Z Dawn

About

Z Dawn is a single player survival role playing game with a post-apocalyptic theme. It was developed by GoldenGod Games and was released on December 6, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The Z infection was spread, the world everyone know ceased to exist. Lead a group of survivors throughout a zombie apocalypse in an astounding strategic challenge to try to make the best possible decisions.Survive, loot, explore, build, defend, attack!

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 157 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Engaging turn-based survival and strategy gameplay with a unique blend of base management and tactical combat in a zombie apocalypse setting.
Random events and moral decisions create emergent storytelling and replayability, making every playthrough different and emotionally impactful.
Developers actively update and improve the game with a supportive community, showing passion and care for the project.

The game suffers from a steep learning curve, clunky interface, and several technical bugs including crashes and inventory glitches.
Gameplay becomes repetitive and grind-heavy over time, especially in late game, with slow progression and limited depth in combat and management.
Graphics and UI are minimalistic and not well optimized for PC, originating from mobile design choices that frustrate PC players.

gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
75%
8%
The gameplay in Z Dawn combines turn-based, strategic mechanics with base-building and tactical combat, creating an engaging but sometimes slow and shallow experience. While its minimalist presentation keeps focus on decision-making, the steep learning curve, cluttered interface, and occasional bugs can overwhelm players. Despite its potential and variety of systems, many find the gameplay repetitive and underdeveloped, though ongoing updates promise improvements.
- “Scavenge, build defenses, and outsmart hordes in intense, strategic gameplay that blends horror with thrilling tactics.”
- “What distinguishes Z Dawn from many other games in the genre is its commitment to turn-based, strategic gameplay rather than fast-paced action.”
- “These base-building mechanics add another layer of planning, as expansion increases productivity but also exposes the group to more attacks.”
- “The game's steep learning curve and sometimes opaque mechanics can overwhelm new players.”
- “The interface occasionally struggles to present information clearly, and the sheer number of systems—survivor skills, crafting options, random events, and combat mechanics—can feel daunting at first.”
- “Most mechanics are really shallow which makes the game into a grind.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with farming and leveling feeling particularly unrewarding and dull. Players find the progression slow and monotonous, lacking automation and meaningful goals, which diminishes overall enjoyment despite some available activities.
- “It is far too grindy.”
- “1) This game is so horribly grindy that all the fun is sucked out of it.”
- “Both options are tedious.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The graphics are characterized by simple, hand-drawn 2D visuals and a hex-grid combat system, effectively conveying a bleak post-apocalyptic atmosphere despite lacking elaborate or modern graphical detail. While some praise the unique art style and ambiance, others find the visuals simplistic with limited customization options and a clunky interface. Overall, the graphics receive mixed feedback, rated around 7/10 for their adequacy and thematic fit rather than technical sophistication.
- “The 2D visuals and hex-grid combat screens are reminiscent of classic strategy titles, and while the art direction may not be elaborate, it effectively communicates the bleakness of the post-apocalyptic world.”
- “+ Love the art style, the graphics quality and the ambiance + sound effects.”
- “Updated: I really enjoyed the new aesthetics of the news, really gave it that apocalyptic touch.”
- “A choice was made to use hand drawn/'baby's first Wacom tablet' drawings as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “Interface is clunky, graphics are meh, and there isn't any music that I recall.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The story is praised for its event-driven, immersive approach that creates tension through tough choices and resource scarcity, making losses impactful beyond scripted narrative. However, many users find the plot incomplete and repetitive, especially toward the end, with limited survivor interactions and lack of depth in story elements, leading to a missed opportunity for richer storytelling and variety.
- “One of Z Dawn’s most engaging qualities lies in its event-driven storytelling.”
- “Losing a beloved survivor because of a risky scavenging mission or a sudden zombie ambush leaves a lasting impact that static scripted storytelling cannot replicate.”
- “It doesn’t rely on cinematic storytelling or visual spectacle to create immersion; instead, it builds tension through resource scarcity, difficult moral choices, and the ever-present threat of failure.”
- “However, it gets really repetitive towards the end once you have completed all upgrades but have to grind the storyline.”
- “The story plot is incomplete, the combats are repetitive, and the equipment is boring.”
- “This is caused by an absolute lack of storyline and survivor interactions.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's music and ambient sounds effectively enhance the atmosphere during tense moments and quiet scenes, but some users find the soundtrack uninspiring or even unpleasant, with limited customization options.
- “The soundtrack and ambient effects enhance the atmosphere, especially during tense encounters or quiet nights at camp when the moans of distant zombies serve as a reminder that safety is temporary.”
- “Interface is clunky, graphics are meh, and there isn't any music that I recall.”
- “The music was meh.”
- “Bad music.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users experiencing freezes and bugs that hinder progression, while others find it mostly bug-free and recommendable despite minor issues. Overall, it feels somewhat unpolished and occasionally glitchy.
- “This game is still new, and is mostly bug free. I'd still recommend it to others.”
- “Sometimes, I can't get to the next turn because the game freezes, displaying a never-ending hourglass icon.”
- “Boring with a side dish of bugs and glitches.”
- “Grindy, buggy, and unpolished.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game delivers a poignant mix of tragic and hopeful moments that highlight the human cost of survival, resonating with fans of emotionally intense management games like Darkest Dungeon and RimWorld. However, some players feel the lack of clear direction or urgency can lead to repetitive gameplay, diminishing emotional engagement over time.
- “Some outcomes can be tragic, while others provide rare moments of hope, reminding players that survival isn’t just about logistics—it’s also about human choices and their emotional cost.”
- “For players who enjoy games like Darkest Dungeon or RimWorld—titles that test both your management skills and emotional endurance—Z Dawn offers a similarly gripping experience in a zombie-infested world.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is effectively enhanced by the soundtrack and ambient sounds, particularly during tense moments and quiet camp scenes, creating an immersive zombie world experience. While not perfect, the audio elements convincingly convey a sense of danger and unease.
- “The soundtrack and ambient effects enhance the atmosphere, especially during tense encounters or quiet nights at camp when the moans of distant zombies serve as a reminder that safety is temporary.”
- “The atmospheric sounds are good enough to give you the feeling of being in a zombie world, if not just barely.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Replayability is generally seen as a strong point due to the game's depth and randomized maps, though some feel the randomness may not provide lasting replay value.
- “Its indie origins show through in its unpolished edges, but they are outweighed by the depth and replayability of its design.”
- “Even though the maps are randomized, not sure there's any replay value.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization effectively integrates character stamina, morale, and health to influence performance, emphasizing realistic consequences of untreated injuries for a more immersive experience.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Z Dawn is criticized as a greedy cash grab, with users feeling the mobile app was poorly repurposed for PC solely to exploit players financially.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is well-balanced, combining an initial profession that provides specific bonuses with gradual stat and perk progression through leveling. This system offers meaningful growth and customization throughout the game.
- “Character development is balanced between an initial profession that gives you certain bonuses, stat and perk progression when leveling.”