Project Zomboid
- November 7, 2013
- The Indie Stone
- 55h median play time
Project Zomboid is a hardcore sandbox zombie survival game, with a focus on realistic survival and an emphasis on avoiding a relentless horde of zombies. The game features online multiplayer with persistent player-run servers, local 4-player split-screen co-op, and a vast, growing map to explore. It boasts in-depth visual and hearing systems, as well as a full line of sight system, for a truly immersive experience.
Reviews
- gameplay6,532 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Project Zomboid is characterized by its deep and intricate mechanics, offering a challenging and immersive survival experience in a zombie-infested world. Players must manage various survival aspects such as hunger, thirst, and mental health while navigating a complex system of crafting, combat, and character development. Although the game has a steep learning curve and can be punishing, especially for newcomers, many players find the rewarding gameplay and extensive modding community enhance the overall experience, making it a standout title in the survival genre.
“The game rewards learning and experimenting quite well. The mechanics themselves are rather interesting to pick up on, and the way your focus of what you need/want changes depending on your traits honestly feels really nice. Exploring a town for the first time is an experience I wish I could delete from my brain so I could go through it again.”
“Project Zomboid is an incredibly realistic zombie game that centers around one core gameplay loop: explore, kill zombies, loot, bring loot back to base, do cool things with your loot (build a water collector, a fence around your base, home decor, make a farm, set up hunting traps, fish, cook a pie, set up a generator, move a laundry machine into your base, set up plumbing using previous water collector, repair a car, sew leather patches into your clothes for better protection, paint your house, etc.).”
“The gameplay is fun, and I adore how the world changes. It's an honest challenge. The depth of its mechanics, including crafting, cooking, and medical systems, keeps you engaged for hours on end.”
“The gameplay is punishing so that you have to keep starting over, otherwise the game is over very quickly.”
“The mechanics are so realistic that it makes the gameplay tedious and unfun.”
“The game has a plethora of in-depth mechanics and it's still being updated and developed to this day.”
- graphics3,114 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of Project Zomboid have received mixed feedback from players, with many noting their retro, simplistic style reminiscent of early 2000s games like The Sims. While some players find the visuals charming and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others criticize them as outdated and lacking detail. However, a common sentiment is that the graphics do not detract from the game's depth and immersive gameplay, which is often highlighted as its strongest feature.
“The game’s isometric art style and gloomy atmosphere enhance the feeling of dread and isolation, and the sandbox nature offers endless replayability as no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“Don't let the graphics fool you; this game is a work of passion.”
“Despite its minimal graphics, I honestly think this is the best game I have ever played; no doubt if you don't own this game, you needed me to tell you that you were living under a rock.”
“Graphics - absolutely appalling”
“The graphics also leave a lot to be desired, especially given the price tag.”
“The graphics are terrible, I tried to play with a controller which it did work to an extent still had to use the mouse to click things.”
- story2,232 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Project Zomboid is primarily centered around emergent storytelling, where players create their own narratives through their characters' experiences in a zombie apocalypse. While the game lacks a traditional plot or structured missions, it emphasizes the inevitability of death, with each character's demise contributing to a unique story of survival. Players express a desire for more content, such as NPCs and quests, to enhance the storytelling experience, but many appreciate the freedom to craft their own tales within the game's detailed and immersive world.
“The tone of the game is rather nice; I enjoy that it's an experience where you're told from the get-go to expect death, and you're encouraged to treat every 'story' of your characters as unique.”
“Project Zomboid doesn’t just simulate a zombie apocalypse; it tells your story.”
“There's no environmental storytelling that draws you in.”
“Give me a story or some goals, otherwise it's survive for survival's sake and kind of boring and mundane after a few days.”
“This game isn’t about winning—it’s about surviving as long as you can and telling the story of how it all went wrong.”
- grinding1,262 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Project Zomboid" is frequently described as extremely tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive investment of time to level up skills and gather resources. While some enjoy the depth and realism of the grinding mechanics, others find it frustrating, especially given the game's permadeath feature, which can erase hours of progress due to a single mistake. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate detailed survival mechanics and are willing to endure the grind for the sake of long-term survival and character development.
“You'll need a second life for grinding - if you want to build bases in the game without mods.”
“It's not tedious, but does require some planning to keep that death screen away!”
“The zombies are hard, and the survival elements are realistic enough that it's fun but not tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grind to level up metalworking is so bloody tedious that I don't think I can face those next two levels.”
“The game is very lackluster, and when it's not lackluster it's too tedious to be enjoyable, everything from farming to building (two things that should be enjoyable, even if I have to grind to improve them).”
- replayability800 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
Project Zomboid is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with players noting that the game's open-world sandbox design, extensive character customization, and a robust modding community contribute to an almost infinite variety of gameplay experiences. Many reviews highlight that no two playthroughs are the same, thanks to the game's depth, procedural generation, and the ability to tailor settings and challenges. Overall, the combination of engaging mechanics and community-driven content ensures that players can enjoy countless hours of unique gameplay.
“This game has so much depth and replayability, such great mod support and community.”
“With continuous updates, an active modding community, and endless replayability, it’s a game that will keep you coming back for more.”
“The ability to customize the experience to be exactly how you want it via the sandbox options + the character building system + the amazing modding community means the game essentially has infinite replayability.”
“That being said, I have enjoyed my time with this game, but the flawed progression makes replayability impossible for me without serious changes.”
“Just doesn't have a lot of replayability, got bored after only 1280 hours.”
“The game is super fun for the first two weeks (with friends) and is replayable (for the first 2 weeks) but after the 2-week duration I just found the game repetitive and bland.”
- humor742 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Project Zomboid" is a standout feature, often described as dark and absurd, providing players with countless hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings. Players frequently share stories of comical deaths and mishaps, highlighting the game's ability to turn dire situations into laughable experiences. The combination of challenging gameplay and humorous elements creates a unique atmosphere where players can enjoy both the tension of survival and the absurdity of their circumstances.
“Just don’t forget to sharpen your axe... and your sense of humor.”
“It's certainly best with multiplayer and offers a sandbox perfect for creating all sorts of memories with your friends, often ending with one dying and the others laughing for minutes straight.”
“The moment you boot up Project Zomboid, it feels like the devs are laughing at you.”
“Funny zombie game (it's not funny, help me I die so much it makes me want to do bad things to my computer)”
“This game simply put has so much packed into its honestly unfunny.”
“Not funny at all”
- music670 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance immersion during tense moments. However, some find the soundtrack repetitive and suggest that it can become tiresome over extended play sessions. Overall, while the original music is appreciated for its emotional depth, many players recommend using mods to diversify the musical experience.
“The music is some of the most beautiful and at the same time haunting pieces of music I've ever heard from a game.”
“The desolate and haunting landscapes, coupled with the haunting soundtrack, create an immersive and chilling experience that keeps me on the edge of my seat.”
“The music, while minimal, is haunting and adds to the sense of dread.”
“The overall vibe of the game's music, while I love it, is very repetitive.”
“There isn't that many music tracks, so the soundtrack becomes rather repetitive and, dare I say, annoying.”
“The music in this game can be very moody and fitting, but I personally dislike the parts with the Middle Eastern music; it feels jarring and doesn't fit the game's atmosphere.”
- atmosphere621 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Project Zomboid" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting quality, effectively capturing the tension and isolation of a post-apocalyptic world. Players appreciate the game's isometric art style, sound design, and environmental storytelling, which together create a sense of dread and urgency as they navigate the challenges of survival. Despite its simple graphics, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest features, drawing players into a deeply engaging and often terrifying experience.
“The game's isometric art style and gloomy atmosphere enhance the feeling of dread and isolation, and the sandbox nature offers endless replayability as no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“From the moment you step into its bleak, zombie-infested world, you’re hooked by its tense atmosphere and deep mechanics.”
“Whether it's the creeping dread of an approaching horde or the satisfaction of scavenging that last can of food in a desolate town, Project Zomboid nails the atmosphere of a true zombie apocalypse.”
“The atmosphere of this game really sucks you in.”
“The atmosphere, progression, challenge, and replayability in this game is second to none.”
“The game's oppressive atmosphere really takes effect throughout the game, but the most impressive part of this game is that the game actually makes zombies a force to be afraid of.”
- stability495 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been a significant point of contention among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode. While some players acknowledge that these problems are expected in an early access title, they express frustration over the game's inconsistent performance and lack of timely updates or hotfixes. Despite these challenges, many still find the game enjoyable and worth playing, especially with friends, as long as they are willing to tolerate the ongoing instability.
“The gameplay is fun and keeps bringing me back; the game also runs great on my pretty low-end PC.”
“Fantastic game, constantly being updated with new features and keeping it bug-free.”
“It's incredibly bug-free, and bugs are fixed quickly.”
“It's a buggy sack of garbage.”
“In development for more than 10 years and it's still an incomplete buggy mess.”
“The game is very fun but it is quite buggy and will often crash when using an M1 MacBook.”
- optimization346 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from users, with many expressing frustration over performance issues, particularly on higher-end systems. While some players report smooth gameplay, especially in single-player mode, others experience significant lag, stuttering, and bugs, particularly in multiplayer scenarios or when using mods. Overall, there is a consensus that while the game is enjoyable and has potential, it requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance performance and stability.
“The optimization allows players to immerse themselves fully in the post-apocalyptic world without being hindered by technical issues.”
“Amazing game, million things you can do and pretty much optimized enough.. my PC thanks me for taking a break from Valheim.”
“The dynamic and changing world, coupled with retro-inspired graphics, creates a unique atmosphere that runs smoothly even on less powerful systems.”
“It's optimized like absolute garbage and the game looks like shit, but the game is very unique and scratches a special niche genre/audience that is neglected.”
“Its overall the funnest game I've played in a long time... that being said, it's really buggy and has terrible performance on my hardware which is a quad-core i7 4770 and it still struggles. I even have an RX 7600 XT 8GB model with 32GB of RAM and it can barely run without stuttering, and I seem to find that to be the most frustrating part of it.”
“The game has been in development for a decade now, and it's still not optimized.”
- emotional211 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players frequently expressing deep attachments to their characters, leading to genuine grief upon their inevitable deaths. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to heartbreak and despair, particularly when a character developed over many hours of gameplay meets a tragic end. The combination of survival mechanics and the emotional weight of character loss creates a unique and immersive experience that resonates strongly with players.
“This game made me cry 10/10 would recommend.”
“The emotional roller coaster this game puts you through is something to be experienced yourself.”
“It's one of the few games, if not the only one, that I've played that truly makes me want to care for my character in such a way that it's almost heartbreaking if you die.”
- monetization49 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 69 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and in-game purchases, which they see as a refreshing change from typical cash grab models. However, some users express frustration over the game's reliance on social media for access and advertising, while others criticize it for lacking essential features expected in modern games. Overall, the game is viewed positively for its commitment to a fair pricing model and regular updates without exploiting players financially.
“Overall, excellent game, no problems except for the update length, and no in-game purchases!”
“Not only is it 20 dollars, it has no microtransactions, it's extremely mod-friendly, it's a blast with friends, and it has a dedicated dev team that keeps up with the game to this date.”
“Clearly a passion project, no monetization insight, developers give updates on the state of the game regularly.”
“I wanted to like this game, but I just can't since it looks and feels like a mobile game without ads.”
“This is a total cash grab, just avoid it.”
“Making this more like a cash grab than anything else... you want money from gamers to 'beta' test your product... ok... I will find out every name on this project, and I will never buy anything that you ever work on again!!!!!!”
- character development45 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in Project Zomboid is highly praised for its depth and complexity, allowing players to create unique characters with distinct traits and backgrounds that significantly impact gameplay. The system rewards skill progression through practical experience, enhancing the survival experience and fostering a strong emotional connection to the characters. Despite some criticisms regarding character design aesthetics and pacing, the overall consensus highlights character development as a standout feature that enriches the game's immersive and challenging nature.
“The character development is top-notch, making you genuinely care about the virtual personas you control and interact with.”
“Project Zomboid offers a comprehensive character development system that adds depth to your survival journey.”
“Deep character development: each survivor possesses unique traits and backgrounds, adding depth and complexity to gameplay.”
“The slow pace and steady character development also means that games become less challenging the longer you play, so in similar fashion to Minecraft you need to start making up your own objectives.”
“Very slow pacing and character development, and the overall experience is very time-consuming and unrewarding.”
“This game suffers from flat, sometimes glitchy graphics, complicated gameplay, and a near-useless character design screen, but with the game being in alpha stage, these should be improved over time.”