Zombie Panic
- October 3, 2008
- Zombie Panic! Team
- 22h median play time
Get on Steam"Zombie Panic" is a multiplayer survival horror game on Steam. Players start as humans, craft weapons, and work together to survive waves of zombies. If infected, they then join the zombie horde and try to eliminate the remaining humans. The game's objective is to survive or turn all humans into zombies in various cooperative and competitive modes.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- gameplay209 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this free zombie PvPvE game is characterized by a blend of strategic survival mechanics and fast-paced team dynamics, offering a unique and immersive experience. While many players appreciate the cooperative elements and the variety of maps and game modes, there are criticisms regarding balance issues, outdated mechanics, and a decline in community engagement. Overall, the game remains a nostalgic favorite for its intense atmosphere and engaging gameplay, despite some technical shortcomings and evolving player expectations.
“Released in 2008 and built upon the Source engine, it stands the test of time with an intoxicating blend of strategy, tension, and cooperative gameplay that arguably makes it the game of the century.”
“This asymmetrical gameplay ensures that each session is unique, filled with unpredictable dynamics that challenge both individual skill and team coordination.”
“The gameplay is straightforward and fun for survivors and zombies alike, and it is intensely fun to play with friends.”
“The actual game was a blundering mess of questionable gameplay decisions, but running through and grabbing the objectives while having to fight the zombies at the chokepoints in absolute pitch black darkness with 30 other players on your team was such a blast.”
“The balance and changes are so messy that it's hard to pinpoint what the actual problems with the gameplay are.”
“When I was younger I had a lot of fun because I kept forgetting them lol anyway the game was one of the best games now it's a dead game with bad mechanics, bad developers, it's pretty much a piece of trash and the fun part after it died 99% and the game is so broken it's unplayable.”
- graphics101 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated and reminiscent of older titles, with many players noting that they fall short of modern standards. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the visuals acceptable given the game's age, others express disappointment, stating that the graphics detract from the overall experience. Despite the mixed opinions, many players emphasize that the fun gameplay and cooperative elements can outweigh the graphical shortcomings.
“The graphics are on the highest quality!”
“Good game, a must get for sure, has good graphics, nice weapons, and overall an amazing game.”
“An awesome zombie apocalypse game with nice gameplay and graphics.”
“There is nothing wrong with it being an old game, but it certainly shows, with the controls, graphics, UI, etc.”
“I don't recommend this game because it has bad quality and 1980s (feels like) graphics and the servers take forever to join and create, so I recommend you don't download it unless you want to test it and see for yourself.”
“The graphics are old and outdated, and the concept is simple.”
- humor54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting its funny mechanics, hilarious custom maps, and the entertaining interactions within the community. Many reviews mention the joy of playing with friends and the unexpected comedic moments that arise during gameplay, making it a memorable experience despite some criticisms of its age and occasional toxicity. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to deliver laughter and fun, often leading to chaotic and amusing scenarios.
“Overall main attraction is still the maps in this game giving best odd and funny scenarios to defend and survive out there.”
“Best part is the custom maps... always a ton of fun with hilarious outcomes.”
“It's a hilarious chicken dance festival trying to slap the humans' butts while playing zombie.”
- music36 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic atmosphere, nostalgic quality, and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players highlighting its haunting and memorable soundtrack. However, some criticism arises from a perceived lack of variety in the audio, which may detract from the experience for certain players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, often described as "god-tier" and integral to the game's charm.
“The atmosphere, the music, the ambiance, the lighting, just like in a movie.”
“The soundtrack, which I am especially fond of after all these years, deserves a separate mention - incredible, haunting ambient, that is brave enough to venture beyond BGM conventions and ambient norms, while being as fitting as can be.”
“Great community, wonderful map design, and the soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in any video game or mod.”
“Limited audio and music variety may cause criticism among players.”
“Lack of sound and music variety.”
“The music is stock music.”
- atmosphere29 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive sound design, dynamic lighting, and nostalgic soundtrack, creating a tense and engaging experience that enhances both gameplay and community interaction. Players appreciate the blend of horror and strategy, with many noting the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and excitement, particularly in cooperative multiplayer settings. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.
“The atmosphere is further enriched by an evocative sound design and dynamic lighting.”
“Its blend of strategy, atmosphere, and community engagement creates a masterpiece that continues to captivate and terrify.”
“Creepy atmosphere, a lot of frantic moments, and on certain maps, a sense of dread that can't quite be put away despite your best attempts at preparing your defenses.”
“Ssooo not worth the download time very poorly made game, can't leave the game naturally once you get in a server and graphics are awful, and also there is very little tutorial and the atmosphere is crap.”
“Creepy atmosphere, a lot of frantic moments and on certain maps, a sense of dread that can't quite be put away despite your best attempts at preparing your defenses.”
“Don't get me wrong, perk servers are fun and I understand their appeal, but it's not a good representation of the game and I prefer the tense atmosphere close quarters teamwork survival/objective shooter.”
- stability26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting persistent bugs and glitches, particularly related to the source engine and server performance. While some players find the glitches add to the fun, others express frustration with issues like lag and freezing, especially on newer hardware. Overall, while the game is less buggy than before, significant stability problems remain, impacting the overall experience.
“The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs.”
“I haven't encountered any major issues; the stability is impressive.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a reliable gaming experience.”
“The game is quite buggy, but for a free simple game, it is quite fun.”
“Game is buggy as shit.”
“I find the gun mechanics to be buggy and laggy, making trying to kill zombies pretty damn hard.”
- story20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of humor and survival missions, often set in dynamic environments where players must complete objectives while facing overwhelming zombie threats. While the single-player experience is less engaging, the co-op missions provide a more enjoyable and action-packed narrative. Overall, the game features a variety of maps and missions that contribute to its engaging, albeit simple, storyline centered around survival against zombies.
“Zombie Panic is a deep story game driven by beautiful graphics and great gameplay.”
“In the mod, players can generally participate in timed matches against the opposite team, or the humans try to solve objective-based missions.”
“This is an old fart story, so if you don't want to read one of those, skip this review.”
“Some maps are based around just not dying while others are based around a very short story/mission.”
“Humans are weak and win the mission on very rare occasions, and they must face this overpowered enemy.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players reporting hundreds of hours spent enjoying its diverse content, including over 50 custom maps. The absence of NPCs and the variety of gameplay options contribute to an almost limitless replay value, making it a highly recommended choice for both solo and multiplayer experiences. Overall, it is celebrated for its fun design and enduring appeal.
“It's in the same category of replayability as Counter-Strike for me, highly recommended.”
“Still holds up today with its solid, fun design offering a near endless amount of replayability.”
“No NPCs give it unlimited replay value, and the large number of official and custom maps truly makes this a game that can be played for years to come.”
“I've spent countless hours of my life playing this game; since there's no AI, the replay value is infinite!”
“Still holds up today with its solid, fun design, offering a near endless amount of replayability.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players find the extensive grinding for achievements tedious and repetitive, others appreciate the variety in maps and strategies that can make the grind feel rewarding. However, many agree that certain gameplay elements, particularly in zombie modes, can feel slow and monotonous, leading to frustration. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant factor that may deter some players while appealing to dedicated fans of the genre.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“If you like grinding lots of hours for a single achievement, you should definitely play it.”
“This game is tedious as hell.”
“The same maps are played over and over again, which can get tedious.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its performance while others report significant issues, including bugs and random freezes, particularly on newer hardware. The initial launch was criticized for being poorly executed, leading to a range of performance problems that detracted from the overall experience.
“Performance was great.”
“First treated with a botched launch, plagued by bugs and performance issues because of the time constraints the amalgamations, of which these developers insisted on, put on bug-hunting and fixing.”
“Although it does have some DX9 issues, for example, I get random freezes every now and then due to my newer hardware not being optimized for the game.”
“Terrible performance on an ancient game.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game features no microtransactions or in-game purchases, focusing instead on a pure gameplay experience with community maps, allowing players to support servers through donations if they choose.
“No microtransactions, no BS, just good old-fashioned zombie PvP with loads of community maps.”
“Not even microtransactions?!?!?”
“No in-game purchases; the only way to spend money is to donate to servers.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, experiencing moments of joy, laughter, and sadness. The narrative elements, including the unique character of a starter zombie, contribute to these emotional highs and lows, creating a memorable and impactful experience.
“I screamed, I laughed, and I cried during this game.”
