Project Zomboid

Survival· Open World· Zombies· Open World Survival Craft

Early access since Nov 2013

Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite..

94% positive · 488K reviews

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam Updated 12 Oct 2026 $24.99

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Evaluation

Project Zomboid has been in Early Access since November 2013 and remains explicitly unfinished. The most recent major milestone was the release of Build 42.20 to the Stable branch on July 29, 2026 — the first time Build 42 became the default version for all players, not just those who had opted into the Unstable beta. This was accompanied by a substantial map overhaul ("The Big Glow Up"), new challenge modes, anti-cheat rework, and extensive multiplayer and controller improvements. However, Build 42 reaching Stable is not the end of development. In a July 9, 2026 roadmap post, The Indie Stone laid out what comes next: a hotfix period based on feedback from the broader player base now on Stable, a late-game balance and feedback patch, release of modding tools (WorldZed, TileZed, and AnimZed) to the community, and a dedicated Build 42 Support Update addressing optimization, technical debt, and player-requested features that didn't make the Stable cutoff. The developer has since followed through on the hotfix commitment, releasing fixes on August 26, 2026. The studio remains actively staffed and communicating. A Design Director joined in late 2025 and published a detailed state-of-the-game post on February 26, 2026. The art and code teams have been expanded, and the store description continues to list long-planned but unshipped features including NPC encounters driven by a persistent metagame system and further map expansion. The game has received consistent, high-cadence updates throughout 2025 and 2026.

Evidence

Build 42.20 released to the Stable branch, becoming the default version for all players. Extensive patch notes cover map expansion, challenge mode revamp, anti-cheat rework, and multiplayer/controller fixes.

news post · Jul 29, 2026 source content shipped

high

Build 42.20 announced for stable release on July 29, 2026, featuring a major map overhaul ('The Big Glow Up') with reworked towns, new challenge modes, and updated art. Developer notes this is 'only the first iteration' of the new main menu and signals more improvements ahead.

news post · Jul 27, 2026 source content planned

high

Media

Details

Developer

The Indie Stone

Publisher

The Indie Stone

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows, macOS, Linux

Controller

partial support

Steam Deck

Verified

Players

Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op · PvP · Local/Split Screen

Survival Zombies Open World Open World Survival Craft Sandbox Post-apocalyptic Crafting Building Indie Simulation RPG Survival Horror Realistic Isometric 2D

About this game

Project Zomboid is an open-ended zombie-infested sandbox. It asks one simple question – how will you die?

In the towns within the Knox Event Exclusion Zone our survivors must loot houses, build defences and do their utmost to delay their inevitable death day by day. No help is coming. Continued survival relies on cunning, luck, and the ability to evade a relentless horde...

Current Features

Hardcore Sandbox Zombie Survival Game with a focus on realistic survival.
Online multiplayer survival with persistent player-run servers.
Hundreds of zombies with swarm mechanics and in-depth visual and hearing systems.
Full line of sight system and real-time lighting, sound and visibility mechanics. Get spotted? Fire a gun? You’re in trouble…
Absolutely vast, and growing, map that’s loosely based on real world Kentucky. A huge area in which you explore, loot and set up your fortress.
Vehicles with full physics, and deep and realistic gameplay mechanics.
Tools and items can be used to craft weapons, barricade and cook. Build zombie-proof forts by chopping trees, sawing wood and scavenging supplies.
Deal with depression, boredom, hunger, thirst and illness while trying to survive.
Day turns to night. The electricity falters. Hordes migrate. Winter draws in. Nature gradually starts to take over.
Farming, fishing, carpentry, cooking, trapping, character customisation, skills and perks that develop based on what you do in-game.
Proper zombies that don’t run. (Unless you tell them to in the sandbox menu).
Atmospheric dynamic music that matches your Knox Event adventure.
Imaginative Challenge scenarios, on top of our regular Outbreak, Rising, Apocalypse and nightmarish Extinction modes.
Local split-screen co-op.
Full, open and powerful Lua modding support.
Xbox Controller Gamepad support on Windows. (Other gamepads can be set up manually)

Planned Features

The return of Kate and Baldspot, the initial story-driven stars of the Project Zomboid tech demo.
In-depth and varied NPC encounters driven in a persistent world, powered by a metagame system that turns each play-through into your very own zombie survival movie with emergent narrative gameplay.
Constant expansion/overhaul of the countryside, towns and city that have been ravaged by the Knox Event
More items, crafting recipes, weapons and gameplay systems.
Steam Achievements support.