World War Z
- September 21, 2021
- Saber Interactive Inc
- 53h median play time
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Get on Epic Games Store"World War Z: Aftermath" is a co-op third-person shooter game based on the film, where players battle swarms of hundreds of zombies in fast-paced gameplay across various locations worldwide. The game features a new first-person mode and gore systems for satisfying action. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and players must band together to defeat the horde and outlive the dead.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- story680 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "World War Z: Aftermath" is generally considered minimal and often overshadowed by the gameplay, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for the action rather than a compelling narrative. While the episodic structure allows for different settings and characters, the missions can feel repetitive, and the overall plot lacks depth, leading to a sense of disconnection between missions. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the basic storyline and character backstories, finding enjoyment in the cooperative gameplay and zombie-slaying action.
“The game's core campaign is divided into episodic chapters, each featuring a different group of survivors and storylines set in iconic cities.”
“While the story is minimal and primarily serves as a setup for the action, it effectively establishes the desperation and scale of the global outbreak.”
“Each mission chapter is crafted with thoughtful storytelling and different settings, which keeps gameplay fresh.”
“The missions began to feel repetitive, and without significant updates or new content, the game started to lose its appeal.”
“All the missions in this game are the same: either look for key cards or defend some base from zombie hordes, that's it.”
“Forgettable story: the narrative isn't strong or memorable, which might be a letdown for those looking for a decent campaign story.”
- gameplay560 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "World War Z" is characterized by its intense cooperative mechanics, reminiscent of "Left 4 Dead," featuring large hordes of zombies and a variety of character classes that enhance replayability. While many players appreciate the smooth controls, diverse weapon options, and engaging horde mechanics, some criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the AI's performance in solo play. Overall, the game offers a thrilling experience, especially when played with friends, but may feel lacking in depth and variety for solo players.
“The gameplay is incredibly fun, offering a large range of weapons to use and experiment with—not to mention the various versions of weapons you can unlock.”
“The co-op gameplay and the thrill of facing massive hordes of zombies with friends were exhilarating.”
“The game stands out for its innovative swarm engine, creating relentless hordes of zombies that react dynamically to player actions, providing a unique and challenging gameplay experience.”
“The maps are really good and the horde are too good, but the bad thing about it is the continuous connectivity issues and bad mechanics.”
“Boring gameplay, bad voice acting, blah visuals, absolutely terrible AI, and extremely repetitive.”
“The gameplay lacks depth, making it easy to get bored, which you can say is more of a personal preference.”
- graphics346 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the impressive visuals, detailed environments, and immersive atmosphere that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users report technical issues, such as graphical glitches and performance drops, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good to excellent, there are notable concerns regarding optimization and consistency across different systems.
“The graphics are stunning and the post-apocalyptic setting is incredibly atmospheric.”
“The visuals and sound effects added to the immersive experience, making every moment intense and engaging.”
“The game boasts impressive graphics and well-designed levels that keep players engaged throughout the campaign.”
“The game is really boring, it is like a bad copy of Left 4 Dead, the graphics and effects are like a joke. I played games in the arcade that are better than this; this game will remain as the first game that I asked for a refund.”
“This game broke the moment I bought it with graphical glitches that were so severe, I could have a seizure.”
“Graphics flicker constantly, making the game unplayable.”
- grinding157 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's grinding mechanics are a significant point of contention among players, with many describing the progression system as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the grind for character and weapon upgrades, others find it overwhelming and repetitive, often requiring hundreds of hours to unlock all features. Overall, the consensus is that while the game can be fun, the grind may deter casual players and those seeking a more streamlined experience.
“Which is not tedious, since you can choose a variety of available weapons, and in some cases attire them with skins.”
“Not that grindy but addicting game mechanics.”
“The one thing about it I really don't like is that it is very grindy if you want to level up all the classes and weapons.”
“It's still a fun game, but with how tedious it can be now, I wouldn't buy it at anything close to full price.”
“The game is about repetition, learning the item/zed spawns in every stage during the grinding of your class and weapons.”
- replayability129 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse classes, weapon customization, and various game modes that keep the experience fresh. Many players appreciate the procedural elements and daily challenges that enhance replay value, although some express concerns about the game's long-term engagement due to a perceived lack of content variety. While most reviews highlight the fun and engaging gameplay, a few note that replayability may diminish after extended play, particularly for solo players.
“Has great replayability and progression.”
“The variety of classes and weapons on offer adds a layer of strategy and replayability that keeps the experience fresh.”
“Daily challenges and weekly challenges present a truly infinitely replayable experience to the game, that made the game really interesting to play each time and fun to mess around with friends or on your own.”
“However, it doesn't seem like a game that has much replay value potential unless you're trying to beat everything on the hardest difficulty.”
“There's very little replay value once you've completed all of the episodes.”
“Last but not least, replay value is non-existent... there is no mod support either here or on the internet, which means you have to replay the same maps over and over again to grind for a bunch of stuff.”
- optimization95 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as crashes, stuttering, and frame drops, particularly after updates. While certain configurations and settings can yield smooth gameplay on higher-end systems, many users report that the game struggles on lower-end hardware, leading to frustration. Overall, while some players find the game well-optimized and visually appealing, others highlight the need for further improvements to address ongoing performance problems.
“The graphics in this game look nice, but even with good looking graphics, the game is still incredibly well optimized.”
“Game's optimization is good despite having a lot of horde at once; hell, even it running on Nintendo Switch, again it's crazy.”
“Outstanding work on optimization.”
“Flagship PCs will still get massive FPS plummets out of nowhere, be plagued by stuttering, and witness every meat tube turn into indistinguishable messes for textures alongside the world around them.”
“I want to enjoy this game but the performance is terrible; constantly stuttering and lagging makes it unplayable.”
“Oh hey, this piss poor optimization is only making your bleeding edge machine that ran Cyberpunk on all maxed settings without a hitch gag and die screaming, crashing every hour or so!”
- stability73 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezing issues, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay and minimal glitches, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by technical problems that can detract from the enjoyment. Despite these issues, many players still find the game fun and engaging, suggesting that improvements are needed to enhance stability.
“The game is very well optimized and runs great on most setups I've seen.”
“It runs great on low-end PCs even with hundreds of zombies running around.”
“Gameplay is smooth and runs great.”
“Don't buy if you have a Steam Deck; the game crashes my Steam Deck or freezes it before I can even load into a mission.”
“This game is buggy and it really interferes with gameplay and the whole experience.”
“Really great game, but a buggy mess. I got locked out of multiplayer for no reason; the game just gives a disconnected error while loading a level.”
- music48 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance tension and immersion during action sequences, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Many agree that while the soundtrack is decent and fits the game's theme, it often fades into the background, detracting from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the sound design is seen as passable, with some standout moments, but it fails to leave a lasting impact.
“The music ramps up at just the right moments, heightening the tension and driving the action forward.”
“The audio design also deserves praise, with chilling sound effects and a haunting soundtrack that enhance the sense of danger and immersion.”
“Pretty neat soundtrack, especially during hordes you have a pool of various songs that play randomly making it feel fresh.”
“Lacks any and all sort of music for some reason, which completely ruins the atmosphere for me. I mean, some amount of music is required in order to make a game impactful.”
“No music cues for specials, so you have to just hope the verbal warning is audible during play - which during big moments, is near impossible.”
“Ironically, the soundtrack is both a negative and a positive because while it's great, it's the same soundtrack over and over again.”
- monetization39 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of traditional aiming down sights (ADS) mechanics, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. While there are some microtransactions available for cosmetic items, players feel that the game feels like a cash grab, especially given its pricing and limited content compared to its predecessor. Overall, the absence of effective ADS and customization options has led to frustration among users, who believe that these features are essential for enhancing gameplay.
“No ads???”
“In terms of customization, there are no microtransactions as of writing this review.”
“Microtransactions: the game offers a few weapon camo/specialty packs to buy but these don't affect anything.”
“So, while the game is slightly amusing, it's obviously a cash grab.”
“40 dollars for the same game I already own from a year ago, with a DLC is a scammy cash grab.”
“Microtransactions: the game offers a few weapon camo/specialty packs to buy, but these don't affect anything.”
- atmosphere38 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by diverse and immersive environments, effectively capturing the unique cultural and architectural elements of various cities, from the gritty streets of New York to the eerie calm of Tokyo. While the graphics and sound design contribute to a compelling atmosphere, some players feel that the lack of music detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its tension and realism, though opinions vary on its depth and engagement.
“Each location has a distinct feel, with environments that reflect the culture, architecture, and atmosphere of each setting.”
“The game's graphics are stunning and the post-apocalyptic setting is incredibly atmospheric.”
“The atmosphere is loaded with sounds that give one an unnerving feeling, as though anything could happen - and of course it does.”
“Lacks any and all sort of music for some reason... which completely ruins the atmosphere for me. I mean, some amount of music is required in order to make a game impactful.”
“Always felt like this game is missing a soul; perhaps it was missing an atmosphere, as playable characters barely have any.”
“The atmosphere and zombie layouts aren't great; animations are pretty bad, especially in some cutscenes.”
- humor35 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of slapstick and situational comedy, particularly when playing with friends, where unexpected glitches and character interactions lead to laugh-out-loud moments. Players find the voice acting, especially from certain character types, to be amusing, and the absurdity of the zombie encounters adds to the overall comedic experience. While some humor may stem from frustrating gameplay mechanics or AI behavior, it contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players entertained for a few hours.
“World War Z is a riotously fun game that will have you laughing and screaming in equal measure.”
“The voice acting is hilarious too, especially if you pick the French characters.”
“Did I mention that the AI of your teammates is hilarious but will eventually be frustrating?”
- emotional11 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging due to its rich lore and heartfelt moments, despite some feeling overwhelmed by the lack of clear progression. However, the co-op campaign's linear storyline and reliance on markers detract from the emotional experience, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. While it offers a nostalgic and wholesome zombie experience, some players express frustration with bugs and glitches that disrupt immersion.
“The campaign is simple but there is a lot of lore and heartfelt moments.”
“Best zombie game of the decade, better than Back 4 Blood, still L4D2 reigns as the best, but at least gives you a wholesome experience of zombie gameplay for fans like me.”
“Games fun, it filled in that Left 4 Dead 3 gap back when there was barely anyone else touching the genre until recently.”
“The co-op campaign has a very boring storyline, following a linear path that is pre-solved by a marker telling you exactly where to go and what to do.”
“Boring story.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being minimal, with a lack of compelling narrative that diminishes the emotional stakes of the gameplay. While the character design is praised for its artistic quality and liveliness, it does not compensate for the overall absence of depth in character arcs and storytelling. The focus on fast-paced action detracts from meaningful character engagement, leaving players wanting more in terms of development and customization.
“Let's talk about character design from an artistic perspective for a moment because I feel like this is important: when Valve made Left 4 Dead and its sequel, they designed the characters to be both lively and colorful so that people could relate to them, establishing a visual cue that yes, these are your teammates and that it is probably not best to shoot near them.”
“Very nice character design.”
“While the game's focus on fast-paced action and hordes of enemies is its strength, it also means that the storytelling and character development take a backseat.”
“Very much the same feel, with even a little character development and customization thrown in.”
“Let's talk about character design from an artistic perspective for a moment: when Valve made Left 4 Dead and its sequel, they designed the characters to be both lively and colorful so that people could relate to them, establishing a visual cue that these are your teammates and that it is probably not best to shoot near them.”
