Zombie games have long been a staple in the video game market. From Resident Evil to Left 4 Dead, there are a plethora of classic titles you can play alone or with friends. Project Zomboid, a small indie game, also joins this list, but it takes a completely different approach. Despite its uniqueness, the game is still underestimated by many! Therefore, let’s take a closer look at Project Zomboid as it hides a true survival gem that has gained significant attention in recent years.
Flexible Character Creation for a Customized Game
Let’s start with the creation of your own character, where there are countless customization options that can turn the gameplay upside down. Unlike other zombie games, you can fully customize your character. It starts with the appearance, but becomes much deeper with various traits and predetermined skills.
In addition to a profession, you can choose from dozens of positive and negative traits to balance your character. You won’t be able to fend off hordes of zombies right from the start; you’ll have to gradually work your way up and develop your skills.
Endless Gameplay in Sandbox Mode
Project Zomboid is essentially a sandbox game, offering you numerous ways to tackle your problems. The beginning is genuinely challenging for newcomers, and you might die within the first few days. But don’t worry, your progress is saved … indirectly. Your old character can, for instance, return as a zombie, and if you’re lucky, you can find your old base again. Essentially, there’s no end to the game; you can play as long as you want. Fight zombies, expand your base, or collect rare weapons and items. Everything is open to you!
Resource-Efficient and Hardware-Friendly
The graphics might seem off-putting at first, but they perfectly complement Project Zomboid. The isometric perspective is reminiscent of the first “The Sims” game, bringing with it great retro vibes! This not only makes the atmosphere more oppressive and cohesive, but it’s also surprisingly resource-efficient. Thus, even those with less powerful hardware can dive into the game, making Project Zomboid a very accessible game. Moreover, the graphics allow for a certain attention to detail, which stands out particularly well due to the pixel art style.
Detailed and Captivating Survival Gameplay
Speaking of details, this is where Project Zomboid truly shines! There’s probably no other survival game as detailed as this one. A good example is breaking into other houses. You can use the door, but sometimes they’re locked. You can break them down or dismantle them with a screwdriver. But beware, you might trigger an alarm!
Windows are equally tricky. Break them without a weapon, and your character might get injured by the glass. And if you don’t remove the broken glass, your character could cut themselves while climbing through. Additionally, the sound of breaking glass can attract nearby zombies.
And that’s just one of the many complex systems in Project Zomboid. Whether it’s character creation, the healing system, or cooking – you’ll need to master many systems to survive. And every small mistake could mean your demise.
Explore a Vast Map Full of Possibilities
These game systems also mean you can play the game for a long time. You’ll always have a new challenge to tackle. Sometimes you’re short on food, other times you need to search for more ammunition. And sometimes, your current base is overrun by a horde of zombies, and you need to retreat.
The map of Project Zomboid is correspondingly large and offers many exciting opportunities to tailor your gameplay. Even with a car, it can take weeks to drive from one side to the other. You can live in the woods, take refuge in a police station, or reside in a charming single-family home. Once again, the complexity of Project Zomboid is evident. The map is modeled after the U.S. state of Kentucky.
Multiplayer: More Fun with Friends
You don’t have to navigate the zombie apocalypse entirely on your own. Project Zomboid allows up to 100 players on a multiplayer server. This adds another layer of fun and lets you play with others. If you ever get bored or don’t feel brave enough to face zombies alone, a server with your friends is a great option!
Future Prospects: Constant Updates and New Features
Like many other indie games, Project Zomboid is a “work in progress” – and has been for about 15 years. It remains in the Early Access phase and is actively developed and expanded by the developers. There’s no end in sight yet, and many exciting features are planned! This alone makes it exciting to try out different stages and await new updates.
Currently, the game is on “Build 41,” although a 42nd version has been released for beta testers. This will introduce new crafting recipes, giving players even more possibilities. Further updates have also been announced, promising features like real NPCs.
As of now, plans extend up to Build 48, which is slowly steering towards a full release. But when that might actually happen remains uncertain. The last two major updates alone took 2 to 4 years.
Conclusion
As you can see, Project Zomboid is truly a gem among indie games and has experienced a significant rise within the community in recent years. The complex gameplay, charming graphics, and continuous updates keep many players engaged, providing an unforgettable experience. Rent your own server for Project Zomboid with us and fight your way through a horde of zombies with friends. Even if you might die now and then, the game is an experience in itself and will likely surprise you every time!
