soldiers can miss, and your mortars can go off-target, ruining that hail mary shot you needed to save the day.”
- “Apparently Atom Zombie Smasher is badly unoptimized, because it caused my 2007 MacBook to overheat and reboot.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes intense emotional release, likening the experience to confronting deep-seated trauma and abuse. This powerful metaphor highlights the game's ability to resonate with personal struggles and provide a cathartic experience.

70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Atom Zombie Smasher
Eurogamer.net
70%

Buy Atom Zombie Smasher

30h Median play time

25h Average play time

5-40h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

89%3.6kreviews

Infested Planet

2014

Tactical Real-time Strategy

89%2kreviews

Warpips

2022

Tactical Real-time Strategy

97%3.7kreviews

Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal

2014

Real-time Strategy

80%5.4kreviews

Bad North

2018

Casual Real-time Strategy

+12

91%22.1kreviews

Into the Breach

2018

Role Playing

+12

Atom Zombie Smasher Tweets

Atom Zombie Smasher

Platforms

About