Zombies and Keys

About

Zombies and Keys is a single player hack and slash game. It was developed by Yeongho Kim and was released on July 20, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Zombies and Keys is a short action-adventure game with simple, satisfying combat and pure exploration, carefully designed to minimize cognitive load. Perfect for someone who values gameplay over everything else.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The game features simple yet satisfying gameplay with progressively challenging levels, making it fun and engaging.
Visuals and level design are polished and clear, enhancing the overall experience and making it easy to memorize levels.
The game offers a good balance of mechanics and fun, with additional modes like Challenge Mode providing replayability and excitement.

The game is very short, typically taking under an hour to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
Controls can feel floaty and are primarily designed for controllers, lacking mouse support which may hinder keyboard users.
Some players experienced issues like softlocking in levels and found the AI to be too easy to manipulate.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is praised for its simplicity and satisfaction, featuring intuitive mechanics that evolve with progressively challenging levels and diverse zombie types. Players appreciate the minimalist design and engaging puzzles, highlighting that enjoyable gameplay doesn't require high-end graphics or extensive content. The addition of a challenge mode with permadeath enhances replayability, making it a well-rounded experience.
- “The gameplay is so simple and satisfying.”
- “Very fun and minimalist game with good mechanics that work.”
- “Levels get progressively complicated, with more enemies and complex mechanics that rely on the player to figure it out.”
- “The challenge mode adds another layer of replayability, with a 'permadeath' type of gameplay that does indeed create a difficult challenge!”
- “Just come up with an idea, look, and gameplay that is accessible enough and not complicated and polish well enough to make it a gem in its own way.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of the game are praised for their clarity and aesthetic appeal, with well-designed levels that range from simple to complex, allowing for engaging gameplay. The visuals, while not high-fidelity, effectively complement the game's mechanics and contribute to an enjoyable experience, demonstrating that simplicity can be just as impactful as more intricate graphics. Overall, the game's design and aesthetics are well-received, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
- “Visuals are clear, level design goes from straightforward to complex with room to make mistakes, to pay attention and to spot what the dev set up for you to do cool stuff.”
- “The game's features some great level design and I love the aesthetics.”
- “Graphically, zombies and keys exude polish in their simplicity.”
- “Zombies and keys certainly showed that you don’t need high fidelity graphics or multiple gameplay mechanics or a 15-hour campaign to make a game enjoyable.”
- “The simplicity of the graphics really holds up with the world built around it.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game features a minimalistic approach to storytelling, with no explicit narrative but an implied backstory that evokes familiar themes from apocalyptic tales. Players engage in straightforward gameplay, focusing on defeating zombies and collecting items, while the surrounding environment hints at a larger, untold story.
- “Kudos for the passive story too.”
- “You just show up, no attempt at story is given and you just beat up a few zombies, collect a few keys and… the end.”
- “Although there's not a defined story, you can tell what's happened around you and it reminds me of other good apocalyptic stories.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for its intense and humorous elements, providing players with a blend of excitement and laughter throughout the experience.
- “This game is incredibly intense and hilarious at the same time.”
- “The humor in this game keeps you laughing throughout the intense gameplay.”
- “I love how the game balances intense moments with laugh-out-loud humor.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The inclusion of a challenge mode featuring "permadeath" gameplay significantly enhances replayability by offering players a tough and engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “The challenge mode adds another layer of replayability, with a 'permadeath' type of gameplay that creates a truly difficult challenge!”
- “Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices and outcomes, making me want to dive back in for more.”
- “The random events and character interactions ensure that no two runs are ever the same, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.”
- “The challenge mode adds another layer of replayability, with a 'permadeath' type of gameplay that does indeed create a difficult challenge!”
- “Once you complete the main story, there’s little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs.”