Zombie Cure Lab
- December 7, 2022
- Thera Bytes GmbH
Get on SteamIn "Zombie Cure Lab," players build and manage a laboratory to create a cure for a zombie apocalypse. They set up production lines, gather resources, assign jobs to workers, and defend the lab from nightly zombie attacks. The game features technology research, upgrades, and a citizen science project in cooperation with the University of Erlangen for fighting cancer.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique and original concept of curing zombies instead of killing them, which adds a refreshing twist to the genre.
- The graphics and art style are charming and contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The game offers deep resource management and strategic planning, making it engaging and fun to play.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, especially in the late game, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
- The tutorial is poorly designed and does not adequately prepare players for the complexities of the game, leading to confusion.
- There is a lack of communication from the developers regarding updates and bug fixes, leading to concerns about the game's future development.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of strategy, base management, and unique mechanics centered around capturing and curing zombies, offering a fresh alternative to traditional combat-focused games. While the initial phases are welcoming and engaging, players have noted issues with certain mechanics, such as the pacification system and worker management, which can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, the game shows promise with its intricate systems and charming graphics, but it requires further refinement to fully realize its ambitious ideas.
“Extremely fun and considerate gameplay, large scale options and freedom.”
“I appreciate the capture and cure gameplay instead of the same old blowing everything up approach.”
“The unusual mix of mechanics (clever worker management where some of the workers are ticking time bombs, production lines, survival, tower defense) makes this a very unique game and even the pre-release had me hooked.”
“The end result is gameplay that just feels like increasing levels of busyness and micro-management to stay in the same place.”
“It is not just broken with the pacification mechanic, but the hauler minions, for the love of god and everything holy, refuse to pick them up.”
“Update: note that as this game is in early access, it has rough edges such as performance issues in the late game and unclear game mechanics.”
- optimization23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a significant concern, particularly in the mid to late game, where players report severe performance drops, with framerates plummeting to as low as 5-20 FPS even on high-end systems. While the game is still in early access and has potential, many users express frustration over performance issues, balancing problems, and bugs that hinder gameplay, especially during critical late-game phases. Overall, players are hopeful for future updates to address these optimization challenges.
“However, there are some bugs as well as optimization issues... but it's only an early access!”
“Game is cool, but you guys need to do some improvements about performance optimization.”
“I could be wrong, but regardless, I hope that performance and balance issues are addressed soon because I want to continue playing the game and having a great time.”
“Performance and pacing are major problems for the game, with surprise difficulty spikes, as well as a very serious game-ending bug that suddenly prevents the passage of time on day xx, effectively ending your game.”
“Sadly, it suffers from poor optimization in mid-late game.”
“The optimizations are non-existent when you start to finally get a decent base going.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the cute and unique art style that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some users express concerns about the overall quality and performance, suggesting that improvements are needed, particularly for those with higher-end hardware. Overall, the game's charming visuals are a highlight, contributing positively to its quirky premise and strategy elements.
“The graphics are amazing, and the gameplay is challenging yet rewarding.”
“I love the concept, art style, and potential of the game.”
“The graphics are severely lacking in quality and there just are not enough options to make the game enjoyable.”
“I have a 2080 Super and given the fidelity of the game, it definitely felt more like an AI issue than a graphical issue.”
“Graphics and animations are pretty cute and contribute to an enjoyable overall impression and gameplay.”
- stability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game's stability is currently a significant concern, with numerous users reporting it as extremely buggy and often unplayable in its early access state. While some acknowledge the potential for improvement, the prevalence of glitches and unbalanced mechanics has led many to recommend waiting for a more polished release before diving in.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
“The developers have done a great job ensuring a stable environment for players.”
“Currently stay away, very far as the game is extremely buggy.”
“Extremely buggy, barely even playable in the current version.”
“Completely unplayable due to numerous glitches.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and humorous, providing an interesting backdrop for gameplay. Players appreciate the immersive experience as they navigate base building and missions, although some express frustration with gameplay mechanics that can disrupt their progress. Overall, the narrative complements the setting and enhances the player's quest to protect citizens and manage zombie encounters.
“A funny game with an interesting story.”
“+ overall 'story' is good for the setting.”
“It takes some time to get a handle on everything, but afterwards it will pull you in and immerse you as you try to focus on the little details to make your quest to protect your citizens, save and cure as many zombies as possible, and ultimately add your own personality to your lab.”
“The new boss completely destroyed my base within seconds and I couldn't do anything about it, all that was on the easy mission as well.”
“First contact with the game after the tutorial, you start a mission and you can't even place the helipad to start.”
“No story.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, combining a cute and funny tone with an engaging story. Players appreciate the unique twist of saving and curing zombies instead of the typical kill-and-survive approach found in most zombie games.
“A funny game with an interesting story.”
“I feel like it tries to be cute and funny.”
“Really cute and funny, and I love the idea that you work to save or cure the zombies rather than killing them all like most zombie games.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially as the difficulty increases and the technology curve becomes more demanding. Many feel that significant time investment is required to keep up, suggesting that grinding can feel overwhelming and time-consuming.
“With this occurring and the daytime seemingly growing shorter with each passing day, the game's difficulty just seems to very slowly but exponentially get more tedious if you do not keep up with the technology curve it expects you to.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's still somewhat grindy in a way, though.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music and sound design effectively heighten tension during nighttime attacks, contributing to a polished atmosphere. Players appreciate the improved audio elements alongside enhanced tutorials and varied maps, enhancing their overall experience.
“The nights, when the attacks happen, are hard, and the sound design and music increase tension.”
“Now it's more polished, with music that adds atmosphere, a better tutorial, and different maps, and I can't wait to play more.”
“The nights, when the attacks happen, are hard and the sound design/music increases tension.”
“Now it's more polished, with music to add atmosphere, a better tutorial and different maps, and I can't wait to play more.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a comforting escape from reality, offering a wholesome experience that evokes positive emotions and provides a sense of relief.
“It's a nice wholesome game to play if I want a break from reality.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that the well-designed tech tree contributes to the game's replayability, suggesting that players can expect varied experiences with increasing difficulty, even if they have only completed the tutorial.
“The tech tree is well designed, and the replayability is definitely there with increasing difficulty.”
“Each playthrough offers new challenges and strategies, making you want to dive back in for more.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps the game fresh, encouraging multiple runs to explore different paths.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has been enhanced with polished visuals, an engaging soundtrack, improved tutorials, and diverse maps, contributing to an overall immersive experience that players are eager to explore further.
“Now it's more polished, with music to add atmosphere, a better tutorial, and different maps, and I can't wait to play more.”
