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Zombie Panic

86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
stability, grinding
86% User Score Based on 7,444 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux
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About

"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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
Zombie Panic screenshot
+2

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,444 reviews
gameplay148 positive mentions
stability50 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging gameplay that encourages teamwork and strategy.
  • Nostalgic value for long-time players, with many fond memories associated with the game.
  • Free to play, making it accessible to a wide audience.
  • Diminished player base, making it difficult to find active servers.
  • Recent updates have introduced bugs and gameplay changes that some players feel have negatively impacted the experience.
  • Toxic community behavior, including trolling and team-killing, can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
  • gameplay
    418 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this free zombie PvPvE game, built on the Source engine, is characterized by a blend of strategic, cooperative, and asymmetrical mechanics that create unique and intense experiences in each session. While many players appreciate the tactical elements and the engaging atmosphere, there are criticisms regarding outdated mechanics, balance issues, and a decline in community engagement, leading to mixed feelings about its current state. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic yet challenging experience, appealing to fans of the zombie genre despite its flaws.

    • “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.”
    • “It masterfully balances the classic mechanics of survival with the fast-paced intensity of team-based play.”
    • “This asymmetrical gameplay ensures that each session is unique, filled with unpredictable dynamics that challenge both individual skill and team coordination.”
    • “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.”
    • “They changed the gameplay way too much and ruined it.”
    • “The balance and changes are so messy that it's hard to pinpoint what the actual problems with the gameplay are.”
  • graphics
    202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated and reminiscent of early 2000s visuals, with many players noting that they may not meet the expectations of those seeking modern graphical fidelity. However, some users appreciate the nostalgic charm and find that the gameplay experience compensates for the visual shortcomings, particularly when playing with friends. Overall, while the graphics may be considered poor by contemporary standards, they do not detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game for many players.

    • “The graphics are on the highest quality!”
    • “Awesome game and beautiful graphics!”
    • “Balanced gameplay and breakthrough graphics technology make this a modern-day classic.”
    • “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.”
    • “It suffers from all the common source mod issues which are poor, community-made maps, glitchy game mechanics, and the fact that its visuals are from 2004.”
    • “The graphics are old and outdated, and the concept is simple.”
  • humor
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is widely praised, with players 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 regarding the game's age and occasional toxicity in player interactions, the overall sentiment is that the game offers a fun and laugh-filled environment, especially in multiplayer settings.

    • “Overall, the main attraction is still the maps in this game, giving the 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.”
  • music
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 enjoyment for certain players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, often described as "god-tier" and integral to the game's charm.

    • “The best atmospheric, nostalgic soundtrack in the history of modifications.”
    • “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.”
    • “The music is stock music.”
    • “Lack of sound and music variety.”
  • atmosphere
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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. However, some criticisms highlight inconsistencies in graphics and tutorial support, which can detract from the overall atmospheric experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Quite possibly one of the finest source-based mods ever made -- teaming up with a coordinated squad of intrepid, human survivors is pure bliss and the game is fantastic at generating tension with its moody, bleak atmosphere.”
    • “Sooo not worth the download time. Very poorly made game, can't leave the game naturally once you get in a server and the graphics are awful. There is also 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 of close-quarters teamwork survival/objective shooter.”
  • stability
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting persistent bugs and glitches, particularly related to movement and gun mechanics. While some players find the issues add to the charm and fun of the game, others express frustration over lag and freezing, especially on newer hardware. Overall, while the game has improved in terms of stability, it still suffers from significant technical problems that can detract from the experience.

    • “The game is not very buggy.”
    • “The game runs smoothly with minimal issues.”
    • “I haven't encountered any significant bugs during my playthrough.”
    • “For over 3 years, their habits of packing updates full of unwanted content, a practice which slows down fixes to crucial bugs and results in buggy updates and more balance problems, have been called out repeatedly for being extremely incompetent, yet they initially ignored it.”
    • “The game is quite buggy, but for a free simple game, it is still quite fun.”
    • “I find the gun mechanics to be buggy and laggy, making it pretty damn hard to kill zombies.”
  • story
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game is described as humorous and engaging, particularly through its mission-based gameplay that involves surviving against zombies. While the single-player experience is lacking, the co-op missions provide a dynamic and enjoyable narrative, with players often tasked with completing objectives while facing overwhelming odds. Overall, the game is noted for its entertaining maps and the nostalgic charm of its zombie-themed missions.

    • “Zombie Panic is a deep story game driven by beautiful graphics and great gameplay.”
    • “I started to like and enjoy this game, especially when the mission to survive and barricade the house.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players often logging hundreds of hours due to its vast array of official and custom maps. The absence of NPCs contributes to an infinite replay value, making it a highly recommended choice for those looking to enjoy repeated gameplay with friends. Overall, it is celebrated for its engaging design and enduring fun, akin to classic titles like Counter-Strike.

    • “It's in the same category of replayability as Counter-Strike for me, highly recommended.”
    • “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.”
    • “Still holds up today with its solid, fun design offering a near endless amount of replayability.”
    • “I've spent countless hours of my life playing this game; since there's no AI, the replay value is infinite!”
  • grinding
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, especially when pursuing achievements or playing as a zombie. While some appreciate the variety in maps and the potential for rewarding gameplay if strategies are employed, others feel that the repetitive nature and slow pace can lead to frustration. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant commitment that may deter casual players.

    • “This game is tedious as fuck.”
    • “Zombie side is boring, tedious and difficult.”
    • “- the same maps are played over and over again which can get tedious.”
  • optimization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its performance while others criticize it for poor optimization, particularly on newer hardware. Many report experiencing bugs and performance issues, especially following a problematic launch, indicating that the game struggles to run smoothly despite its age. Additionally, there are specific concerns regarding DirectX 9 compatibility, leading to random freezes.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a completely free monetization model, with no microtransactions or in-game purchases, allowing players to enjoy the experience without any financial barriers. The only option for spending money is through voluntary donations to server hosts, emphasizing a community-driven approach.

    • “No microtransactions, no BS, just good old-fashioned zombie PvP with loads of community maps.”
    • “No microtransactions, no BS, just good old-fashioned zombie PvP with loads of community maps.”
    • “No in-game purchases; the only way to spend money is to donate to servers.”
    • “Not even microtransactions?!?”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report a deeply emotional experience while playing, expressing a range of feelings from laughter to tears. The game's narrative and character interactions evoke strong reactions, highlighting its ability to connect with players on an emotional level.

    • “I screamed, I laughed, and I cried during this game.”

Buy Zombie Panic

22h Median play time
453h Average play time
5-600h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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