1. Introduction
Recently, the 42nd build of Project Zomboid was released, and as a player who first encountered the project 10 years ago, I decided to write an introductory article about it.
Zomboid is an isometric sandbox set in a zombie apocalypse world. And I ask you not to jump to conclusions—this is not at all the type of zombie survival game you might be thinking of. While you can experience something grind-heavy like DayZ or similar projects, this is just a small part of Zomboid, which can only be found on specific servers that I highly do not recommend playing on.
Zomboid is about a well-developed and deeply engaging gameplay. Here, any mistake can be your last.
The interaction with characters, enemies, and the surrounding world is astonishingly unique (though not without some frustrating flaws). I would compare it to a combination of third-person action and old console quest games, where you had to input your actions via text.
2. Meeting the Author and the Game
The author first encountered the project as a child back in 2014, when he saw it on a friend's laptop screen. What impressed the 11-year-old boy the most was the need to close windows with curtains so zombies wouldn’t react to the light, the ability to throw a blanket over the windows, and the necessity of barricading windows and doors with planks.
Combined with resource management for food, the ability to craft and modify weapons, it felt like the perfect survival sandbox—despite the lack of full 3D and outdated graphics. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to play it back then, but the memory of such an unusual game stayed with me for a long time.
3. Why You Always Want to Return to PZ
An important factor in an interesting project is the regular desire to return to it, and this is true for Zomboid. The intensity of gameplay in the early stages, along with a whole list of challenges for a character who knows nothing, has no gear, weapons, or anything else, combined with the unique take on basic mechanics, literally sucks you into the game.
Perhaps the first stage of the game, where you’re naked and trying to find at least a dead rat (stale and raw) to quench your hunger, is the core gameplay of Zomboid. In it, you gather loot, improve your skills, develop a base, find a car, and more. You can add mods, change world settings (zombie generation, their behavior and strength, loot spawn, etc.), invite friends to your party, but the essence of Zomboid lies in what I’ve mentioned above.
No matter how I think about it, Zomboid can be called a true sandbox, offering completely different gameplay experiences to anyone who wants it. If surviving in the urban outskirts isn’t for you, you can always head into the woods, sleep in a tent, and survive by foraging or hunting (which, by the way, has been revamped in the 42nd build). Don’t like tents? You can build your own house, paint the walls, set up plumbing, drag in a generator with a stove, and even organize a garden on the roof.
Also, it’s important to mention the difficulty of the project. The loading slogan “This is the story of your death” is very self-descriptive. To get used to its somewhat unique mechanics, you’ll need time, effort, and many new characters. Bites here are lethal unless you disable that in the settings (which I highly do not recommend, and generally, don’t mess with those settings early on). And it’s the difficulty of survival in the world of Zomboid that makes all your achievements in it so valuable, from the first axe you find to a car that’s in good enough condition to drive to the nearest warehouse outside the city.
Although I’ve spent most of my time in Zomboid playing solo or with a friend, I can’t help but mention the wide selection of multiplayer servers. You can find practically anything, from grind-heavy projects like DayZ or Rust, with regular PvP content, resource gathering, and many bandits (ranging from entire clans to groups of 3 survivors), to unique RP servers without the disgusting casinos and monotonous earning for a fancy car.
I’ve even seen ads for RP servers with invisible game masters, almost like in D&D. They are responsible for random events, zombie spawns, and the intensity of the adventure.
4. Development of Project Zomboid
Project Zomboid has come a long way since its early access release in 2013. When the first beta was released, there was no full 3D or sandbox mode. There was only a small story where the player had to take care of their bitten wife until her death.
Now, this story remains only as a background image in the main menu.
Personally, I consider the key changes to be those of the 41st build, as if the mass player base discovered the project because of it. The reworked animations, fully realized 3D characters with visible clothing and equipment, and much more. I’ve never been a very attentive person and didn’t follow the dev blog, so I found out about the beta of the new build somewhere a year after its release, during a stream by one of the PZ streamers. :-)
And as much as I was excited about the new features, I was just as disappointed by the lack of multiplayer. And the PZ community had to endure a lot of grief, as the beta test of the 41st build lasted four long years. I still remember how I’d visit the discussion page on Steam every year, hoping for good news, scrolling through all the messages, even those I had read a year ago.
As for the 42nd build – I haven’t played enough hours yet, but the impressions are pleasant. It’s the same PZ, just polished and much more refined in many ways. The rebalancing of the fighting system, the character skill system, and the improved sounds and lighting.
5. Community Modding Involvement
When discussing Project Zomboid, it’s impossible not to mention the Steam Workshop and the variety of modifications available. There is literally everything. You can expand the weaponry options, add clothes and gear, and there are many mods that solve logical problems in Zomboid, which are often added to the next builds, like the mod that allows you to light cigarettes from a stove.
Just, my god, there’s even a furry mod here.
The key is not to overdo it; this can negatively affect performance.
6. Conclusion
In conclusion, I highly recommend you try Project Zomboid yourself. The entry barrier might be high, so it’s better to try it in a party with a friend who is familiar with the game. If you manage to push through and not give up after the first ten deaths, Zomboid can offer you adventures for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.
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